Why aren't there more kickback/wedge bass amps?

[tb-player]

I would love to have options for a powerful 210 kickback or even a 212. I really like having the sound hit me in the face and not in the back of my legs. That's the main reason I gig with a QSC CP12 monitor & a preamp pedal. But sometimes, I'd prefer a simple bass amp/cab combo.

I know MarkBass has one. I owned it for a while and it was super convenient, but it was only 300W and a little heavier than I would like. There used to be an SWR Super Redhead. It was heavy but sounded great. I think GK had one in the early 2000s too. Ashdown used to have a 210 and still offers a 112. Hartke also has a couple, but I'm not a huge Hartke guy. I think, ultimately, I'd dig a 500W GK kickback/wedge.

And while I know there are foam wedges and racks you can put your amp in (if it fits) a kickback just seems to make so much sense to me. I honestly wonder why more amp companies don't make them.

Does it have something to do with the cabinet and resonance or something? Or maybe they're not as prevalent as technology trends toward IEMs and better monitor mixes?? Or is there just no demand?

Curious... does anyone here think a kickback/wedge is more functional than a normal amp?

 

[ShadowGroover]

Any combo can be a kickback. Add a set of Fender tilt back legs and you're good to go. Quilter makes them, too.

 

[HelpImaRock]

I had Schroeder add a tilt handle to my new Mini 12+L.

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[Killing Floor]

Boom Bass Cabs have a tilted front speaker for that reason.

 

[5StringBlues]

I much prefer kickbacks. Reading talk base, it seems that some people want their amps to look cool. You can't see how cool they look if it's a tilt back. amp asthetics mean nada to me.

 

[Chris Chong]

Genzler Slant cabs

 

[Iristone]

Ashdown makes one - even complete with Flip-Top! A shame that Ampeg themselves discontinued the BA line (though the Rockets are pretty cool).

 

[Topkat13]

How many are you looking for?

 

[leonard]

I'm wondering the same thing. Maybe bass players are just conservative.

I have the Markbass 2x10 kickback combo and it's great. Gets very loud. For my tube head I have a diy 12 inch cab that is kickback too.

 

[mazdah]

Because lifting or tilting the cabinet alters the sound.
For me tilted cabinets/combos (and also - lifted from ground on a crate or stand) never produced sound usable enough in a band situation.

 

[Krakmann]

Salud!

A 20$ stand does the same service. I play a kickback Ampeg combo in a rehearsal space and twice now I've seen it rolling down.

Whenever I have to use my amp, it's always with an amp stand. You uncouple the amp from the stage floor and need less volume to hear yourself better. Low content seems to diminish, though, so maybe it's not the sound you like. Live, I want mids to understand what I'm playing.

 

[Alban]

The SWR Redhead was not a kickback combo. You could tilt it with its own front grill cover, like you can tilt any combo.

The Markbass one is plenty loud by the way, considering that it would be aimed at your ears.
Some cab manufacturers make wedge-shaped cabs, like Glockenklang.

 

[pingvuiini]

I also had the Markbass CMD 102P and I agree that it was definitely loud enough, especially when used as a stage monitor with an XLR out to the FOH. Regretfully I sold it. The bass player from a band opening for us forgot his amp and needed to play thru mine and so I was able to hear how it sounded for the first time out in the audience. My drummer and I both thought it was too loud and went up to advise the bass player to turn down a tad.

The Markbass 2x10 combo also has two very deep holes in the back that are very handy for storing cables and things during transportation. Although several pounds heavier than my GR Bass 2x12 Slim combos, I find the practicality and sound of the CMD 102P to such that I am seriously thinking about getting the new Mark V version that is out now.

 

[el murdoque]

Eich has tilting options on their smaller gear as well.

 

[mattie13]

ampeg makes a 210 combo amp with a slanted side for tilting

 

[Nuisance]

I can't imagine needing more volume from my Markbass 102p. That said, I rarely use amps anymore, so it just collects dust along with my bigger rig. Funny, I don't rehearse with an amp anymore, and I don't gig with one.....yet I still own multiple amps (and probably always will).

 

[brianrost]

Why? Many manufacturers have offered kickback amps and then discontinued them. The market speaks...

 

[Dana R Gregory]

Peavey makes combos with slanted speakers in them. They work very well.

 

[dune]

Why? Many manufacturers have offered kickback amps and then discontinued them. The market speaks...

Yep.

 

[HolmeBass]

Stacking cabinets for bigger rigs could be one reason there are not more “kickback” cabinets. The Genzler solution is cool, but you don’t get much slant back with just one cabinet.

Fearless F112’s come in a kickback format. I wouldn’t want to stack two of them, but putting it on top of another rectangular cabinet works fine.