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

[MattZilla]

I’m gonna guess it has something to do with the notion that choosing a bass amp in lieu of a far more sensible DI+IEM (which I definitely do) is cork-sniffery and the designers have to choose between making a wedge or making a cuboid. Making one that does both likely doesn’t pass muster with the cork sniffers.

Similarly, there have been companies that tried to sell wedges to the cork-sniffers, but almost nobody buys the wedges.

So, it’s cuboids with four on the floor or that monitor rig you’ve got, or custom fit IEM’s.

 

[JimmyM]

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

Not anymore but you can still find them used.

 

[JimmyM]

I’m gonna guess it has something to do with the notion that choosing a bass amp in lieu of a far more sensible DI+IEM (which I definitely do) is cork-sniffery and the designers have to choose between making a wedge or making a cuboid. Making one that does both likely doesn’t pass muster with the cork sniffers.

Similarly, there have been companies that tried to sell wedges to the cork-sniffers, but almost nobody buys the wedges.

So, it’s cuboids with four on the floor or that monitor rig you’ve got, or custom fit IEM’s.

Far more sensible to who, Matt? Everyone? Nah

 

[burgerdj]

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 I'd honestly prefer a bass amp.

I know MarkBass has one. I owned it for a while and it was super convenient, but it was only 300W. 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. Harte also has a couple, but I'm not a huge Hartke guy. I think, ultimately, I'd dig a 500W GK kickback.

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 is more functional than a normal amp?

I had a chance back in the day to use a Mesa Buster 210 and it was glorious-but glad I didn’t have to move it! As part of a larger backline rig, I also got to use an Eden wedge 210, which was also great. I’m with you - even if there is some compromise in the bass roll off, I’d love to see more kickback cabinets, not just the ones with a handle that decouples from the floor a bit.

 

[sawzalot]

When I use an amp it’s with two TC Electronic RS- series cabs stacked on top of one another. Say what you like about TC Electronic bass gear of that era, but they nailed the form factor of those cabs. Light and vertically stackable so two of them get up to your ear level.

Most of the time I prefer my preamp/pedal/DI + IEMs and I let the FOH amps fill the room. Better for me and my band in so many ways.

 

[badinage]

I had one of the Ashdown C112-300 combos for about a month. Sounded fine, looked a little gaudy, definitely did not have enough output (for me) before unpleasant distortion.

I have a Markbass 102P (mfg 2012, Combo-II head in it 500w into 4ohm). Plenty of output for many situations, sounds great (to me), a little awkward shaped, but not bad at all.

Here's my modified Markbass CMD121P (head died, replaced with a 58R). A paint-stirring stick stows in the back with a couple patches of velcro placed so they can also secure it (enough) to be a mono-tiltback-leg. (A Desani bottle or 16oz beer can is about the the right height to accomplish the same thing.) Knobs on my 58R have been replaced so I know what they are by feel. This sounds better and gets louder than it did before. Works well for me on tight, moderate volume stages. The Yellowline 12 was replaced with an Emminence Basslite 2012.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Same reason many players aim their amps at their ankles, and don't get their amps off the ground. They don't understand.

 

[Slade N]

Eden made a wedge style cab for that reason

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/eden-210mbx-bass-monitor-wedge.1604074/

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Why not more? There are enough to meet the demand.

 

[bherman]

I use one of these. Mostly when just using a single cabinet. Works great, folds flat.

Folding Amp Wedge - Henriksen Amplifiers

 

[MIMike]

I had a Bassman 25 in a wedge style enclosure. It was a nice amp for practice or low volume upright gigs, but in addition to being relatively heavy, the shape of the enclosure made it uncomfortable to carry as it tended to bang in to my shins when you walked (especially when carrying a bass and other equipment at the same time). I replaced it with a Rumble 40 that is much easier to carry…I tilt that amp back with a little folding aluminum stand purpose built for tilting combos back.

 

[DuluthDank]

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.

I'm all about kickback combos with front facing controls for use on gigs. To get the sound to yours ears, you can either kick it back, or build up a tower that is almost as tall as you. Considering that on most gigs (assuming there is a FOH) an amp is just a glorified stage monitor, I am surprised how many people opt for the latter.

 

[SC Bassboy]

I use a kick back combo exclusively for playing acoustic shows. My amp is a cheap Acoustic 10 inch but it gets the job done nicely. It has gotten me to thinking that instead of running two cabinets with my main live rig, I could use one 4x10 and find a good floor monitor and run one off the amp and set it beside my pedal board.

 

[DuluthDank]

I’m gonna guess it has something to do with the notion that choosing a bass amp in lieu of a far more sensible DI+IEM (which I definitely do) is cork-sniffery and the designers have to choose between making a wedge or making a cuboid. Making one that does both likely doesn’t pass muster with the cork sniffers.

Similarly, there have been companies that tried to sell wedges to the cork-sniffers, but almost nobody buys the wedges.

So, it’s cuboids with four on the floor or that monitor rig you’ve got, or custom fit IEM’s.

The cube shaped combos don't bug me, as they have enough depth front to back to handle being tipped at an angle safely. I gigged with one of these tilting back a GK MB112ii for years. These wedges cost around 20 dollars i think, and work great.

 

[FirewalZ]

I for one agree with the OP and am suprised its not more common amoung mainline manufactures to have a tiltback/wedge ability built in to small form factor combo's. I know there are brands that do it, and Ampeg "used" to, but the biggies, GK and Fender dont have an offering. Now ive owned Rumbles and also currently have GK MB212 and MB112 combos, both generally need an additional stand to be heard on stage, and im tiered of haveing to use one. I recently got the newest version of the Markbass CMD 102P and problem solved, also on this model ALL the controls are front facing. Its very lightweight and super convinient. While it can comptete volume wise with the GK MB212, i rarely need that much stage volume with FOH.

 

[CallMeAl]

Yeah I’m with ya! I presume manufacturers think we are:
A) using our amps in low volume situations
B) using bigger cabinets or
C) using wedge monitors.

I have an older rumble amp with the tilt back I just love. I also have the onstage tilt wedge and have great luck with it “turning” other combos into tilt backs. Cheap, light, portable; and surprisingly sturdy

 

[tb-player]

The cube shaped combos don't bug me, as they have enough depth front to back to handle being tipped at an angle safely. I gigged with one of these tilting back a GK MB112ii for years. These wedges cost around 20 dollars i think, and work great.

Yeah I’m with ya! I presume manufacturers think we are:
A) using our amps in low volume situations
B) using bigger cabinets or
C) using wedge monitors.

I have an older rumble amp with the tilt back I just love. I also have the onstage tilt wedge and have great luck with it “turning” other combos into tilt backs. Cheap, light, portable; and surprisingly sturdy
View attachment 5494915

I’ve looked at these but they don’t give the 45° angle of a true wedge-style bass amp or monitor. They would get me closer, but not like a wedge.

 

[Bag of Lazers]

One more reason I love my Quilter Bassliner. It's a semi-wedge already, so if I wanted to have it face me like a monitor that's an option.

 

[lermgalieu]

I used to have a Carvin 2x10 combo that was built to tilt back as a wedge, and also had a removable amp. For its size, that thing could pump pretty nicely. I forget the model - I think it was in the 350-400 watt range.

 

[burgerdj]

Eden made a wedge style cab for that reason

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/eden-210mbx-bass-monitor-wedge.1604074/

And it was great! A bit scooped and the lows aren’t as juicy as the XLT but still great.