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

[Brandon Shea]

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

Those Onstage wedges are awesome; I bought a couple a while back because they're really inexpensive, and it makes a huge difference in my experience. I love that the wedges fold flat so they can easily fit in a gig bag.

 

[tb-player]

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.

Oh wow. I didn’t realize they had released the V. I had the IV a while back and it had the volume, but lacked a little punch. Throwing a front-ported 210 under it made a big difference.

 

[pingvuiini]

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.

I had that combo too many moons ago. I think it was a R600 Redeye or something like that.

 

[nixdad]

Although I'm not currently using a kickback-type combo, I used both the Acoustic B50C & B100C for years with great success. These worked best for me sitting on an amp stand.

 

[pb9717]

fEARless f112 is a standard cab with a wedge corner design for use in either config. Best damn bass cab on earth too. I run an inexpensive ( but heavy )Avatar 112+tweeter with an upgraded 12” driver behind me, and the fEARless as a wedge in front of me. Bass monitor heaven.

 

[pie_man_25]

Any cab can kick back if you stick a 2*4 under the front end

 

[shoot-r]

6 or 7 years back, I went roll-off, trash bin diving behind several local stores.

Found a nice, clean, thick, black color, rigid piece of shipping foam.
(The kind of foam that protects items when being shipped.)

Used a utility knife, shaped foam into a wedge, put black electrical tape around wedge to help it wear longer.

(Turns any manufacturer's combo or cab into a tilt-back.)

Works great.
Can't be seen when in use.
Long wearing, (I've been using the same one 6 or 7 years now.
Easy to replace when needed.
Lite weight, fits in my cord bag.
(((Didn't cost me a dime!!!)))

 

[JRA]

i use this stand on almost every gig as it allows adjustable angling for 'critical slanting':

 

[HardNHeavy]

I'm tempted to pull the plug on this Bugera, but know nothing about them, local place doesn't have them of course..

 

[FRoss6788]

I'm tempted to pull the plug on this Bugera, but know nothing about them, local place doesn't have them of course..

Is that a 2000 watt combo?

 

[mikewalker]

The Hartke Kickbacks are 'only' 250 WRMS but in my experience they can get seriously LOUD

 

[FRoss6788]

The Hartke Kickbacks are 'only' 250 WRMS but in my experience they can get seriously LOUD

I've been on the hunt for one of those used, perfect for a couple of small clubs we play.

 

[coyote1]

Not a fan of the kickback format. It seems to have all the advantages, yet it rarely works out (at least in my experience). Sound traveling up into the ceiling? Nope…

This is why I have always advocated for full stacks of some sort. They a) get the sound up in your ears, while b) simultaneously getting the benefits of floor coupling AND c) projecting the sound directly at the audience. Going back to (a), this allows you to have LOWER stage volume! Oh, and all that without taking up any more stage space than a small combo.

After I stopped with the full Marshall stacks back in the day, my guitar rig became a 1x12 combo amp atop a narrow but deep 2x12 vertical cabinet. It gave me all of the above-listed benefits. With bass, a similar thing would work.

 

[Geri O]

Not a fan of the kickback format. It seems to have all the advantages, yet it rarely works out (at least in my experience). Sound traveling up into the ceiling? Nope…

I understand not being a fan of the format, but for me, the whole point of a kickback combo is when I don’t have room to sit or stand anywhere but directly in front of the amp.

My backside is large enough to stop a major amount of sound from going up to the ceiling. And if it’s the occasional sit-down gig, the amp will be quiet enough that no excursion will be expected to the ceiling.

Any further from the amplifier will mean that I bring my WD800/215 rig, naturally.

 

[Michedelic]

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.

IEM’s are a little too prophylactic for some people.

 

[FirewalZ]

I understand not being a fan of the format, but for me, the whole point of a kickback combo is when I don’t have room to sit or stand anywhere but directly in front of the amp.

My backside is large enough to stop a major amount of sound from going up to the ceiling. And if it’s the occasional sit-down gig, the amp will be quiet enough that no excursion will be expected to the ceiling.

Any further from the amplifier will mean that I bring my WD800/215 rig, naturally.

This was my reason.....Im in a trio now that seems to do a lot of smaller rooms, tight stages, etc. In these circumstances the speaker is now pointing mostly at my sholder/head area, about where it would with a good stand, that I now no longer need. I am way beyond the point of big/tall/heavy stuff. The Markbass combo is an easy one handed carry, plug in and go. Ive tried this with a QSC K12, which does work(sounds better with a hp/lp filter) but it is a pretty heavy box and the controls low and in the rear are a bit of a pita, but does work in a pinch.

 

[Modulus 96]

Just repping GK on this topic.....

 

[Zigmundfloyd]

6 or 7 years back, I went roll-off, trash bin diving behind several local stores.

Found a nice, clean, thick, black color, rigid piece of shipping foam.
(The kind of foam that protects items when being shipped.)

Used a utility knife, shaped foam into a wedge, put black electrical tape around wedge to help it wear longer.

(Turns any manufacturer's combo or cab into a tilt-back.)

Works great.
Can't be seen when in use.
Long wearing, (I've been using the same one 6 or 7 years now.
Easy to replace when needed.
Lite weight, fits in my cord bag.
(((Didn't cost me a dime!!!)))

View attachment 5494966 View attachment 5494967

Any issues with the head slipping backwards? The thread so far has been about combos but with the current trend of small lightweight cabs a new piggy back method may be in order.

 

[DuluthDank]

Just repping GK on this topic.....

View attachment 5495065 View attachment 5495067

I'd love it if GK used this format for their modern, lighter combos. Front facing controls are so much easier to use, and of course the kick back option is great.

 

[DuluthDank]

Also, while we're on this topic, how about tilt back combos with a removable head, fully adjustable tweeter, front facing controls, pre-post xlr out, and a mute button?

Okay I'm basically just describing the Genz Benz Shuttle series now. IMO the best gigging combos ever made.