Double Bass Your Opinions Please: Best Combo Amp under $700?

[velvetphil]

Hey guys,

So I need to get a new lightweight combo amp for my DB that will also sound great with my electric. I'll probably end up using something like a Sansamp w/A-B switch or Radial Bassbone, so it doesn't need to have two dedicated inputs, but it does need to be as light as possible (gotta carry this, a gig bag, a backpack, and my DB back all at once!) and loud enough to play with a medium-volume drummer with no PA support. Looking at the Markbass stuff first and foremost, but also perhaps the Line 6 Lowdown 110. Any other ideas? Again, I'm really trying to keep it under 25 pounds and under $700.

The other option is to find a super light head that can go in my gig bag and a super light 1x10 or 1x12 cab. Hit me with your best shots!

Thanks,

Phil

 

[DaLong]

It maybe a little over your budget, but the GK 150E is fantastic. Lightweight, durable, and can really deliver a good DB sound.

 

[spaz21387]

ashdown makes some combos with a 1x10 and a 2x10 for 300 to 350$ but they probably weigh alittle more then what you wanted. I have an ampeg ba115 combo thats my main amp now since my ashdown mag300 and ashdown mag 4x10 cab blew. I really think someone messed with it though. At practice the night before it was working great. And the next day I come back for practice and I plug in and smoke starts coming out of the amp. And it looks to me that it melted all the wires in the cab too. But anyway that ampeg combo is great. Now you can pick one up for around 350$. It weighs alot more then you want though. I remember looking on musicians friend and finding eather a light weight eden or epifany bass head. Ill link you to that when i find it again. And why dont you build your lightweight cab. Then you can choose the lightest materials possible.

Heres the link the price is alittle high though

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Eden-WTX260-Sub-Compact-Bass-Amp?sku=480313

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Nothing I know of that will sound GREAT with your electric, but a GK MB150 would probably be the closest thing to it at the price. They turn up used often around $500.

 

[pinkzepphish]

GK backline 210. great sounds, well built, good connectability with an ext cab option. its 240 and can go up to i believe 320 with the ext. average weight. i think its around 450 new.

 

[Freddels]

Contact RMCaudio.com for a price on the GK MB150 combo. I believe you'll find them under your budget.

 

[bolo]

GK backline 210. great sounds, well built, good connectability with an ext cab option. its 240 and can go up to i believe 320 with the ext. average weight. i think its around 450 new.

For upright bass? I could be wrong, but the Backline cabs don't seem to get many favorable reviews in this forum that I can recall.

The reviews in this forum that I've read for the Line 6 Lowdown Studio 110 w/ DB are mixed, some for, some against. Seems that the hardest thing is getting it to sound neutral or "flat." I bet it's pretty cool as a micro rig for slab though. And only $250.

I think you could probably find one to test out at a Guitar Center. Maybe even A/B it with a Markbass in the same store.

 

[conte2music]

The fender bassman 100 is pretty good for the bread. It's a single ten with 100 watts, and loads of features for $350 new.

The new Genz Benz shuttle combos are right around $700. I think the 8inch is $699 and the 10inch is $799.

I believe there is a used Acoustic Image combo in the for sale. It could get you by for medium-low volume electric, and is killer for DB.

 

[derrenleepoole]

Markbass CMD121P - amazing combo. Perhaps a little out of your budget, not sure of the US price market compared to UK, but worth a look. Lightweight, portable and amazing tone etc. Build quality is excellent too.

 

[bribass]

These are light, rugged and great sounding combos w/ 2 year warranty. You could take the left over $ and buy several YEARS worth of strings.

http://www.traynoramps.com/products.asp?id=369&cat=64&type=7

http://www.traynoramps.com/products.asp?id=385&cat=64&type=7

 

[chuck1073]

I wouldn't recommend the Line 6 for use with a drummer.
75 watts just isn't enough headroom. It's a cool little amp, I own one. But not powerful enough for real combo use.

I'd second the recommendation of the MB150. Find a used one. They're fairly bullet proof too.

 

[rodneyat]

The new Genz Benz shuttle combos are right around $700. I think the 8inch is $699 and the 10inch is $799.

.

Shop around and get to know your dealers, you should be able to get a Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0 10T combo in your budget. I have one and also tried out the 8T combo. I felt the 8 needed some more oomph but the 10T is quite nice. Good low end for almost any DB gig. I mainly use it for electric and it is quite sufficient for small and medium sized gigs. 175 watts with the 1X10..add the extenstion cabinet and you get 300watts.

I was never a fan of the GK MB150. But, I have never really liked 12" speakers for bass either. So, that is more of a personal preference.

 

[agedhorse]

I was never a fan of the Genz Benz MB150. But, I have never really liked 12" speakers for bass either. So, that is more of a personal preference.

I think you have us mixed up with another company here We have never made an MB-150.

 

[Wilbyman]

Contact RMCaudio.com for a price on the GK MB150 combo. I believe you'll find them under your budget.

+1, I have tried the Markbass and the Genz-Benz and I really prefer the GK MB150S for DB. It is a classic.

W

 

[Eric Hochberg]

These are light, rugged and great sounding combos w/ 2 year warranty. You could take the left over $ and buy several YEARS worth of strings.

http://www.traynoramps.com/products.asp?id=369&cat=64&type=7

http://www.traynoramps.com/products.asp?id=385&cat=64&type=7

I second that, I used one of the older Yorkville Block 50's for years and liked the sound for quieter, small room gigs. Preferred the sound to the MB150 at about a third the price. Haven't played the newest models but can imagine they have it going on.

 

[rodneyat]

I think you have us mixed up with another company here We have never made an MB-150.

Yes, typing too fast on the run...I meant GK.

 

[mb94952]

Well, used, there are a million great deals out there. I saw a Trace Elliot combo on craigslist for $400, and I just got a GK MB200 for under $100 !! WOW !
New -- I like the SWR LA series. They have CRISP tone, and sound fantastic. They are 30w, 60w, and 100w-- ALL FOR UNDER $300 !!!!!! There's also the Ampeg 100w combo - $299 !! and the Line 6 make a great combo too !! I, personally own the SWR, and GK combo. My "big rig" is a Trace Elliot.

 

[Johnny Atomic]

I really love my Shuttle 3.0 10t, I got it for under your price range.

Johnny

 

[bolo]

Well, used, there are a million great deals out there. I saw a Trace Elliot combo on craigslist for $400, and I just got a GK MB200 for under $100 !! WOW !
New -- I like the SWR LA series. They have CRISP tone, and sound fantastic. They are 30w, 60w, and 100w-- ALL FOR UNDER $300 !!!!!! There's also the Ampeg 100w combo - $299 !! and the Line 6 make a great combo too !! I, personally own the SWR, and GK combo. My "big rig" is a Trace Elliot.

The OP is looking for an amp that works with upright bass (aka DB) and also w/ electric bass.

 

[hensonbass]

inputs

I'll probably end up using something like a Sansamp w/A-B switch or Radial Bassbone, so it doesn't need to have two dedicated inputs

Not to get off subject but I would highly recommend comparing the new Radial PZ-PRE to the Bassbone. The PZ-pre has a lot more features that will make your upright sound great through almost any amp, and still be useful with electric too.

With this preamp you could bypass the preamp section of an amp that might be voiced more for a bass guitar, especially the more budget valued amps, and still get a great sounding upright tone.

In my experience the better your sound is upfront in the signal chain the easier it is to amplify with almost anything. Most guys get real bummed out with their amps because the piezo pickups don't mate well with the preamp sections of the amp due to impedance mismatch, or eq coloration, ect.