Author Topic: Combo Amps (Read 375 times)

gregduboc · « **on:** February 24, 2010, 12:34:20 PM »

I need your help. I'm looking for a portable combo amp. Something light and powerful, that can fill a small/medium club with my bass lines...
I've been looking around and found the new SWR Spellbinder Blue. The descriptions says it is powerful enough for small to medium stages, but I am having a hard time believing a 10 speaker powered by 160W can really stand up against a heavy-handed drummer... I also looked at the Trace Elliot 715, that looks much more powerfull with it's 15 speaker and 200W of power and not much bigger in size.

Have any of you guys tried it out? Any other nice suggestions?

Thanks,

Greg

chrisalembic · « **Reply #1 on:** February 24, 2010, 12:44:28 PM »

I have no experience with the amps you just mentioned, but when you say light weight, powerful and portable, the first ones that come up to my mind are Markbass and Philjones. Have you looked at their Product lines? They have a few lightweight, yet powerful combos. From Experience I can tell you that the Markbass stuff is really powerful for its size.

sonicus · « **Reply #2 on:** February 24, 2010, 01:12:36 PM »

I have been using the GALLIEN-KRUEGER Micro Bass series for over 2 decades for small live gig and studio engagements .
I own an old 200MB combo and a 150E combo and a 150E amp top.
I have never had any problems except having to replace a speaker surround that was over 2 decades old . GK now has a few newer models available in that line.

edwin · « **Reply #3 on:** February 24, 2010, 01:22:23 PM »

Euphonic Audio iAmp 800C. Not cheap, but great sounding. I've toured with mine and filled most stages (including some outdoor ones) perfectly.

keith_h · « **Reply #4 on:** February 24, 2010, 02:10:23 PM »

If you can handle the yellow speakers I agree a Markbass combo in a 2X10. If you needed more speakers you could always add an extension cabinet. The 3X10 might also work for you but you cannot add cabinets.

In the old days I would have recommended an Eden Metro but I don't think they are of the same quality they were before US Music purchased them.

I would stay away from the Carvin combo's. I have an RC210 I use as a rehearsal rig. It has noise issues related to a very poor compressor design (always on and causes farting). I have also found it does not handle vibrations from transport very well. I have had to glue down connectors, capacitors and the main heat sink. For rehearsals it is adequate since I leave it at the studio and to be honest if it were to get stolen or damaged it would not be a big deal.

What do you currently use for your main rig?

I have gone modular with mine. For large gigs I use two 1X18 and two 2X10, medium size gigs I take one 1X18 and one 2X10 and small gigs I just take one 2X10. I use the same amp rack for all of the combination's.

Keith

hankster · « **Reply #5 on:** February 24, 2010, 03:19:12 PM »

I have used the GK micro bass for years as well, for acoustic, electric, jazz, swing, R & B. It is delightful. when I need something bigger, I either use it as a preamp for my larger Yorkville Sound amp, or (my preference) just take a line out to the front of house. Sound reinforcement pros i work with love it.

gregduboc · « **Reply #6 on:** February 24, 2010, 05:25:55 PM »

My main rig right now is an Ampeg SVT 2 Pro, with 4x10 and a 1x15 cabinets from Ampeg as well. I also own a BA115 which is the one I take around on small/medium stages, but it is to big for me to take it around by myself. And as sometimes the stage is really small, it uses a lot of the space I have reserved for me...
That is why I was looking for something small...
I was also looking at the Phil Jones Super Flightcase. I forgot to mention that. It looks compact and powerfull. Any views on that one, or any other Phil Jones amps?
I will look at Markbass amps as well. Thanks for the tip!

Greg

crobbins · « **Reply #7 on:** February 24, 2010, 05:50:53 PM »

I use a Mark Bass combo.

http://www.markbass.it/products.php?lingua=en&cat=3&vedi=39

bigredbass · « **Reply #8 on:** February 24, 2010, 09:39:39 PM »

Save yourself the trouble: I bought a Metro, and it is undoubtedly the biggest mistake I ever made. Great tone and facilities, but as trouble prone as can be, and WILL drop dead on you in the middle of a gig at a a moment's notice.

I've decided I DON'T like combos; get a digital amp and preamp, or a rack head, a rack bag, and your speaker of choice. There's nothing worse than showing up on a gig with a combo you think is big enough, and you then get inevitably mowed down by everything else.

'Well, it's as big as I want to carry, they can just run me through the PA'. Most of us aren't fortunate enough to have that kind of PA at the gig, so you best be prepared to hold your own if need be.

lbpesq · « **Reply #9 on:** February 25, 2010, 12:58:41 AM »

Greg:

I have the Phil Jones AAD CUB AG-100 Acoustic Guitar Amplifier. I absolutely love it. 90% of an AER at one third the cost. Nothing fancy. Four knobs: level and bass/mid/treb, plus a -10db cut switch. Line, tuner and DI outs. No cheesy digital effects. Sounds great. About a square foot, 6.5 deep, and weighs 11.5 pounds. 100 clean watts! This little thing is amazing.

Bill, tgo

glocke · « **Reply #10 on:** February 25, 2010, 03:03:00 AM »

I can attest to the Eden issue. While I don't have an eden combo, I have other gear from them bought within the past year that has had many problems.

Have you thought about a small cab with a small head? My rehearsal rig and small club rig is a BagEnd S15 cabm with a mesa walkabout. Its portable, and sounds great. The cabinet rocks, as does the head.

jazzyvee · « **Reply #11 on:** February 25, 2010, 03:32:11 AM »

I couldn't find a combo which suited my needs and decided on a Mesa Boogie Walkabout head and a Mesa Boogie 2x10 powerhouse cab that I use for small gigs. Small, clean and very powerful.
Later on I bought two additional cabs to choose from should the need arise for more sound.
Jazzyvee

LMiwa · « **Reply #12 on:** February 25, 2010, 09:42:47 AM »

Greg,

I use the Phil Jones 8T and 16B cabinets. They sound amazing, but are NOT portable - they weigh a ton!

I have played the through the Six-Pack and it also sounded great and put out a LOT of clean power. If I was doing clubs, that is probably what I would get.

The Super Flightcase is almost exactly the same size as the Six-Pack but a LOT lighter and with a lot less power. I haven't played one, so I can't say if it would do the job in a club or not. Probably depends on how loud your drummer is!

Loch

Glynn · « **Reply #13 on:** February 25, 2010, 11:00:07 AM »

Without a doubt - Markbass. I have a Mini CMD 151P which I use for jazz, boogie, pop, you name it gigs. I have an ext.cab (Markbass Traveller 151P (old model)) but never need it. I use an Alembic Orion 4. Also you can sit on the combo! I chose the 15 over the 12 to give that extra bit of depth. Glynn

gregduboc · « **Reply #14 on:** February 25, 2010, 02:20:27 PM »

Loch, I've glanced over the Six-Pack, but it looks rather big...
I wish I cold try them out here in Brazil, but it is an impossible job to find one available.
Phil Jones Amps appear to have an amazing sound...
I'm looking at the Markbass ones as well... I wish they weren't so ugly (IMO).
I found this combo that looks promising. Ashdown MK-500 Combo, that comes with Mark King's Signature Head. It is bigger than what I've been thinking, but as I'm considering the Six-Pack, why not put this one on the table for discussion... Has any one tried it before (Head or Combo)?
I know it appears that I'm lost in my own decisions, but for the observations you are all making, a small and light combo will never do the job properly.
I don't want to go head+cabinet because I'm looking for a single piece of equipment to take around. I just don't like to mess around with cables... I like to plug it in power and play.

Greg

Author Topic: Combo Amps (Read 375 times)

chrisalembic