Looking for some advice on a combo.........

[lowendgrowl]

Currently I have a full Mesa rig, (big block 750, running through a Mesa 8x10 powerhouse cab) as my main rig. Seeing how I've cracked three windows in my house playing through it I realize I need something a little smaller to play around with in the house. Right now I have a little Ampeg BA-115 combo, and lets just say that I've become spoiled with the Mesa, and that little solid state Ampeg just isn't cutting it. I've looked into trying to find a little Mesa 210 cab, but can't really seem to find one within a decent price range (seeing how I can just put up a little more cash and get a 4x10 which is still too big for home) not to mention I'd like a combo as well. I'd love to get me a little Mesa combo, but they just cost too much and I can't seem to justify spending that much on a combo. I'm really only have experience with Ampeg, and Mesa but there are a couple of 210 combos on the market that I think would be a little more of what I'm looking for. Eden, GK, SWR, and Fender all have ones that I have seen some good deals on. I just don't have any experience with anything made by those guys (with the exception of my old back-up SWR 750x pro). I also know that Ampeg has a 2x10 combo as well. Chances are that I would probably be buying something off of ebay since there isn't much to go test drive here locally. So I guess in short I'm asking if anyone here would like to step up and point me in the right direction as to what would be the best route to go. Service, reliability, sound, function, and how well does it handle the B string on a Stingray. I love the simplicity of my big block 750, and would really like to find something that is more, or less easy to dial in various tones. As well as stay in the range of about $500 new, or used. Anyone here have any advice?

 

[Christianmetal]

i'd reccomend an acoustic b100. I have a b200 and it's more than loud enough for live shows. The b100 is a hundred watts at 2 ohms, but you could always turn it down.

 

[silverburst]

This may sound dumb, but why can't you just turn the volume down?

 

[lowendgrowl]

i'd reccomend an acoustic b100. I have a b200 and it's more than loud enough for live shows. The b100 is a hundred watts at 2 ohms, but you could always turn it down.

I'm mainly looking for a 2x10 combo.

 

[Thornton Davis]

I was in somewhat the same situation recently. But my problem revolved around moving my 810 in and out of the house. Up until now, my son would help me with this, but he's moving out next month to attend university. I had been using a 300 watt combo, but of course it always sounded a lot different than my main rig which I really wasn't crazy about.

My solution was to trade my 810 and sell my combo and replace them both with two 410 cabs. This allows me to be able to move them in and out of the house by myself as both 410 cabs have removable casters and are reasonably light. But more importantly, I can use my main amp and rack with either one or both cabinets together. So my sound (tone) remains constent no matter what the playing situation is.

TD

 

[lowendgrowl]

This may sound dumb, but why can't you just turn the volume down?

Well, it seems like a simple concept. Only problem with it is that once you get the volume down too low I have to adjust my eq settings, and sit far across the room. Then it still vibrates the walls, and I can't really even hear it sitting in the same room. Outside the room my wife yells at me to turn it down.

 

[five7]

I have a 180 watt behringer that is shaped like a monitor wedge. Great little practice amp, will easily keep up with a loud guitar and drummer. Plus it only cost $180.

 

[lowendgrowl]

I was in somewhat the same situation recently. But my problem revolved around moving my 810 in and out of the house. Up until now, my son would help me with this, but he's moving out next month to attend university. I had been using a 300 watt combo, but of course it always sounded a lot different than my main rig which I really wasn't crazy about.

My solution was to trade my 810 and sell my combo and replace them both with two 410 cabs. This allows me to be able to move them in and out of the house by myself as both 410 cabs have removable casters and are reasonably light. But more importantly, I can use my main amp and rack with either one or both cabinets together. So my sound (tone) remains constent no matter what the playing situation is.

TD

I've thought about this as well. Depending on what I'm doing determines where in the house I need to be. For example, if I'm wanting to record something I would be in the study upstairs. Or little jam sessions, it's usually in the living room. Or if I'm working with a drummer, then I'd be in the practice room (coverted formal den). Or sometimes in the back yard with friends on a little acoustic jam. So basically I find myself carrying the combo all over the house which makes a combo the most reasonable choice. Besides, I made the mistake of selling my first Mesa 810 cab, it took me two years to find another one to replace it...... Won't be doing that again.

 

[lowendgrowl]

I have a 180 watt behringer that is shaped like a monitor wedge. Great little practice amp, will easily keep up with a loud guitar and drummer. Plus it only cost $180.

I remember borrowing a Behringer BX4210A awhile back to audition a guitarist one time. I was a loud little amp, but the condition of me borrowing it was not to adjust the settings because one of the knobs was jacked up. So I never really got much of a chance to really hear how it sounded. Back from '05 to '07 everyone here locally sold Behringer, now you can't find any of thier gear anywhere.

 

[Basscake]

U say its about carrying that thing around in the house.

Just one thought:
Even a 2x10 combo can be darn heavy. A Eden Metro or SWR Redhead are certainly great combos, but these suckers also weigh roundabout 40kg. No fun to carry up the stairs on your own.

If it's got to be 2x10 you might think about Combos with Neodymiom speakers and digital poweramps.
e.g. Markbass or GenzBenz

 

[maddog]

Well, it seems like a simple concept. Only problem with it is that once you get the volume down too low I have to adjust my eq settings, and sit far across the room. Then it still vibrates the walls, and I can't really even hear it sitting in the same room. Outside the room my wife yells at me to turn it down.

sounds like a placement problem. and being the size of a refrigerator you probably don't have much choice. Markbass and GenzBenz are high on my list once I get a job.

Shuttle Series | GENZ BENZ

MARKBASS

 

[INMT]

Sounds to me like no matter what you get your going to turn it up enough to have the same issues.
I bet your ampeg combo has a headphone out. Get some semi-decent headphones like the akg ath-m35's or something. It will be less expensive.

 

[bassmonkeee]

Sounds to me like no matter what you get your going to turn it up enough to have the same issues.
I bet your ampeg combo has a headphone out. Get some semi-decent headphones like the akg ath-m35's or something. It will be less expensive.

Not really--eight 10" speakers move a lot more air than a single 10" or 12". I have an easier time getting low enough volume with good tone with fewer speakers, too.

I'd grab something like a Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0-10T. Great sound, weighs 18 lbs is rated at 175W, and you have a 2.75lb 300W backup head that you can throw in your gigbag "just in case."

Shuttle Series | GENZ BENZ

An Auralex GRAMMA will help decouple the amp from the floor. That might help the WAF*, too.





* Wife Approval Factor

 

[lowendgrowl]

Not really--eight 10" speakers move a lot more air than a single 10" or 12". I have an easier time getting low enough volume with good tone with fewer speakers, too.

I'd grab something like a Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0-10T. Great sound, weighs 18 lbs is rated at 175W, and you have a 2.75lb 300W backup head that you can throw in your gigbag "just in case."

Shuttle Series | GENZ BENZ

An Auralex GRAMMA will help decouple the amp from the floor. That might help the WAF*, too.





* Wife Approval Factor

I came across a shuttle at a pawn shop over the weekend...... $550.00 seemed like a really good deal on it. Still, I already have an M-Pulse 600 as a backup amp. Really looking for a decent little one unit combo. The speaker response is an important. I use alot of various overdrive tones, and the single speaker just isn't cutting it. Especially when I run the bass boost up alot to blend in with the gritty sound. I can't really use the 5 wire with the Ampeg combo because the amp bogs down. I really don't play that loud unless I'm working with a drummer.

Oh, as far are the *WAF........ She's a drummer, and has more invested in her kit, hardware, and cymbals than all my bass gear combined.

 

[Estee]

Line6 LowDown 400 or another smaller model?