Which light-weight setup?

[kamakazee]

My regular full-stack is getting hefty and usually stays in one spot. Too much weight - 30lb head, 100lb 4x10, 60lb 1x15... you get it.

Lately I've been really interested in one of those lightweight setups. Everything clocking in around a hundred pounds or less. Seems real nice. I live in an area fresh out of the major dealers and plan on making a trip to check out a light setup. I'd like to go with a tiny head, 2x10, and 1x15.

I play a Bongo 6, so the low end "fluff" is a must. I play hard rock/metal, classic rock, funk, praise and worship, and classical mostly. I just want an amp that will take my Bongo's sound and make it full without adding too much flavor. So I have a couple questions that are very much subject to opinion:

Who makes this setup? (Markbass, Genz Benz, SWR and GK are brands that come to my mind) Who here uses a light weight 2x10 and 1x15 or similar setup? And which brand is your favorite, and why, for the light weight stuff?

Thanks

 

[boristhespider7]

Simple (in my opinion): Genz-Benz Shuttle 6.0 (600 watts and fits in a gig bag) and Genz-Benz NEOx-212T cabinet. Two 12s and a horn 600 watts at 8 ohms. Less than 60 lbs and still has kickback wheels. It's simpler than the 1x15 and 2x10 setup, more portable, and sounds superb. I replaced a 4x10 and 1x15 with it. Easily handles low Bs. All those brands are nice, but I've found Genz-Benz to be absolutely the most solid, especially in the cabinet category. Not a single grill rattle, loose bolt, or questionable component. I can't say that about the other brands except maybe Markbass (but those cabs don't have wheels). Plus, a number of Markbass heads only have one speaker output which means you have to daisy chain if you use more than one cabinet. The Shuttle has two even if you just use the one cabinet I suggest. Good luck and get rid of that old backbreaker!

 

[jlepre]

What are you running right now? Are you looking for a similiar tone, but in a smaller package? Do you have to fill the room, or do you have PA support and just need the stack for stage?

 

[Holdsg]

My experience with Markbass is that all the heads have two speaker outputs. Not sayin' Boris is incorrect, just not what I have seen in my travels. YMMV.

 

[0DDJ0B]

Here is my setup. The 112 for the small stuff/practice, the 412 handles everything else.
LMIII 6.5lbs
GK 112 30lbs
GK 412 99lbs

 

[boristhespider7]

My experience with Markbass is that all the heads have two speaker outputs. Not sayin' Boris is incorrect, just not what I have seen in my travels. YMMV.

The Little Mark 500, which is one of the most popular, has only one Speakon output (unless they've changed it recently). Don't get me wrong -- great stuff, just something that bothered me about it.

 

[0DDJ0B]

The Little Mark 500, which is one of the most popular, has only one Speakon output (unless they've changed it recently). Don't get me wrong -- great stuff, just something that bothered me about it.

They have two outs. One is a regular 1/4 and the other is a combo speakon~1/4.

 

[syciprider]

If I were seriously gigging and schlepping gear all over the place I will take the extra weight of a 115 for the nice big bottom it delivers. I will have a modular 112 or 210 + 115 set up. I can bring just one cab for small venues and bring both out for high volume gigs.

Cab brands.. Hmmm, I like SWR, Markbass (but not the NY 115) and the Guitar Center budget Acoustic line. Their 115 Neo is a beast.

For the head I am pretty much sold on Markbass. It doesn't add color to your sound unless you want it to. My Little Mark has two speaker outputs.

 

[kamakazee]

Thanks for the replies guys. I have an Eden WT500, Eden 410XLT, and Ashdown MAG 115. I'm not happy with the sound of the Eden and want a more crisp sound. The Ashdown cab is particle wood and sounds dead. My church's PA doesn't have a sub yet (its a brand new church), so I would like to provide my own low end and still have the mids that define EBMM basses. I also need enough sound for small to medium gigs. But if I wanna go jam with a buddy, all I have to carry is the 210 and stick the head in my gig bag.

I really like the idea of a 210 and a 115 but I'll have to try out other combos too. As far as 12's go, I guess I could always get two 112's

 

[boristhespider7]

They have two outs. One is a regular 1/4 and the other is a combo speakon~1/4.

Right...if you prefer 2 Speakon outputs like I do, the Little Mark 500 (and 800?) does not have them. If you're ok still using 1/4'' outputs or daisychaining, it will work for you. The Genz-Benz and GK lightweight heads have two Speakon outputs (which in my view makes more sense).

 

[jlepre]

I would go with a Genz Benz Shuttle 6 or 9 and pair it with (2) 112 cabs for flexibility. I ran the Shuttle 6 and 2 Epifani UL-112 cabs, and it worked for me without PA support for small and medium gigs.

 

[bbernard]

Out of curiosity, why decide on speaker sizes before checking out what is available? My take is that everything works together: head, cabinet size and design, speaker size and number of speakers. No doubt that 2-10 + 1-5 is a fine set up. I used 15s for years (EV B215-m primarily). When I went out trying out amps I was blown away by current technology. Its nirvana for bass players these days. I'm sold on genz-benz. EB 25th HH 5 > shuttlemax 12 > Uber 2-12 = tone heaven for me.

 

[oli@bass]

I have no idea how loud you need to go, but it's surely worth to check out the MarkBass NY604. Compact cab with big and crisp sound and enough volume to perform live with a medium loud drummer in a club or pub.

As for amps, a MarkBass F1 or MoMark with a 500w frame will get you good sound, flexibility and a great power/weight ratio.

What should I say, I just like the MB stuff: It works...

 

[smallequestrian]

Right...if you prefer 2 Speakon outputs like I do, the Little Mark 500 (and 800?) does not have them. If you're ok still using 1/4'' outputs or daisychaining, it will work for you. The Genz-Benz and GK lightweight heads have two Speakon outputs (which in my view makes more sense).

I think this is a silly worry. I actually rather like daisy chaining, means both of your speaker cables can be short/same size. Regardless, if you know your head only has one speakon, its not like its hard to deal with it. There is a reason most newer cabs have two speakon connectors.

 

[mikecd1]

I have a little mark800 with a 151p and a 210p and although I usually only use the 115p cabinet I love having the 210p for bigger gigs and smaller venues. When I use them together its bass heaven for me. Each cab weighs about 35 lbs and the head is 6lbs. With both cabs going I get 800 watts from the amp. I know there's other setups and I also love 12's for bass. My practice rig is an old Genz Benz GB12T and a GK 400RB which I love for small gigs also. I find the LeSon tweeters a little underpowered in both my cabs and have blown one of the LeSons. Even under warranty it was tedious to get replaced as GC and Markbass have a new warranty system. My Sterling 4H sounds great out of any combination of these amps though. I replaced the piezo on the GB12T cabinet (that cab is well over 10 years old) with an eminence apt-80 tweeter and a dayton crossover for under $100 and love the highs. If I have any problems with blown markbass piezo's again, I'll try one of those. I now run the tweeters about 30% and everything seems to work okay. Good luck with your new rig and let us know what you decide.

 

[keko]

In Your case I'd consider about EBS Neodymium bass cab series 210 + 115!
(8 Ohms each)
Very light and compact, those two cabs covers whole bass tone range!

Bass head, ...no doubt, ...TC Electronic RH450, ...powerful, compact, lightweight, modern, digital, 3 presets...etc.

 

[CElton]

Simple (in my opinion): Genz-Benz Shuttle 6.0 (600 watts and fits in a gig bag) and Genz-Benz NEOx-212T cabinet. Two 12s and a horn 600 watts at 8 ohms. Less than 60 lbs and still has kickback wheels. It's simpler than the 1x15 and 2x10 setup, more portable, and sounds superb. I replaced a 4x10 and 1x15 with it. Easily handles low Bs. All those brands are nice, but I've found Genz-Benz to be absolutely the most solid, especially in the cabinet category. Not a single grill rattle, loose bolt, or questionable component. I can't say that about the other brands except maybe Markbass (but those cabs don't have wheels). Plus, a number of Markbass heads only have one speaker output which means you have to daisy chain if you use more than one cabinet. The Shuttle has two even if you just use the one cabinet I suggest. Good luck and get rid of that old backbreaker!

The NeoX 212T is actually 4 ohms.

 

[drTStingray]

You should try an Aguilar Tonehammer 500 with a pair of SL112 cabs - unbelievable sound and light as a feather - I reckon you could put the whole lot in one flight case and carry it without a problem - I could lift the cab with one finger Could well be my next purchase.