Live gigging combo recommendations

[MattyJman]

Hi guys I need some help selecting a live gigging bass combo amp. I am primarily a guitarist but have a tour of bass gigs coming up and struggling to select an appropriate bass combo.

I am looking at something that isn’t too expensive but will be reasonably loud and sound half decent.

I have been looking at the following options:
- Fender Rumble 200 or 500W
- GK 112 Mk2

Looking forward to hearing your recommendations

 

[Gearhead17]

How many members?
What kind of music?
Volume needs?
What are you sending the sound person for shows?
Is there a sound person?
What are you using now?

 

[MattyJman]

5 members in band, not a loud rock outfit, am using a Sans Amp Bass Driver into a DI currently, don’t always want to rely on a soundy for bass in the monitors, would like to have an amp behind me and added volume in the monitors if necessary.

Yes there will be a sound guy

 

[Al Kraft]

Based on you use case and the ability to send a BDDI signal to the board for FOH, I would say any of the options you floated would work fine for stage monitoring. As a very general rule of thumb I expect a more traditional/classic sound from the Fender rigs (closer to your BDDI) and a more SS/modern kind of tone from the GKs. However, we all hear things differently so YMMV.

 

[Gearhead17]

Genre of music? (bands similar to?) What are the guitarists using? Acoustic drums or electronic?

 

[Lo-E]

As a very general rule of thumb I expect a more traditional/classic sound from the Fender rigs (closer to your BDDI) and a more SS/modern kind of tone from the GKs.

This is exactly what I was going to say.

 

[MattyJman]

Genre of music? (bands similar to?) What are the guitarists using? Acoustic drums or electronic?

Love drums, keyboard, bit of track, two electric guitars (one amped, and one digital kemper setup)

Style of music covers quite some ground, but influences would be pop rock, folk

All members are quite considerate and dont try and outdo another volume wise

 

[MattyJman]

Based on you use case and the ability to send a BDDI signal to the board for FOH, I would say any of the options you floated would work fine for stage monitoring. As a very general rule of thumb I expect a more traditional/classic sound from the Fender rigs (closer to your BDDI) and a more SS/modern kind of tone from the GKs. However, we all hear things differently so YMMV.

thanks for your reply, really appreciate it. Would I generate enough volume from the amps onstage with either of these options?

 

[Al Kraft]

thanks for your reply, really appreciate it. Would I generate enough volume from the amps onstage with either of these options?

For your use as a stage monitor (and/or having it augment stage monitors) with a band that observes good volume discipline on stage I would think so. This one really comes down to what kind of sound you want.

GKs tend to slot very clearly/distinctly into a mix IME so a 112 should be fine as long as you don't have to carry the house with it. Now if it's a coffee house gig or small to medium venue and the other 4 band members are well-disciplined musicians you'd probably be okay. My gut feel is that the Fender rigs would be equally as capable or a touch more capable in the volume area...and as you might imagine, opinions on that will vary.

 

[FirewalZ]

The Rumble 500 would work fine, however it has a baked in old school “Fender Bass” tone that some love and other not so much. I also have a GK mb112, while it’s fine for smaller and accompanying an acoustic type of gig, I wouldn’t use it in a full band. Any of the other GK combos are great, a 115, 210 or 212 would be plenty and sound really good…however they are a bit pricey. Look for used. I’ve had a GK MB212-II for several years now, easy to haul around, sounds real good and plenty of headroom.

 

[MattyJman]

The Rumble 500 would work fine, however it has a baked in old school “Fender Bass” tone that some love and other not so much. I also have a GK mb112, while it’s fine for smaller and accompanying an acoustic type of gig, I wouldn’t use it in a full band. Any of the other GK combos are great, a 115, 210 or 212 would be plenty and sound really good…however they are a bit pricey. Look for used. I’ve had a GK MB212-II for several years now, easy to haul around, sounds real good and plenty of headroom.

thanks man, do you think the Fender Rumble in 200 Watts would be loud enough for my needs? Hard to find 500 Watt Rumbles second hand for me

 

[FirewalZ]

thanks man, do you think the Fender Rumble in 200 Watts would be loud enough for my needs? Hard to find 500 Watt Rumbles second hand for me

I only had the 500…. But that’s an “it depends” type of answer. A band that’s even moderately loud, you may be pushing it a bit with a 200 watt Rumble. Others can chime in here.

 

[Killing Floor]

 

[Yahboy]

Hartke KB15, louder and tight-solid tone than Rumble 200/115, meanwhile it 250watts output can get as loud as Rumble 500/210 combo.

 

[aus_bass]

thanks man, do you think the Fender Rumble in 200 Watts would be loud enough for my needs? Hard to find 500 Watt Rumbles second hand for me

Plus... the Rumble 200 is only going to be 140w, without an extension cab. Even the Rumble 500 is only 350w on its own. The 500 is what you want. IMHO, YMMV, etc.

 

[BAG]

am using a Sans Amp Bass Driver into a DI currently, don’t always want to rely on a soundy for bass in the monitors

With the Sansamp you could just get yourself a powered FOH speaker. Out of the Bass Driver into the PA speaker and still DI to the FOH.
Alternatively, the GK112 should do well enough as a monitor or, if the budget allows the GK212 would be more than you need for most gigs... even without pa support.

 

[Ggaa]

thanks man, do you think the Fender Rumble in 200 Watts would be loud enough for my needs? Hard to find 500 Watt Rumbles second hand for me

Used a Rumble 200 head for several years with 1 or 2 GK 115s. Plenty of headroom and good tone control. Rumble 800 combo should be fine(using Rumble 800 head with GKs now).

 

[Al Kraft]

thanks man, do you think the Fender Rumble in 200 Watts would be loud enough for my needs? Hard to find 500 Watt Rumbles second hand for me

Just be careful not to overfocus on a single rating. An efficient 15" combo at 200 Watts can sound significantly louder and offer more headroom than say a 12" combo at twice the wattage. Doubling Watts doesn't double your sound level with all other parameters kept constant.

Having enough power but more speaker area, and higher speaker sensitivity will get you more than doubling power and losing something in one or both of the other two areas IME. It's obviously more complex than this, but generally speaker area and higher cab/speaker sensitivity buys you more than even a lot of extra Watts.

 

[Bassdoggydogg]

Hi guys I need some help selecting a live gigging bass combo amp. I am primarily a guitarist but have a tour of bass gigs coming up and struggling to select an appropriate bass combo.

I am looking at something that isn’t too expensive but will be reasonably loud and sound half decent.

I have been looking at the following options:
- Fender Rumble 200 or 500W
- GK 112 Mk2

Looking forward to hearing your recommendations

I'd go with the 500. I've owned both and tbh the 200 combo doesn't get that loud by itself, although the tone is a little better. You got a great preamp though (the sansamp), if you pair that with another mild overdrive pedal you'll have a golden tone with any rig. I'd for sure go with the 500 though.

 

[MattyJman]

I'd go with the 500. I've owned both and tbh the 200 combo doesn't get that loud by itself, although the tone is a little better. You got a great preamp though (the sansamp), if you pair that with another mild overdrive pedal you'll have a golden tone with any rig. I'd for sure go with the 500 though.

Thanks guys I think 500 Watts is going to be the way to go for me also.
Any advice on the 350 Watt Rumble? There is one selling second hand near me, just haven’t heard a lot about them.