should i get a combo or head and cab

N

nahova

Apr 22, 2024
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#1
I am going to college for bass, and i want to upgrade my amp from a fender rumble 15. I would like it to be something i can gig and practice with while still being cheapish because i dont have the money to drop more than 1k on it. I would probably want either 10", 12", or 15" speakers, and i have no idea about wattage or ohms.
I hope i gave enough information!
 
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#3
1k is quite a bit actually. For budget and simplicity, I would opt for a combo. Upvote for the rumbles. The new Ampeg rocket series has been positively received too. I would recommend 200W+ so that you could at least do small gigs down the line.

I tried the rumble 500 and found it to be really boomy for what its worth. I have a rumble 40 and quite like it. Some people say the rumble 40 sounds better than the rumble 100/200 at equal volume. The 10" gives some clarity I guess. I liked the Ampeg Rocket Bass 30W but found it inflexible. The higher spec'd entries may resolve this.
 
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#4
i probably made it more clear in the initial post, but i would want it to be under 500 dollars preferably, and be able to be stored easily in a music locker, but i do think the fender 40 would be the best for me.
 
#7
Today's higher-powered combos are great, and usually have a solid Direct Out (xlr output) included for sending a good signal direct to FOH, etc.

I tried and did not jive with the Rumbles myself and prefer the flavor of the Ampeg RB line. That's just personal preference, though. The 115 or 210 version of any current, quality combo (Fender, Ampeg, GK, Hartke, Ashdown, Boss, etc.) will work great for solo practice or with a band, and could easily carry most club gigs.

While I currently run separates for shows, I do band practices with just the RB110. (50w, 10" speaker) I wouldn't recommend that as someone's ONLY amp, but am impressed with how it keeps up with a drummer and 2 guitars.

$1k can get you a LOT in the combo world.

My pick, if I were buying an amp today for my own purposes, would be either an Ampeg RB210 or the RB115. I think either would handily cover 75% of my gigs right now, and 100% of my practice situations for under $700 brand new.

For something a little different, I'd like to try out a GK MB112. They're pricier, at $800 for a 200w 112 combo, but I think you might end up with a little more clarity with the GK, based on my experience with my Legacy 800 and Neo 112II cabs.

Are you planning on using any preamp, eq, or effects pedals? Some of the bigger combos come with more tone control and overdrive options built-in. If you want those, fine, but realize that you can always toss a pedal or two (compressor, eq, drive/overdrives, etc) upstream to achieve the sounds you want from just about anything.

One other idea here to mention: the more "color" or pronounced of a specific tonal profile a given amp has, it may be harder for that amp achieve DIFFERENT sounds if you are trying to jump genres, etc. If that is something you are expecting to do in college, you may want to find a neutral sounding amp as a starting point. I feel like both the Ampeg and Fender amps have a pretty strong "baked-in" sound. That's not necessarily bad, just something to think of. I've found most current Hartke amps to be a little more neutral.

I'd just go try out as many as you can and pick what you had the most fun playing. Good luck and let us know what you choose!
 
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#9
nahova said:
i probably made it more clear in the initial post, but i would want it to be under 500 dollars preferably, and be able to be stored easily in a music locker, but i do think the fender 40 would be the best for me.
Click to expand...

Go for the 200W offers then. To be fair, Fender and Ampeg aren't the only offerings too. GK, Hartke, Ashdown, Boss and Orange all have bass combos.

I've tried the orange crush 50 and found it boomy. Thats just my opinion though. The blend-able dirt and parametric mids are cool though.

I've tried the boss bass katana 110 but didn't bond with it. This would definitely be the most versatile of the offerings but has a learning curve.

Haven't tried Hartke or Ashdown.
 
#11
I have a little MarkBass 121P - 1 x 12", 14" cube, 32 lbs. That little sucker is SO LOUD I can play any indoor gig with it at half volume. AND, when I connect my extension cab it puts out 500W! THAT, for me is the best of both worlds. No need for the complexity of carrying 2 pcs around. The 121P is for sure the best thing MarkBass has ever made, and puts all other small amps to shame. You can find a used one for well within your budget. Rumbles are good, but the MB is much better.
 
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#12
Ampeg RB 210 is the first one that comes to my mind.

OTHO, if you can find a used GK combo rather new with a single 15", that would be better still.

Anything smaller than that might not be enough for a gig, especially if you play rock with a hard hitting drummer. It takes a minimum of 2x10" or one 15" to make sure you won’t get lost in the mix.

Oh, and 200 watts is the bare minimum no matter the speakers.
 
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#14
nahova said:
i probably made it more clear in the initial post, but i would want it to be under 500 dollars preferably, and be able to be stored easily in a music locker, but i do think the fender 40 would be the best for me.
Click to expand...

How big is the music locker?

Any chance you could contact a bassist who goes to the school and ask what they use/do?
 
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#15
100% of the time I gig with a separate head and cab. It is much more versatile and allows me to grow & change cabs, use backline cabs, plus in a pinch when I or someone else blows a cab, we can pull something together in the venue or amongst ourselves to pull off a successful gig. A dead or useless combo is a one trick pony...
 
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#17
Bassamatic said:
I have a little MarkBass 121P - 1 x 12", 14" cube, 32 lbs. That little sucker is SO LOUD I can play any indoor gig with it at half volume. AND, when I connect my extension cab it puts out 500W! THAT, for me is the best of both worlds. No need for the complexity of carrying 2 pcs around. The 121P is for sure the best thing MarkBass has ever made, and puts all other small amps to shame. You can find a used one for well within your budget. Rumbles are good, but the MB is much better.
Click to expand...
NEW CMD121P combos on SALE at Guitar Center for $749! I can't think of a better combo at that price point.
 
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#18
Really also vouch fort the CMD 121 Mini or the new ones. They are tiny combos and are good. Especially for your goals. You can test them at most likely at a GC if needed. You can find them new or on sale all the time and I am sure you can probably get a deal with GC if needed.
 
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#19
I would recommend a head and cab set up. I would go over to the classified section and snag that Genzler BA10-2 that's listed for $400. It's been there for a month, you can probably get it and the head bracket shipped for that price. Then I'd yell at Greg @RocketMusic and get a smoking deal on a Genzler Magellan 350 head. This will give a small cab that will more than likely fit in your locker and a head that you can stuff into your backpack to use for silent practice (headphones). Later, add a second cab that you can use with the other for gigs.
 
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#20
For the sort of logistics that a music college implies (e.g. possibly moving between locations one or more times a day), a combo would be my choice. You want to minimize setup/teardown and the number of items you have to schlep to/from a car or between locations.

At $1k, the world is pretty much your oyster. On the more expensive end of the scale are the Phil Jones BG 400 & 450. You didn't mention if you're playing electric or upright (or both). A lot of upright players seem to like the 400, since it's dual channel and you can easily move back and forth between electric and upright. It also weighs about 40 lbs, while the 450 is closer to 30 lbs. The 450 is newer (and more expensive), but you can find them used already on Reverb for $1k-ish.

I'm just putting this out there for consideration, as I have no direct experience with these yet. I've just been eyeing them lately. Some people don't care for the Phil Jones stuff, others love it. There are certainly less expensive combos that will do the job, and I would have no problem using a Rumble in this situation, especially given the potential wear and tear on one's gear in college situation.
 
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