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- Sep 21, 2011
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- I'm just a user/customer that plays gigs. I am not professionally affiliated with any vendor, etc.
Hello! Pardon the necro-bump; saw that you had no replies (only because... I really don't think there's an alternative to the GK MB108 that's as small that could be a good candidate... I'll offer this as an idea - truth be told, it's kinda pricey, but the Markbass Ninja 102-500 is absolutely ***AWESOME*** (I'm SO happy with it!). It's a bit bigger than what you're looking for, but the MAJOR advantage is that it's still small (one-hand carry!), versatile and POWERFUL... I gig with it and have no issues, and it's been awesome at band practice as well. It's almost identical to having a Markbass Little Mark III and a Traveler 102 (2x10) cab... but it's all in one 'box'. I also have another Markbass Traveler 102p cabinet that I couple with this combo... seriously, amazing. The combo itself is definitely not as small as what you are looking for (more than twice larger, I think!), but if ever you were in the hunt for a great combo that's small and light enough to 1-hand carry, but manage rehearsals *as well as gigs*, the MB Ninja 102-500 is a really awesome candidate. Good luck in your search (if after all this time you haven't settled on something)… cheers!
SB106 – Traynor Amps
which is useful, cause you can use it as a head!
but my personal choice is, for quality of sound, in the current configuration
SB110 – Traynor Amps
which is useful, cause you can use it as a head!
but my personal choice is, for quality of sound, in the current configuration
SB110 – Traynor Amps
OP likely has found something...
Anyway, I have a Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0-10t. It's pretty dang small and light, gand go decently low for a 110, and can be separated in under a minute for use as a head OR cab. I have no experience with the 3.0-8t which is even smaller, has the same amp and likely performs as well as the 110, minus a negligible amount of low end.
Both can be a bit scarce on the used market, but are worth waiting for. Plus, I "know" a guy who works on them if they ever need it....
Anyway, I have a Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0-10t. It's pretty dang small and light, gand go decently low for a 110, and can be separated in under a minute for use as a head OR cab. I have no experience with the 3.0-8t which is even smaller, has the same amp and likely performs as well as the 110, minus a negligible amount of low end.
Both can be a bit scarce on the used market, but are worth waiting for. Plus, I "know" a guy who works on them if they ever need it....
Hi , I don't know if it's lighter than the GK but I endorse the Phil Jones Bass Briefcase ..100 watts RMS runs on 12vDC (great for busking and off grid playing) as well as mains power plus you can remove the amp from the cab if you need a fly rig ... I have used mine to practice along with drums and used it as a guitar amp and keys amp...
Quite expensive but it's top quality..
Check out PJB,s website for more on their amps ...
Quite expensive but it's top quality..
Check out PJB,s website for more on their amps ...
My 3.0 10t is my most frequently used amp. Best combo ever!OP likely has found something...
Anyway, I have a Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0-10t. It's pretty dang small and light, gand go decently low for a 110, and can be separated in under a minute for use as a head OR cab. I have no experience with the 3.0-8t which is even smaller, has the same amp and likely performs as well as the 110, minus a negligible amount of low end.
Both can be a bit scarce on the used market, but are worth waiting for. Plus, I "know" a guy who works on them if they ever need it....
Jim Carr
Dr. Jim
- Jan 21, 2006
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- fEARful Kool-Aid dispensing liberal academic card-carrying union member Musicians Local 72-147
Usually, the point of a combo amp is being cheap and utilitarian. Inexpensive, but get's the job done.
If what you are seeking is highest quality available in a combo format, then I'd say find a Mesa Walkabout, or Fathom/Carbine combo. There are Phil Jones, Genzler, AER, and EBS, too.
Since the above Mesa's are no longer manufactured and were quite expensive when new, used is all there is, and same for some of the combo-like GKs 3.0 10t and company. A Genzler Magellan is pretty much a combo like the old GK 3.0 10t. Then there is the upright world of Acoustic Image and the 112 Gallien-Krueger 200mb metal cabinet wonder. With Phil Jones, I've no experience with anything other than his tiniest combos, which are pricey and not much more than practice amps with great preamp and DI sections, IME.
Some combo's are just OK and not so cheap, like the wide array of Markbass and GK combos with 110, 112, 115, 210, and even 212 drivers, and then comes a herd of cheaper OK Ampegs, Peaveys, Hartke, Traynors, Fenders, GC Acoustic, Behringer, and so on, ad infinitum. At some point pretty early on, quality is kind of moot, as the quality legitimately matters less than being cheap and utilitarian. That's just how it is.
IMHO, if you find a good deal on a light high-end used cab (barefaced, audiokinesis, fEARful etc.)—just about anything besides a 410, 610, 810, or 215—you are on your way toward getting something high quality, semi-expensive/cheapish, but still having some of the appeal of a combo due to the small cabinet single driver format.
IME, all one need do is add a used micro head to a light weight used cab, and you can have a rig with all the advantages and superior performance of a high-end combo like a Mesa Fathom, but without the price. A $400 head and $350 cabinet may not sound cheap, but used walkabouts are like $800, used Genzler Magellans are ~$700, and I'll be darned if I can find a used Fathom much under $1800.
If what you are seeking is highest quality available in a combo format, then I'd say find a Mesa Walkabout, or Fathom/Carbine combo. There are Phil Jones, Genzler, AER, and EBS, too.
Since the above Mesa's are no longer manufactured and were quite expensive when new, used is all there is, and same for some of the combo-like GKs 3.0 10t and company. A Genzler Magellan is pretty much a combo like the old GK 3.0 10t. Then there is the upright world of Acoustic Image and the 112 Gallien-Krueger 200mb metal cabinet wonder. With Phil Jones, I've no experience with anything other than his tiniest combos, which are pricey and not much more than practice amps with great preamp and DI sections, IME.
Some combo's are just OK and not so cheap, like the wide array of Markbass and GK combos with 110, 112, 115, 210, and even 212 drivers, and then comes a herd of cheaper OK Ampegs, Peaveys, Hartke, Traynors, Fenders, GC Acoustic, Behringer, and so on, ad infinitum. At some point pretty early on, quality is kind of moot, as the quality legitimately matters less than being cheap and utilitarian. That's just how it is.
IMHO, if you find a good deal on a light high-end used cab (barefaced, audiokinesis, fEARful etc.)—just about anything besides a 410, 610, 810, or 215—you are on your way toward getting something high quality, semi-expensive/cheapish, but still having some of the appeal of a combo due to the small cabinet single driver format.
IME, all one need do is add a used micro head to a light weight used cab, and you can have a rig with all the advantages and superior performance of a high-end combo like a Mesa Fathom, but without the price. A $400 head and $350 cabinet may not sound cheap, but used walkabouts are like $800, used Genzler Magellans are ~$700, and I'll be darned if I can find a used Fathom much under $1800.
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Jim Carr
Dr. Jim
- Jan 21, 2006
- 16,223
- 7,586
- 4,856
- 74
- Disclosures
- fEARful Kool-Aid dispensing liberal academic card-carrying union member Musicians Local 72-147
There's always the option of a powered cab and a pre-amp
Tech 21 have some awesome pre-amps and the powered cab in the link below is worth a look at.. just another option..
Neo-Power Series 6B Cabinet – Phil Jones Bass
Tech 21 have some awesome pre-amps and the powered cab in the link below is worth a look at.. just another option..
Neo-Power Series 6B Cabinet – Phil Jones Bass
I Love my Genz Benz 3.0 8T SO much that I sold it, and then bought it back from the guy I sold it to. I now use it at almost all of my rehearsals. Not sure I could gig with it in a loud cover band. Maybe with good FOH support.