Looking for a good 2x10 combo

bob_atherton · Post by **bob_atherton** » Mon May 02, 2005 10:22 pm

I use an Ashdown ABM 500 head with a ABM 2x10 cab, sounds great. I use an extension 1 x 15 cab for larger gigs, also sounds great.

I do have an unhealthy interest in the Ampeg porta range though.... I really like the idea of their porta 250 amp with the 2x10 cab. It is so light, ideal for some of the small jazz gigs that I play, but have never heard one.

Oh yes, I had a go with a Mesa 1 x 15 combo the other day with my V63 and it sounded fab. It was like no other 15" combo that I have ever played , very tight, more like a 4x10 sound. Had a real good vintage valve sound. They also make a 12" combo that I didn't have time to try.

throw_this_away · Post by **throw_this_away** » Thu May 05, 2005 4:51 pm

I am becoming partial to the SWR "baby baby blue" 120W 1x10" combo... tube preamp and lots of great features in a small high powered combo... good for home/rehersal... and I could link it with my 15" for some sweet sterio effect at medium sized gigs.

The nemesis 2x10" is another good option... I have heard only good things from them. Probably closer to my price point right now since I just got my ric.

I'm still keeping my eye out for the Tubeworks 7100 1x10" though...

jps · Post by **jps** » Fri May 06, 2005 2:03 am

I love my Baby Blue combo with the 2 8" Celestions and the 5" Bag End mid/tweeter in it.

86kubicki · Post by **86kubicki** » Fri May 06, 2005 3:08 am

Anybody use the Ashdown ABM combo with the 15" speaker? I gave one a quick spin a couple of weeks ago and thought it was nice - loved the sub-harmonizer!

byu · Post by **byu** » Sat May 07, 2005 10:24 am

The Eden Nemesis stuff is great. If you've got a bit more cash, the Eden DC210XLT Metro is the loudest combo out there.
Power: 8Ohms/4Ohms/2Ohms 300/500/750W RMS
2 x 10" + Tweeter.
http://www.eden-electronics.com/products/combos/indiv/metro.asp

bob_atherton · Post by **bob_atherton** » Sat May 07, 2005 10:35 am

Steve, I've got the ABM 15" combo and it sounds good but when I play with the band I wish that I had got the 2x10 combo. So I now use a 500 head with an ABM 2x10, plus I use a 2nd 2x10 for larger gigs. I turn the tweeter off on the bottom cab, sounds fantastic...!

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Sat May 07, 2005 12:05 pm

I was at a music store today and saw an Ashdown MAG C115-300 1 x 15" combo. I was in a bit of a hurry and didn't have time to try it. I'd rather try it with my own basses anyway. No Rick basses in the shop, but they did have 3 new Rick guitars. Since it's cabinet looked a bit shallow, I wondered how well it would handle a B string. I might go back there next weekend with a couple of 5 stringers and try it out.
I think ABM is the top of the line series from Ashdown, but the MAG did have a very nice price for a 300 watt / 15" combo.
They also had the MAG 2x10" combo that I might try out too.

bob_atherton · Post by **bob_atherton** » Wed May 11, 2005 9:59 pm

Slight rush of blood to my head...

I've ordered an Ampeg Portabass 250 amp and the 2 x 10 cab that goes with it. I got this just to rehearse with the band and maybe the odd small jazz gig, though I don't think it will cut the mustard like my Ashdown kit.

Will report back....

rob · Post by **rob** » Thu May 12, 2005 4:09 am

I'd like to try out the Fender 400 Pro. It's a nice looking 2x10 combo that is said to put out 350 watts into 4 ohms, 500 at 2 ohmes. Has anyone tried one of these?

bob_atherton · Post by **bob_atherton** » Sat May 14, 2005 11:45 am

I hope this doesn’t end up like some hi-hi review. I got my Ampeg Portabass 250 head & 2x10 cab yesterday.

I quickly put the amp on top of the cab used the supplied cable to connect them, plugged in my V63 and …, well, was a bit under whelmed.

It sounded a bit flat, fuzzy and not how I remember it in the local store. I played around with the tone controls and got a bit closer to the sound that I remembered, but was not really doing the business.

I tried the head with my Ashdown 2x10 and that sounded almost worse. I then tried the Ashdown 500 head with the Ampeg cab and that wasn’t really floating my boat either. I then thought that I should use my old cable from the amp to cab. The one supplied was a real cheapie, but I thought that It couldn’t make that much difference…. could it?

Holy smoke, talk about chalk & cheese. The amp/cab combo was now sounding & feeling the way it did in the store. The bass now had quality, depth, harmonic richness & a whole load of other good stuff that it wasn’t even hinting at with the other cable.

I am now very happy with the new kit. It will be perfect for rehearsing & for smaller gigs. It sounds almost valve like in its ‘give’ and tone, more so than the middle range Ampeg stuff IMHO. I might use it for a recording session that the band are doing in a couple of weeks.

Anyway the bottom line is through away the free cable you get with Ampeg kit and use a good quality one instead. I honestly was stunned at the difference it made.

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Sat May 14, 2005 12:41 pm

Bob, it's good that you got to the bottom of a frustrating dilemma. Throw that cable away so you don't accidently take it to a gig instead of the good one. Then also get a back-up cable for your good one.

bob_atherton · Post by **bob_atherton** » Sat May 14, 2005 9:58 pm

Thanks Joey. I've just noticed a host of typos in my posting, well I was tired. The hi-hi should have been hi-fi...!

Anyway, I'm happy with the new kit.

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Sun May 15, 2005 5:34 am

LOL, Bob, no one puts more typos in there posts than me!

kbhag · Post by **kbhag** » Mon May 16, 2005 10:12 am

SWR Super Redhead's a nice combo amp.

bob_atherton · Post by **bob_atherton** » Mon May 16, 2005 10:41 am

Funny old thing this guitar and amp/cab compatability issue.

I prefer my Rics with the Ashdown, but prefer my Fender J with the Ampeg...

The spice of life eh...?