What Combo Amp Would You Buy?

[Bighouse]

Let's just say you wanted to upgrade your old Peavey combo amp you bought long ago when you knew next to nothing about amps and such to a much nicer combo amp...something for everyday use, but that could, at times, fit right into a garage band space for rehersals and coffee house venue spaces. And, you had a limit of around $1,000 for said combo amp...what would you buy?

[jps]

Markbass!

[rickenbrother]

I'm pretty sure that if I was set to buy a new combo amp that I'd buy a Markbass.

[berth]

I bought both a '74 Rickenbacker B-115 and a '86 Rickenbacker RB-120 second hand. The last one would fit your description most I think. The amp has a very pleasant sound and could be used to practice with a Rock band. It is very heavy though.

[marc61]

markbass!

[teb]

I'm in the minority here, but I bought a Markbass 121P and tried it with five different basses (Gibson, Hofner, Rickenbacker, Pedulla, Hagstrom) and didn't think it sounded good with any of them. Then I tried hooking the amp section up to a couple of my other cabinets to see if the single 12 in the MB was what was bugging me. Didn't like that either and returned the amp. I eventually picked up a little 30 lb. Traynor Dynabass 100 combo with a single 15 in it that I like much better for small venue stuff. I would still eventually like to find a two-channel head to replace my ancient Acoustic 140 for one of my stereo basses and the Markbass LMK might be a good possibility as the tone settings I need for that bass are very simple to achieve (one quite bright, one very deep, running at the same time) but their little combos just don't seem to do what I need. Your mileage may vary but after reading all the praise for the Markbass amps here on the forum, I was really psyched-up to get one and really disappointed when I actually did. Would I have liked one of their combos with twin tens or a single fifteen better? I don't know. It would have been nice to line them all up and see, but that wasn't possible at the time. I liked everything about the 121P - except the sound of it. In the mean time, I've owned four recent Traynor amps and really liked them so I thought I'd give one of their smallish bass combos a shot. For a relatively inexpensive amp, I'm quite impressed.

[woodyng]

i also had the cmd121p combo--loved it! i never got to hook it up to a 2nd cabinet,but it did everything i would want of an amp,and really brought out the actual sound of my various basses better than anything i've used before. i did sell it,as i haven't had much need lately for it,and consequently found a great deal on a scratch n dent micromark on musicians friend,which works fine for bedroom/acoustic get togethers. prior to the markbass, i had a mesa boogie walkabout scout combo,which had a great sounding cabinet,but i was not crazy about the amp---i would love to hear a markbass little mark head with the scout 1-12" cabinet.........

[jps]

I have been very happy with my Minimark. All my basses sound great through it, and it does get much louder than one would think for such a small amp, especially, with my EV B-110 cabinet added to it.

[cassius987]

Markbass or Ashdown 2x10.

[bigbajo60]

Would and did buy a Mesa Boogie Walkabout Scout 12. Lots of tubey character in that preamp... loads of bottom end from that little cab!

[Bighouse]

Would and did buy a Mesa Boogie Walkabout Scout 12. Lots of tubey character in that preamp... loads of bottom end from that little cab!

Nice specs on that amp- like the detachable head...ever run it to other cabs?

[VRICKY63]

Hartke Hy Drive. Will be my next small gig combo. I've been using a Hartke Kickback 12 for 10 years I think, maybe longer ? I really like my Traynor YBA200 so would be interested in the smaller Traynor stuff.

[bottom4]

Would and did buy a Mesa Boogie Walkabout Scout 12. Lots of tubey character in that preamp... loads of bottom end from that little cab!

+1 I've got one love it will never go away and only weighs 13.5 lbs You should hear my new ABG through it

[johnallg]

You should hear my new ABG through it

Oh Andy!!! Will you quit rubbing it in?!?!

When do we get to hear a sound clip?

[bottom4]

Sorry about that John! I just need to stay in one place for a little while - been doing way too much (business) traveling lately! Hopefully real soon - I promise! It is killer though