Combo BASS Amps. fender, bugera , crate)

[Bass4real]

I have 3 combo amps now , I've never been a big fan of small things , my crate has a problem , my bugera took 2 months for something to fk up , fender rumble hardly ever gets used . But it doesn't have any problems ( yet ).

If course I've never played live on a combo .amp, but I've seen in the last few years, bands using combo amps on stage .

Bass needs  2 - 15 or 18 inch speakers in  ported cabinets . I've never owned a bass amp with 8 - 10 - 12 in speakers  , I've heard 12 in speakers that didn't sound so bad but no speakers can give a BASS the sound that a few 15s and 18s will , that ground shaking underpass along with Crystal clear tonal clarity.

Even my combos have 15s 

Little amps with little speakers are for a practice space or a bedroom not a stage.

Doesn't matter what brand of combo amp it is .

In the U.S. there's a saying 

" Bigger doesn't  mean better .

Not true when it comes to Bass Amps.

I will never buy another combo BASS amp .

If you're a bass player and your band has a show to play .

Go big or go home.

 But

Please don't play on stage through a combo BASS amp.    : ? )

 

Nothing personal folks 

Opinions are like ***holes everyone has one and they all stink .

 

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[itu]

I have done hundreds of gigs with a Glockenklang Soul combo (2x10") without any issues. I also use the head with an alusonic 2x12" cab. If you have a right tool, I don't see a reason why you couldn't use it.

 

Last time I had an issue with this combo was when I stuck a hole to a speaker by accident. I contacted G and I bought a new set of speakers from them. Problem solved.

 

Yes, a Mesa 400+ would be a nice amp, but it weighs a metric ton, and is valve/tube = delicate. Why bother?

[casapete]

Not sure I get your drift on this.

 

Used my Rumble 500 2x10 combo for many very loud gigs, and sounds great.

 

In the 1980’s I was lucky enough to own an Ampeg SVT rig with 8x10 cabinet.

An industry standard for the last 5+ decades, I’ve never heard anyone say they

were lacking in bottom end either. How many people these days use 2x15 or

2x18 cabinets I wonder? 😯

[pete.young]

[casapete]

2 hours ago, pete.young said:

Ah, sorry. 🤐

[tauzero]

2 hours ago, pete.young said:

 

Indeed, he's hit the ignore list here.

[martthebass]

For years I used 15" and convinced myself that I needed drivers that size for 'my sound'. Well age creeps up on us all and downsizing to 12" was required.  Can't say I've had an issue filling the low end, even in fairly big rooms with 2 x 12".  

[Boodang]

I'm of the opinion that 2 x 10 can't push enough air to keep up with heavy hitting drummer (no matter how many watts you stick up it). A 1 x 12 is ok for jazz upright and that's about it. 4 x 10 has punch and 1 x 15 depth, I like both but mostly a 1 x 15.

I had an SWR Redhead once, lovely combo, great sound. Went to a rehearsal with a new band, the drummer averagely heavy hitter, the guitarist had a Fender 1 x 12 combo..... couldn't hear the bass. Got another 2 x 10 SWR cab, a bit better but I've found two 2 x 10 cabs not as loud as a single 4 x 10. 

A you say, bass requires you to push air. I've got an old Peavey TNT 1 x 15 that sounds nasty but does the job (speaker size over watts in this case) and I've had two TE 300watt 15" combos; one with no ports, smaller but not loud enough, the one with ports did do the job. My SWR Baby Blue II I still have and use in the studio but recently out of sheer laziness have been using it on small gigs. 2 x 8" and was at its max to cope, but cope it did until it just died mid gig one night and the amp section is fried. Still a good valve preamp though!

[spencer.b]

You know some venues have a PA and they put the bass through it?

[fretmeister]

This brings back memories of that one time, at band camp, when I did 3 tons of LSD and after it had worn off, asked my friends, "So... did I do anything stupid...?"

[Leonard Smalls]

On 06/01/2025 at 08:34, Bass4real said:

I have 3 combo amps now

 

On 06/01/2025 at 08:34, Bass4real said:

I will never buy another combo BASS amp

 

You bought three to come to that conclusion? And that they come in all shapes and sizes for a wide variety of uses, with the added benefit of convenience?

Personally I prefer my 4x10 cab, sometimes with additional 2x10 on top because I feel that they convey more than just a vague one note rumble.

I wouldn't necessarily go as small as a PJB cab, but I have a pair of hifi speakers that use long-throw Peerless 6.5" drivers (1/side!) to produce a very creditable -3dB point of 28Hz at sufficient volume....

So in the same vein, while my baby tuned Abarth with piddley 1.4l engine isn't quite as quick as a US muscle car in a straight line, it'll kick one up the Ariss in decent twisties!

[SH73]

"I've heard 12 in speakers that didn't sound so bad but no speakers can give a BASS the sound that a few 15s and 18s will , that ground shaking underpass along with Crystal clear tonal clarity."

 

Yes

[la bam]

I'm so so happy with my katana 210 combo. Not just a combo, but everything anyone needs. 3 amps to choose from, every effect, every option for routing, everything, absolutely everything..... 

 

 

Apart from a tuner..... Doh! 

[jezzaboy]

13 hours ago, Boodang said:

I'm of the opinion that 2 x 10 can't push enough air to keep up with heavy hitting drummer (no matter how many watts you stick up it). A 1 x 12 is ok for jazz upright and that's about it. 4 x 10 has punch and 1 x 15 depth, I like both but mostly a 1 x 15.

I had an SWR Redhead once, lovely combo, great sound. Went to a rehearsal with a new band, the drummer averagely heavy hitter, the guitarist had a Fender 1 x 12 combo..... couldn't hear the bass. Got another 2 x 10 SWR cab, a bit better but I've found two 2 x 10 cabs not as loud as a single 4 x 10. 

A you say, bass requires you to push air. I've got an old Peavey TNT 1 x 15 that sounds nasty but does the job (speaker size over watts in this case) and I've had two TE 300watt 15" combos; one with no ports, smaller but not loud enough, the one with ports did do the job. My SWR Baby Blue II I still have and use in the studio but recently out of sheer laziness have been using it on small gigs. 2 x 8" and was at its max to cope, but cope it did until it just died mid gig one night and the amp section is fried. Still a good valve preamp though!

Don`t agree with you re the 10 inch speakers. I play in an acdc tribute band with a heavy hitting drummer (a requirement really along with 2 x Marshall bampots) using a Rumble 500 2 x 10 and have never failed to be heard even when not going through the pa. I have used mostly 15 inch speakers in the past and don`t really notice the difference to be honest.

 

But hey, it`s horses for courses, whatever works for you.

Edited January 7 by jezzaboy

[Lozz196]

Yep, the Rumbles have a very deep rich sound to them, at some point I hope to get round to using mine (the 800 v3 combo).