Delberthot Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 (edited) Unhappy at my sound and looking for a change I have sold both my Shuttle and my Schroeder 1212L. When I first began playing seriously I had a Trace 7210H and a 1048H cab and it put out plenty of power and I quite liked the sound. A couple of years later and I enter my 'Flea' period where I sell the lot and buy myself a GK 800RB, using a Trace 1153 with a Celestion 300w driver replacing the original - I also bought myself an all black Stingray 5 string as well. This setup was smaller as I was now just using it as a backline since we now had a PA. After a particularly loud gig and being unable to hear myself, I sell everything and start from scratch with firstly: Ashdown EVO500 something or other head and 2 ABM115 cabs - the most indistinct muddy sound I've ever heard - possibly only fish at the bottom of the sea could hear the notes produced. Hartke HA5500 & one of the Ashdown cabs - rubbish. GK700RBII & Schroeder1212L - great sound, bags of power Shuttle & Schroeder 1212L - reasonable sound, bags of power. My predicament is this: I want to buy myself preferrably a combo, weight is unimportant, that i can use primarily as a monitor using my cab stand. I have this pointing up directly at me as I don't plan on doing pub gigs without a PA anymore. I'm not sure if I want something that I can add an extra cab to if such a scenario comes up and I don't want to have to spend a fortune for something that I 'might' add onto for the occasional gig. I have absolutely no idea how much power I need - I like to be able to hear myself and generally point my cab away from the rest of the band so that i can have it at a volume I like without upsetting them. My guitarist is very quiet, the vocal monitors are nowhere near me but I do have a loud drummer. My original trace was 200w as far as I remember and I've managed to get up to 600w over the last 15 years. The extra power was to cope with being in a band with no PA support so I have no idea how much power I actually need. I don't want to buy more than I need either. My preferred makes are Trace & Gallien as I have had good results in the past, most other makes are an unknown entity to me. I don't want anything by Markbass or Genz. I don't mind buying new or second hand, obviously I'll get more second hand. I could spend up to £1200 if I needed to but if a 10 year old Trace combo for £200 will suffice then I'd rather get that and bank the rest. I want something with a bit of meat as that was what I found lacking in the Schroeder. BTW, what is the life expectancy of a transistor amp before they start getting unreliable? So far on my list have been: GK1001 Neo 2x12" GK2001 GK Neo1x12" GK NEo 2x12" GK1001RB II GK700RB II Trace 715 Trace 7215 - old model from the late 90s that I've spotted - 300w Trace 1528 2x15" cab Trace 1048H Trace 1153 Trace 2103H Trace 1518 Various new Trace combos I'm going demented as I have ebsolutely no idea what I need. Edited August 28, 2009 by Delberthot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemmywinks Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 Sounds like you were pretty happy with the GK and Schroeder! Why do you just want a combo, for portability and convenience? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TGEvans Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 One of the newer boogie combos possibly? If not, cab wise i suggest you look for the aguilar 12's.awesome,big sound.t Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 Get the V-Type combo which Tinman is selling. Awesome combo which will give you a mix of Trace and GK tones and is fookin loud Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 You haven't tried a Markbass amp and a Compact. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 .... or Markbass and Bergantino. Also if you can hear Aguilar you might be very impressed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 I was going to say that the most striking amp/combo I have played recently is the Markbass 210 combo.. I thought I would hate it and even refused it on a gig..but it is great... Too big for my car.... and pug ugly..well, that description is OTT.. but a GREAT combo, IMV.. Just plug in and 5 secs of twiddling and you are GOOD to go... add a 15 and you have a 500watt rig for the larger gigs, if needs must but, I see you don't like them... oh well... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexclaber Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 How long before the Compact on the Northern tour reaches you? Couple of big strips of velcro and any amp you like, done! Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 (edited) I'd say just get the 1001RBII and match it up with a GK Neo 2x12 and you'll be sorted, but obviously I'm biased. I've got 2 but I only realy use one and I prefer the tone and volume I get from using the one. Edited August 28, 2009 by Josh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted August 28, 2009 Author Share Posted August 28, 2009 I've had a look at the V-type combo but didn't know if it'd be loud enough. The main reason for a combo is that I like simple - I have my cab on my cab stand at an angle and would like to have everything sitting together. With the GK & Schroeder, I had the cab on the stand and the amp in its rack on a keyboard stand and it took up a lot of room - space is another consideration as well for getting a combo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexclaber Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 Now that I've got one of these little micro-amps I can see the appeal of a couple bent bits of aluminium and some bolts to clamp it onto a cab, Genz Benz combo-stylee, especially if you're one for tilting your rig. I shall investigate the possibilities... Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted August 28, 2009 Author Share Posted August 28, 2009 you've o idea how long it took me to find the correct size allen screws for the Shuttle - 10/32" if I remember corectly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexclaber Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 [quote name='Delberthot' post='583935' date='Aug 28 2009, 07:21 PM']you've o idea how long it took me to find the correct size allen screws for the Shuttle - 10/32" if I remember corectly[/quote] Well it shouldn't be that hard for me to do. All I need is some aluminium stock, bolts, something to thread the bolts through, and something to cushion the amp when it's being gripped. Then I can offer them them as an optional extra, in various sizes to fit the different thickness micro-amps. It's an idea I've been kicking around for a while... Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golchen Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 Your thread title remind me of that old joke: "mummy, mummy, I'm going round in circles!" "be quiet or I'll nail your other foot to the floor ....." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alien Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 [quote name='alexclaber' post='583927' date='Aug 28 2009, 07:14 PM']Now that I've got one of these little micro-amps I can see the appeal of a couple bent bits of aluminium and some bolts to clamp it onto a cab, Genz Benz combo-stylee, especially if you're one for tilting your rig. I shall investigate the possibilities... Alex[/quote] Shouldn't be a problem with the Big One - you could tie it off to the top handle easily enough. A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whynot Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 For monitoring issues as well as a very versatile rig I would consider the TC RH450 + RS212 and RS210. Too much info to list here so worth checking out the TC website. Also prices have come down a little since first introduced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted August 29, 2009 Share Posted August 29, 2009 [quote name='Delberthot' post='583916' date='Aug 28 2009, 07:01 PM']I've had a look at the V-type combo but didn't know if it'd be loud enough.[/quote] It kept up with 2 Marshall Mode 4s (thru 4x12 cabs) live when I owned it. Believe me, it's very loud! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted August 29, 2009 Author Share Posted August 29, 2009 Its also quite a bit far away from me as well, which is the other thing I thought about. I can't imagine postage would be very cheap - I posted a trace TVT9 guitar combo to someone and it cost about £70 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted August 29, 2009 Author Share Posted August 29, 2009 I think I've managed to narrow it down to something by Trace Elliot. I would like a 7210H combo like I used to have or similar but would love one of the valve jobbies such as the Twin or 1225V. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.