ben_hoggard Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 Hi all, relatively new to the forum and looking for some advice... I gig regularly all over Yorkshire, but am sick of carrying round my SWR rig everywhere we go! (And need to save some space in the van too, I have to thank guitarists with stupid amounts of gear for that!) Basically I'd like something with a similar output to what I've got now (SWR workingpro 400 through an SWR Triad cabinet - 400W @ 4 ohms) I've been looking at several lightweight amps, and would like some advice on what to go for. Here's a list of what I've been thinking about: Markbass Little Mark III Markbass Little Mark Tube Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 Gallien Krueger MB2-500 Epifunky 300 I'm quite keen on the Genz Benz stuff from what I've read in reviews and the like, but because I'm in Yorkshire and don't have a car at the moment it's a bit of a problem finding somewhere to try them out. Also, advice on cabs I could use with any of these would be helpful also! Thanks in advance, Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 What kind of tone are you after? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crez5150 Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 Yeah it does depend on the tone you're after..... I tried all of the above but the GK MB2 500 won hands down for me on tone.... seemed to have much more body than the others for my needs... this was through Aguilar 112 cabs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassbloke Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 I used to gig with an SWR Bass 350 and a pair of Triads. Lovely Hi Fi tone, but they aren't at all efficient and I frequently found myself buried by the rest of the band. Even when I 'upgraded' the SWR to a Hartke HA7000 I still found myself struggling. I think you'd be very surprised by what you could achieve with a decent 2 x 10, so maybe consider opting for a rig with 2 x 10 and treat yourself to either a 2nd 2 x 10 or 1x15 for larger gigs. Or, start with the just the head and single cab. I'd be very tempted to try the TC Electronics RH450 and 2x10. Compact and very versatile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 Keep the amp, swap out the cab and if it down to space, tell the gts it is their problem too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicman20 Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 What tone are you aiming for? IMO, out of those amps, the LM3 is the winner. Best solid build quality, solid low end, sweet highs, Second I'd choose the LMTube, but the Tube doesn't add that much. The GK is apparently very nice, but it is a bright amp. Markbass wins hands down on build quality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crez5150 Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 I think you really need to go try a few amps out for yourself as then you will only discover exactly what your looking for.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 Keep the amp and look at replacing the cab. My selection in order of preference would be a Barefacedbass Compact, 2 Aguilar DB112's or a Markbass 410. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben_hoggard Posted April 16, 2010 Author Share Posted April 16, 2010 Thanks for the responses guys, think I'm gonna take your advice crez5150 and go try some out! Only problem is that the nearest music shop to me that sells any decent gear is about 1 and a half hours away and I don't have any mode of transport... unfortunately the town I live in has literally no music shops! I'm tempted to keep the amp, but to be honest I'd quite like to try something new - and lighter! I've never owned any valve heads but I've been impressed with a few some of my friends have - although that's an SVT-2, an SVT-3 and a Mesa MPulse 600, so rather pricey stuff. Because I am at the moment in a rock covers band I'm looking for something with balls that can contend with my hard hitting drummer, but I play a lot of other styles so I'd want something versatile too. Maybe I'm asking too much... bassbloke, I know what you mean - for a 400W cab you'd expect the Triad to be a little more in-your-face, and for such an unwieldy cabinet it's a bit annoying, frankly. I did have a blast through an acquaintances Epifani 212 and was impressed by the loudness of it - as well as having a really nice tone. I was wondering does anyone have any experience of the Genz Benz Neo 212, as someone recommended them the other day? I'm in two minds about the Markbass gear. I had my heart set on a cmd 102p, went to the shop to play about with it and it wasn't right for me at all. I did try the Little Mark 250 and was very impressed though, but again I'm wanting to have a play with valve amps, seeing as though the last two SS amps I had before the SWR had to be repaired within 18 months of buying them brand new Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doddy Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 I really like the Genz Benz stuff. I've used a Neo-Pak head (forerunner to the Shuttle) for a few years now. If you are happy with the SWR stuff,why not check out their new lightweight range? They do the Headlight which is a 400 watt head,the Amplight is an additional 400 watt power amp,and the Golight series of cabs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben_hoggard Posted April 16, 2010 Author Share Posted April 16, 2010 (edited) Thanks, I'll check them out - although I'm not madly keen on the SWR tone any more if I'm honest! Edited April 16, 2010 by ben_hoggard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanbass1 Posted April 18, 2010 Share Posted April 18, 2010 The Markbass heads would be my choice from the list you posted - also, try a TC Electronics bass head, they are rather good..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thumperbob 2002 Posted April 20, 2010 Share Posted April 20, 2010 Markbass heads are superb- but Schroeder 1212L cabs are really really loud and light- and small- i tend to just use the amp flat anyway so mainly for power Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted April 20, 2010 Share Posted April 20, 2010 [quote name='ben_hoggard' post='808717' date='Apr 16 2010, 06:00 PM']I'm in two minds about the Markbass gear. I had my heart set on a cmd 102p, went to the shop to play about with it and it wasn't right for me at all. I did try the Little Mark 250 and was very impressed though...[/quote] Which just goes to reinforce the importance of trying gear out before you buy! Even reviews can be misleading as we all hear tone somewhat differently.... I feel your pain though about the distance of decent music shops. Oh for a BassDirect in the North! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicman20 Posted April 20, 2010 Share Posted April 20, 2010 Soundslive now have Markbass, and quite a lot of it, should you want to test it out (For Conan) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBunny Posted April 20, 2010 Share Posted April 20, 2010 [quote name='crez5150' post='808426' date='Apr 16 2010, 02:11 PM']I think you really need to go try a few amps out for yourself as then you will only discover exactly what your looking for....[/quote] +1 even at 90mins each way, it would be time well spent. The alternative is buying what someone else suggests, you don't like it, sell at a loss, buy what someone...... The sound you are after is very personal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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