Best SMALL bass combo amp? Worst?

[misa]

I've been using an Ashdown Five-fifteen stack for bedroom level bass playing and for a quick SS guitar amp when I don't feel like cranking up a tube amp. Basic but very responsive EQ controls, and it does the job for me. It has a small footprint and can produce a nice tone at low volume.

[Aslan]

I love the Fender Bassman TV ten, I bought the model with the 12" speaker but they are basically the same. Killer tones in a portable package.

[lpdeluxe]

I have a Genz-Benz Shuttle 3.0-10T, which works well in crowded rooms, and I can add another 10T cabinet for 300W as necessary. At the moment, my relatively small music room has this rig in it:



This is a Mesa/Boogie Walkabout head with two G-B 10Ts. It sounds better than the 3.0, but it's a lot pricier. Since it uses a preamp tube, it also runs warmer -- the Genz-Benz head is all solid state, and stays very cool, if heat is a problem in your room.

[kkurosawa]

Originally Posted by HayekFan

Ampeg B-50R

I third that. When I retired from bass playing and sold everything off, I went out of my way to buy one of these for my only amp (however I couldn't stay away from tubes, and recently finding a nice Pignose B100V for $255, I decided to get back in the tube game).

The B-50R is the only small, cheap amp that sounds like a real bass amp (at 48 lbs, it is a pig by today's standards), and I assume because your user name says you like the blues, it is probably the only small, cheap amp that will satisfy you (I presume you have a P or J bass of some kind, probably with flatwound strings).

Now if I am wrong and you like to slap also, there are many exotic rigs that would sound good to you. I haven't played one, but if I wanted a small cab with smooth highs and no piezo, plus real lows, I'd go for the EA Wizzy 12 M-Line. Because this cab is rated at 200w, there are many suitable tiny lightweight amps to match.

[rokpunk]

i have a swr workingman 15 that gets the job done. i kinda wish it was a 10", but i bought it used for the right price.

[shredtrash]

Originally Posted by HayekFan

Ampeg B-50R

1x12" combo, 50 watts. Blue checker covering, stovetop knobs. Simple controls. Classic Ampeg sound. No longer in production but still very findable. Neat little amps.

Yup. A buddy of mine gigs one of those every now and then in our 50s band. Cool little amp!

[sinner]

This is a tiny little thing but sounds very big: The Ampeg Micro SVT



http://www.musiciansfriend.com/ampli...-cabinet-stack

100 Watt head, 2 10" cab, very very small unit with nice big sound. Plus you don't even have to use the cab, just the line out of the head to your mixer for making your tracks. I've seen folks use this outside their recording/bedroom in small coffee house gig too (I haven't done that but after using it at home I'd have confidence).

I know the pic makes it look big, but believe me it's tiny (and cute, like a mini RD D2 robot)

OK, I uploaded my own pic to show the size:

[henryjurstin13]

I vote for the Roland Cube Bass 100. I had a SWR Workingman's 12 for quite a while & it was a great amp, but the Cube 100 just covers a TON of various tones. Small, versatile, volume. What more do ya need? No, it's not the most amazing sounding amp/effects set anywhere... but it sounds pretty good considering it's basically bullet-proof, easy to carry, has a 12" speaker inside there, and can be had for around $300-$350 used.

Line 6 LD110 -- wanted to love it, but was too small to hear w/o distortion anywhere except by myself. (others love this thing, bout 10 minutes with it around others convinced me it wasn't for me)

[fritzreiser]

Originally Posted by s2y

Phil Jones makes some really impressive stuff. I have a Super Flightcase and blows my mind how deep it can sound being so small.

+1000. I had a Super Flightcase as well. Fantastic tones from that amp.

I traded it away to get my current rig, Aguilar Tone Hammer 500 and Bergantino AE410. Honestly, I wish I had the Super Flightcase instead.

[modulusman]

Another vote for the Genz Benz 3.0/10t. I have been using mine alot lately with a classic rock band. In small venues by itself. Otherwise DIed to the PA. Sounds great and weighs 18 pounds.

[Toogy]

GK MB115 here, super light, sounds great and is loud enough to play with most drummers unless they are animals!!

[Winnie Thomas]

I just bought a Carvin MB15, 200-250 watts one 15 and a tweeter. Weighs 30 pounds.

[BluesForDan]

I had a SWR workingman 10 combo that was just right for my little music room, meager bass playing skills. come to think of it, I haven't seen any around in a long time. did they stop making those? no idea of the wattage, but it was surprising how much bass came out of that little package.

[s2y]

Originally Posted by fritzreiser

+1000. I had a Super Flightcase as well. Fantastic tones from that amp.

I traded it away to get my current rig, Aguilar Tone Hammer 500 and Bergantino AE410. Honestly, I wish I had the Super Flightcase instead.

Interesting. I would have normally thought they would be on par with the Super Flightcase. I'd also think the Super Flightcase wouldn't have nearly the output of the Agi+Berganito.

In my case, I just wanted something small and light with great low end at lower volume output, which it does quite well. My Rob Allen basses and basses with low B strings just seem to lack the big depth through my Ampeg BA112.

[hank57]

I second Roland. Many different choices and wattages etc. Also used a CL can be quite affordable. Also they often have nearly a mini PA quality being able to put 3 or 4 inputs at once which could be nice for coffee shop gig.