solo4652 Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 (edited) I'm still in the market for a small, light, cheap, powerful, reliable combo (aren't we all?!) for "coffee shop" gigs alongside an acoustic guitarist and singer. What about the mibass combo? - now £300 (reduced from £700!): [url="http://www.soundsliveshop.com/p/Ashdown_MiBass_220_110_Bass_Combo_Amplifier/ASH-MIBASS-220-110"]http://www.soundsliv...-MIBASS-220-110[/url] Can't seem to find any reviews on the web. Anybody got one? Any good? Or there's the GK MB112 for £249: [url="http://www.soundsliveshop.com/p/Gallien_Krueger_MB_112-II_Bass_Combo_Amp/GK-MB112-II?CAWELAID=1834946507"]http://www.soundsliv...LAID=1834946507[/url] which gets good reviews, has a 12" rather than a 10" driver, is lighter and cheaper. Hmmmm. Might be answering my own query here... Steve Edited March 14, 2013 by solo4652 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamfist Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 (edited) Between those two I'd go for the GK, even if they were the same price. Edited March 14, 2013 by hamfist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 I wouldn’t use small gear on small gigs. IME it never sounds as good as bigger gear on small gigs. I use one of my 112 cabs with my regular 600 watt amp on acoustic gigs. I get more headroom and a better tone as a result. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 Well my Markbass Mini CMD121P is 350 watts at 8ohms, and is plenty enough in my 8-piece band. Yes, it`s a fair expense, but it`s very light, powerful, and sounds great (imo). With this in mind, and if only intending to use the combo without an ext speaker, I`d look at a 12inch speaker rather than a 10. Unless spending mega-bucks, not sure a 10 would be enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer of the Bass Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 If you're doing "acoustic" gigs without a kit drummer, a good 10" is easily enough. I regularly use a 1x10" with drum kit in pubs, though in a bigger room or with louder electric guitarists I'd want more. The GK does look good value though, and if it's lighter than the Ashdown there's no real downside for portability. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solo4652 Posted March 14, 2013 Author Share Posted March 14, 2013 [quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1363269148' post='2010730'] If you're doing "acoustic" gigs without a kit drummer, a good 10" is easily enough. I regularly use a 1x10" with drum kit in pubs, though in a bigger room or with louder electric guitarists I'd want more. The GK does look good value though, and if it's lighter than the Ashdown there's no real downside for portability. [/quote] It'll be a 4-piece: Singer, "acoustic" guitar + BVs, cajon (possibly miced)/other hand percussion, me on bass/another cajon, depending on the song. We're targetting smart wine bars and decent pubs. We even have a traditional Tearoom interested! So, not loud, low faff, quick and easy in, and out. For larger venes, I'll use my GK MB500/Barefaced Compact rig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xroads Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 [quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1363264700' post='2010635'] I wouldn’t use small gear on small gigs. IME it never sounds as good as bigger gear on small gigs. I use one of my 112 cabs with my regular 600 watt amp on acoustic gigs. I get more headroom and a better tone as a result. [/quote] If you wanna downsize further, I bought a little GK MB200 amp; together with a light 112 cab, its a great solution, and more flexible than a combo amp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eude Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 If you can get hold of a good Ibanez Promothean 5110 Combo you'd be laughing, it'd suit your needs perfectly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solo4652 Posted March 29, 2013 Author Share Posted March 29, 2013 [quote name='eude' timestamp='1364465676' post='2026786'] If you can get hold of a good Ibanez Promothean 5110 Combo you'd be laughing, it'd suit your needs perfectly! [/quote] Well, I got a new P3110 from Thomann and it lasted 20 minutes before dying. Its replacement lasted longer but wasn't loud enough - 150W or so on its own (300W with an extension speaker. So, I'm sort of off Prometheans at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eude Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 [quote name='solo4652' timestamp='1364582773' post='2028553'] Well, I got a new P3110 from Thomann and it lasted 20 minutes before dying. Its replacement lasted longer but wasn't loud enough - 150W or so on its own (300W with an extension speaker. So, I'm sort of off Prometheans at the moment. [/quote] I meant the older model, which is about 300W at 8 Ohms, I think, and I also said "a good one" as there were a lot of faulty versions of that too. I've not heard of anyone keeping hold of their P3110s though, they all seem to be shoddy, but the P5110 model, assuming its a good one, is amazing! It'll be a long time before I part with mine Eude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPJ Posted March 30, 2013 Share Posted March 30, 2013 For the "coffee shop" gigs you describe, you'll not do better than a PJB Briefcase IMHO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eude Posted March 31, 2013 Share Posted March 31, 2013 [quote name='JPJ' timestamp='1364665764' post='2029477'] For the "coffee shop" gigs you describe, you'll not do better than a PJB Briefcase IMHO [/quote] Thats a very good call! Markbass have just announced a MiniMark 802 Combo too, http://www.markbass.it/product_detail.php?id=241 - might be worth a look? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grissle Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 How much are the Ampeg ba110 or ba112 in the UK? Great tone and volume, and good resale value for when/if you want to upgrade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 The older Promethean would be a great choice... IF you can get a good one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Starr Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 I use a Hartke Kickback for this sort of gig. It's plenty loud enough and setting the filter knob right gives a mildly successful string bass tone which seems right for what we play. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanA Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 For coffee shop gigs I wouldn't want to run any less than a mesa Bb750 and a Berg nv412, gotta makes those cups and saucers rattle dude! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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