Help me choose a light powerful combo (or cab?) - update: MarkBass CMD121

[Ghost_Bass]

You could also consider a Ashdown Mi10 and how lucky are you? I'm selling one at the moment!
[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/206444-fsft-ashdown-mi10/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/206444-fsft-ashdown-mi10/[/url]
1x10" with power handling of 250W at 4Ohm. Small, light and pretty loud, no low end lost, handles a low B at moderate levels (practise, small gigs). I've used it paired with my shuttle 9.0 with great results.
[/shameless plug]

Cheers

[mcnach]

[quote name='gjones' timestamp='1367239827' post='2062963']
What about an Ashdown MiBass[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] 550 and Mi12 cab. Very light and Doddy uses his for every gig he does. I really like the head (I have one) and the Mi12 looks light and is loud too according to doddy.[/font][/color]

[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]There's a thread on the here [/font][/color][url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/185964-nad-ashdown-mi12/page__hl__mibass"]http://basschat.co.u...age__hl__mibass[/url]
[/quote]

That looks like an interesting rig I must say. But it's not much lighter than my RH450 and a RS210 cab...

I think so far the AER Amp One and the MarkBass CMD121 are the ones that really tempt me, for size/weight reasons. I might not go for it as being my only amp, but as a second amp I think I really want to try something noticeable smaller than my normal set up.

But thanks, I was not aware of these... and they look quite interesting. They do a 15" one too!

[mcnach]

[quote name='richardcoughlan' timestamp='1367238732' post='2062939']
I have a Markbass Mini 121P combo for sale £350 here [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/206416-fs-markbass-mini-cmd-121p-combo-l350/"]http://basschat.co.u...21p-combo-l350/[/url]
Best,
Rich
[/quote]


oooh, must check that out

Edited April 29, 2013 by mcnach

[Lozz196]

You can`t go wrong with that for that price.

[discreet]

It's a bargain!

[xgsjx]

Looks like a bargain has been had!

[mcnach]

[quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1367268082' post='2063562']
Looks like a bargain has been had!
[/quote]

unfortunately not by me, I was not fast enough!

[discreet]

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1367281201' post='2063751']
unfortunately not by me, I was not fast enough!
[/quote]

Oh balls!

[xgsjx]

Bargains come & go. You'll find the right rig.

[mcnach]

You are right. The problem is that the more I look, the more I find things I'd love to try!!!

I'm thinking the Barefaced Compact and Midget cabs looks very promising in specs and reviews, and I would love to try one of those with my RH450 and the RS210... and could be an amazing "go louder" partner for a Markbass CMD121 too...

see? I only wanted a small light combo that would work as a personal monitor and maybe a bit more... and before I realised I have a whole list of shiny thunder making boxes in my list!

Internet is a double edged sword for sure!

[pete.young]

To get you back on topic, I have been using a TecAmp Puma 110 as a personal monitor, with DI to the PA, for about 6 months now and it works very well. I put it on a combo stand to get it a bit closer to the ear, but it can also be angled back using the rod support that comes with it for that purpose.

It is smaller, lighter, easier to carry and very very much louder than the A100 that it replaced.

It will also drive another 8 Ohm cab for a bit more volume.

[mcnach]

[quote name='pete.young' timestamp='1367345282' post='2064522']
To get you back on topic, I have been using a TecAmp Puma 110 as a personal monitor, with DI to the PA, for about 6 months now and it works very well. I put it on a combo stand to get it a bit closer to the ear, but it can also be angled back using the rod support that comes with it for that purpose.

It is smaller, lighter, easier to carry and very very much louder than the A100 that it replaced.

It will also drive another 8 Ohm cab for a bit more volume.
[/quote]



oooh, and this one has a blue light! I love blue lights!

seriously, thanks for the suggestion, I was not aware of this one either, so many to choose from!

[lonestar]

[quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1367096408' post='2061347']
I wasn't impressed with how loud the briefcase could go when I tried one. Sounded lovely at low to medium volumes, but when I turned it up, it farted at me.
[/quote]

That was my experience too when I tried one at the bass centre as was. That's when the guy suggested I try the markbass. i bought one on the spot.

[mcnach]

Leaning heavily towards a Markbass CMD121, will get to try one this weekend... and I'm thinking a Barefaced Midget or Compact to give him company if I like it, as I am not 100% satisfied with my existing rig anyway (cabs, the RH450 head I like).

We'll see.

Maybe I will try the CMD121 and hate it, who knows?

[cloudburst]

If you have trouble getting to try the Markbass CMD 121p, you are more than welcome to come and try mine. I'm in the West End of Glasgow.

CB

[mcnach]

[quote name='cloudburst' timestamp='1367435681' post='2065684']
If you have trouble getting to try the Markbass CMD 121p, you are more than welcome to come and try mine. I'm in the West End of Glasgow.

CB
[/quote]


Thanks for the offer, but Red Dog in Edinburgh seems to have that one in stock, so I plan to go there and check it out.
Of course, figuring out what I really think about an amp/cab at the shop is nearly impossible. But I can sometimes figure out that I definitely don't like it.

When I bought the RH450 + RS210 rig they agreed to let me take it to rehearsal and return it if I wasn't sure. That was much more useful than the shop test. I actually liked it a lot better at rehearsal than at the shop!

If they don't have the amp, and nowhere else seems to have it, I might take you up on your offer. It's been a while I haven't been to Glasgow!

[pete.young]

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1367360599' post='2064814']
oooh, and this one has a blue light! I love blue lights!

[/quote]

2 blue lights - there's another one for the mute switch. It doesn't get any better :-)

[mcnach]

[quote name='pete.young' timestamp='1367532365' post='2066713']
2 blue lights - there's another one for the mute switch. It doesn't get any better :-)
[/quote]

ooooooh!

[Conan]

Stick a SansAmp through one of these...?

[url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Bergantino,_Active_bass_speakers.html"]http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Bergantino,_Active_bass_speakers.html[/url]

[mcnach]

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1367591198' post='2067356']
Stick a SansAmp through one of these...?

[url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Bergantino,_Active_bass_speakers.html"]http://www.bassdirec...s_speakers.html[/url]
[/quote]


That's an interesting kind of monster. I'm discovering so many alternatives!
Not the lightest, but it seems powerful and pretty small.

[LawrenceH]

The AER kit is very good, for an all-in-one portable unit I don't know of anything that can match it for size and still carry a small gig. It could be even lighter if they used different materials though! Beer of the Bass has a GK MB200 amp which is tonally rather different but brilliant-sounding, and is astonishingly tiny and light. To compete with the AER in tinyness stakes, you'd have to find a speaker to match it, and I don't know of any around the 20-litre size that are sufficiently high-quality but voiced to be old-school loud (which they prob need to be at that size/power ie bit of a midbass hump). I'm suprised AER don't have more competition in this respect, the design is a few years old now.

[mcnach]

Well, being unable to find the time to visit the shop today... I decided to be ridiculous and simply buy online from my local shop (the girl on the phone found it amusing too). This way I get a 14 day money back return option, so I will be able to try it properly.

I should have the Markbass CMD121 combo in my hands on Tuesday.

Also succumbed to temptation and emailed Alex at Barefaced. It looks like I am going to get a Compact cab too...

[Lozz196]

Nice one. In a band setting is where the CMD121 shines. On its own, and especially at low home-type volume it sounds ok, not that great, but once up & running, that`s when it hits. So don`t be too disappointed in the "at home" sound.

[mcnach]

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1367746064' post='2068887']
Nice one. In a band setting is where the CMD121 shines. On its own, and especially at low home-type volume it sounds ok, not that great, but once up & running, that`s when it hits. So don`t be too disappointed in the "at home" sound.
[/quote]

That sounds like my Stingray moment.

I tried them at shops and other than the build quality, I didn't get what the fuss was about. My modified OLP was easily as good.
Until I got one (it was natural and maple, in great condition... and I am a sucker for natural ash and maple), and I was underwhelmed at home. Then I took it to a rehearsal and... wham! That was truly something else!!! Even the singer, who does not normally pay attention asked me what I was doing that day, because it sounded so damn good.

I was undecided about trying an amp at the shop, as it is not representative of what it can do... even if you manage to play it loud in some places. At times you can already say "nah, not for me", which is useful. But I can never be sure I like it until I take it along to a rehearsal and try it in the proper environment.
So I'm looking forward to our Wednesday's practice. Rather than the RH450 head and the Ampeg 410 cab they have at the room, it'll be the MarkBass, initially by itself, and see how it goes. I will bring my cabs too so that I can try it coupled to each and see what I think. It's going to look ridiculous, but I have to be sure I like it! £800 is a lot of cash to not be sure about!

If I did not like it... I guess I will have to be looking at the AER, probably. I nearly ordered one (not from a local shop, this time) too, so I could try them side by side...

The woman on the phone was amused when I gave her my details... "oh, I did not realise you were in Edinburgh. Don't you want to come round and do this in the shop?" I told her I had been looking for the moment to visit the shop for 2 weeks already, and if I left it I might be waiting another two weeks...
It's a good shop, and open on Sundays even... But lately, I'm just not finding the time during opening hours.

I will report back about the amp.

[mcnach]

MarkBass CMD121 combo is in my possession.

First impression was at low volume, ok but a little too coloured. Then I noticed all EQ knobs were at -16. Ah. OK, set them all at 0 then. It opened up much more nicely.
Only low volume in the house... but it looks good, sounds good, and I finally got to try the curious VLE and VPF knobs, which I'll have to read about soon. The VPF I am not sure about (it seems to scoop out the mids?), but the VLE looks like something I'm more likely to use. It's subtle but very effective...

Practice tonight. I'm taking this little thing with me, and one of my cabs to try.

Exciting times.