Decent combo with tiltback - suggestions?

[Bass Culture]

Hi All,


I'm thinking of changing my Markbass / Aguilar GS112 (x2) set up because I always end up being right on top of it and have to turn up too loud for the rest of the band to hear myself properly over the drums. I love the sound but I just can't get the set up angled up enough to fire more towards my ears. So, a reasonably powered combo which tilts back seems the way to go. Ideally it shouldn't be too heavy either. I'd like to stick to 12" speakers - or speaker - too. Anyone got any suggestions? I see the new Hartke Hydrive combos look pretty well spec-ed and are pretty reasonably priced too, ny the looks of things. Anyone care to wave a flag for any others?

Thanks,

Mark

[chris_b]

I had these cabs and never had a problem hearing them, even in loud bands. Have you tried stacking the cabs on their side? It gives them a little extra height. Try a piece of 2"x2" wood at the front of the top cab to angle it up, but don't let the amp slide off the back!

[alexclaber]

Put the cabs on their sides so they're taller and then tilt the top cab upwards. Done!

Alex

[alexclaber]

Great minds think alike!

Alex

[Bass Culture]

All good advice - thanks. I may still want to go down the combo path so please pipe up with any suggestions of you have them. I'm quite impressed with the spec on the SWR Workingpro 12 from what I've seen. Does anyone have one? Would it be loud enough for (small) gigs?

Thanks,

Mark

[david_l_perry]

[quote name='Bass Culture' post='355004' date='Dec 15 2008, 01:44 PM']I'm quite impressed with the spec on the SWR Workingpro 12 Would it be loud enough for (small) gigs?

Thanks,

Mark[/quote]

I use the same mark bass and Aguilar cabs (only recently got the Aguilars)

I doubt very much indeed if that SWR would even come close to a pair of the Aguilars.....
but perhaps if it was tilted back pointing up at you it would work better in your situation.


As an experiment why not try a single Aguilar tilted right back like a monitor to see how that works out ?

Edited December 15, 2008 by david_l_perry

[alexclaber]

[quote name='Bass Culture' post='355004' date='Dec 15 2008, 01:44 PM']I'm quite impressed with the spec on the SWR Workingpro 12 from what I've seen. Does anyone have one? Would it be loud enough for (small) gigs?[/quote]

Depends on how loud your band is! If you have any degree of rock then no. Try gigging with just one GS112 positioned on the floor and tilted up like the SWR. If that struggles at all then the SWR definitely will.

Apparently hard rock and metal becomes more popular in times of economic downturn and judging by recent threads so do combos - what a worrying combination!!!

Alex

[skankdelvar]

...or you could buy a pair of tiltback legs from Fender (they come in three sizes) and screw them to the side of whatever combo you like:

[url="http://www.fender.com/products//search.php?partno=0990714000"]http://www.fender.com/products//search.php?partno=0990714000[/url].

Google 'Fender tiltback legs' for more on this, inc fitting.

[machinehead]

Or get one or two of those metal handles usually found on the sides of cabs.

Screw them onto the bottom of your cab. When you want to tilt the cab just fold the handle down and the weight of the cab will hold the handle down and tilt your cab.

Simple and cheap.

Frank

[jwbassman]

As per machineheads suggestion I have an EA iAmp200 combo which uses the same technique a handle on the bottom, which works really well

As it happens the combo may be surplus to requirements in the next week or so - christmas presents pending

If you want any more info on it drop me a PM...

Cheers

John

[xgsjx]

I've got an idea, don't know if it would work tho. What about putting one of the aggi cabs the other side of the room\stage facing you? Either that or tell the drummer to stop smashing the crash & open hats constantly & get control of the guitarists volume pedal (something my band considers regularly).

[Delberthot]

What about this?




Its a Giraffe stand. It folds completely flat when you're not using it. When I play in my rock band with no PA support, I point it at the crowd and angle it up the first 'click'. That way I hear it and so does the audience.

It can and has taken a Trace Elliot 4x10" so its tough as they come.

Failing that, I am a big GK fan so what about one of the RB combos? Wedge shaped so that you can tilt them back and come complete with built in trolley so you can wheel it around. The backline combos are a similar shape but don't have the wheels built in.

Edited December 16, 2008 by Delberthot

[lemmywinks]

I bought one of the above Giraffe stands and don't find it all that sturdy. Theres only proper support at one end of the tilt mechanism (ie all the weight is on one side if you get what i mean). It also nods forward instead of holding dead level, so in order to have a head and cab on it you have to take the top section off and reverse it to get it stable.

The best one one the market i've seen so far, but still unimpressive for £40 delivered. My guitarist's cheapy little stand has support at both ends

[dannybuoy]

Markbass make a tiltback stand too, so I'd advise checking that out!

[Bass Culture]

Folks,

Thanks for all your replies. I suspect you're probably right in advising to try and work with what I've got rather than change a set up I am otherwise really happy with. That said, just asking the question has got me thinking wbout what I'd change to if I were going to. I'm not that familiar with GK stuff but I think I might pop into The Bass Merchant when I'm down in Colchester for Christmas. I think they've probably got the GK, SWR and Hartke Hydrive combos in stock so I might give them a blast anyway.

I think might also try one of those X-section keyboard stands, and just raise my whole set up off the floor to nearer ear level - I'm 5'4" so it shouldn't too much!

Thanks for all your suggestions - keep 'em coming!

Cheers,

Mark

P.S. Lemmywinks - I think your avatar contains my dream bass...

[bassace]

GK do an adaptor that fits on a mic stand to bring the combo up to four feet from the stage. I used one successfully with my DB for many years until things had to get louder. Right now I'm working on fitting a 10" Wizzy and amp on top of a PA stand for smaller gigs where I want to hear myself without a lot of vol. I see that the PA stand is good for 32kg. Any good for sticking a 12" combo on?

[dannybuoy]

Careful, if you lift the speaker too far off the ground, you'll decrease bass response. I'm not able to technically explain it (something to do with floor coupling), but expert cab designer Bill Fitzmaurice says so! [url="http://www.andertons.co.uk/acatalog/info_MARKSTAND.html?utm_source=googlebase&utm_medium=pricecomp&utm_content=allproducts&utm_campaign=googlebaseMARKSTAND"]Here's the Markbass stand I mentioned earlier.[/url]

Edited December 16, 2008 by dannybuoy

[Sarah5string]

I've got a laney RBW300 combo with tiltback. 165w and can carry it's own at practices and small pub type gigs. Nice chunky sound too.

[Bass Culture]

[quote name='Sarah5string' post='358089' date='Dec 18 2008, 05:00 PM']I've got a laney RBW300 combo with tiltback. 165w and can carry it's own at practices and small pub type gigs. Nice chunky sound too.[/quote]

Ah, Laney. Now there's something I'd not considered. British too, aren't they?

[William James Easton]

[quote name='Bass Culture' post='359430' date='Dec 20 2008, 10:47 AM']Ah, Laney. Now there's something I'd not considered. British too, aren't they?[/quote]

i go the rb7. bit of service needed but for practice is fine. good stuff.

[lemmywinks]

[quote name='Bass Culture' post='355763' date='Dec 16 2008, 11:04 AM']P.S. Lemmywinks - I think your avatar contains my dream bass...[/quote]


Got it for £710 inc. Warwick flightcase. It was on sale here for under £600 i think (found the original owner on here). Was gigging with it last night and will be again tonight, it's lovely!

My two "must own" basses were a Zoot and an original Tobias. I still find it amazing you can get a second hand luthier-built british bass for fender money.
The bad news is i'm never selling it!

Anyways, here's some porn!:

[Bass Culture]

[quote name='lemmywinks' post='359647' date='Dec 20 2008, 03:43 PM']Got it for £710 inc. Warwick flightcase. It was on sale here for under £600 i think (found the original owner on here). Was gigging with it last night and will be again tonight, it's lovely!

My two "must own" basses were a Zoot and an original Tobias. I still find it amazing you can get a second hand luthier-built british bass for fender money.
The bad news is i'm never selling it!

Anyways, here's some porn!:[/quote]

Mmm, lovely - I feel like Homer looking at a bag of doughnuts! Incidentally, I wonder what's happened to Mike Walsh and Zoot? His profile is practically non-existent since he sold The Bass Merchant.

[lemmywinks]

I assume he's still building basses, the new site is still not up but the old one is. Didn't know he'd sold the bass merchant. Would be a shame if Zoot basses were no more, mine is a belting bass, by far the best i've played. Gets better with every gig (might have just jinxed myself, headlining our local ball at 2am!)