Very small combos

[sshorepunk]

Been mulling this over for a while, much head scratching 
 

Now I’m retired and have more time to play / practice, I’m looking for a small bass combo, for portability around the house, bottom of the garden in the gazebo etc instead of heading up to our very well equipped music room 

 

Got to be portable but able to hold its own if I have friends round for a jam, the odd open mic night and also with the Mrs when she decides to have a honk on her sax or Akai ewi! 

Also needs aux input for my MPC which I use to write on and provide beats etc and I can also plug my Mrs Akai EWI into it

 

Was considering a Phil jones BG-110

Also the BG-120 which pushes the price up a fair bit

But I have no experience with those tiny drivers 

Then there is the Phil Jones bass engine, 7” driver but bigger than the BG range

Comparing bass engine to the BG range, it’s cheaper but bigger, I’m guessing the higher price of the BG range is because of the smaller drivers and overall size being smaller ? 

 

I just saw a GR Bass cube 110 on the bass direct website, it’s pushing the budget but takes me into more familiar territory as far as speaker size goes with its 1x10 driver

Seems a good size and lightweight, not heard any GR Bass but seems to have a good reputation 

 

Whilst looking at other small 1x10 combos, saw the Markbass Marcus Miller CMD 101 Micro 60 which seems to tick all the boxes 

 

Any other options? 

 

Thanks

 

Tony

 

Edit - worth adding, been at this for years, owned some epic Rigs including Aguilar DB750 and 2 Aguilar 4x10’s, a Matamp rig of doom, loads of stuf, currently have a couple of vanderkley 2x10 with a genzler head 

, but never ventured down the small combo route 

Edited 8 hours ago by sshorepunk

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

I wouldn't consider anything with smaller than an eight inch driver. Sure, you could use fives...if there are at least four of them, which pushes the price up, as four fives cost a lot more than one eight. Even an eight is questionable, as manufacturers don't load premium eight inch drivers into inexpensive combos. For what you'd pay for a combo with a premium eight, like a Trace ELF 1x8, you could get a better result with a much less expensive combo loaded with a middle of the road ten. 

[BassmanPaul]

I have no experience of Phil Jones amplifiers but as an engineer I have always distrusted them for the reasons Bill has mentioned.There are so many combos out there that I feel would work better for you. May I humbly suggest trips to music stores and try out as many combos as you can. Remember that bass and small really don't go together that well! LOL

 

[sshorepunk]

5 minutes ago, BassmanPaul said:

I have no experience of Phil Jones amplifiers but as an engineer I have always distrusted them for the reasons Bill has mentioned.There are so many combos out there that I feel would work better for you. May I humbly suggest trips to music stores and try out as many combos as you can. Remember that bass and small really don't go together that well! LOL

 

would be great to visit a music store but sadly Manchester is not the best place to be so it would mean a decent drive to somewhere like Bass Direct, hence this post! 

[BassmanPaul]

I was from Liverpool but left the UK in early 1973 for our new life in Toronto. There used to be some great music shops in Manchester that I would visit. I'm sorry that things have changed so much.

 

[BassmanPaul]

My only suggestion would be a search on-line to find what you are looking for. I entered 'bass combos' into my Safari task bar and got a few hits but they are all over on this side of the pond. 😄

 

[Jeffskowski]

Gallien-Krueger MB110 100W 1x 10-inch bass amp combo?

10kg

Aux in

Headphones

 

https://www.bax-shop.co.uk/bass-guitar-combo-amp/gallien-krueger-mb110-100w-1x-10-inch-bass-amp-combo?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=surfaces&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=ADC_Bax_UK_NBD_Shopping_bucket1&utm_id=22697294629&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22697294629&gbraid=0AAAAA_lFRUz4BlLOUuLZdcdac9iG_f96M&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-ZHEBhCxARIsAGGN96Km3M8VV6FlOpyN5odRP-6ug6Zm8esQlGXc2IsZW1oWGK1Fz5sA72saArY5EALw_wcB

[BassmanPaul]

That model GK showed up in the search I did too. 

 

Edited 6 hours ago by BassmanPaul

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

That G-K seems a reasonable option, especially as the enclosure isn't ridiculously small. One can't get decent lows from a tiny box for the same reason that basses don't have a 45cm scale length.

[sshorepunk]

9 minutes ago, Bill Fitzmaurice said:

That G-K seems a reasonable option, especially as the enclosure isn't ridiculously small. One can't get decent lows from a tiny box for the same reason that basses don't have a 45cm scale length.

Yes, it’s got my attention!

missed that one on my searches, but the older model showed up a few times 

[Hellzero]

I used to own a few GR Bass combos, but all were fitted with 12 inches speakers, they sound quite neutral with loads of power and their ful carbon is certainly the lightest 12 inches combo on the market.

 

That said, the most amazing sound wise combo I have ever played was the Hevos Midget 10, not cheap at all, but simply amazing: https://www.public-peace.de/hevos-midget10-combo.html

 

And it can even handle a double bass without any issue.

 

Edited 6 hours ago by Hellzero

[JPJ]

The TC Electronics BG250 208 would get my vote but I’m biased as I own one and rate it very highly. Ticks all the boxes you mentioned. I’ve ‘upgraded’ mine with better drivers at a total of 4 ohms internal so that I get the full 250 watts without an extension cab but honestly, the difference is negligible. 

[sshorepunk]

51 minutes ago, Bill Fitzmaurice said:

That G-K seems a reasonable option, especially as the enclosure isn't ridiculously small. One can't get decent lows from a tiny box for the same reason that basses don't have a 45cm scale length.

It’s a good option, missed it in my searches, but an older GK model showed up a few times, used 

[sshorepunk]

Just now, JPJ said:

The TC Electronics BG250 208 would get my vote but I’m biased as I own one and rate it very highly. Ticks all the boxes you mentioned. I’ve ‘upgraded’ mine with better drivers at a total of 4 ohms internal so that I get the full 250 watts without an extension cab but honestly, the difference is negligible. 

I did consider that, need to check it out again, more from the portability point

I did own a TC combo a while back, the tone print is useful 

[JPJ]

6 minutes ago, sshorepunk said:

I did consider that, need to check it out again, more from the portability point

I did own a TC combo a while back, the tone print is useful 

It’s an easy one hand carry, and cheap as chips secondhand 

[Hellzero]

32 minutes ago, JPJ said:

The TC Electronics BG250 208 would get my vote but I’m biased as I own one and rate it very highly. Ticks all the boxes you mentioned. I’ve ‘upgraded’ mine with better drivers at a total of 4 ohms internal so that I get the full 250 watts without an extension cab but honestly, the difference is negligible. 

This was my mod explained here back then. 😉

[lemmywinks]

The requirement for open mic nights and jams (assuming there's drums and guitar amps involved) would probably rule out the micro PJB  combos. I recently bought a BG-75 (2 x 35w amp section, 2 x 4" drivers) which is insanely portable and impressive sounding when placed in front of a solid object but I wouldn't expect it to do anything more than play in an acoustic ensemble, albeit a loud one.

 

There were a couple of Genz Benz Shuttle combos for sale on here recently, a 10" and a 12" IIRC, they would do the job.

 

There's also a used Elf 10" combo here for £399 + £5 delivery:

https://reverb.com/uk/p/trace-elliot-elf-200-watt-1x10-bass-combo?hfid=91240490&utm_campaign=INTL-GB-Shop_unpaid&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google

Edited 6 hours ago by lemmywinks

[Hellzero]

Here is the link to the mod for the TC Electronic BG250-208 with the speakers I used ... 9 years ago: 

 

[lemmywinks]

TC BG208 on eBay with free delivery here, ends tomorrow night:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/277281572070

Edited 6 hours ago by lemmywinks

[JPJ]

11 minutes ago, lemmywinks said:

TC BG208 on eBay with free delivery here, ends tomorrow night:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/277281572070

Bargain! 

[Stub Mandrel]

The 'cheap as chips' option is an Orange Crush 20, 8" speaker and decent sound.

 

What I use for home now is a Joyo Badass 50W with a PJB C4 cab. Sub in an Elf for the Joyo and it's ok for rehearsal with a drumkit and just loud enough to gig (with pa support).

 

My guess is the GRBASS Cube would be awesome.

[Homatron]

At the risk of just recommending what I have, the EBS Classic Session 60 is a great little amp. Looks like there's one for sale here (no conflict of interest to declare!), and one at Bass Direct. 

[Dan Dare]

As a PJB user, I agree with Bill and others who suggest that a decent 1x10 is probably your best option. There are plenty of quality 10" drivers that work well for bass. If you go the PJB route, even their 2x5 combo will cost you £400 and up, unless you find a used one at a bargain price. Those 5" drivers are great for their size, but if you're planning to jam with friends and do the odd open mic' night, I think 2x5 might struggle, especially against drums, unless the other instruments are all acoustic. I use at least two PJB 4x5 cabs (I have five, so take out as many as I need) for all but the quietest gigs. They are also quite inefficient, so take a bit of driving.

 

I'd add a Barefaced 1x10 and something like a TE Elf to your list of things to consider. That would be light/portable and give a good account of itself. Someone I know uses an Elf with two BF 1x10s and it's surprisingly pokey.

[ped]

Eich do various small combos. The really key thing is that they’re designed to lean back so that the speaker points at you. The difference is night and day, especially when you get a small one which would otherwise fire at your shoes. Not cheap, but fantastic sound. My 112 has replaced everything and I’m using it on small and big stages as a monitor. 

[PaulThePlug]

I'd say maybe an Eden EC8 or 10... but no DI, even on the 10

I picked up an EC8 for £Cheap.

See whats local, might be something nice at a price just up the road.