Advice on Amp for an acoustic Trio

[Killstarz]

Ok, so, ive been asked to join 2 friends of mine to make their double act a trio.

They play acoustic stuff exclusively and basically what im after is the best amp for the job.

Ive never had to buy an amp on this scale before as in the past it's always been big stacks for full band situations or little practice amps for home use.

Ideally i think i would like to buy new and basically keep the price under £400.

any suggestions?

thanks in advance guys

Edited August 17, 2010 by Killstarz

[derrenleepoole]

There's been plenty of discussion and praise recently for the Ibanez Promethean 10" combo amp, of which I'm a user. A little bit more expensive than your price range, but it's a very versatile performer and the head is removable for use with other cabs. They go for just under £500 now.

In that price range you may get a Phil Jones Briefcase second hand. Not massively powerful at 100 watts, but absolute quality of tone etc is guaranteed and very portable.

Alternative, there are some second hand SWR Workingman pro 12" combo's knocking about on eBay for under £400 - quite a bit less in some cases, and they are very good for the money. Small and portable, yet powerful enough for your needs.

Or, if you want to save some money but still have a good tone, the little Gallien Krueger Backline combo amps have always impressed me. Then there are the new range of Hartke Hydrive combos too.

Lots to choose from

[Killstarz]

[quote name='derrenleepoole' post='927384' date='Aug 17 2010, 11:37 AM']There's been plenty of discussion and praise recently for the Ibanez Promethean 10" combo amp, of which I'm a user. A little bit more expensive than your price range, but it's a very versatile performer and the head is removable for use with other cabs. They go for just under £500 now.

In that price range you may get a Phil Jones Briefcase second hand. Not massively powerful at 100 watts, but absolute quality of tone etc is guaranteed and very portable.

Alternative, there are some second hand SWR Workingman pro 12" combo's knocking about on eBay for under £400 - quite a bit less in some cases, and they are very good for the money. Small and portable, yet powerful enough for your needs.

Or, if you want to save some money but still have a good tone, the little Gallien Krueger Backline combo amps have always impressed me. Then there are the new range of Hartke Hydrive combos too.

Lots to choose from [/quote]


What sort of Wattage will i need? I was thinking something around about 150w? am i right?

[MoonBassAlpha]

I've used the Line6 Lowdown 110 in just this situation, and for acoustic stuff it is all you need. And a LOT under your budget too. The d.i. is good too if you need more oomf out front.

[EssentialTension]

[quote name='Killstarz' post='927377' date='Aug 17 2010, 11:30 AM']Ok, so, ive been asked to join 2 friends of mine to make their double act a trio.

They play acoustic stuff exclusively and basically what im after is the best amp for the job.

Ive never had to buy an amp on this scale before as in the past it's always been big stacks for full band situations or little practice amps for home use.

Ideally i think i would like to buy new and basically keep the price under £400.

any suggestions?

thanks in advance guys [/quote]
If it's just your bass amplified and two acoustic guitars unamplified then the Phil Jones Briefcase ought to be enough and it's very portable. You might get a second hand one for less than £400. I'd recommend trying it first to see if you're happy with the volume but I have rehearsed with two amplified acoustic guitars and a (sensible) drummer using mine and I was able to keep up.

Edited August 17, 2010 by EssentialTension

[henry norton]

Just to go against the 'very expensive pro gear' vein here, I played electric fretless in an acoustic trio for years using a borrowed, mega cheap Gorilla practice guitar amp. It cost about 40 quid and was absolutely fine for any acoustic gig we did - most gigs had minimal vocal or no PA but when we played a venue big enough to need proper sound reinforcement I still used the Gorilla and got the engineer to split the signal from a DI box.

If you feel you must spend big money on portable amps I still rate the Gallien Krueger MB150, which will be plenty loud enough for your needs and just about meets your budget.

[derrenleepoole]

[quote name='Killstarz' post='927396' date='Aug 17 2010, 11:45 AM']What sort of Wattage will i need? I was thinking something around about 150w? am i right?[/quote]

That power would be fine. The more power you have just gives you more headroom really, but isn't needed. The Phil Jones Briefcase would be ideal for you. But any amp in that power range would work fine. Some amps will produce better tone compared with others, some will be lighter or heavier etc. Will you be playing acoustic upright bass, or acoustic hollow bodied bass, or just good old electric?

[derrenleepoole]

[quote name='henry norton' post='927420' date='Aug 17 2010, 12:06 PM']If you feel you must spend big money on portable amps I still rate the Gallien Krueger MB150, which will be plenty loud enough for your needs and just about meets your budget.[/quote]

+1 on this amp too...

[chris_b]

The MB150 works well if you like the (limited) tone. A 112 neo cab and a 300 watt amp is all you'll need.

Edited August 17, 2010 by chris_b

[Killstarz]

thanks guys

anybody had any experience of either of these:

[url="http://www.ampeg.com/products/bassamp/ba115/index.html"]http://www.ampeg.com/products/bassamp/ba115/index.html[/url]

[url="http://www.orange-amps.com/products.asp?Action=View&ID=126"]http://www.orange-amps.com/products.asp?Ac...View&ID=126[/url]

[wateroftyne]

If I were in your position, knowing what I know now... if I could, I'd stretch the budget a bit and go for an Ibanez Promethean combo.

It has a good hefty, punchy tone, it's small and easy to lug about, and if you want to add another cab further down the line, you can.

Of course, there's lots of other perfectly capable combos out there, but I can only recommend what I know about, innit.

[Ian Savage]

Roland Bass Cube 100 maybe?

[Killstarz]

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='927579' date='Aug 17 2010, 02:19 PM']If I were in your position, knowing what I know now... if I could, I'd stretch the budget a bit and go for an Ibanez Promethean combo.

It has a good hefty, punchy tone, it's small and easy to lug about, and if you want to add another cab further down the line, you can.

Of course, there's lots of other perfectly capable combos out there, but I can only recommend what I know about, innit. [/quote]


I literally cant stretch my budget to £500.

[bigjohn]

If you can find one... I can't recommend enough the Ampeg B50R. We quite often do acoustic gigs and it's perfect for it. Only 50W but it's fine. Easy loud enough to play with a drummer using brushes.

It's not in production any more so you'd have to hunt one down. I got mine 2nd hand for about £180... was a while back though. Maybe 7-8 years.

Much better than a BA115 though - which is just is a good amp but a bit underwhelming in comparison.

If you can find one in budget the B100R is great too - but quite a bit heavier. It's a 15" rather than a 12" so does sound slightly different. Again though... much better than a BA115. The B series just has more sizzle, more depth and better tone control than the BA. Also sounds better when EQ'd flat in my opinion. And they look better!

[Killstarz]

[quote name='bigjohn' post='928508' date='Aug 18 2010, 11:52 AM']If you can find one... I can't recommend enough the Ampeg B50R. We quite often do acoustic gigs and it's perfect for it. Only 50W but it's fine. Easy loud enough to play with a drummer using brushes.

It's not in production any more so you'd have to hunt one down. I got mine 2nd hand for about £180... was a while back though. Maybe 7-8 years.

Much better than a BA115 though - which is just is a good amp but a bit underwhelming in comparison.

If you can find one in budget the B100R is great too - but quite a bit heavier. It's a 15" rather than a 12" so does sound slightly different. Again though... much better than a BA115. The B series just has more sizzle, more depth and better tone control than the BA. Also sounds better when EQ'd flat in my opinion. And they look better![/quote]


oooh, i like the sound of that....

[yorick]

Have a look at the Line 6 LD150.... Don't own one, but have used one it was great.

[umph]

50 watt bassman + a 15 would be perfect tonewise!

[Killstarz]

Just been looking into the Ampeg B-100r...man what a nice bit of kit.

[url="http://www.ampeg.com/products/diamondbluebass/b100r/index.html"]http://www.ampeg.com/products/diamondblueb...100r/index.html[/url]

anyone know how much these sell for new and where i could get one?

Edited August 18, 2010 by Killstarz

[Ian Savage]

[quote name='Killstarz' post='928639' date='Aug 18 2010, 01:49 PM']Just been looking into the Ampeg B-100r...man what a nice bit of kit.

[url="http://www.ampeg.com/products/diamondbluebass/b100r/index.html"]http://www.ampeg.com/products/diamondblueb...100r/index.html[/url]

anyone know how much these sell for new and where i could get one?[/quote]


Bassist in a psychadelic band I used to drum for had one of those, kept up with the lead guitarist's Bluesbreaker and my less-than-subtle drumming admirably. Brilliant bit of kit, if a bit rare this side of the pond as you're probably finding out.

[Killstarz]

[quote name='Ian Savage' post='928643' date='Aug 18 2010, 01:54 PM']Bassist in a psychadelic band I used to drum for had one of those, kept up with the lead guitarist's Bluesbreaker and my less-than-subtle drumming admirably. Brilliant bit of kit, if a bit rare this side of the pond as you're probably finding out.[/quote]

like you wouldnt believe

[bigjohn]

[quote name='Ian Savage' post='928643' date='Aug 18 2010, 01:54 PM']Bassist in a psychadelic band I used to drum for had one of those, kept up with the lead guitarist's Bluesbreaker and my less-than-subtle drumming admirably. Brilliant bit of kit, if a bit rare this side of the pond as you're probably finding out.[/quote]


Not as rare as the B50R - at all as rare!

I've seen a few B100R's, there's one at our studio, only one B50R.

I've seen two B100R's for sale on here in the last year or so. There's one on gumtree : [url="http://www.gumtree.com/london/22/62346722.html"]http://www.gumtree.com/london/22/62346722.html[/url]

[derrenleepoole]

How about a lovely [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Peterson-150W-Bass-Amplifier-Combo-/220652953433?pt=UK_MusicalInstr_Amplifiers_RL#ht_500wt_1154"]Peterson 150w combo[/url] - a great bit of kit, and only £250! This are fab amps

Or, what about the [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/EBS-CLASSIC-SESSION-60-BASS-GUITAR-COMBO-AMPLIFIER-AMP-/320553640615?pt=UK_MusicalInstr_Amplifiers_RL#ht_1668wt_913"]EBS session 60 combo[/url] for £270 - they seem to get good reviews.

[henry norton]

[quote name='derrenleepoole' date='Aug 18 2010, 08:07 PM' post='928935']
How about a lovely [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Peterson-150W-Bass-Amplifier-Combo-/220652953433?pt=UK_MusicalInstr_Amplifiers_RL#ht_500wt_1154"]Peterson 150w combo[/url] - a great bit of kit, and only £250! This are fab amps

Blimey! I had one of these when they first came out and it cost allot more than two hundred quid! These are top amps although nothing like as portable as a GK MB150. If I could justify another amp (and I most definitely couldn't right now), I'd already have that Peterson in my front room....

[xgsjx]

I play in an acoustic trio & prior to getting the MB combo, I only used the wee Vox Venue 30 in the acoustic band & the carlsberg rig was used in the rock band.
The Vox has a 12" driver in it & could even be used in 200 folk venues.
I think just about any combo will do the job you're wanting, it's what sound you want it to produce that you need to decide on.

I tried the Phil Jones briefcase & was very unimpressed by both sound quality & how loud it didn't go. But the one I tried might have been faulty.