Blog: The Case for Small Bass Amps

Re: Blog: The Case for Small Bass Amps

I LOVE my new GK 2001rb. Yeah it's a powerhouse at 1080w total, and a B to carry around since it's like 50lbs but it splits it into 2 540w amps which you can bridge together if you ever need all that headroom. But if you don't, just run it with one. So I can actually dial in to be pretty quiet, even bedroom levels. I never mind going direct in, and I hate lugging huge cabs and prefer 2 smaller ones so it's great for me.
 
Re: Blog: The Case for Small Bass Amps

I use the GK stuff, its super lightweight.

I have two 410s and each weighs 40 pounds. so no prob for lifting. they look awesome on stage, and a lot of clubs dont really have enough bass support.

I have a GK 212 that only weighs 37 pounds!!!! that thing slays in all conditions.
 
Re: Blog: The Case for Small Bass Amps

I miss the bass rig I used to have. Each string would run to its own 8 x 18 cabinet, each driver powered by a separate 1,000w Class-A tube amp.
 
Re: Blog: The Case for Small Bass Amps

As a newbie bassist, I always thought Id need mega wattage. I always heard the bassist needs X times more (dont recall the figure) than the guitarist to come thru live. Now I disclaimer myself that Im an 80s metal child and remember the days of stacks of marshalls. My bass amp right right now is an Ampeg BA 115 I think. I see those rate 100 watts, but I seem to recall mine as being 80. (?) Its an older one and some of the effects dont work any more.. Sounds like I dont need to worry about it anymore based on that article. I was also thinking a bigger speaker was needed to really get the low end, but it seems that 10 inch speakers are really popular. ( I look at alot of the Mark Bass stuff...
 
Re: Blog: The Case for Small Bass Amps

I am glad that small amps work for some and I have seen blues bands with an ampeg 115 fill the small club just fine, but in my last band the guitarist played an epiphone valve junior 5 watt amp through a 412 and it just dwarfed the peavey 115 with 300 watts so much that I could not hear myself and guitarist would not turn down, so I needed to take in the big rig after that. I could always hear the drums/bassdrum fine so it was not too extreme of guitar volume. I really hated that small rig and it was always clipping cause I could not turn it loud enough, the red light blinked a lot.
 
Re: Blog: The Case for Small Bass Amps

I am glad that small amps work for some and I have seen blues bands with an ampeg 115 fill the small club just fine, but in my last band the guitarist played an epiphone valve junior 5 watt amp through a 412 and it just dwarfed the peavey 115 with 300 watts so much that I could not hear myself and guitarist would not turn down, so I needed to take in the big rig after that. I could always hear the drums/bassdrum fine so it was not too extreme of guitar volume. I really hated that small rig and it was always clipping cause I could not turn it loud enough, the red light blinked a lot.

+1
I've tried the small combos and no thanks. I always revert back to my old Peavey Mark IV with a 1 18" and 2 10" cabinet. I've gotta be able to stand in front of it and feel it.
 
Re: Blog: The Case for Small Bass Amps

I use a 300 watt fender super bassman and a fender cabinet with two 15" speakers. Playing a fender P bass and all seems to work well even in smaller venues. At times of course, there is no need for PA assistance. I play down low at times and allow the soundman to increase my volume when needed.
 
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