motorcityprogger Posted July 31, 2003 Share Posted July 31, 2003 I'm looking to buy a small monitor amp for playing at church. I will be going through the PA, so my priorities are small size, good reliability, and preferably a "kickback" style. Any recommendations or products to avoid? I've been scouting the Ampeg BA112, Ibenez SW65, Behringer, and Hartke brands that "kickback" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doc taz Posted July 31, 2003 Share Posted July 31, 2003 Those are all good brands. I'd go for the Hartkes. I know their stuff gets a lot of flak from the pros around here, but really, most of their stuff's good for the price. A 1x12 or 1x15 should be good enough. sevenstring.org profile my flickr page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Sweet Willie_ Posted July 31, 2003 Share Posted July 31, 2003 I bet the Tech 21 Landmark 60 combo amp is pretty nice. Unfortunately I don't know the cost and I don't know your budget, but I'd seriously consider it given your situation. Go check it out at their website. Click here for Tech 21 website. spreadluv Fanboy? Why, yes! Nordstrand Pickups and Guitars. Messiaen knew how to parlay the funk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassplayer5217 Posted July 31, 2003 Share Posted July 31, 2003 another possibility, although for a little more dough, would be the backline series from gallien-krueger, meant basically for this purpose also, if you want an upper end combo that could be used as a main speaker, try the RB combos of g-k Tech 21 Blem Landmark 60 - BassWedge 1x10 60W Bass at Tech 21 blem amp, wedge or any other tech 21 wedges at musiciansfriend.com GenzBenz ML 200-115T Bass is a kickback combo also g-b wedge .~. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilMan99 Posted July 31, 2003 Share Posted July 31, 2003 I like the Fender Bassman (NOT FrontMan!) series: * 25W $270 * 60W $370 * 100W $500 * 200W $550 I tried GK & SWR in the same price-range, but they couldn't handle the "deep lows" I like (they clipped/rattled). In this price-range, you don't get "real" GK & SWR equipment - just their entry-level stuff (hmmm, guess I'll get flamed...). Careful with how you "branch" between AMP & PA. If you bridge at the bass like I did, using 1/4" unbalanced connectors (DigiTech Bass Squeeze, has 2 outputs) be prepared for hum/buzz. A real DI, or compatible output from your amp (with separately controllable volume) would be better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcr Posted July 31, 2003 Share Posted July 31, 2003 I'm in exactly the same boat, & that's just what I've been looking for too! I finally settled on the Genz Benz ML200, in my case the 2x10 model (but they also make a 1x15 & 1x12). It's 200 watts, has full features (especially nice when you're running a line to the board), tilts back, & is about 62 lbs. I'm getting it because the 10s should have focus (the point of having a monitor is to keep the sound where I want it, not spread all over the place), it's portable, it won't take up too much stage space, & it's still powerful enough to be used as a stage amp in not-so-big situations. Main uses will be for home practice & as a stage wedge for the drummer & me, letting the mains handle the rest. Perfect for me. Other good amps that I took a second look at are: SWR Workingman's 10. Ultimate portability & good focus. Not really useful as a stage amp, though. Ampeg BA115. Very nice, great sound (I love the "sytle" switch). Still kind of big & heavy. GK Backline. Definitely recommended; a lot like the Genz Benz. Carvin RC or PB. Nice, but while the PB is priced very well, you have to put out about twice as much to get the tiltback 210 in the RC line. There are others. Best if you can see as many in person as possible; practice hefting them, too, so you get a real sense of the difference between 45 lbs & 65 lbs! You also want to see if a 15" is going to be too boomy or spread out, if a 10" is going to be too honky, etc.; find out what you're tastes are. If you're going to be taking it back & forth between church & home in your car, say, you also want to make sure it's the right size to get in & out of your car easily; casters can help; useful handles; that kind of stuff. Also, go to archive.bassplayer.com & in the "Gear" section look up the combo shootout. Good luck. And welcome! PS If you're going to rely on the PA system to run house sound for your bass, make sure your system has a sufficiently powerful power amp (or two), or else you're going to distort big-time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBassMan Posted July 31, 2003 Share Posted July 31, 2003 Originally posted by Sweet Willie: I bet the Tech 21 Landmark 60 combo amp is pretty nice. Unfortunately I don't know the cost and I don't know your budget, but I'd seriously consider it given your situation. Go check it out at their website. Click here for Tech 21 website. A guitar player friend of mine tried out the bass wedge as a stage monitor, and I took the chance to test it as well. Could not handle much volume at all, farted out very soon on E and especially B strings. I'd only consider this amp if you can place it close up and be a monitor for you alone. The other band members may not hear much though. We also tried Hartke and Behringer, and he ended up buying the Behringer which had more punch. Even with this bigger amp you had to be a bit careful with the EQ to not get problems with the E and B strings. YMMV and IMHO of course. Prior to buying a bigger rig I played with a EBS Drome 12" combo as monitor, leaning it back against a guitar stand. This is a seriously better amp, but also way more expensive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davebrownbass Posted August 2, 2003 Share Posted August 2, 2003 I use the Gallien Krueger MBE 150....the microbass. It's a high end (read: "expensive") machine, pretty indestructable. I like it a lot, but I don't use the 5 string. On the other end, I think that Fender 25 Bassman is the neatest little practice amp I've seen. I love it. I don't think it has an internal DI. You'll have to get a DI splitter to get your signal to the board. "Let's raise the level of this conversation" -- Jeremy Cohen, in the Picasso Thread. Still spendin' that political capital far faster than I can earn it...stretched way out on a limb here and looking for a better interest rate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JD_dup2 Posted August 2, 2003 Share Posted August 2, 2003 Unless you are using a separate, dedicated DI be careful. Some of the smaller amps you mentioed do not have a DI with a balanced XLR out. The Ampeg BA-112 is a nice amp but it only has an unblanced line out. The bigger BA-115 does have a full DI and XLR out. If for monitor use it does not make much sense not being able to play through the PA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Phil Posted August 2, 2003 Share Posted August 2, 2003 Go with the Hartke 1x12 kickback. Its inexpensive and has a good sound. Or you can get the 20 or 30 watt model and lean it against something, or makea stand that folds and screw it on the back. I think that would be more...better. http://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/blue.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/black.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/fuscia.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/grey.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/orange.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/purple.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/red.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/yellow.JPG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Banta Posted August 2, 2003 Share Posted August 2, 2003 Originally posted by motorcityprogger: I've been scouting the Ampeg BA112, Ibenez SW65, Behringer, and Hartke brands that "kickback"I use the BA-112 for that very same application, and it works perfectly. If you go up to the BA-115, it has a balanced out which will negate the need for a DI box. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilMan99 Posted August 3, 2003 Share Posted August 3, 2003 Originally posted by davebrownbass: On the other end, I think that Fender 25 Bassman is the neatest little practice amp I've seen. I love it. I don't think it has an internal DI. You'll have to get a DI splitter to get your signal to the board.Bassman 25 has 1/4" line-out (and separate speaker-out), but no balanced output with volume control like bigger brothers (Bassman 100/200/400). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay J. Posted August 3, 2003 Share Posted August 3, 2003 I've also been shopping around for a small combo and I really like the Ashdown EB12 and the Yorkville XM50 this is an online store that has great prices on yorkville amps. http://www.gear1music.com/yorbasam.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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