Bass Combo Comparison | Are small bass combos loud enough? | Thomann
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 พ.ค. 2024
- Looking for a bass combo that is small & light but powerful enough to play with a band? Julia compares 5 bass combos that could do the trick! Which one do you like best? Let us know in the comments!
Gear used: tho.mn/ecn9n
We use Triad-Orbit stands for our cameras, lights and mics: tho.mn/triad
Recorded and mixed with Universal Audio: tho.mn/xuad
Interesting bits and pieces:
0:00 Intro
0:56 Playing Fingerstyle | Fender Rumble 100
1:08 Fender Rumble 100 | Talking
1:34 Playing Slap | Fender Rumble 100
1:45 Playing Drive | Fender Rumble 100
2:19 Ashdown Studio 12 | Talking
2:39 Playing Fingerstyle | Ashdown Studio 12
2:50 Playing Slap | Ashdown Studio 12
3:02 Playing Drive | Ashdown Studio 12
3:25 Eden Terra Nova TN 2251| Talking
3:54 Playing Fingerstyle | Eden Terra Nova TN 2251
4:08 Playing Enhance ON | Eden Terra Nova TN 2251
4:19 Playing Slap | Eden Terra Nova TN 2251
4:41 Hartke Kickback 12 | Talking
4:58 Playing Fingerstyle | Hartke Kickback 12
5:08 Playing Slap | Hartke Kickback 12
5:28 Markbass Mini CMD 121P | Talking
5:50 Playing Fingerstyle | Markbass Mini CMD 121P
6:00 Playing VPF ON | Markbass Mini CMD 121P
6:11 Playing Slap | Markbass Mini CMD 121P
6:22 Let's test if they are loud enough to play with a drummer...
6:39 Markbass with Drums
7:03 Ashdown with Drums
7:25 Eden with Drums
7:47 Hartke with Drums
8:09 Fender with Drums
8:37 Which one is your favourite and why?
8:44 Thanks for watching & please subscribe!
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Really glad they played with a live drummer for this demo, it’s a super important consideration.
So, which app would you choose? I’m curious.
I've been a professional bassist for more than half- Century. I'm 71 now. Not too many gigs anymore, but I still have a lot of gear. My Rumble 200 is in the trunk of my car. That said, ALL combo amps I've used, owned, and tried- and yes, there are a lot... have a serious issue, that always results in my selling them off. If you underestimate the gig situation, or your bandleader assures you there'll be PA support- you will be outgunned- buried in the mix, both onstage, and at the rehearsal studio. Take a guess how I know this, to be repeatedly true. When it happens, you're stuck with THAT amp, and THAT cabinet- in a single unit. Yes, there have been, traditionally, speaker outs for extension speaker cabinets. But, WHY buy a combo, if you're going to possibly bring TWO cabinets? Buy a powerful head with a two ohm capability, and bring one, or two cabinets of whatever type you might need. I think she did a good job in the demo here, but I can tell you right now, NONE of those single 12" combo amps will cut it on even 'sensible' volume gigs. I've used a Rumble 100, a Hartke Kickback, and that Markbass. The Markbass was a nice little amp- but for the same money, you can find a great 4-10 used, and a really powerful head, like a TC, Markbass, or other amp secondhand... that would outclass them all. These are essentially... low volume gig amps, or nice personal practice amps. Even my Rumble 200, looks tiny next to most drum kits. In addition, there is NO real way to know what any of these actually sound like, from these You Tube videos, until you play through one.
I used my Peavey Mark IV series coupled with my roll-away Yamaha bass cabinet (15" speaker, which was later upgraded to a 15" Black Widow speaker by Peavey) back in the day. Maybe other amp heads were better...but if Steve Harris used it for Iron Maiden concerts, then I knew it would deliver for all situations.
Totally agree with the 2 ohm capability thing
I have switched to 2 12” orange obc112 cabs and a 600 watt head( peavey mini max) it is modular enough that one cab works for small hazz gigs, 2 in a stack look nice on stage and is plenty for r😅ck gigs for small gigs its cab in one hand bass in the other and my back pack for scores/amp/pedals cables etc . I still di or mic if available but will never just run a DI …. Better to have suspenders and a belt so your ass doesn’t gang out
Yep. Used a Mesa head and Mesa 2x10 and 1x15 cabs. Used one or both cabs depending on gig. Never had a worry. Unfortunately I think Part of being a bass player is accepting you need heavy gear. I would use these combos for practice or very small room playing only. But that’s just me and I’m old and deaf. lol.
I’ve been using the Markbass 12 ever since they came out and it’s always done the job no problem for the typical bar band setting.
Finally an amp test done properly. Giving weights and playing the same bass through the different amps. Julia Hoffer you are wonderful
I have the older generation of the Rumble 100 2x10 , and i love it! It does the job!
I was so surprised at the Eden. The only amp that you could clearly make out the notes when played with drums.
Excellent review format. Really enjoyed how the reviewer really digs in and gets that tone out!
I got a rumble 100 for a few years. Its loud enough for rehearsals and small gigs. I even used it to record in a studio. The soundguy loved the sound. Only downside no pre/post xlr. Great little amp.
I noticed the 100 watt amps, the volume was at 3 O'clock, the Eden 225 watts was also at/about 3 O'clock. the Hartke 500 watts, was at about 1:30-ish and the MarkBass 300 watts was at about 11 O'clock.
Another thing to think about is, decibels, the sound pressure in that room, and the same exact volume in different rooms would produce different decibel levels. also if you moved the location of the decibel meter. one bass amp might punch out farther than another amp, that would be something else to look into.
Yeah, I noticed there was no mention of if the volume or gain settings were set the same from bass to bass, so really it's not any sort of accurate comparison. If you have one amp maxed out and the other only pushing 40% on the volume knob, why call it a comparison?
I used the old version of the Rumble 100 for years and it was a beast. Now I use a Peavey Max 208. It’s super portable and it can definitely keep up with a full band.
Do you get a buzz sound when you turn it on?
Just picked up the Mark bass which I use for upright, and I can't believe the punch this little amp packs. It does what the huge cabinets and magnets of my youth used to do if you wanted big sound.
I already own a Fender Rumble 500. Light at 36 Lbs and more than enough power to keep up with a loud band. Sounds great as well.
Agree that Fender R 500 is loud enough. Itself it does not sound so good but with multieffect you can add some parametric eq. In comparison FR 100 is a toy to FR 500. In fact I think that from the combos FR 500 is the best. Still I don't like combos, much better is Mark Bass 102HF + Mark head from some cheaper gear. Second part with drums just proves that small combos sucks. With FR 500 or Mark 102HF I can be much better heard as bass player.
@@Marcink126 I'm usually running a D.I. directly off the bass, not the preamp of the Fender amp and the sound man is going to control what is heard out on the floor. The only thing I require is to be heard across the stage by the horn section. I still think it sounds pretty good for what it is.
I like the look of the fender the best. And it sounded good! Thanks for doing the comparison Julia
The 210 500 is still pretty light , i have played a few gigs with the rumble 500 a few open mics with a house R100 . Getting old sucks, still getting great sound from light weight is rad!
In this video, especially when the drummer comes in...Markbass all the way! It has volume and a nice, clean, articulate sound on all ends of the spectrum. Great video!
I got the rumble 100 from you and I couldnt be hsppier with it! It's perfect :)
I used to have an Ampeg Portaflex b15n that I had swapped a JBL 15" into. Loved that little combo
I rented that Markbass for a jam, those things sound good. And loud.
Great idea for a review. Liked the Markbass tone the best.
Glad to see the same bass I have being used, thats super helpful. I'm thinking seriously about replacing my well-used 140W 1 x 15" 1982 amp with a Rumble 500 but that Hartke has some monster tone to it, the Eden as well.
Homie, great product demo. I can't wait to browse thru your catalogue.
Reggie!!!
@@stewartcampbell9906 you hang out in weird corners of TH-cam! I'm over here looking at amp options because I gotta bring the thump in my house.
@@ReggieO I was checking out Marcus Miller (Squire) basses because my Cort needs work and it's more difficult to slap on my five string. I got myself a Hartke HD25 practice amp from Thomann a couple of years ago as a practice amp. Love it! Good for an apartment. I can't believe I saw your comment on here! Hope you guys are doing well.
The Rumble and Hartke sounded the best to my taste. Thank you for the great review and comparison.
Agreed. Rumble had the nicest pleasing baked in vintage character, Hartke was the deepest, roundest, smoothest and fullest. I'd maybe give a nod to the Mark Bass for musicality. My choice might depend on the type of music I played most. If it was hip-hop, urban, soul, music with electronics, reggae, dub - Hartke all the way. Vintage indie rock, country, then Fender. modern fusion / jazz, then Mark Bass, which would probably also work extremely well as a stage amp intended to be supported in the subs by the PA; a common use case. If the Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-112 was in the mix, I think it beats out the Fender in warmth / vintage character too, as well as having more fullness than the Fender because of the bigger cabinet. Can be a bit more pricey than the Rumble though.
They all sound good, I can’t decide , but I just picked a Fender Rumble 40 , it’s pretty darn good 😉
A while back switched from TC Electronic K cabs stack to a Hartke HD210 Hydrive paired a Hartke TX600. The compliments I get from sound engineers and my band mates are constant because of how clean and clear the tone is. Cutting through the mix with a Hartke setup is way easier than my old TC Electronic gear. At least that has been my experience
This is great idea to put Sound level meter! It let to understand 100W combo with drums. Many thanks! This is very good review.
The other thing with any of them is if you tweak the EQ settings a bit you can cut through better and make a significant difference in the room without changing volume.
I bought the Hartke HD25 last year, and I really like it ( although I've used it more for playing my 8 string than my bass 😂🤷♂️ ). I haven't even cracked quarter volume with it and it's plenty loud, and it also handles an E0 note ( on my bass ) well for a small speaker.
Excellent review! Thanks for making this video
It seems like the Markbass and the Hartke are the best and pass all of the tests. I actually got the Markbass and am amazed at how load it is. I kept having to turn the bass down. I does have great tone. It is easy to carry. I heard a band where the bassist was using a Markbass and was amazed at how loud it is and how great of a tone it gets.
the fender rumble, clean clear punchy and price
I bought a Mark Bass combo amp first but wasn't really digging it, then I bought the Hartke 12 for practice and was blown away and even used it at some gigs and then I upgraded to the 15 a couple years ago and haven't looked back ever since. Love it and it has even handled big shows when stingy bass players don't want to lend out their rigs...haha...great video
I got the Hartke 2X10 500 watt combo and I’m happy with it haven’t Been disappointed at all I’ve used it out for one gig at a coffee house which is a smaller place and it was adequate at a very low setting for volume which made me happy
Great comparison! Just what I was looking for. Thanx from Sweden!
Just of curiusity: Which one do you yourself prefer, and why?
The Fender Rumble 100 is my Favorit 💖💖💖💖 I Love him , I have him 🤣
Love the MarkBass stuff. I gig with the 102 combo (private event band). I liked it so much I bought the 112 combo with the extra cab. Super light, easy to carry, and really loud with those two cabs.
Do you feel the 210 lacking in terms of bass, sounding too boxy? I need something portable to play in an orchestra and I wanted to pair with a markbass head. My current bass amp is too heavy (kustom de100 2x15). Thanks!
I dig the stuff that u present. Ura great Bass Player too. Thx for all u doo!
The Eden sounds delicious clean & yum yum. It stood out to my ears
Been playing with a Markbass CMD102 for 3 years now. It's a perfect combination: lightweight (
I have markbass mini CMD 121 p , it's great
I've been hesitant about the Markbass CMD102 because though it gets great reviews I do see some negative ones that say the amp quit on them during a gig or rehearsal. Not just a few reviews, a lot. Some burned out, some over heated. One person said there is no fuse protection which I find crazy. But your amp has been great over the years?
One thing that was not mentioned, is that the more powerful amps have the facility to attach another speaker cab, which will allow the amp to use it's full power into 4 ohms. I own a Fender Rumble 100, which is a great amp but doesn't have that facility. I also own the Markbass CMD 121P, which does allow you to attach another cab and can therefore play at significantly louder levels than the Fender.
Damn! I forgot to look at the db meter I was so transfixed with watching how much you enjoy playing your bass :D But Ashdown for me all the way!
Best bass amp vid out there... Thanks!
Bought a Fender Rumble 40. One of the best amps I've got in my life.
I got one to in small room sounds great
Thinking that’s my next purchase as well.
That's my knock around and I've never had to even push it to keep up with reasonable volume indoor jams. Yea guitars can possibly drown it out but it takes stupid volumes in a room to do it.
Just got one too , great amp 👍
I used a Rumble 200 for over 2 years with and without PA support. It handled most situations… I’d even push it past where I felt comfortable and it never once failed me. I moved on to a Markbass head and a 210 cab… selling the Rumble. Looking back, wish I would’ve kept the Rumble.
Why? I am thinking on buying one of those.
@@victormendez2820 I sold it thinking I’d get more out of the Markbass. I might have slightly better tone with the Markbass but I just miss the Rumble with a 15.
Yeah that Markbass is really nice stuff, but I'd recommend a 1x15" over a 2x10" . I have an Ampeg BA600 2x10"...which is a great amp, lots of power, but its quite big, heavy, and I never want to push it because it's an expensive amp. I'm selling it now that I bought a cheaper 1x15"....and I like the 15" sound much better than the 2x10"..
I think I'd go for the Eden combo. Dispite the weight it cuts nicely through in the mix and has nice a nice tone / tone options.
Better take Fender R 500 or Hartke HD500 or something with similar power and two 10" speakers or one 15". With such small combos like in mentioned comparison you will not cut through the drums.
I have the Rumble 100. Love it for what I need.
I eventually went with the Markbass CMD 102P. Very light and an awesome sound that kicks butt. I pair it with a David Eden 2x10 XLT. I've had it for 10 years and never looked at anything else.
Hello from Kansas City, Kansas! I just wanted to say that I enjoyed literally everything about this video: the format, the information, and your obvious joy in playing the bass made me happier just by watching you! Oh, and I LOOOVE your accent!! Anywho, thanks for the excellent video, and please take care and be well. 🙏🤙
Yooo, I'm also from KC! Though these days I'm living in Valencia Spain
I use a Fender Rumble 200 head and a Old Carvin 1x10 cabinet. (I repurposed it from the combo when the amp section blew up.) it keeps up with a full band quite well. I just got a Fender 2x8 cabinet and now I have a Loud Mini Bass Stack!
IMO Eden for tone (I love the enhance control) but the Hartke for volume and the 'kickback' feature.
I thought the Eden and Hartke amps sounded the best, but all sounded good. I used a TC bg250 1x15 on the road for years, for small gigs or opening slots. I still use it, and it has a few hundred gigs on it. Not one problem.
This is a great demo,the only problem is that price was not taken into consideration,if that was the case I think the Fender rumble wins out on value
Great review. Love the drum test.
Excellent video. Listening to the demo with the drummer, with my eyes closed, the biggest difference is between the room mic, the full mix, and the playing styles, NOT the amps. Which proves, the most important points are amp placement, EQ set up and your playing style. I thought the quality of the amps was splitting hairs, but would probably pick the Mark Bass. All amps sounded really good though, and I'd be happy with any of these.
To me the Hartke was the hands down winner but you left out one of the most important stats the price!!!
I was quite surprised that I preferred the Hartke kickback over the others.
The prices are in the description under the link called Gear Used.
Hartke has the clarity and punch. Reliable too. Best.
The Hartke has no extension speaker jack. That's a deal breaker for me.
Hartke, Fender, and Markbass won hands down. The rest were drowned by the drums!
Great tones and chops as always, Julia!
I bought a Mbass four years ago and is the better choice in my long experience as a bass player. Perfect for rehearsals, perfect for inner gigs, and for outside gigs , pre eq DI, a well balanced monitor and carriying your bass with one hand and the combo with the other one is priceless. i still wonder myself how this people got such a sound and power from a 12 inch combo. Great. In my first gig outside with some other bands they looked at me as if I were from Mordor. Then everybody came back asking questions about this little bully. Sure, in bigger gigs, the first thing I do is make a lovely friendship with the PA system technician 😁
I feel this. I own a 212 TC cab and 800 watt head. They are great for the big gigs, but I have been looking for the perfect combo or "small" 12 for situations such as yours.I don't really want to rely on an extension cabinet, so I need to know it'll push and not get lost. I usually play venues with a PA, and 4-5 piece band tops.
I have the Mark Bass 121P (1 x 12 @ 300 watts). It's very good, but I use the extension speaker with it (New York 121) and it becomes 2 x 12 @ 500 watts. It keeps up with my drummer quite nicely.
Markbass and Hartke are my favorites. Drums overwhelmed all, per my headphones, but, appreciated the demo. Still not ready to pull the trigger on any of them.
I love the idea of the combo and still play with the idea of getting one. I did not end up getting a combo and I am very glad with my decision. What i did was I started out with a MB head and the traveler 2\10 102 rear ported cabinet.
I thought I was going to expand so I went for a few hundred more and got an 800 watt head.
The cab is 30 lbs. I got a MB head bag that I carry under my arm like a pocketbook.
The best part is I can BLOW ANYTHING off the stage!!! I never struggle.
I place the rear ported cab close to the wall and BOOM!!!!
Bone brushing volume and it takes up about 2' on stage.
It really turns heads and takes up no space at all.
With the extra power in the head the signal is so crisp, and expanding is no issue.
But I probably will buy a combo some day.
How do you think your very-low freq responsive is with the 2x10" alone compared to a 1x15"? I play in an orchestra and I need to move to a lighter combo or the 2x10 plus head format, but I'm affraid the low freq is going to be lost.
Marvelous video. My favorite was the Hartke because you can add cabinets, the tilt and for sound. Sound is complex issue, and really most modern amps sound great. Please consider the following when choosing amps: What are your goals to play (play big rooms, only at practice with friends, small cafes)? Cost, what can you afford? Weight. Do you want to add cabinets for bigger gigs (you cannot do this with the Fender with only 100W)? Is all wattage being used (no on the 500W Hartke, for sure, you'd need to add cabinets like another 2X10 or 1X12 to use all 500W)? Is tilt needed, as is a setting without good floor monitors, so you can hear yourself? Does it have a DI so you can go through the PA if needed? Do you understand or need all of the features--why pay extra if you won't use on-board effects, for example? If you want lots of volume for large live performance, you can still use a small amp (ie 100 W) with a DI straight to the PA--if the venue has one. If there is no good PA, you may need a larger rig, like a 800 Watt with 2X12. It all depends on what you need.
I feel that 100W is the minimum to play with a drummer, and it's pushing it with a full band to be heard, unless mixed through a PA. But remember, if you have 500W, but only a 1X12, you will not be much louder than 100W, because likely all 500W are not being used! Again, this all depends on your goals.
Tubes add weight and cost, not likely any sound improvement.
I play an Acoustic B100C at $350 USD--100W 1X12, 17kg, great sound, low cost, tilt-back, durable, DI for larger gigs, EQ, tone shaping, overdrive with footswitch. Except for the Hartke, I'd put my amp against any of those for practice or small gigs (bigger if through the PA via the DI), except it cannot power additional cabs, as the Hartke can. The way I understand it, the Hartke's 500W is deceptive, because only a fraction is used, the rest is used only if you add cabinets--but that is nice if you want to play bigger places.
Your classical training with cello really shines with your left hand technique
Julia, should you read viewer comments, I want to thank you thank you thank you for introducing me to the Hartke KB line. I was in serious need of an amp that would sit between a 40w practice amp and an 800w amp (with up to two 2x10 cabinets); the Hartke KB12 is ideal. After hearing you play the same model Fender jazz bass that I use, I took a chance and purchased it online since none of the "big box" guitar stores I visit stock any Hartke products. It's a very impressive small, yet quite powerful, amp, especially the Shape control that when added to the onboard EQ gives a jaw-dropping range of tonal variation. Perfect for rehearsals and smaller venues, fitting right between my two older amps.
I have that Markbass. Replaced my Marshall VBA400 which weighed the same as a small car. It’s a fantastic amp. Great for gigging and small enough for practice.
I play the Fender Rumble 100 for years now as a practice and rehearsal amp and I never had to go over maybe 3 o clock to keep up with the drummer.
The fender rumble series are awesome. I have the fender rumble 500 and its a beast to play on. It can be quiet but also shake pictures off my wall lol
Me too! It’s a great amp!!
I can agree if you looking for nice ton and power with more reserves
GR Bass Cube 800 combo is an incredible single 12 combo. I've never had issues keeping up with a drum. Louder, better sounding, smaller and easier to carry than my old TC Electronics BG250-112
GK bass amps always pu tout a lot of sound.
Good sound.
Ii remember the ones from the 1980's and 1990's. The twelve inch combos put out more sound than some companies fifteen inch combos.
A lot of upright bass players loved the small sound and big output of them.
I have the Fender Rumble 100 for my Ibanez 5 string. I tried out the Rumble 40, but it didn't cut it with the low b string. The Rumble 100 does, and I've been very satisfied with it.
I had the Fender 100 for a while, loved the light weight and bass output. But the lack of a tweeter meant it didn't quite have the snap and sparkle to do justice to modern-sounding basses like my Ken Smith. That Eden sounded surprisingly good by the way. The Markbass sounded boxy though.
I have the Hartke KB12. Although it says 500watts, it is in fact 250watts RMS. Having said that it is a truly great and powerful little combo and fine for pub gigs. The direct out works really well too, so for bigger stages just plug into the PA and use it tilted up just as your stage monitor. I've been using it for two years and am very impressed with it.
I totally agree with you. As for me, this is the best bass combo in its class(size, weight and wattage)
I have the Hartke KB12 as well. I’ve owned it for a few years now and have used it for practice, rehearsal and small gigs. It can do it all in a nice small package. It sounds very good as well. As Andy said it’s not really 500 watts but it’s 250 rms watts which for a small combo is a lot.
it's 500 watts @ 4ohms the internal speaker is 8ohms, so f you plug a 4 ohm cab in you will get a true 500 watts
@@dazxmedia Correct me if I am wrong, It only has one speaker out. It's own or an extra 4 ohm cab as you say. So only one or the other? If one plugged a powered 4 ohm cap from the XLR line out would that also get the full 500W ? and be able to use the combo as fold back and the cab as the projector?
Eden Terra Nova TN 2251 - Killing all the others. Followed by the Hartke. Markbass was midrange-Mud.
I have an Eden wt405 bass head and through an eden xst210 or my 800 212, it's loud.
Nice job 👍 Julia. Great demo and very skillful playing. I think I can tell from your facial expression which unit is your favourite one 😁
First. this was a very useful demo video. good job.
Those would all work for certain uses, but not so much for rock-n-roll(I'm thinking back-yard party sort of thing, especially in the open). Impressive how light they all are. (i have an old acoustic B200 "spine crush" series combo. holy crap it is heavy). sound quality sounds useful on all 5. i like the sound of all of them and i would choose #2 for clean quieter music. But regarding the big question i choose:
F) None of the above. The room mic recordings really tell the story to me. Every demo sounds like you need 2 of those amps. cant even really hear the low F or w/e she was playing at the end of each demo. (listening through full range DCM time windows).
Fender Rumble 100 all the way. I have one and love it!!!
I have a rumble 100 and its great, so light too!
As my Markbass just died I need a new amp. The Rumble would be my choice. But I wonder of it is loud enough to stand up to a band? Whats your opinion
The Mark Bass as I like to play Funk and the tone suits ...💙👊😎
Julia, which one did you pick we must know haha. Great video as always!!
I enjoyed the comparisons and the pace. I have used all of these but the Eden on stage for various events. But I do use Eden 4x10 XLTs for almost all my gigs. I really have enjoyed hearing the PJ bass and the Aguliar 12s. But in this shootout, my ears liked the Eden best and then the other four would depend on the song genre. I do see a tone of stage bands and college/HS groups using the Fender but that may be more the availibility of the Fender marquee. So I would give the Eden a solid month tryput and see how I felt at that point,
One surprise I found - a good 12" or 15" powered speaker can double up as a combo bass amp. I used a Turbosound Milan powered speaker as a bass amp once. I changed my mind about buying a bass amp. Tone controls come up short but there's lots of outboard stuff you can get for that if you need it. You also get a PA speaker out of it.
Yeah, the controls are anemic and the watts that they refer to are usually Peak watts which is at least twice as high as the rms watts. RMS watts are the average amount of power it will put out. Still, those can work very well as long as you have right speakers in them. Don't go under 12" and 15" will even survive bass playing better than the 12".
You can buy DI boxes with built in preamps to drive those powered speakers fairly inexpensively. I have a WTDI which is a DI box with an Eden WT preamp and an adjustable compressor built into it. I arrived at a gig one time where they had been providing a backline bass amp for about a year and a half only to find out that the amp was gone. Pulled out my WTDI, plugged it into our PA mixer and played all night with no problem. My WTDI was $149 and if Eden isn't your flavor there are a lot of other ones out there. So yeah, powered PA speakers will work. Just don't dime your bass EQ or you will blow them just as easily as a "real" bass amp.
We need a tube bass combo like the Harley Benton Tube 15 for guitars.
I have a Rambler 100, thanks to you i now definitely know that it would be a bad idea to bring it on larger gigs :)
Really good video! Thanks a million :)
I'll take my AMPEG BA-115 over these.... wish you had it in the mix. I'd have to vote for the FENDER Rumble as the best you sampled. Great video, Thanks! Julia, you rock my dear.
The Fender Rumble sounds good and is lightweight, good choice.
That weight was a biggy for me. I replaced a 7O pounder with it. And it sounds good for my needs.
I tried all the small combos and the MarkBass CMD121P is without comparison for sound, small size and weight and incredible output. Other bass players have come up after a gig and complimented me on my sound and were looking around for my "stack"! I can play ANY indoor gig and some out doors with this little amp. It is scary loud and with an extension speaker as loud as you could possibly want. Normally I have the volume set only about 11:00 for an indoor rock gig.
Above I wrote the same as you did. I played a out door gig with the tiny Microbass without an extension speaker. Enjoy them.
I rented a place to practice with a drummer. Then I found the Markbass amp there and it was without a doubt the exact tone I had been looking for. I play mostly TOOL and Alice in Chains now so I'm definitely buying the Markbass once I live in a place where I can use it lol
Torn between this markbass or a fender rumble 500. What do you think
@@cubby6708 I'd take Markbass over the Fender any day. But it depends on the kind of music you like.
@@johantitulaer1052 guess I just don’t want to get drowned out, and not looking for extension cabs to make up for it. Currently using a heavier tc 212 and 800 watt amp.
GK MB212II has been my go to amp for the last 5 years. At 500 watts it is loud enough for any situation I've encountered and at age 70 I appreciate that it weighs under 20kg.
I used to have an Ampeg ba115v2 150w, really good sound and powerful but it was heavy af (20kg) so I changed it for a GK mb112II 200w and it's been great, it is smaller and lil bit lighter (14kg aprox) but it can keep up with a drummer with no problems, has a great DI output and you can also add another 200w cabinet. Really in love with this amp.
I have the same GK combo. Very impressive for 200W combo. Recently added the 112MBP cab for when I need it.
Alone, the combo can fill small rooms. Add the second cab for louder drummers. Also cool to put one on either side of the stage.
I was surprised not to see the GK in the lineup. Maybe it was cost prohibitive.
That Markbass had lots of volume-knob to spare (probably isn't linear though)... so that's good! Has that Markbass sound, if you like that kind of thing. Fender and Ashdown struggling with the drums. I always advise people go 250-Watt or over when practicing with a drummer.
For me, I'd probably go with a Quilter bassdock with the amp, or a decent class-D head and a Trace Elf 2x8. Money no option and don't care about aesthetics? Probably Barefaced+amp.
I actually use a Hartke HD50. It's 50 watts and it's loud enough to play with a drummer when I turn it up. I have a pre-amp in my bass so that helps but being heard is more about having a tone that can cut through than power. This is why a lot of rock bass players play with a pick. Even finger players use tricks (Geddy Lee plays with his finger nails)
i too have a hartke hd50. it's really not bad.
Ok..nice review!👏🏾..nicely done! 🎉👍🏾 My choice would be the Fender “Rumble” but the 200 Watt version or even 500w❗️The Hartke is good sounding as well and could work for my needs! 🎸🎵✨🔊
Great test and Review. One big problem with almost all bass amps is the very noisy cooling fan that means that you almost can't use it for recording with a microphone. What you want is a convetion heat sink whitout a cooling fan or temperature regulated noiseless fan system that turns on the fan only when it's necessary or keeps it on low revs.
Or you could just get a markbass head / combo that already has pre and post eq XLR output with volume control. Eliminates need for external mic
Mark bass for me , love Mark bass gear , good job Julia
I'm using a Fender Rumble 100 to great results live (for a portable rig). Any greater volume needed can be achieved via XLR output to F.O.H.
I bought one too, and I absolutely love it. No more Breaking my back to perform live !!!
I grabbed the Mark Bass little mark 250/15, now I'm going to get a MXR A/B Box and stack Two Blackstar Unity 250/15's, the new Blackstar Unity has a truck load of effects and the Dry Clean Spanky Mark Bass, Awesome
Hartke and MarkBass! She was smiling plugged into both!!! So was I! You're the best, Julia!
My takeaway from the room mic was: Get a bigger amp, these will not do. Yeah, it may be enough in a certain setting, but in other cases when the song requires the bassline to be heard over the drums it is good to be able to turn up.
Some years ago, I was at Thomann and bought my GK MB 500 class D head (weighs nothing, fits in the front pouch of my bass gigbag) with a GK CX 115 Bass Cabinet that weighs 16kg. It has no trouble at all keeping up with loud drums (or making the drummer cry for help if you set it past noon). It was slightly under 1000€.
So if money is an issue, I would go with the Rumble 100 and hope I always have a DI to plug into. Else, I would look for a light 1x15 or 2x10 cab and a class D top, or a similar combo (Rumble 500 etc.).
EDIT: I think the room mic probably did not represent the situation very well, because I have read since that a lot of people actually use the Rumble 100 for gigging (before Corona, of course) And my own setup definitely has more headroom than I ever see myself using.
I have one of those Markbass combos and if I can't get loud enough with that (hasn't happened) I'm playing in a louder situation than I want to be in. If y'all are playing with a drummer who plays that loud, you should invest in a good hear aid company cause you're gonna need it.
Timothy Tibbits I actually wondered how quiet the Markbass was in the room mix because I got the impression that it should be loud enough from what I heard about it. Maybe it was not cranked all the way?
The Eden seemed to hold its own pretty effortlessly. It never sounded like it was trying to keep up, and had a nice balance of roundness and articulation. Also, you managed to keep from making a guitar face until the fourth amp.
The Eden was my favourite too.
You guys could post, together with video, tabs of the grooves. They always sound very nice.
As far as I can hear from my audio-technica headphones I like Eden and Fender, especially with drums.
The Hartke and the Rumble have got the most "coloured" sound, which will give the illusion to stand out more with a drummer. Nevertheless, in live conditions, one has to consider the acoustics of the venue and there, the Eden and MarkBass will possibly outperform the 2 first ones. The Ashdown is certainly a good amp too, but it did not convince me. If I may ask: which one has your preference Julia ?
AND I take it, Julia never answered. Everyone is different and prefers their favorite. Rumble, Mark Bass, Hartke...🤔
I cant imagine why anyone would use that tiny little personal practice hartke amp with a full band. Its gonna struggle to cut through. Its just too small. You are not gonna feel the bass through any combo that small. It isnt meant for that.
@@trenkenunless you are playing in a band of chipmunks 😂
I'm sad that I did not learn which was her favorite :(
she played the Eden at the end. would that be it? 😊
Great video very helpful thanks!!
I loved all of them
Unwelcome Drummer opinion! 🤣 I like it when bassists I play with use Mark Bass gear. Very punchy and solid low end. Also, when I run front of house sound I really enjoy how clean and clear the Mark Bass DI outs are.