Bass Combo amp

A-Rod

I have a big gig coming up this saturday, and need to rent a bass amp. Preferably a bass combo amp. Any recommendations? I dont really know what is good for bass. Even just general recommendations like if Peavy, or Marshalls are way to go for bass. I plan on trying them out before I rent.

The gig is for about 750 people, its in a banquet hall, so I need one that delivers real good quality.

Captain Cthulhu

wait, you're playing a big gig and you are looking for a combo amp? I think you might be confused because generally combos will do you no good unless you are plugging it into a massive PA system or practicing. I think what you probably want is a half stack, since my guess would be you don't have a lot of money. Check out a Hartke or Ampeg head with a 4x10 cab. If you really want you can also get a 1x15 cab to stack the 4x10 on top of. But that might be a little much. I'm curious, though, do you not have gear of your own? why are you renting equipment to play gigs?

T-bolt

I agree with the above poster, unless you have PA helping you be heard or your group plays very quiet (light jazz, folk, or similar) a combo amp generally does not push enough air for you to be heard clearly....unless its particularly powerful (say 300+ watts) and has an extension cabinet.

Generally you'll want a 4 X 10" cab (or a 2 X 15" or 8 X 10" if you want to make some eardrums bleed... and your back ache moving it) or a combination of 2 cabs of the following (can be the same): a 2 X 10", 2 X 12", 1 X 15", or even a 1 X 18"

Some good manufacturers: Ampeg or Mesa-Boogie for "the rock sound", Gallien-Krueger or Eden for a bright hi-fi sound, and (my sentimental favorite cuz its Canadian :P) Yorkville.

Tell the music store you'll be renting from about your requirements (type of music, size of venue) and they should be able to pick something suitable.

As an aside, I run a Yorkville 400W amp head and a 4 X 10" cab. I played an outdoor gig once and actually was asked to turn down by the organizers of the show even though my amp was the only thing on stage that wasn't miked throught the PA.

A-Rod

There will be a big PA system.

I am a guitarist, but I am doing a one time gig with some friends for a company party, needed a bassist, and I had a bass, so I picked it up practiced with them and was using someone else's amp for practice. Im not actually interested in buying any gear, since I dont plan on continuing to get gigs as a bassist, and am starting another band where I will be playing guitar.

CptKemzik

Since there will be a PA system, a solid combo should suffice, but what kind of music does the band play? Is it particularly noisy (im assuming its not hard rock or metal or somesuch)? Hopefully a 100 watt combo should suffice.

Since im partial to SWR of any kind I'd recommend the LA15 which is a solid bare-bones 100-watt combo and goes for $300 new. Since its a one time gig though, and you are a guitarist by trade, I'd recommend looking for this, or a workingman/pro used. If you can find either of these, and from a reliable place, they should be cheap enough.

A-Rod

Music is a wide range of covers, from Bon Jovi to System of a down to alanis morissette, and stuff like Oasis and No doubt. So looking at more of a rock reggeaish feel, nothing too heavy with the exception of soad.

CptKemzik

Yeah in that case my recommendation for an LA15, used, still stands, or finding a decent, and used, crate 100 watt combo. So scratch the SWR working pro; its probably a bit too much since this is a temporary gig.

A 100 watt SWR or crate entry level combo will have a basic easy enough EQ to use, and gives a nice conventional tone, which is good since you'll be playing stuff from all over the place. What kind of bass are you using though?