Bass amps that don't weigh a ton.

[RG550DY]

I arrived back from Our local guitar shop a while back after popping in with my girlfriend to have a look at what they had in the way of bass amps. She's been using my amp (from my old bass playing days) which is a Acoustic 126 model:



It's a great amp but it pretty much fills the back of my Saxo and has been a pain in the ass at practice since the studio is down some stairs. See saw an amp she liked and was offered what sounds like a good deal on a Peavey TNT 115 BW.



It's smaller, which is good for space in the car and is really loud, which is good for gigs. It weighs a bloody ton though and she can't actually lift it (it's heavier than the Acoustic). There's only one handle on the top as well so it's awkward to carry. I'm concerned because she seems to like it (the offer to buy it for £85 helped a lot) and if she buys it it just means I'm stuck with lifting and moving it all the time! I actually tweaked my back a bit trying to lifft it in the shop, it was MUCH heavier than I expected! Rugby and MMA have not been good to my spine so I have to be carefull moving heavy objects . I don't want to mess my self up carrying equipment into a gig, especially someone else's gear!

What's out there that's not too expensive, that can deal with pub gigs, isn't big in size and doesn't weigh a ton? I'm sure that rules out 90% of the amps out there!

Help before she cripples me!

[monquixote]

Mark Bass are the original light but giggable bass amp company. I have a Jeff Berlin which is small and can keep up with a loud drummer.

Check the Bass Chat classifieds there is always loads of stuff.

[ICBM]

Unfortunately small, light, loud - don't forget reliable - and cheap are mutually exclusive.

That said, a friend of mine has an Ibanez Promethean which is incredibly small and light, astonishingly loud for its size, wasn't *too* expensive (around £400 I think) and has only failed once so far - he blew the speaker, but he gigs a lot and really pushes his gear hard.

I do like those old Acoustics though - there's a 2x12" 125 in the shop I work for, I was almost thinking of buying it...

[fretmeister]

Genz Benz Shuttle series. I am a total convert to them!

[RG550DY]

I'll check out your suggestions, nice one.

Any one with experience of the Line 6 Lowdown 150? Probably enough for pub gigs right? Only 48kg too.



FEATURES:

5 Incredible Bass Amp Models: Clean, R&B, Rock, Brit, and Grind
5 Essential Bass Effects: Synth, Compressor, Envelope Filter, Octaver, and Chorus
Deep Switch With Special Tone Shaping for Supreme Fatness
XLR Direct Out with Line 6 exclusive A.I.R.™ processing
4 Programmable Channel Memories, 36 with FBV Shortboard™
Headphone Out
Jam Along CD/MP3 1/8” Input
Built-in Chromatic Tuner
Footswitch Jack for FBV Express™ or FBV Shortboard™
12” Speaker
150 Watts
Convenient Tilt-Back Monitor Design
Dimensions: 48lbs, 16"L x 17.5"W x 21.5"H

http://uk.line6.com/lowdownld150/

I found one for £299 new.

[thereformant]

The shape of the line6 one seems to me that it's designed to be angled at the bass players face which would give me pause for thought about if it is really going to work for backline purposes. (I assume your not going through the PA here).

[RG550DY]

The shape of the line6 one seems to me that it's designed to be angled at the bass players face which would give me pause for thought about if it is really going to work for backline purposes. (I assume your not going through the PA here).

Bigger gigs will have everything going through the PA, I'm just trying to make sure she has all she needs for the pub enviroment when just vocals go in the PA.

I'm not following your thinking at the moment, why would angling affect the amps performance for backline purposes? Sorry, late night!

[thereformant]

Only that if it's designed for monitoring it would make me question if it was going to have enough grunt to fill out FOH sound. Obviously it might be judging a book by it's cover but line 6 guitar combos are notoriously crappy for headroom.

[RG550DY]

I see what you mean now, thanks.

[wrinkleygit]

my advice is buy a couple of s/hand 1 x 12 pa speakers which can be found for as little as £50 a pair then throw all your other finances at a little markbass or gallien kreuger mb head,pa speakers work surprisingly well & can always be upgraded at a later date, happy new year, mike b.