| Author | Message | ||
| bigbadbill
Intermediate Member Username: bigbadbill Post Number: 110 Registered: 10-2003 |
Has anyone any experience with the SWR Baby Blue 2x8 combo? I'm looking for something smallish for home/rehearsal and have seen one locally on e-bay. | ||
| kungfusheriff
Member Username: kungfusheriff Post Number: 68 Registered: 8-2003 |
Yep. For use at home and during low-volume rehearsals, or even a supper-club gig, the Baby Blue should work fine as a standalone amp. On the plus side they have flexible EQ that mates well with Alembic basses, are easy to move around, and boom well when paired with a good extension cabinet. On the minus side, the EQ controls' design makes it impossible to boost both lows and low-mids at the same time, meaning fretless basses disappear in the mix, and those 8" speakers don't throw low frequencies AT ALL. Also, though the BB was billed as an excellent recording amp, the one time I tried to use it for that purpose the results were disappointing to say the least. It left "the ranch" within days. Not to say I don't miss it from time to time, though... | ||
| effclef
Intermediate Member Username: effclef Post Number: 101 Registered: 1-2004 |
Interesing, KFS - Bass Northwest has an SWR "Henry the 8x8" speaker cabinet which, when I looked up some reviews on Harmonycentral.com, people seemed to like for bass. I've never seen 8" used for bass except maybe the SWR LA8 combo, which seems pretty tiny. EffClef | ||
| kungfusheriff
Member Username: kungfusheriff Post Number: 69 Registered: 8-2003 |
Those little speakers are favored for stage sound, where it's a liability to hear the bass amp competing with the mains, and their quick response has come into favor in a big way. But I've found I can't live without the solid BOOM of a 15. | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 1231 Registered: 9-2002 |
Hmmmm ...if I remember well Brother "the bass" Werner in Germany uses a Henry the eight. Paul TBO | ||
| bigbadbill
Intermediate Member Username: bigbadbill Post Number: 111 Registered: 10-2003 |
I think I'm too late guys; the auction finished sooner than I thought. Thanks for the input though, its much appreciated. I actually used to have a Trace-Elliot V-type 4x8 combo,which was great for a back pickup Jaco type sound on small to medium gigs. Very warm and punchy midrange. For highs and lows though it was somewhat lacking, which is why I got rid of it. The friend I sold it to still has it; I used my SC through it when we played on the same bill once. It didn't cut it with the SC at all; nowhere near a full range enough sound. I figured the Baby Blue may have been a nice clear home/recording/quiet rehearsal amp; guess I'll never know! Anybody recommend any small combos for that type of use? BTW, anybody tried the Mesa Walkabout? It's not cheap here in the UK (its only marginally cheaper than an Eden Metro), but I've heard good things...not that I can afford one at the moment. Shaun | ||
| dnburgess
Advanced Member Username: dnburgess Post Number: 209 Registered: 1-2003 |
For a small setup you might also look at an Acoustic Image Clarus and Acme B1 or B2. Very versatile eq and a real hi-fi speaker that mates well with Alembics. Add a bigger head and the B2 will handle much bigger gigs. | ||
| lowlife
Junior Username: lowlife Post Number: 33 Registered: 12-2003 |
I tried the the Mesa Walkabout side by side with Eden Time traveller CXC10. The mesa (to my ears) did not have the same sweet sound of mid to high punch that the Eden had. I also found that the bottom firing sub-woofer gave it a muddy sound. I did the demo with my Excel, and I bought the Eden. Ellery | ||
| dadabass2001
Member Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 99 Registered: 6-2002 |
I've had good luck at small gigs and rehearsal/home with a G-K Backline 110. 70 watts rms power, headphone jack, 3band EQ, and very light (1 trip for bass and amp). It will hold its own against a reasonble drummer. Try one out to see if you like the tone. Mike | ||
| adriaan
Intermediate Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 167 Registered: 6-2002 |
There's also the SWR "Baby Baby Blue" combo, which is a 120W 1x10" (160W with extension cab). Loved the sound, nice lows, true highs (absolutely no harshness) - but not too big on loudness. So great for home recording and practice, on stage only for a small combo playing quiet jazz or folk. The SWR Workingman's 12 is somewhat bigger and heavier. No parametric fine tuning like on the Baby Blue types, but a nice enough sound as it is - and at a much lower price. Personally, I wouldn't mind having a Baby Baby Blue around the house ... | ||
| locutusofborg10
Junior Username: locutusofborg10 Post Number: 19 Registered: 11-2002 |
i use a SWR 2004 top for practice and small venue gigs...i use it with several different bottoms depending on my needs. i find the tone of the SWR compliments my epic very well. i also like the flexibility of using different bottoms for different needs... the 2004 can be had relatively inexpensively...just check ebay...however, i would be wary of buying any SWR amp new since they have been taken over by fender and you can be sure the quality will go down... | ||
| locutusofborg10
Junior Username: locutusofborg10 Post Number: 20 Registered: 11-2002 |
i use a SWR 2004 for practice and small venue gigs...i use it with several different bottoms depending on my needs...i like using a seperate head as opposed to a combo simply for the flexibility...the head can be had relatively cheaply...just check out ebay...it has very good tone and compliments my epic very nicely...it has a headphone jack so you won't disturb anybody...one caution, though, don't buy any new SWR amp new...they have been taken over by fender and the quality is sure to suffer... | ||
| xlrogue6
Member Username: xlrogue6 Post Number: 54 Registered: 8-2002 |
I LOVE my Boogie Scout--great bottom end, nice EQ (although I've never found it necessary to do anything more than minor tweaks), incredible volume for a combo this size. I've got the 12" version--haven't heard the 15. IMHO, this is the ultimate small combo amp. The only problem is, it covers so much ground that my truly fabulous large rig doesn't see much action. | ||
| bigbadbill
Intermediate Member Username: bigbadbill Post Number: 112 Registered: 10-2003 |
Oh that's music to my ears; "my large rig doesn't see too much action". Actually I think it my back that it's music to! The problem I've had with most small gear I've tried (and to be honest most of the big gear too)is that it never suits all my basses. The Rick is the main sticking problem; it really doesn't seem to suit full range rigs (and its my main gigging bass). Unfortunately my new Alembic and my Sei require exactly that; full range rigs. So I'm kind of looking for a small AND large scale compromise (I HATE that word!). I guess I'm just going to have to bite the bullet and get out there and A/B loads of stuff. I hate doing that though; after half an hour I can never tell what's what. And don't you just hate rigs that sound great in the shop and terrible as soon as the band kicks in? BTW, thanks for all the input, as usual! | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 1242 Registered: 9-2002 |
Brother Shaun, I remember an A/B test with small practice amps in a Bass-player magazine around the end of the last century (LOL). If you want I'll check it out for you??? Paul the bad one | ||
| dannobasso
New Username: dannobasso Post Number: 3 Registered: 3-2004 |
On the opposite of small, I just finished putting together my large venue rig. Korg DTR200-F1X-QSCPLX3400- (left side) Epifani T310 & T115 (right side) Acme B210 & B410. Roughly 1200 watts a side. With this I have lots of options for smaller gigs. For practice I use Korg-F1X-Crest LA1200-Trace 210 & SWR 18. I prefer the Epi to the Acme just a tad, but side by side it is incredible. On the small side I heard an Acoustic Image 210 combo that sounded fine with a Fender Jazz. I've heard the new Genz-Benz combos with a Fodera. Worth checking out if you can get a good price. Danno | ||
| dnburgess
Advanced Member Username: dnburgess Post Number: 211 Registered: 1-2003 |
An AI 210 combo? I thought all AI combos were single 10" 3-way systems. Do you mean a combo with extension speaker? | ||
| bigbadbill
Intermediate Member Username: bigbadbill Post Number: 113 Registered: 10-2003 |
Wow, its something when your small rig is bigger than my big rig....and your big rig is bigger than my car! Sounds mighty impressive! Paul, I think I remember that test; I seem to remember the SWRs came out very well. I'll have to dig it out. I actually thought it was the century before, lol. Shaun | ||
| bigbadbill
Intermediate Member Username: bigbadbill Post Number: 114 Registered: 10-2003 |
Forgot to mention, a lot of the US gear is difficult to get in the UK. We've only recently got Epifani and Aguilar. Haven't seen any Acme, Genz-Benz etc. here. | ||
| dannobasso
New Username: dannobasso Post Number: 5 Registered: 3-2004 |
I could be mistaken on the AI. It was the size of a 210 combo but I didn't check it out up close. The di portion sent a good signal to my console though. Acmes are only sold in the US direct. At least that's how I got mine. Good value for the money. Danno |
