Question on speaker size for upright bass

[David Powell]

You listed several Ampegs and I don't know the budget size you have, but I think the best small Ampeg combo for DB might be the PBC228, which is a two channel model designed with doubling on double bass and electric in mind. The big head (PB 800 with a 212H cab) in that series is one I have and it has a real nice tone for upright. I haven't played through the Ampeg combo, but I have found that speaker design and cabinet design are more important than the speaker diameter. That amp is 16 x 16 x 10 inches and the whole thing weighs just 30 lbs.

My personal favorite DB "little big guy" is the Acoustic Image Coda. The Contra model is the one channel model (less $$) and these have a much deeper sound than many small combos. It's largest speaker is a down firing 10 and this amp has a lot more bottom end to it than my old Fender RAD with a 10 in a ported reflex. There might be some good deals on the series I and series II of these since series III is being distributed now.