I'm a Genz-Benz fan myself but I am intrigued by two new combo amps from TC Electronic, theComboClassic and the ComboStaccato, which was developed in conjunction with Tower of Power bassist Rocco Prestia. It's a 210 rig powered by a 450-watt head that has lots of features, including presets that can be controlled by an optional footswitch, a built-in tuner, parametric EQ with selectable midpoints and a compressor that TC says evens compression over all strings rather than favoring the lowest string. MSRP on ComboStaccato is around $2,000, which translates to roughly $1,400 street. The ComboClassic is slightly less expensive and has the same power but not the presets or tuner. These street pricesare in line with other hi-fi combo bass amps. If I hadn't just bought my Genz Shuttle 6.0 last year, I'd be looking at these today. Check out the MGR info on ComboStaccato at http://www.musicgearreview.com/article-display/3024.html.

I actually read that, and they look really, but I feel like the only reason I'd get one over a Markbass Little Mark is for the presets. I really like the Markbass tone (still want one of those heads to go with my 2x10 cab), and I think with the portability of TC Electronic and Genz-Benz' Shuttle bass amps, we have a trio of contenders here.

Overall, for $600, I'd go with the Markbass for totally awesome tone even set flat, but the versatility of having presets is really intriguing... Let us know if you get to try one! I'd be interested to hear the results!

I recently got a tc electronic RH450 head, just because shipping of the whole combo to Brasil is unbelievalby expensive.
The sounds I can get from this little fella are just amazing. My Warwick thumb is so tight and punchy it hurts; the Fretless Eko sweet and mwahggy (is there a word for that?). The tube emulator is as good as SansAmp. The compressor I'm still figuring out, but it doesn't kill your sound. With all respect to GenzBenz, a test I was able to do, side by side, got me a much warmer sound (maybe I'm not a Genz Benz guy). All this in a 4kg (8 pounds) package is really something. Very well designed and constructed, and it fits my gig bag pocket (although I'm using a backpack to carry it)
My SansAmp and Punch Factory are already gone; the Ampeg is on its way out.

IF the 450 had been available a year ago, I might have gone with it. Their compressor is supposed to actually take the input from each string for more even compression rather than having the compressor default to the lowest string. The fact that Rocco Prestia likes it and helped to develop it goes along way in recommending it -- always loved his sound and style.

I've read these posts and found them very informative. Or, maybe convincing me that I'm on the right path for a new combo. I have and Ampeg 2 /10 200 watts, and I'm looking for something better. I have played through Markbass, Berlin and 2/10 models, a Mesa Boogie Walkabout...all very nice. But, am I looking for more? The TC Elect sounds very intriguing...Genz Benz I'm not aware of.
I have a 69 Jazz with Bartolini's. TC's are nowhere to be found. I live near Buffalo. Where can you play through one???
At this stage, I'm looking for the best....at $1500 or lower.

Gary:

If you go to the TC site: www.tcelectronic.com and search through the dealer link at the bottom of the page, you'll find a list of dealers in New York. I couldn't tell how close any of them are to Buffalo, though. Sam Ash & Guitar Center are dealers if you have one close. The trick is to find one that has these TC amps in stock since they're pretty new.

Genz-Benz says that Music City in Buffalo is a GB dealer. They may be able to get a Shuttle for you to try without committing to purchase. I think the 6.0 112T would be a good starting point. Or you might want to get just the 6.0 Shuttle head with a NEOX 112T cab, which will give you more bottom.

Thanks for the quick reply!
Seems you are very high on GB products. I've never heard them, but certainly will look into them. Thanks

Yeas, I've been using GB for the last 10 years. Started with a 210 combo, moved up to a 400watt 112 combo, now have the Shuttle 6.0 with two 112 cabs. They sound great and the customer service -- even for minor questions -- is usually handled by Jeff Genzler, one of the owners. I've never had a GB develop problems.