$400 gets me......confused!

ThudThudThud · #1 04-15-2011, 04:35 PM

So, $400 coming real soon for a head.
I'm using an old Peavey 4x10 (also eyeing a 2x15 right now - so the 2 ohms option is cool), and I'm playing mostly modern hard rock, but occasionally will have need of other genres/sounds (so I don't want anything with too much of a signature sound). I use a Jazz bass with hot stack SD p'ups.

I'm so not sure what to buy!!! Yes, it's another of those threads.

I'm looking at the Line6 HD400,
then the Hartke LH500,
then the GK MB500 (bit more money),
and the Carvin BX500,
and now Ampeg brings out the PF500!!!!!
Geesh!

I have a SABDDI and a Tri-AC pedal (does bass real well, BTW) to 'fake' the tube sound if I need it (I like the SA sound, so clean amps are fine).

I realize I could always spend another $X and get more, and I could always go for used too. I know that. But I kinda want something new for once and I want to get the amp soon, not wait while I save the extra cash (which will probably get spent by my wife if I do wait...). I think these are all pretty good amps, but not sure which will serve me best.
400w-500w seems to be what I need.

Please help!!!!

Tracebassplayer · #2 04-15-2011, 05:22 PM

My advice is to take your speaker cabs in with you and try the heads you like out on them.
That's the only way. If you have to use their cabs then you will only get to hear how you sound via their cabs - which may not sound like your cabs. savvy?

Only you can tell you what you like.

Blues Bass 2 · #3 04-15-2011, 08:15 PM

I'm using a BX500 now and it's a very good amp . It doesn't have much of a signature sound either . I was using a Markbass LMII before this amp and it did have a signature sound , a very good one at that , but the Carvin seems to be flatter i guess . The Carvin has a ton of eq options , a cood compressor and will do 2 ohms if you want . Also it seems to have a lot of power too , I run mine at 8 ohms with a 112 three way cab or into my 8 ohm 310 cab and it has plenty of volume to keep up with a couple of fairly loud guitar players and that's with 300 watts . I like it just as much as the Markbass I had and I liked it a lot . The Carvin doesn't sound as much like a tube amp as the Markbass but you have the pedals to do that any way .