In 2011, I'm going to get a new rig... but what?

[rojo412]

Not to open a can of worms, but I'm looking to upgrade my rig. I've bought a ton of basses that have come and gone, but neglected my rig situation due to lack of gigging.
Currently, I have 2 rigs:

GK 800RB with Avatar 2x12
Ashdown Blue 180 with SWR Henry Jr 4x8

Both sound good in practice, but I feel like they are going to not work for me at some point and that kind of scares me. All of this stuff was purchased used and has seen a lot of use, so at some point, a speaker or 6 will need replacement. Or the head will need to be fixed and there's no good repair guys for miles around here. So basically, I want to get a rig that I can trust completely, whether playing a small jam session, or at the HOB.

Here's my keywords for what I'm looking for:
BULLETPROOF
MODERN
COMPACT (enough to fit in a regular sedan)
DEEP (I'm a 5 string player and have popped a few speakers)

I'll add more if I think of it, but what cabs fit that profile?
Amps, I know I love GK, but wouldn't be opposed to branching out, as long as it doesn't go the other direction (read: Ampeg).

Thoughts?

[fractal0243]

I've always been a GK and SWR guy, but I got sick of hauling around tons of gear all the time. I recently downsized to a Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 and an SWR Golight 410. I love the tone, I can carry my rig and bass into a bar in one shot, and it sounds killer. I can easily get close to the GK tone with it. Definitely give the Genz Benz heads a listen.

[christw]

If you're worried about having ample oomph to get deep, you could snag a 1001RB. I swear up and down that mine could have killed my SVT810E if I let my brother keep "tweaking" it.

Try to keep an eye out for a Bag End 410. They are beautiful cabs for their resale prices and just eat up 5'ers. Close to $1000 new and they go for $350-$450 used. They are killer loud too.

[drdunwoody]

I just bought one of the Genz Benz Shuttle 9.0 (after lugging around my 50lb GB750 in rack case) and wow, couldn't be happier! Fits in the gig bag. I've heard people say that the EQ isn't that strong but I find that the EQ gives tons of room. I can't imagine using a more extreme EQ setting than already available on this head. The GB service and reputation is probably the best of any amp manufacturer out there today. When I looked for a micro head, that was a huge factor for me. I want the damn thing to work! I found one new from an authorized seller (3 year warranty) for $663 on Ebay.
I was tempted by the low price of the Carvin heads and a lot of people really like them. However, it is also clear in reading the Carvin threads that they have a pretty high defect rate. I play my GB through a pair of Bag End s15d cabs. Unless I lack PA support (or am outside), a single 15" is plenty. These are small 15" cabs. The end result is that I can get from my car to the gig in one trip…a long time dream! Someone has a set of these Bag End cabs for sale on TB…$550 shipped I believe. If I didn't already own them, I would buy them! Oh, I also play a five string so no problems there. Happy hunting.

[Morning Beer]

I picked up an new avatar 3 way. Great little cab worth way more then the asking price IMO. Been running it with a GK MB Fusion. I couldn't be any happier with my rig and I've owned much more expensive gear.

If you don't mind weight I used to run a eden 210xlt and 210xst with a wt800 that sounded superb. Not sure whats going on with eden as of late, been hearing alot of good and bad over the last year.

I would recommend something from Mesa's M# line. Best sounding amp I've owned, but had too many QC issues with the one I had. If you like GK's tone, check out the MB heads for sure.

[tink9975]

you could look into a Gen Benz Shuttle 9.0 and an Avatar TB153

the Avatar cab will take 500w and go nice and low. not a super compact cab, but will fit in a sedan, probably the same size as your Avatar 2x12

[BassBob1]

if you want a deep sounding cab ampeg's classic 410hlf is amazing. I pretty much only play 4 strings and haven't owned a 5 in over a year but this cab can handle any amount of low end i have ever needed. It is kind of on the big side for a 410 and it is on th heavey side as well but i have no complains. It did fit in the back seat of my guitar players 4 door early 90's acura integra. I run an svt 7 pro into it and it handles it beautifully. Between price power and weight the svt 7 pro is great. It just barely fits in a back pack. If you like the ampeg sound i would recommend trying it out.

[rojo412]

I will add this:

1) Best sounding rig I ever had: GK1001RB and SWR Goliath III 4x10.
Also, the heaviest cab I used. Loved the tone, back hated me, speakers crapped out after 10 years and sold the cab.

2) 15s never make me feel like I have the sound I want.
Even in a rig with other cabs, I just hate the 15s. I loved 4x10, really enjoy the 2x12, but won't be willing to try a 15 or 18 (unless the new Avatar is "unlike any 15 you've ever heard")

3) Ampeg never seems to do it for me.
I have played through the PR410 (or whatever the rhino-coated with 3 holes cab was) and it had a massive bottom end, but lacked any mid or high response.

4) I've played through a few Genz heads and they sounded good. But never quite did for me what GK has. I wasn't thrilled with their tone control. The 6.0, I had a chance to plug into the 2x12 I currently have and it just sounded like it was missing something, even when I tweaked it. Sounded good... but not great.

5) Tonally, I've been let down with MarkBass, Mesa and Ampeg, so they are out as far as I'm concerned.
Eden made me very happy, but it was an older WT600 (I think).
SWR heads have also had a great tone, but no volume at all.

I'm glad to hear the newer SWR is good stuff. I was worried that it would go the way of all of the other bought-out companies.
Bag End has always intrigued me, but never had a chance to try one.
Schroeder has been recommended for size : power ratio. People seem to sell them for being too aggressive. That's actually a quality I could enjoy (unless it's like running all horn and midrangey. Then no.)
Avatar cabs have thrilled me for the price. I'd be into a 4x10 if it's going to hold up to rigors of the 5 string as a standalone cab. But if they aren't long-lasting, I don't know if I'd bother.

[christw]

1) Then get another 1001RB head.

2-5) Try Genz Benz? They're one of my personal favorites and always did it for me a little more than GK cabs did. My 610 XB2 is one of my all time favorite cabs. I'm fairly sure that I'll never encounter a gig that it can't handle. The Ubers look super cool although I've never tried them myself. They've got a lot of great offerings these days and I can say if you pick the right one, it will not disappoint.

[rojo412]

The only issue I've had (as well as my friend who currently owns my old head) is that they weren't super reliable. He blew it somehow and the guy we took it to suggested sending it back to GK. I blew it back when I got it and it was still under warranty, so it was fixed. This was a series 1, so maybe the newer ones won't suffer so.

The MB500 intrigued me, as I love my 800's simplicity and in a 4 lb package... it'd be great! But like I said, wouldn't mind branching out if there's another well-regarded brand that's making waves.
How's Ashdown's better stuff? Or Aguilar?

I did like my old Genz 2x10 and it was their bottom of the barrel.
The Uber series looks hot... but for $1000+, it should massage my back on the ride to the gig, as well as handle a drop F# note with distortion and an octave pedal for 3 hours of 16th notes. Not that I would, but I'd like to know that I could.

[kosmicwizard]

Originally Posted by rojo412

Not to open a can of worms, but I'm looking to upgrade my rig. I've bought a ton of basses that have come and gone, but neglected my rig situation due to lack of gigging.
Currently, I have 2 rigs:

GK 800RB with Avatar 2x12
Ashdown Blue 180 with SWR Henry Jr 4x8

Both sound good in practice, but I feel like they are going to not work for me at some point and that kind of scares me. All of this stuff was purchased used and has seen a lot of use, so at some point, a speaker or 6 will need replacement. Or the head will need to be fixed and there's no good repair guys for miles around here. So basically, I want to get a rig that I can trust completely, whether playing a small jam session, or at the HOB.

Here's my keywords for what I'm looking for:
BULLETPROOF
MODERN
COMPACT (enough to fit in a regular sedan)
DEEP (I'm a 5 string player and have popped a few speakers)

I'll add more if I think of it, but what cabs fit that profile?
Amps, I know I love GK, but wouldn't be opposed to branching out, as long as it doesn't go the other direction (read: Ampeg).

Thoughts?

I think that you are okay in the head department and they will still last for another 20 years. I think the key to getting volume is going to be the sensitivity of the cabs you choose, have a look at bagend if you don't care about weight, or cabs like TecAmp or bergantino if you do. All the best. Cheers.

[christw]

Originally Posted by kosmicwizard

I think that you are okay in the head department and they will still last for another 20 years. I think the key to getting volume is going to be the sensitivity of the cabs you choose, have a look at bagend if you don't care about weight, or cabs like TecAmp or bergantino if you do. All the best. Cheers.

+1 on sensitivity. Of course, more speakers = more volume as well. I'm not sure what your 410 weighed but the neo ones on the market clock in at 65-75 lbs usually. My Bag End is 96 according to the prior owner although I've seen varying claimed numbers online. Rest assured, it's around 100. My Kustom g410h was 125ish IIRC but it was a beast of a cab. I hated moving that thing! My 610 is about as much and twice as mobile.

About GB, their XB cabinets are great and sell for cheap on the used markets. If you can deal with 20 lbs of extra weight as opposed to tiny neo boxes, they're a great choice.

[lomo]

My 02......

Originally Posted by rojo412

I will add this:

1) Best sounding rig I ever had: GK1001RB and SWR Goliath III 4x10.
So think GK Fusion 500

2) 15s never make me feel like I have the sound I want.
Even in a rig with other cabs, I just hate the 15s.

You really need to get over this The TB153 will not sound like what you think all 15s sound like, nor will a Schroeder, and I'll bet some 410s sound like you are assuming 15s will.
The whole box design matters.

4) I've played through a few Genz heads and they sounded good. But never quite did for me what GK has. I wasn't thrilled with their tone control. The 6.0, I had a chance to plug into the 2x12 I currently have and it just sounded like it was missing something, even when I tweaked it. Sounded good... but not great.

Schroeder has been recommended for size : power ratio. People seem to sell them for being too aggressive. That's actually a quality I could enjoy (unless it's like running all horn and midrangey. Then no.) They are mid monsters-sometimes I like that, YMMV.


Avatar cabs have thrilled me for the price. I'd be into a 4x10 if it's going to hold up to rigors of the 5 string as a standalone cab. But if they aren't long-lasting, I don't know if I'd bother.

They are as durable as most cabs, and if you compare their 410 to the 153 I suspect you'll feel differently

[bassmusic17]

I have been using a Hartke LH1000 amp for the past year now and I love it! It has a simple design and only a 3 band EQ but surprisingly easy to dial in your tone. Here are some of the specs. Depending on what cabs you use, you can get some serious power from this thing.

1100W RMS continuous power @ 4 ohms in bridge mode (750W RMS @ 8 ohms)
For strong yet controlled power and clear sound. 450W RMS (225W x 2) @ 8 ohms, 640W RMS (320W x 2) @ 4 ohms or 1090W RMS (545W x 2) @ 2 ohms in dual parallel mode.

I'm still messing around with different cab options. The bridge doesn't work on mine.(bought it used that way) So I shy'd away from a single cab setup so I could get more power in parallel mode. But I plugged into 2 4x10 Eden cabs and this thing was bringing down the house! Been thinking about buying a new LH1000 and a Aguilar 412 cab in order to plug it in Bridge mode to get the full 1100W RMS! And for $500 brand new for the LH1000 it's quite the deal IMO.

[rojo412]

Hartke is a no-go. I have hated every one I've ever touched. In fact, any head with a built in compressor has made me very mad. They have messed caused problems for me and I just don't want to deal with them.

Weight isn't a problem, but it's got to fit in the car.

[onosson]

The Hartke LH500 and LH1000 aren't too much like other Hartkes IMO. I have stopped gigging with my GK 700RB since buying my LH500, it's got a far superior tone for what I do. It has a built in limiter-compressor, but you don't need to turn it on (I rarely do). Just sayin'... if you like your 800RB as much as I used to like my 700RB.

[BassNGuns]

Rojo, I'm with you on the tone thing with GK.
I had a 800rb going through 410's for years and loved it.
I'm waiting for the Genz 9.2 to come out so I can get close to that tone with a little warmth.
Having the Solid State channel on that head along with the tube channel I think will dial in the sound.
That head and an SWR Golight 4x10 cab will be the bomb.

[drdunwoody]

If you like 10s and want portability then maybe a matching set of 2x10 cabs? Avatar seems to have the deal on those and although I've heard great things about them, never used them.

[christw]

Originally Posted by rojo412

Hartke is a no-go. I have hated every one I've ever touched. In fact, any head with a built in compressor has made me very mad. They have messed caused problems for me and I just don't want to deal with them.

Weight isn't a problem, but it's got to fit in the car.

SVT810e fit in the back seat of a 4 door Accord from 92-07. The other models, I don't know (yet).

My Bag End 410 fits in my trunk. A modular 2x 210 setup wouldn't hurt.

[kosmicwizard]

If you are in the mood to get a new head, have a look at the Aguilar tonehammer 500. Cheers.