Another noob question re: something for almost-nothing

rshack · #1 08-25-2011, 01:36 AM

Virtual noob here... (actually, I played bass about 100 yrs ago, but that doesn't matter now)... am trying to figure out how to get by, amp-wise, for next to nothing...

Friend gave me an Alesis Spitfire 60 guitar amp... 60w, 10" speaker, open back, cab made from half-inch particle board, lotsa iffy digital fx... looks new and seems to work ok... online reviews say it's crap... am trying to figure out how to best use this thing while I get my feet wet again... for at-home use, or maybe with a couple friends.

I can think of 4 options:

1. Use it as-is... if I blow the speaker, worry about that when it happens.

2. Spend $50 to replace the no-name speaker with a decent 10" bass speaker (on the possibly misguided theory that this will make it sound better and/or last longer).

3. Get that same speaker but instead of replacing the existing speaker, put it inside a stout plywood box which I then plug in to the amp's 8-ohm speaker jack.

4. Do something else.

Which of these seems to be least ridiculous? Any and all thoughts are welcome (especially if they're helpful and not disparaging ;-)

thanks to all in advance...

EDIT: Old spec listings say it's a 12" speaker. It's been so long since I did this kind of thing, I forget whether this is as big as the ones in my long-gone silver-face Bassman. Where do you measure from? (The cone seems to be 10" on the nose.)

bongomania · #2 08-25-2011, 02:06 AM

Personally, I would not recommend investing even a dime into modifying the Alesis. Even after modding, the speaker/box will still suck terribly for bass. Putting a bass speaker into it is lipstick on a pig. However if you wanted to build your own simple speaker cab, and use the Alesis to drive that cab, that could work out pretty well for you. That's the approach I think you should take.

rshack · #3 08-26-2011, 02:57 AM

Thanks for the advice... what you said makes sense (and is what I kinda suspected after seeing the particle board)...

If you were doing it (grabbing a bass speaker and making a plywood cab for it), what speaker would you choose?

Also... have been reading here (v. good) and thinking (uh-oh) about whether to get one bass speaker vs. adding a smallish mid-range driver as well. Given my iffy needs, am I being a slippery-slope dope for not keeping it as simple as possible? Or might it turn out better that way?

bongomania · #4 08-26-2011, 03:04 AM

Well, maybe your best course of action would be to Google for DIY speaker cab plans, and just follow their directions. That way you don't have to guess about the speakers, dimensions, etc. Try a TL606 type of cab--simple, good.

anderbass · #5 08-27-2011, 10:38 AM

2 other options would be to buy a used bass cab (w/speakers) instead of building one, or better yet post a craigslist ad saying you want to trade your guitar combo for a bass amp/cab or combo.

Gaolee · #6 08-30-2011, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anderbass

2 other options would be to buy a used bass cab (w/speakers) instead of building one, or better yet post a craigslist ad saying you want to trade your guitar combo for a bass amp/cab or combo.

This is the least expensive, most likely way to get a decent bass amp to get back into it with.