Best Backline?

[lo-freq]

I may be in a position to recommend a bass guitar backline for a large night club.

Cost is not really an issue, but I don't think it would be a good idea to get too exotic with the brands.

The rig will be for stage monitor only as there will be a serious PA for FOH, but the stage will probably be fairly large.

I know there will be a lot of recommendations for Ampeg SVT head and 810 cab, so let's just say that since that is the 'standard' for backlines, "yeah, that's a serious consideration".

The equipment will need to be very reliable, simple & effective controls (user friendly), a quality DI, and fit a variety of musical styles.

I have no idea how reliable the newer Ampeg SVT heads are or which sound the best, so comments along those lines would be welcome.

If it were my personal (stationary) rig, I'd probably go with a Markbass F500 and a Bergantino HS410, but I suspect most bassists might prefer the Markbass LMIII over the F500.

GK heads get a lot of love here on TB, but (like the F500), maybe the sound is too 'modern-ish' for some bassists.

Another cab consideration would be a Mesa Boogie PH410 -- if anyone has used these with the Markbass, GK, or Ampeg SVT heads, please chime-in.

[B-string]

G-K Fusion 550 and G-K Neo 412 is where I landed after many decades or paired with an NV610.

[4-string]

Ashdown ABM series. Does old school and modern well, great sounding amps. An ABM 500 with a couple of ABM 4x10s would make a great backline IMO.

Not that there's anything best, but at least a rig worth considering.

[B-radford]

I really like the eden cabs. I run a 2 4/10 stack for the last 15 yrs and never once had a problem. I move it around every weekend, load in, load out. Damn good stuff. You'll never have aproblem.

[3506string]

I think you would be able to please most bassist with Ampeg or SWR equipment.

[DanNowhere]

What kind of music will the club feature? A little bit of everything? I vote Ampeg, it's like the Fender P or the Swiss Army Knife of bass amps. You can work with it for just about anything.

[markkoelsch]

In my opinion, I would get either a Genz GBE 750 or GBE 1200. They offer dual channels, solid and tube, and loads of power.

Get a couple of Uber 212 cabs, or have a couple of Fearful 15-6 cabs built.

[will33]

If this is going to be provided backline for a club, you're going to get some players come through there who know what they're doing and a bunch that don't. I would look at simplicity, the fewer knobs the better. Also something strong enough to be heard but not strong enough to take out the whole rig if some nutjob gets up there and cranks all the knobs.

[ryognbass]

Originally Posted by will33

If this is going to be provided backline for a club, you're going to get some players come through there who know what they're doing and a bunch that don't. I would look at simplicity, the fewer knobs the better. Also something strong enough to be heard but not strong enough to take out the whole rig if some nutjob gets up there and cranks all the knobs.

This brings and aguilar DB 751 to mind. Pair that up with the 412 cabs they have and youre in business.

Another great option would be the TC electronic rebelhead, for its versatility, and even some of their cabs to stack vertically.

[lbwdog]

One of my favorite pairings is a G-K 700RBII, 1001RBII, or Fusion head with a pair of SWR Goliath IVs.

[Peppacone]

GK 800RB and SVT seem to be the standards, there's probably a good reason for it too.

[Floyd Eye]

Either a Heritage series or an older, used ( St. Louis Music Co.) SVT+ 8X10

[lo-freq]

Originally Posted by DanNowhere

What kind of music will the club feature? A little bit of everything? I vote Ampeg, it's like the Fender P or the Swiss Army Knife of bass amps. You can work with it for just about anything.

Yeah, a little bit of everything.

[bamabass]

the best backline I played through was an eden 410xlt with an eden wt550. I love my Genz, but the eden was great and the 410 and 550 are pretty bulletproof.

[lo-freq]

Originally Posted by ryognbass

This brings and aguilar DB 751 to mind. Pair that up with the 412 cabs they have and youre in business.

Another great option would be the TC electronic rebelhead, for its versatility, and even some of their cabs to stack vertically.

I think the RH lacks the simple controls that some bassists would need -- some would get the tone settings all out-of-whack and not know how to fix it.

I think the big Aguilar DB amps would make a good fill-in for an SVT (different, but similar).
Do the DB750/751 play nice tonally with the Berg HS410?
[I would think so, but haven't tried that combination.]

[lo-freq]

Originally Posted by markkoelsch

In my opinion, I would get either a Genz GBE 750 or GBE 1200. They offer dual channels, solid and tube, and loads of power.

Get a couple of Uber 212 cabs, or have a couple of Fearful 15-6 cabs built.

I like the GBE heads, but their controls are probably overly complex for some bassists.

Maybe Neox-212T cabs?

[lo-freq]

Originally Posted by bamabass

the best backline I played through was an eden 410xlt with an eden wt550. I love my Genz, but the eden was great and the 410 and 550 are pretty bulletproof.

I think an Eden WT400 / WT550 / WT800 would work well in this context as well.

I'm not a big fan of their D-410XLT cabs.

[lo-freq]

Originally Posted by 4-string

Ashdown ABM series. Does old school and modern well, great sounding amps. An ABM 500 with a couple of ABM 4x10s would make a great backline IMO.

Not that there's anything best, but at least a rig worth considering.

If there was a way to permanently disable the sub-harmonic effect that it has, I would be tempted to go with one.
I would fear that some dumb&$$ would blow the drivers in the bass cab abusing it.

[lo-freq]

Originally Posted by will33

If this is going to be provided backline for a club, you're going to get some players come through there who know what they're doing and a bunch that don't. I would look at simplicity, the fewer knobs the better. Also something strong enough to be heard but not strong enough to take out the whole rig if some nutjob gets up there and cranks all the knobs.

+1

[Essen]

SVT CL and 810?
You can't really go wrong with that.