DECISIONS, DECISIONS!!!!!!!

slapmachine · #1 03-03-2011, 09:03 PM

Ok guys, it's up to you to help me out. I've had many sleepless nights over this stuff and really need a hail mary of some advice to get me through my rut. I'll start out by letting you guys know what I am currently using....I currently have an Acoustic b200h (200-watt head) and an Acoustic b410 cab with a Warwick 115 pro sittin on the bottom of my stack. Quite frankly I DONT WANNA LUG IT AROUND!!!!! I'm starting to play smaller shows and record but I am looking for great tone and good volume. Given the fact that none of the speakers in these cabs are neo's they're heavy as hell, and even though I'm young carrying them can be a pain.

If you're still with me I play fusion to funk to rock and everything in between. My favorite artist is probably victor wooten and I LOVE TO SLAP! Women sometimes, but mostly basses. The way I play gravitates towards more mids and highs opposed to the lows although every bass player loves to get a rich bassy tone out of his bass once in a while....c'mon we know you do, you can't hide it. I love to get a great full tone that's bright and that's what I'm aiming for in a smaller package if possible. My setup sounds pretty good, BUT I'm not the genius expert on amps which is why I came to this forum!

Again, if you're still there after reading this post, please help me get over my little crazy moment and get a solid amp going no matter the combination (preferably cheaper than not) within reason. Again, I'm not looking for the loudest mofo to bring up and cause the audience's hair to fly back, just something that gives a great punchy tone while takin up a little less space. I'm not rich so I'll take higher price options into consideration, but obviously the lower price (if they rock) is what I'm going for. Not everyone is quite millionaire status just yet xD.

THANKS!~!!!!!!!!!

AtomicPunk · #2 03-03-2011, 09:09 PM

I was in a similar boat with a big Yorkville stack. Loved the sound, hated hauling it around. Now it resides in my studio, and has been replaced with a Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 (600W at 4 Ohms) and a Genz Benz NeoX 112-T cab. The best bass sound I've ever had. Not cheap, but the head and cab together weigh about 40 lbs. And my back loves me for it. Seriously, I've felt so much better all around since I changed.
Before you buy anything, though, PLAY THROUGH IT to make sure you can get your sound. YMMV.

GrowlerBox · #3 03-03-2011, 09:34 PM

The simplest, and cheapest option to the issue of weight, given that this seems to be your primary concern with your current rig, is to ditch the 115. It's going to be drowned by your 410, and is probably functioning as little more than a heavy speaker stand for the more efficient cab. At worst, it's going to be causing all sorts of phasing problems. Worth a try -- you might be surprised at how little volume you lose, and you can compensate for the loss of stack height by tipping the cab back a bit.

Martin89 · #4 03-03-2011, 09:45 PM

slapmachine · #5 03-03-2011, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrowlerBox

The simplest, and cheapest option to the issue of weight, given that this seems to be your primary concern with your current rig, is to ditch the 115. It's going to be drowned by your 410, and is probably functioning as little more than a heavy speaker stand for the more efficient cab. At worst, it's going to be causing all sorts of phasing problems. Worth a try -- you might be surprised at how little volume you lose, and you can compensate for the loss of stack height by tipping the cab back a bit.

Weight was a concern but not a main priority. On top of the possible ditching of the 115 I was open to many different amp configurations with different power / speaker configurations, in order to obtain the sound. Sound / tone is the optimal goal, or should be, in any bassists / musicians amplifier.

Thanks

GrowlerBox · #6 03-03-2011, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slapmachine

Weight was a concern but not a main priority. On top of the possible ditching of the 115 I was open to many different amp configurations with different power / speaker configurations, in order to obtain the sound. Sound / tone is the optimal goal, or should be, in any bassists / musicians amplifier.

Thanks

Fair enough. If you want punchy mids and light weight, the Markbass F1/F500 is hard to go past, and there are any number of cabs that will work very nicely with this. KJung has some great demo videos over on YouTube that are well worth a look, especially if you can't play one in person. They're not the cheapest amp around, but there should be a few around on the used market -- my F1 was second-hand, and has never caused any problems. It's my backup now

.

AlPBass · #7 03-03-2011, 10:02 PM

One option would be to ditch the 1x15 and just stick to the 4x10 like previously mentioned. Just a single 4x10 cab has worked for tons of bassists. They have a fast response (good for slap), put out lots of bass and can take quite a beating.

Another option would be to go for a 2x12, neo or not. In the last few years that combination has been getting more and more popular, almost reaching a 4x10-like status of being a standard configuration. If you like mids like you said, a 2x12 cab will deliver that. And if weight is an issue, a 2x12 is lighter than a 4x10, and some have the speakers arranged vertically, so those will be good for those narrow spaces too. It may have less bass than a 4x10 though.

GrowlerBox · #8 03-03-2011, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlPBass

It may have less bass than a 4x10 though.

And it may have more.

LegoBass · #9 03-03-2011, 10:13 PM

If there is a thought of just buying a new lighter rig, I suggest this Hartke.
http://www.samsontech.com/products/p...2006&brandID=3
It has its great slap sounds and does a great job with the mids and highs. Victor Wooten plays the same cabinet just with a bigger head, and with this you can get the same sound.
The Hydrive Cabinets have Neo Speakers and are pretty light, this is 80-90 pounds, but also has the casters. I love my Hydrive cabinet and will recommend them to anyone.

SurferJoe46 · #10 03-03-2011, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slapmachine

Ok guys, it's up to you to help me out. I've had many sleepless nights over this stuff and really need a hail mary of some advice to get me through my rut. I'll start out by letting you guys know what I am currently using....I currently have an Acoustic b200h (200-watt head) and an Acoustic b410 cab with a Warwick 115 pro sittin on the bottom of my stack. Quite frankly I DONT WANNA LUG IT AROUND!!!!! I'm starting to play smaller shows and record but I am looking for great tone and good volume. Given the fact that none of the speakers in these cabs are neo's they're heavy as hell, and even though I'm young carrying them can be a pain.

I'd go down to GC and plug into their Acoustic B-450.

2 - 10's and 450 Watts in that configuration and it's capable of 600 Watts at 2 Ohms.

You're complaining about a head, two cabs and if you go to the B-450, you've got a really nice combo in one narrower cab and the head built in.

You can also use your B-200H on the B-210Neo cab by Acoustic too. Lots smaller and certainly lighter than two cabs but you still need to carry a head around.

I just faced up to it and if I really wanted to play something lighter and less bulky, I guess a harmonica is a good choice - but I like to play my bass and the gear goes with it.

PS: I never use a PA - just my stand-alone gear.

**Ronny49** · #11 03-05-2011, 12:52 PM

For me, if I were to want light-weight gear, I would go with the GK Fushion 500 watt (black) head and either their 410 or an SWR GoLight 410 which only weighs 56 pounds!

The SWR is a very nice cab! (this is mine below) but I'm looking for a Warwick Neo 410 to match the head I'm getting... Warwick TubePath 10.1 (40 pound head - but I firmly believe in heavy amps). Good luck in your endeavor!