First REAL rig help!

[awilkie84]

Hey,

So I've been auditioning with rock/alt bands in my area lately & my 75W Fender Rumble combo's not cutting it. I need a new rig to compete with the likes of a Marshall Full Stack & aggressive drummers.

I'm using a Fender MIM P-Bass with an SD 1/4-pounder pickup & Gotoh 205 bridge for my main bass & a G&L Tribute L-2000 for alternate tunings.

I don't know much about what I'll need. I've spent most of my 14 years on bass playing through combos either mic'd or DI'd into the PA system & when practicing I've usually just cranked my amp. I've heard mixed reviews as to what I will need & which brand(s) to go with. Some guys are saying a 200W head with a 2x10 cab, others are saying minimum 500W head & a 4x10 cab. Others still say a 2x12 with a 500W head.

Here's the big catch. I need to be able to finance it through Long & McQuade, as I just don't have the funds to buy it outright and my credit's not good enough to get a loan or financing through a smaller chain. I have established credit with L&M. I'd also like to keep it down to around $1000, so the monthly payments are under $100 for the 12 month financing. Tax where I am is 12%. I've also thought about selling my L-2000 for $400 to free up more cash for better equipment, but nobody appears to be interested.

The L&Ms in my area don't have a lot of 4x10s or 500W heads in stock in the lower price range, so I've only been able to really see what's on their site.

Some heads I've considered are:

Ampeg PF-500 500W 4 Ohm head ($399.99)
Ampeg PF-350 300W 4 Ohm head ($299.99)
Gallien-Krueger 600BL 300W ($315.00)
Gallien-Krueger MB200 200W 4 Ohm head ($275.00)
Gallien-Krueger MB500 500W 4 Ohm head ($540.00)
Fender Rumble 350 350W 4 Ohm head ($399.99)

My cab considerations:

Fender Rumble 4x10 500W 4 Ohm cab ($299.99)
Gallien-Krueger 410MBE/4 4x10 800W 4 Ohm cab ($490.00)
Gallien-Krueger 410MBE/8 4x10 800W 8 Ohm cab ($490.00)
Gallien-Krueger 410MBX 4x10 400W 8 Ohm cab ($385.00)

I'm open to any & all suggestions/alternatives.

Thanks ahead of time for your input!

[B-string]

Out of your list:
MB500 or PF-500
G-K 410 MBE 8 ohm (you may want to add a second cab for volume later).
You get much more volume by doubling speakers than doubling wattage.

[awilkie84]

Originally Posted by B-string

Out of your list:
MB500 or PF-500
G-K 410 MBE 8 ohm (you may want to add a second cab for volume later).
You get much more volume by doubling speakers than doubling wattage.

I had thought of just that. Doubling the impedance of the cab to have the option of adding a 2nd cab later. By doing that though, I'm reducing the wattage of the amp to about 350W with a single cab, am I not?

[truecanadian04]

I would look into getting a power amp and running it with a pre amp(Sansamp RBI). I only jam with metal heads and one thing you need as a bass player is power...lots of power!!! My golden rule is to have three times the power as the guitar players. So if your guitar players are using 350 watts amps, you would need something around 1000 watts. If you dont have enough power, and you crank your volume, all you will get is a muddy sound and you will still be loss in the mix. I use a peavey power amp(PV 3800), I run that with my Sansamp RBI and I get my clean sound out of two Ampeg classic svt 410hlf. I have more then enough power(2000+) for when I jam with the guys and the sansamp RBI rocks when it comes to PA's or mixers.

[carl h.]

PF-500 and see if they have any used 4x10 cabs. The PF has a clean line out for the PA, should you need it.

Also see if they will price match other retail prices.

[RickenBoogie]

Originally Posted by awilkie84

I had thought of just that. Doubling the impedance of the cab to have the option of adding a 2nd cab later. By doing that though, I'm reducing the wattage of the amp to about 350W with a single cab, am I not?

Yes, but it's not nearly as important as many believe. It's the speakers that make you loud, moreso than the wattage of the amp. And besides, most cabs can't handle the full wattage of a 500 watt amp anyway, so an 8 ohm cab makes more sense. The difference in volume of any 500 watt head through either an 8 ohm or 4 ohm 410 cab is negligable- so the 8 ohm cab makes even more sense.

[awilkie84]

Originally Posted by truecanadian04

I would look into getting a power amp and running it with a pre amp(Sansamp RBI). I only jam with metal heads and one thing you need as a bass player is power...lots of power!!! My golden rule is to have three times the power as the guitar players. So if your guitar players are using 350 watts amps, you would need something around 1000 watts. If you dont have enough power, and you crank your volume, all you will get is a muddy sound and you will still be loss in the mix. I use a peavey power amp(PV 3800), I run that with my Sansamp RBI and I get my clean sound out of two Ampeg classic svt 410hlf. I have more then enough power(2000+) for when I jam with the guys and the sansamp RBI rocks when it comes to PA's or mixers.

So you're suggesting something along the lines of combining these & then running into a cab of some sort?

Behringer EP2000 Power Amp 2x1000W & Tech 21 SansAmp RBI Pre-amp

Originally Posted by carl h.

PF-500 and see if they have any used 4x10 cabs. The PF has a clean line out for the PA, should you need it.

Also see if they will price match other retail prices.

I'll have to check on the price matching, but I believe it would only be against local competitors. So, anyone in Victoria or Nanaimo, BC.

[truecanadian04]

bass guitar into sansamp rbi, sansamp rbi into power amp, power amp into cab's.

[truecanadian04]

Stay away from Behringer!!!

[B-string]

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

Yes, but it's not nearly as important as many believe. It's the speakers that make you loud, moreso than the wattage of the amp. And besides, most cabs can't handle the full wattage of a 500 watt amp anyway, so an 8 ohm cab makes more sense. The difference in volume of any 500 watt head through either an 8 ohm or 4 ohm 410 cab is negligable- so the 8 ohm cab makes even more sense.

^ EXACTLY!

[scottfeldstein]

I'd go minimum 500w and 4x10 or similar. I'm running 500w through a 2x10 combo with a 2x10 external cab and it's not cutting it with a loud band. The guitar player is using a 50-100w 2x12 combo and he absolutely cranks it. The drummer is aggressive, uses large sticks and is double-kick-drum-happy. Next time I meet with them I'll be 700w through an 8x10 cab. That'll cut it.

And wear ear protection. I do.

[waveman]

Markbass LM III or GK MB500 + Avatar 4x10 or Avatar 2x10 + 1x15

I have the 2x10 +1x15 for modular setup. I rarely use the 1x15, but there are some situations I need it. I would get the 4x10 if I was just going to one cab though. And what others have said, get the 8ohm.

So yeah, excluding any brands 500w head + 4x10 8ohm cab. The reason to go with 8ohms is like others have said...not much difference in volume...but this allows to add an extra cab if the 4x10 isn't cutting it.

[awilkie84]

The Markbass head looks really nice but it doesn't leave me a lot of room to play for a cabinet. Also, L&M doesn't appear to carry Avatar speakers.

I'm thinking of going with the GK MB500 amp with a 4x10 GK MBX 8Ohm to start. Then add a 2nd cab down the line.

[schecter5string]

here is another option. I don't know if it works in Canada but Zzounds is were I get all my gear. I have TERRIBLE credit and they finance me.
They have a plan called "pay as you play" (orders over $300) they take the first month installment out of your checking\savings account, then they ship you your stuff!!! over the next 3 months you make payments, keep in mind you have the gear at your house the whole time!

I use them for all of my larger gear purchases, something to look into

One more thing ground shipping is FREE!

zZounds.com - Musical Instruments Music Store. Shop for Guitars, Drums, Amplifiers and Equipment.

sorry just checked accounts must be from a USA bank. Sorry to waste your time

[kosmicwizard]

Originally Posted by awilkie84

Hey,

So I've been auditioning with rock/alt bands in my area lately & my 75W Fender Rumble combo's not cutting it. I need a new rig to compete with the likes of a Marshall Full Stack & aggressive drummers.

I'm using a Fender MIM P-Bass with an SD 1/4-pounder pickup & Gotoh 205 bridge for my main bass & a G&L Tribute L-2000 for alternate tunings.

I don't know much about what I'll need. I've spent most of my 14 years on bass playing through combos either mic'd or DI'd into the PA system & when practicing I've usually just cranked my amp. I've heard mixed reviews as to what I will need & which brand(s) to go with. Some guys are saying a 200W head with a 2x10 cab, others are saying minimum 500W head & a 4x10 cab. Others still say a 2x12 with a 500W head.

Here's the big catch. I need to be able to finance it through Long & McQuade, as I just don't have the funds to buy it outright and my credit's not good enough to get a loan or financing through a smaller chain. I have established credit with L&M. I'd also like to keep it down to around $1000, so the monthly payments are under $100 for the 12 month financing. Tax where I am is 12%. I've also thought about selling my L-2000 for $400 to free up more cash for better equipment, but nobody appears to be interested.

The L&Ms in my area don't have a lot of 4x10s or 500W heads in stock in the lower price range, so I've only been able to really see what's on their site.

Some heads I've considered are:

Ampeg PF-500 500W 4 Ohm head ($399.99)
Ampeg PF-350 300W 4 Ohm head ($299.99)
Gallien-Krueger 600BL 300W ($315.00)
Gallien-Krueger MB200 200W 4 Ohm head ($275.00)
Gallien-Krueger MB500 500W 4 Ohm head ($540.00)
Fender Rumble 350 350W 4 Ohm head ($399.99)

My cab considerations:

Fender Rumble 4x10 500W 4 Ohm cab ($299.99)
Gallien-Krueger 410MBE/4 4x10 800W 4 Ohm cab ($490.00)
Gallien-Krueger 410MBE/8 4x10 800W 8 Ohm cab ($490.00)
Gallien-Krueger 410MBX 4x10 400W 8 Ohm cab ($385.00)

I'm open to any & all suggestions/alternatives.

Thanks ahead of time for your input!

I don't know where you are in Canada, but check Kijiji, craigslist, and used{yourcity}. L&M can be great! But they can also really suck. Search the classified here on this site as well, bass players tend to be honest people and generally won't screw you over. Last year at my local L&M I saw an 2005 SLM era MIA Ampeg SVT 2 PRO which ended up being reduced to $999.00 + tax (12%) before it sold. IMHO, MarkBass is too expensive, and I wish they would stock Genz-Benz (as it is the future of bass rigs), but for the most part you are in the right ballpark and should be happy if you can get a G-K 800RB, 700RB-II or 1001RB-II (of which I have one) and Ampeg 810E near your budget. P Message me if you want to know anything else. Cheers!

[mrelwood]

Man you guys must be playing insanely loud. I've been using a Little Mark II to a Glockenklang 2x10" for several years, in all kinds of places and drummers of various loudnesses. Not once would a bigger setup given me any good. Or my back.

Anyway, I was recently shopping for a semi-affordable amp for a friend, and I was surprised about the current Gallien-Kruegers. Affordable, light, an good sounding gear. I'd go with an MB head of suitable power and a matching cab, 4x10" I suppose.

A basic Sansamp didn't seem to drive a PA power amp nearly hard enough, my other friend's such setup sounded pretty dead.

[Longhair]

A little off topic...

If your credit isn't that good (starter vs. ruined by an ex), have your parents co-sign a credit card for you. Make small charges - strings, gas, etc - that you normally would pay cash for and before you know it, you will be able to apply for your own card without the parents name on it. Switch over to the new card and do the same thing.

The trick to a great credit score is to make sure you have the cash to pay off the balance right away BEFORE making any charges.

[bassgod76]

12% sales tax! Holy crow, where do you live?

[lobster57]

Hey fellow Islander!! I just saw this add about 10 minutes ago and came on here to look for some info on the head. But I really don't need any more gear at this point so i figured I'd pass it on to you. I know you said you'd need to finance, but this might work for you none the less.

http://www.usedvictoria.com/classifi...d-Cab_15288178

ps. Not my ad.

editted to use link to actual ad, not just a pic.

[lobster57]

Originally Posted by bassgod76

12% sales tax! Holy crow, where do you live?

British Columbia. 5% federal, 7% provincial