Getting back in the game after a few years...so many new amp and cab options!

[shamrock&roll]

I've been away from bass for a couple years and got offered the chance to play at church and I really miss having a rig at home. I've noticed that everything has gotten smaller and lighter, which is a definite plus. I need something with a good DI. My budget is around $1000 for the entire rig and everything will be bought used. Bass is an alder parts P bass with Lollars and rosewood Jazz neck.

I'll be playing praise & worship (not gospel) and rock mostly, but I like a good old fashioned sounding Motown bass sound. Portability and space is huge. I'm limited to a small space at home and on stage. I've had a LM2, Mesa M9, Stewart/Avalon U5, Ashdown, SVT and a few others, but the Genz Benz Shuttle & Streamliner, Aguilar Tone Hammer and Mesa Walkabout have piqued my interest. I haven't heard good things about the Mesa's DI though from what I've read. The compression on Youtube combined with horrible speakers (sold all my studio stuff a few years ago) makes listening to clips almost pointless.

Cabs are entirely new to me. The last time I bought a cab, Marco from Dr. Bass was still shipping them to people. I'm utterly lost on cabs these days. Light would be nice. I've seen stuff about fEarful, Berg AE series, and more, but those will probably be out of my price range. I remember Acme being discussed before I took a departure from bass, but I'm not sure how they hold up to all the new stuff that's been released. Are the Genz Benz cabs any good? Aguilar?

Any help in the right direction would be much appreciated.

[B-string]

GB's cabs are very good as are G-K's new cabs and from reports the new Ampeg offerings for the PF series.

[JimmyM]

It's all good. It's just different shades of good and sorting out what appeals to you.

But since you mentioned Motown...I might throw the Ampeg PF350 and PF500 heads and the PF210HE and PF115HE cabs in for your consideration. The PF500 has a more versatile DI and EQ plus 150w more and costs $400 while the PF350 is a no-frills 350w amp that sounds great and costs $300, and the cabs are smaller like the old B-15 cabs from the 60's and sound a whole lot like them and cost $400 each. New.

[Joe Louvar]

Originally Posted by shamrock&roll

My budget is around $1000 for the entire rig and everything will be bought used

Good advice above - also checkout the TB amp classified ads - and good luck.

[mophead]

Plug here for the Benz Shuttles and Streamliners. While I have not used their DI features they are spoken of highly in threads here.
While I like the Berg cabs they could push your price range a bit. Shuttlemax is the most versatile of the bunch.

Good things are said about the Genz Neox cabs and they can be had in your price range for cab and amp.

[Duckwater]

Genz Benz Shuttle 9.0 Like New - $550 shipped

[Pilgrim]

I suggest checking the Genz amps and cabs. Their Uber-series cabs are (by reputation) pertty awesome. The Shuttle series cabs may not go quite as low but to my ears (and I'm 61) get a very nice, classic sound if you set up the EQ well.

The Shuttle 6.0 is accused of having a very "clean" and rather non-traditional sound, but cranking up the tube preamp gain gets me into a tube sound which I find very pleasing.

[christw]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

It's all good. It's just different shades of good and sorting out what appeals to you.

But since you mentioned Motown...I might throw the Ampeg PF350 and PF500 heads and the PF210HE and PF115HE cabs in for your consideration. The PF500 has a more versatile DI and EQ plus 150w more and costs $400 while the PF350 is a no-frills 350w amp that sounds great and costs $300, and the cabs are smaller like the old B-15 cabs from the 60's and sound a whole lot like them and cost $400 each. New.

+1 I did this. Many major manufacturers are offering Christmas sales. Musician's Friend has a cool special deal going with TBer's getting 15-20% off or so listed in the Hot Deals section of TB. I did it differently but paid $640 for the PF500 and PF115HE and bought one used on TB for $300 to my door. $940 for a killer rig. You like Motown? Put some flats on a P and go to town!

I'm looking to supplement with a ShuttleMAX and some Uber series cabs late next year. Genz cabs are killer. I had a 610 XB2 two years ago and I was sold. It slaughtered every cab in that store, 810E and all.

[vin*tone]

The Mesa Scout is a really good amp for vintage tones. The problem with the DI is that it is post EVERYTHING... including the volume knob. Never bothered me when I had it as I set and forget on stage. Aside from that the DI is extremely good. I've done a fair bit of studio work with it.

[rodl2005]

+1. Nothing wrong with the Mesa Walkabout D.I.
As Pilgrim says above, the GB shuttle 6.0 works real well & can sound pretty much how you like it-thanx to great eq & tube gain.
& Ampeg's new stuff sounds magic too.
Lightest of these is the GB Shuttle, Which also has a lovely D.I. Ampeg pf500 has good DI options too.
Mesa WA sounds superb tho. Combo or into a different cab.

[Stumbo]

Originally Posted by shamrock&roll

I'm limited to a small space at home and on stage.

How about two 2x12 cabs stacked vertically? Small foot print, portable, use one or two depending on the gig. Put together with 500 watts or so should do the trick.

12's are the new 15's it seems. Great for pretty much any venue with or w/o PA support.

[ksandvik]

For what you are aiming for, if I was in the same boat I would get Aguilar gear, amp and cab or cabs. Maybe first a 1x12 and then later a 2x10 cab. I would not get 15 cabs myself, today's bass tone is both low end and clarity (not just low-end like in the old days.)

If more fusion/jazz, Markbass. If more rock, Ampeg or GK.

I'm a MarkBass user myself, amazing gear but those amps don't colorize, you get the tone of your bass guitar. Then again if you need color, that's where various effects like Sansamp VT are for.

[randysmojo]

I would second the Ampeg PF series heads and cabs. Probably the 115 cab for Motown sound. Very cool setup.