Head advice for running a Mesa Boogie 8x10

[seney8]

Hello,
I've been playing guitar/bass for about 9 years but a new to the world of tubes, so I'm asking your advice. The local shops here only carry garbage, even guitar center has crap in store. Everything high end that I'd like to test isn't in store. I'm currently sitting with a Mesa Boogie 8x10 cabinet and in search of a head. My current head ideas:
-Peavey VB-2 Tour (225 watt, all tube)
-Little Mark tube 800 (hybrid)
-*open to suggestions

*Looking for something under a grand*

For gigs we often mic everything but for any reason we don't I want to be able to crank the thing but keeping the warm tone.

I play in a main stream hard rock band like Alter Bridge, 12 stones, Breaking Benjamin... I really like the deep warm tones


Thanks!

[username1]

I think if you wanted to go all tube that the peavey vb-2 is the best bargain for an all tube head. It should have plenty of volume through your speaker cab.

[georgestrings]

I also have a PH810, and am currently running it with an M-pulse 600 with killer results... My other amp is a 700rb-II, and it sounds great thru this cab, also - I recommend trying one of those...

If you're into the grit/grind sound, a used BB750 might be worth looking into, and should still be in your price range...

Here's my Mesa rig:





- georgestrings

[seney8]

I'd love to have the M-pulse 600 but its a bit high for my price range.

[Calaverasgrande]

see if you can find a used Mesa Bass 400 (6 power tubes, 180-250 watts) or bass 400+ (12 power tubes 350 watts). I see these on CL and the talkbass classifieds all the time in the $800-1000 range. Sometimes I will see one for $800 or less if its a road dog.

[georgestrings]

Originally Posted by seney8

I'd love to have the M-pulse 600 but its a bit high for my price range.

Well, the route I took was to buy a 700rb-II, save up, then trade in towards a used BB750... Eventually, I figured that the BB750 wasn't clean enough for my tastes, so I saved up a bit more, and traded the BB750 and cash for a new M-pulse 600... You might find that the 70rb-II gets you there, though - it is a great amp in it's own right...


- georgestrings

[Jim Campbell]

Originally Posted by seney8

Hello,
I've been playing guitar/bass for about 9 years but a new to the world of tubes, so I'm asking your advice. The local shops here only carry garbage, even guitar center has crap in store. Everything high end that I'd like to test isn't in store. I'm currently sitting with a Mesa Boogie 8x10 cabinet and in search of a head. My current head ideas:
-Peavey VB-2 Tour (225 watt, all tube)
-Little Mark tube 800 (hybrid)
-*open to suggestions

*Looking for something under a grand*

For gigs we often mic everything but for any reason we don't I want to be able to crank the thing but keeping the warm tone.

I play in a main stream hard rock band like Alter Bridge, 12 stones, Breaking Benjamin... I really like the deep warm tones


Thanks!

a grand will buy you a good used 400+

[Caca de Kick]

For under a grand you should be able to easily find most of the Mesa heads used. I hate buying new amps, and will only do so when used isn't available which is rare.

BB750
Bass 400/400+
M-pulse 600
Carbine 6
maybe even a Carbine 9
occasionally a Buster 200

You should look into the talkbass classifieds, alot of the heads listed above are in there for well under a grand, and all sound killer.

[Calaverasgrande]

I see Carbine 6's for under a grand regularly. Carbine 3's are about a grand new. And with an 8x10 should be plenty loud for most gigs.
You know what they say though, once you go Boogie, you never go back.

[icks]

Mesa 400+

[aqsw]

Originally Posted by icks

Mesa 400+

+1

[seney8]

I ended up going with the Little Mark Tube 800 thru the Mesa Powerhouse 1200 = AWESOME!!!