Looking for a LOUD, reliable, gig-worthy rig...
 

Well, I've realized that my Acoustic b200/115 cab just won't cut it anymore. It sounds OK, but not at high volume. In order to even be heard during practice and onstage I have to crank it to nasty-solid-state-distortion levels. And that's being heard with **** tone.

I just need something through which I can actually be heard. Something that sounds huge. I mainly play stoner rock (Kyuss, Sleep, Monster Magnet, Wo Fat...) and "modern" metal (Korn, BtBaM, Disturbed, Tool, Scar Symmetry, etc...). I use a Big Muff and a wah. Fingerstyle and a little slap. Looking for something big fat and punchy, something that'll shake the whole damn venue live and make the crowd need new pants.

Since all the music stores around here just cater to guitarists and don't have much bass selection, It's hard to see what there really is to choose from that would be suitable. I don't really know where to begin, just looking for some suggestions on what to look into. Price isn't too big of a deal, but it takes a while for me to save up so please be reasonable.

Mostly just looking for an amp, but I'll probably need a new cab as well to keep up with more wattage.

You could use pretty much anything as long as it's large. Sounds like you'd want an 810 or something in that range. The ol' SVT/810 is always looked upon kindly in those circles. But some of those guys you named use other stuff as well. Whatever you do, get a decent cab with some size to it, and don't get something cheap. You don't have to get top of the line but don't get the bottom rung stuff. At the very least a 410, and a 610 or 810 if you can swing it.

What is your location?

If you like the sound of the Acoustic 1x15 cabinet you can find another one used cheaply and then just get a new amp. That should help your sound quite a bit. If two 15s are inadequate (and you like their sound) then you could always get a couple more. Used ones really are cheap.

BTW - there is a great deal on a Hartke Kilo in the For Sale section here. That would be a very worthy amp with a bunch of 15s. In fact, check the FS section for some other swingin deals. There are several there.

Hi, just passing by and caught the ad about being heard. I own an all tube amp w/410 cab. Pm ME. IF INTERSTED.

Add another 115 cab to your current rig.

+1 the best way to get louder is to add more spkrs, and matching cabs are best so, add another identical 115.

Get another 115. Currently you're getting roughly half of your head's power since your cab is 8ohms. A second 8ohm cab will let you use the full wattage of the amp and the additional speaker will move more air.

In terms of increasing actual volume, more speaker will do more than more wattage will. You could also try a 4ohm 410 cab if you don't want to schlep around 2 cabs but want more speaker.

Get a second identical 15 cab and call me in the morning.

My recommendation for what you described your going for is an ampeg 810 or two ampeg 410he cabs. Get a which ever sans amp you like the RBI, rpm, PSA, vt then get a cheap but powerful head like a ampeg b4r and run the sans amp into the power amp in. The reason I say cheap head is running a sans amp into the "power amp in" there won't be much difference between an b4r and an svt4 or svt7 they'll all work great. But theres not much sense in paying for a tube pre if your using a sans amp as a pre anyways. I use a 1300 head as a power amp for my sans amp. It's kinda overkill but its worth more to me than what most people would want to buy it for so it stays in the rig.

Loud, reliable, and cheap means "Older Used USA Peavey". :D

+1 but we cant let that secret out or else they will just be loud and reliable.

I'd say get another 15, if you like that sound and get an Aguilar Tone Hammer 500, keep the existing amp as a back-up, you can do this in stages, the TH can be found in the classifieds or from the big online music places ....