Lost cost rig set-up

[MexEatxDead]

Hey guys I'm making an upgrade to something I can actually gig with now that my band is starting to get together. I'm six string player and my budget is around $850. I play everything but my band plays metal so I was looking for an Ampeg tone. I was looking at the Ampeg PF-500 Portaflex and PF-210HE Stack but I'm pretty undecided, any input and help is appreciated.

Thanks,
Zack.

[The Hawk]

I'm actually looking at the same rig. You can grab it on Amazon for 800 right now with free shipping.
I currently use a SWR Working Man's 10, which I love for practicing at home, but I'm starting to gig a lot more and after playing the portaflex head at GuitarCenter, I fell in love with it. I was playing through a 8/10 cab at the time, and I switched to a 4/10. Both sounded amazing. The combo deal is the best bang for the buck, but I am a little hesitant about the flip-top. I would thing it would compromise the cabinet sound, but from all the reviews I have read, this apparently is not a problem.
I think I am going to go ahead and pull the trigger on this. I guess we shall see how it goes.

[CL400Peavey]

For metal you wont have enough volume with a 210, or even two 210's. I would find a used 810e or two 410HE's and pair that up with the PF-500. The used market is your friend if you have a limited budget.

Originally Posted by MexEatxDead

Hey guys I'm making an upgrade to something I can actually gig with now that my band is starting to get together. I'm six string player and my budget is around $850. I play everything but my band plays metal so I was looking for an Ampeg tone. I was looking at the Ampeg PF-500 Portaflex and PF-210HE Stack but I'm pretty undecided, any input and help is appreciated.

Thanks,
Zack.

[christw]

Six strings and metal? I ended up running a GK 1001RB-II into an Ampeg 810E or Ampeg SVT-II into a Genz Benz 610T-XB2. Anything less would not cut it, even for some of my punk bands!

I've yet to find a 410 that'll match up against two 4x12's (or more!), a loud drummer, and a screamer doing highs and lows that muddy up the mix. No keyboards even present!

Edit: The GK & Ampeg are a great combination IMO. I'd recommend them for a loud budget minded rig. I got the head for $450 used and shipped to me. You can usually find them down to $350 or so. The cab cost me $75 and $150 in new speakers. You can find 810E's for $300-$600 in good working condition.

[bassguppy]

At an $850 budget buying used would be the best way to go IMO.

Ampeg tone I'd look into either the PF-500 or look for a deal on the Ampeg SVT-7PRO. You can sometimes get a great deal on a used Ampeg 810E, 610HLF, or the 410HLF so check the TB classifieds or Craigslist.

[JimWasHere]

Ampeg tone? BDDI, power amp, 4x10 cab. 4x10 will be enough for a metal band as long as your guitards aren't overdoing their volume knobs.

[CL400Peavey]

Originally Posted by JimWasHere

... as long as your guitards aren't overdoing their volume knobs.

Wait... this can happen?

[Primakurtz]

Also, check out the Hartke LH1000 amp - big watts, low cost.
IME, the PF-500 will not cut it for the kind of music you are playing.

[CL400Peavey]

Big watts =/= big sound.

Big cab = Big sound.

500 watts is more than enough as long as he has the cabs to work with. A STV-CL is 300 watts and it is considered a benchmark.

Originally Posted by Primakurtz

Also, check out the Hartke LH1000 amp - big watts, low cost.
IME, the PF-500 will not cut it for the kind of music you are playing.

[JimWasHere]

Originally Posted by CL400Peavey

Wait... this can happen?

I got my guitarist down to rehearsing with a 1x12 cab at one point... It was great.

[CL400Peavey]

Originally Posted by JimWasHere

I got my guitarist down to rehearsing with a 1x12 cab at one point... It was great.

I regularly show up early and disconnect half my guitards speaker cabinets. They always wonder why they sound so good...

[RickenBoogie]

+1 if you want loud, you need more speakers. Alot more. Shop used, and aim for 500 watts worth of amp, and at least a 4x10, if not 2 of them.

[Tuned]

Do not get Ampeg cabinets for metal. They are inefficient muddy crap designed only to handle deep low end, which doesn't project from a bass cabinet design nearly as well as a proper subwoofer. For $850 I'd start with an SWR Goliath III 4x10 (~$500 used, louder and clearer than an Ampeg 8x10), and start with whatever amp gets you 400W of power, keep your eyes peeled for an SVP-CL preamp down the road to get your Ampeg tone, then swap the amp for an IPR 1600. Then you'd have my rig, with which I enjoy scaring the **** out of SVT owners at every opportunity

[CL400Peavey]

Originally Posted by Tuned

... with which I enjoy scaring the **** out of SVT owners at every opportunity

Thats why decided to put a Classic 400 on top of a fEarful 1515/66.