Need amp recommendation

[86general]

I need a "real" bass amp.

Setting: Basement jamming. We have a drum kit and a teenager who likes to hit them hard and play loud. The remaining cast is the usual suspects....guitarists, occasional keyboard, vocalists of all stripes. We play everything....mostly rock/pop/blues.

I have a Phil Jones Briefcase practice amp which I have to dime in order to compete with the drums, and there's no headroom up there.

The bass is a Carvin SB4000.

I want an amp that can handle this setting; I don't want too much amp or too little. Too much is better, though.

I prefer a head/cabinet, but would consider any rig that does the trick. I don't know what amp to get, or what speaker config to get. My son's teacher recommends a 1x15; I've heard others say 2x10 is less "boxy," whatever that means.

I like Carvin gear and lean toward getting their stuff, but I would buy anything....markbass, ampeg, peavey, fender. Just want something that will sound good and be reliable.

Thanks guys (and gals).

[Texan]

I am a Genz Benz convert. I have been most recently using SWR and Trace Elliot heads with 4x10 cabs until my SWR head died. I pulled the trigger on a Genz Benz Shuttlemax 9.2 ($689 on eBay new in box) and have been wow'd by this head so much that I am going to sell my Trace Elliot and get the Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 for my backup. This is from a guy that did not buy new heads for over 15 years because I found nothing on the market that sounded as good as my SWR and trace gear. Plus the 3 year transferable warranty was a plus in the genz decision. I can get any sound that I need out of the genz head and I play everything from jazz and country to classic rock and metal.

[mpdd]

i hope this helps a little, i just woke up and i'm a little dehydrated from my desert trip...

i might try a 410 cab also, they are pretty heavy to carry, but you won't have any concerns about volume with one, i use a 115, because i like the rock and roll type tone it delivers with a tube head

as far as watts 200 tube is really nice, 200 solid state is not enough ime

[RickenBoogie]

What you want is an amp that's rated for at least 300 watts @ 4 ohms, more is better. Choice is far too subjective for me to make for you. Then, the most important thing you need is a LARGE speaker cab, 4x10 absolute minimum. This is where the volume comes from, way more than the amp's wattage rating. Don't skimp out on the speakers- ANY amp will do, but cheap and/or small speaker cabs will fail.

[B-string]

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

What you want is an amp that's rated for at least 300 watts @ 4 ohms, more is better. Choice is far too subjective for me to make for you. Then, the most important thing you need is a LARGE speaker cab, 4x10 absolute minimum. This is where the volume comes from, way more than the amp's wattage rating. Don't skimp out on the speakers- ANY amp will do, but cheap and/or small speaker cabs will fail.

Absolutely! I have owned and played all the great classic rigs except the Portaflex. Been playing GK for the last 15 years (just my personal choice), my Fusion 550 sounds like a dream (to me) through my 412, Single showman 115, TL606 with Emenence 3015's and like crap through my badly reconed 215.
The small GK combos offer good value and performance but they are not alone in the market. You need to spend some time trying different brands. Dedicate a weekend or two at a large retailer with your own Bass.

[Quickie]

Ampeg....there is no substitution.

[B-string]

Originally Posted by Quickie

Ampeg....there is no substitution.

What Ampeg? Original, Magnavox era, MTI era, SLM era, LOUD era what models? SS or Tube? Sorry, it irritates me when a blanket statement like that shows up. (Owned and played "Ampegs")

[Munjibunga]

It ain't Ampeg. Try a GB Shuttle 6.0 with a Bergantino AE 210. Small, light, loud, great tone. For a few more bucks, get the AE212 and be set for life.

[brndn123]

Fender Bassman 300/Sunn 300t. It can do anything.

[yamaha]

For basement playing, I would go used. You can get top quality pro gear for pretty cheap in the used market.

A used cab from Eden or SWR will be great.

A used head from Hartke, Gallien Kruegger, Yorkville would drive those cabs very well.

[jeff7bass]

The Carvin B2000 is about the best amp you can buy under a grand. It's powerful, quiet, versatile, all-pro features, easy to use. Just a great amp.
I can also recommend the new Ampeg PF micros. I love my new PF-350 and the PF-500 has more power and features for the crazy price of 400 bucks.
There's lots of great choices out there quite honestly. Figure out how much you want to spend, how many (and what kind) cabs you want to be able to run, then pick the head to drive them.
A PF-500 head with an Avatar TB153 would absolutely rock for very reasonable money.

[madmatt]

Originally Posted by 86general

I need a "real" bass amp.

Setting: Basement jamming. We have a drum kit and a teenager who likes to hit them hard and play loud. The remaining cast is the usual suspects....guitarists, occasional keyboard, vocalists of all stripes. We play everything....mostly rock/pop/blues.

I have a Phil Jones Briefcase practice amp which I have to dime in order to compete with the drums, and there's no headroom up there.

The bass is a Carvin SB4000.

I want an amp that can handle this setting; I don't want too much amp or too little. Too much is better, though.

I prefer a head/cabinet, but would consider any rig that does the trick. I don't know what amp to get, or what speaker config to get. My son's teacher recommends a 1x15; I've heard others say 2x10 is less "boxy," whatever that means.

I like Carvin gear and lean toward getting their stuff, but I would buy anything....markbass, ampeg, peavey, fender. Just want something that will sound good and be reliable.

Thanks guys (and gals).

It would be preferable to get a 4x10.
A 1x15 will be louder, If you have a good spot for it.
Depends on manufacturer also.

[AwkwardLoudness]

Tube amp rig (heavy):
Vintage Ampeg SVT or newer SVT-VR + Bergantino NV610 or NV412 cab.

or

Solid State or Hybrid rig (lighter weight, more modern sound)
Carvin B1500 or B2000 or Genz Benz Streamliner 900 amp + a pair of fEarful 15/6 cabs or a pair of Avatar TB153 15/6 cabs


Hey, it's better to have too much amp than not enough

[B-string]

Originally Posted by madmatt

It would be preferable to get a 4x10.
A 1x15 will be louder, If you have a good spot for it.
Depends on manufacturer also.

A 115 will only be "louder" than a 410 if the 410 is a very very bad cab or a broken one (more likely two blown 10's).

[AwkwardLoudness]

Originally Posted by B-string

A 115 will only be "louder" than a 410 if the 410 is a very very bad cab or a broken one (more likely two blown 10's).

That's absolute non-sense bovine fecal matter. Loudness is not related to speaker size. Speaker efficiency, driver excursion distance, and cab design are what matters most. A 15" Kappalite 3015 or 3015LF+mid will absolutely smoke most 4x10s especially in the lows/low-mids AND have more even horizontal dispersion of volume in a room or on a stage.

[B-string]

Originally Posted by AwkwardLoudness

That's absolute non-sense bovine fecal matter. Loudness is not related to speaker size. Speaker efficiency, driver excursion distance, and cab design are what matters most. A 15" Kappalite 3015 or 3015LF+mid will absolutely smoke most 4x10s especially in the lows/low-mids AND have more even horizontal dispersion of volume in a room or on a stage.

So you are saying a "single 15" with help from a second driver right, and a premium setup 15" at that. RIGHT
More surface area properly built will be not as loud, just because they are not 15" drivers...really. And you call my statement what?

[RickenBoogie]

This is what I was talking about in the thread with the kid that wants to build an "all-in-one" case for his bass, amp, and cab.