New head or Preamp?

tubaman2 · #1 03-21-2011, 04:06 PM

So this weekend I'm getting paid for a gig. I'm getting a pretty good amount for it too. Enough to get something new. Right now I'm using a GK Backline 600, which I hate. It's so bland and characterless.

Basically I'm really wanting a new head. The one I'm looking at is the TC Electronic BH500. I've found some used for about $400.

The problem is that I'm not sure of the exact amount I'll be paid. It's going to be anywhere between $250 and $400. My parents have also decided to let me borrow $100 for the purchase with the promise that I'll pay them back once I sell the old head.

I'm a poor college kid, so the only income I have is from the very occasional gig like this. So I don't really have any way of saving up money at the moment. So if the amount comes out to the lower end of things, I was thinking about just getting pre-amp and using it in addition to the backline. I was thinking something along the lines of the Aguilar Tonehammer.

So I guess my question is, should I just hold out as long as possible in the hopes of finding the head for less, or managing to find some more money somehow, or would buying the pre-amp make me fall in love with my tone again? Would the new preamp have as much of an impact on tone as the new head?

MAMMOTHvolume · #2 03-21-2011, 04:16 PM

depends, do you see yourself upgrading from the bh500 soon? If so would it hold it's value?

Personally i'd look into a new preamp or put the cash into a new amp fund and hold on for a bit longer

GrowlerBox · #3 03-21-2011, 05:51 PM

I have a TCE RH450, and a Tone Hammer, and I love them both. I've never used them together, but always used the TH into my Markbass F1 to get a bit more control over the mids and to add some grit or full-on overdrive. I have also used it as a standalone preamp/DI on a little gig to which I couldn't be arsed dragging my usual kit along, and it worked very nicely with just a foldback for monitoring.

If you have limited funds, I can recommend the Tone Hammer for starters, and you may find you like it enough to go with a power amp (e.g. Crown DriveCore (I think that's right)) for a lightweight, flexible rig.

Definitely try the BH500 if you can, but not everyone likes the TCE sound as much as I do, so you might not want to risk taking it on spec.

tubaman2 · #4 03-21-2011, 11:32 PM

Bamping for moar opinions

GrowlerBox · #5 03-21-2011, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubaman2

Bamping for moar opinions

You're in college, you say?

tubaman2 · #6 03-21-2011, 11:39 PM

Intentional misspellings

, Using proper grammar is, like, boring man.

GrowlerBox · #7 03-21-2011, 11:46 PM

Shaw 'nuff 'n' tru dat, broheme.

Derek Kiernan · #8 03-22-2011, 12:25 AM

Are you sure you like your cabinets? Do you use them together? I don't have experience with either, but I feel I've run into way more speakers I can't like than heads.

Downunderwonder · #9 03-22-2011, 12:29 AM

New strings

tylerwylie · #10 03-22-2011, 01:38 AM

Get a preamp and you can just run it into the effects return of your head and use that as a power amp.

The Tone Hammer works well, or something from Sansamp. Really depends on the sound you're going after.

tubaman2 · #11 03-22-2011, 02:57 AM

I'm wanting more of a tube-like grunt. A sizzle or growl if you will. Mostly more character in the sound.