Promethean practice rig

StuartV · #1 08-11-2010, 08:18 AM

I went to my first full band rehearsal with a new band last night. I wasn't sure if my Promethean 1x10 combo would be enough by itself, so I decided to go ahead and take an extra cab to make SURE I would be heard.

500W through three 10s. It might not have been acoustically ideal, but it was plenty (PLENTY!) loud enough. And my Peavey G-V sounded great through a Sansamp BDDI and into it, even on the B string.

In hindsight, the 1x10 probably would have been plenty by itself. The band is a 3 piece plus vocals playing original folk rock. But, happily, nobody seemed to be inclined to play overly loud. Well, except the drummer - but he's new. This is his first band gig. And he seems to be trainable, so we'll get that worked out....

I don't think I could BE more pleased with the Promethean. At this point, if I didn't already own my SVT 2 Pro, I probably would never buy one. I love the tube sound. But the Promethean with the Sansamp sounds close enough to make it really hard to justify the money and the hassle of dealing with all the weight and the maintenance/fragility of the tube setup.

Bmorefoozler · #2 08-11-2010, 08:36 AM

If that was plenty, and the 1x10" would be cutting it close, just bring the head and 2x10....

StuartV · #3 08-11-2010, 08:43 AM

I thought about that. And if I had a convenient way to carry just the head where it would reduce the total number of items I had to lug, I probably would. As it is, the Promethean combo goes in its carry case, my bass, cables, SABDDI w/wall wart, Bass Trainer, strap, PitchJack tuner, extension cord, and Ultimate stand all go in my Mono gig bag, and then there's the Aguilar cab. 3 things to carry in/out.

There's no room for the Promethean head in my gig bag, so I'd still have to lug it separately - and figure out something to put it in during transport to protect it.

I think next time I will take the Aguilar cab, but not take it in or hook it up. Just try the Promethean by itself. I really think it will be fine. If not, then I'll bring in the Aguilar. But if the Promethean is enough by itself, then I'll quit taking the Aguilar cab at all in the future.

rbonner · #4 08-11-2010, 08:51 AM

It will be a huge step down with only one speaker. Right now you have 3/4 of a 410. You may want to look into a lightweight amp to use with your 210 instead of the SVT-2PRO if the wieght is an issue.

BOB

StuartV · #5 08-11-2010, 08:55 AM

I know. But I have used the 1x10 combo before, practicing with my other band as 2 guitars, bass, vocals, and no drums. And it was way more than plenty for that. So I think this new band, with the drummer not playing TOO loud, the 1x10 will still be more than enough. Like I said, I'll try it and see. From my perspective, it doesn't have to sound perfect for rehearsal. Heck, if it needed to sound THAT good, I would bring my SVT and my other Aguilar cab, too. As long as everybody can hear everything I'm playing and clearly, I'll be satisfied enough to not put the extra effort into bringing the extra cab.

PaulNYC · #6 08-11-2010, 09:18 AM

There is a carry bag for the promethean. the bag has a shoulder strap. It is pretty good.

ibanez BGB500

StuartV · #7 08-11-2010, 09:25 AM

Thanks, Paul. Hmmmm.... $25 w/free shipping.... If the combo isn't enough by itself, I may just have to go ahead and get one of these. I see it has an external pocket on it that should hold my Sansamp and other miscellaneous junk. Maybe that could totally replace my gig bag and I can go back to using a HSC for my bass. I would feel safer with that.

Thanks for the pointer!

tombowlus · #8 08-11-2010, 09:36 AM

These are certainly great amps/combos. I'm glad that yours is working out well for you!

StuartV · #9 08-11-2010, 10:39 AM

Thanks, Tom! My original purchase of this combo had a lot to do with your review of it.

christw · #10 08-11-2010, 10:57 AM

I want to find one at a better price point than they're at. Where'd you purchase yours and for what price, if you don't mind my asking?

StuartV · #11 08-11-2010, 11:12 AM

Mine was $525, shipped, on eBay in literally like new condition. From an individual, not an eBay store.

A440Hz · #12 08-11-2010, 11:33 AM

Q: Are you using the BDDI in front of the Promethean? Or BDDI out to both Promethan and a PA (parallel outs)?

Just wondering.

StuartV · #13 08-11-2010, 11:39 AM

I have not been playing bass that long and have not played "out" yet. So far, I have only used my BDDI into the Promethean.

The bass player in the cover band that I play drums in uses a SA BDDI straight into the PA and no amp at all. Between the bass that he can hear from the FOH subs and the bass that he gets in his mix in his stage monitor wedge, he has no need for an amp on stage. And the bass -> SABDDI -> PA sounds great!

Does that tell you what you want to know? It probably just tells you that I don't really know the answer to what you're really trying to figure out...

A440Hz · #14 08-11-2010, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StuartV

I have not been playing bass that long and have not played "out" yet. So far, I have only used my BDDI into the Promethean.

The bass player in the cover band that I play drums in uses a SA BDDI straight into the PA and no amp at all. Between the bass that he can hear from the FOH subs and the bass that he gets in his mix in his stage monitor wedge, he has no need for an amp on stage. And the bass -> SABDDI -> PA sounds great!

Does that tell you what you want to know? It probably just tells you that I don't really know the answer to what you're really trying to figure out...

Totally answers my question, thanks. Except that I have a followup: do you use the BDDI for distortion, or is it just for some cleanish tube mojo?

JB36 · #15 08-11-2010, 06:51 PM

I've been eyeing this combo for awhile, but I don't really have a need or the cash right now. Everyone sells them for 699, but $100 less would make me feel warm and fuzzy. Anyways, my question is about the 3x10 setup. It doesn't seem may people use a 3x10 configuration. Is this less than ideal for sound quality? I was thinking of the 1x10 combo for practice and then adding 2X10 to gain the full 500 watts when I need it. Seems like it would be nice and easy for transport.

PaulNYC · #16 08-11-2010, 08:26 PM

not so great, you get 250W to the 110 and 250w to the 210. It is better to have matching cabs. If you don't push anything, it sho9uldn't be a problem.

Anyway, assuming a 10 from the 210 is equivalent to the 110, then the 210 is I think 6db louder than the 110. (Someone please correct me if I misremembered the # of dB).

StuartV · #17 08-11-2010, 08:39 PM

That's why I said this:

Quote:

Originally Posted by StuartV

It might not have been acoustically ideal

earlier.

But, seeing as how I wasn't running it turned up even half way, and I have run the 1x10 by itself before at near max, I was pretty sure that the same 250W it was getting when run by itself (near max) wasn't going to hurt it when it was getting that 250W at less than 50% volume - and it so happened that the other available 250W was going to an external cab. Further, I don't see why it would ever hurt anything to run it this way. No matter what actual SPL I need, I will always run the volume knob lower with the 210 extension cab hooked up than I would with just the 1x10 by itself.

StuartV · #18 08-11-2010, 08:41 PM

In other words, it seems to me that any situation where running the rig with a 210 extension cab (and the internal 110) MIGHT cause anything to be hurt would SURELY hurt something if I were running either the 1x10 by itself OR if I was running the head into just the 210.

Right?

PaulNYC · #19 08-11-2010, 08:50 PM

Basically as long as the 110 is not overextending, don't worry, but it isn't ideal. From what I have read, you'd be fine with the amp and the 210 for bigger situations, and the 110 for smaller.

have fun

StuartV · #20 08-11-2010, 08:55 PM

At this point, I feel pretty safe. I had an audition with a metal band a few weeks ago. I was an idiot and only brought the 1x10 combo to use for the audition. (I thought: it's just a guitar/vocals, and a drummer. How loud can they be?) I played about 45 minutes with the Promethean cranked up to about 95% and my G&L L-2000 volume dimed (in a room with no windows and no A/C - just one door open to the outside - in the Florida summer heat). The Promethean took it like it was made to do exactly that, all night.

After it took all that, I feel pretty confident I'm not going to damage it by overextension by running it with the 210 added on.