rig suggestions

brekfustuvluzer · #1 08-10-2010, 04:39 PM

hey guys. i am forming a band with some friends and i need a gigging amp. trouble is... there arent many i like. so i am hoping someone can turn me on to something i may not have thought of yet.

about me

i play a fender p and a gibson sg bass through a 66 b-15n at home. both strung with flats. for a live situation i will obviously need more watts than the b-15. the band will be a four piece of bass drums guitar keys vox playing stripped down rock influenced by old beatles, beach boys, motown, stones, etc.

so far i am leaning towards an older ampeg v4b and maybe 215 cab. problem with this is i have never played one and dont know how to get my hand on one (also theyre somewhat hard to come by). have also thought about getting a newer b-15r with extension cab to keep the look im used to at home and though they arent up to par with their ancestors, they are great amps with a little speaker swap. other considerations are a musicman 130 or possibly traynor. and i like the sound and portability of the markbass stuff. too bad they are the ugliest amps ever (call me lame for caring).

anyway, is there anything along these lines that im overlooking? i have between 1000-2000 bucks to spend, need it to be loud enough to play small to medium clubs usually with support, and like old school vibe. i also dont want a fridge, but dont mind hauling some weight. any help is appreciated.

hdracer · #2 08-10-2010, 04:44 PM

Try a Peavey VB-2 great price and great tube head. Then find a nice cab for it and you could be under 1500.00

brekfustuvluzer · #3 08-10-2010, 05:02 PM

if i can find one, ill check it out. thanks.

brekfustuvluzer · #4 08-10-2010, 05:09 PM

wow, just checked ebay for a v4-b and only found v4s going for over a grand. last time i priced these a saw a few for 500-600 dollars. have these gone up or is there a big price difference between the guitar and bass versions?

waleross · #5 08-10-2010, 05:15 PM

Vintage heads are great but I prefer new. I have Ampeg and Fender. If you are not ready for the SvTCL then try looking at the Fender TB1200 or the TB600. Match it up with a Fender Pro cab 215. I have the TB1200 (front vented) in my rack and currently feeding the Ampeg

810E. the thing is you have some options with Fender heads....

Turock · #6 08-10-2010, 07:56 PM

A V4BH is a wonderful sounding amp. Paired with one or two SVT 4x10HE or SVT 115, I believe you'll have the "old school vibe" you're going for. Plenty loud enough for what you describe.

JimmyM · #7 08-10-2010, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brekfustuvluzer

wow, just checked ebay for a v4-b and only found v4s going for over a grand. last time i priced these a saw a few for 500-600 dollars. have these gone up or is there a big price difference between the guitar and bass versions?

people can ask whatever they want on ebay. doesn't mean they'll get it.

Jim Carr · #8 08-11-2010, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brekfustuvluzer

...I will obviously need more watts than the b-15. The band will be a four piece of bass drums guitar keys vox playing stripped down rock influenced by old beatles, beach boys, motown, stones, etc.
...I like the sound and portability of the markbass stuff. too bad they are the ugliest amps ever (call me lame for caring).

I have between 1000-2000 bucks to spend, need it to be loud enough to play small to medium clubs usually with support, and like old school vibe...also dont want a fridge, but dont mind hauling some weight. Any help is appreciated.

Seems to me you will need a lot more power than you think. Guitar, keys, drums and voice playing the old school repertoire in medium-sized clubs (with PA support) pretty much guarantees, IMHO, that you will want much more loudness than a good 100 watt amp can deliver, like a Traynor or an Ampeg.

My advice is to forget about looks and investigate the MarkBass II, GB Shuttle 6.0, and Mesa Boogie Carbine M6.

My experience with the Shuttle 6.0 and Carbine M9 has been very positive. My lead sled, as much as I love it, has become a PA amp, and my ART tube channel is lonely.

StuartV · #9 08-11-2010, 11:18 AM

For $2000, you should be able to find an Ampeg 300W tube head (SVT CL or SVT 2 Pro or SVT II) and a couple of Ampeg SVT 410 cabs. If you're a bit patient and shop around. And you may not even really need 2 410 cabs. 1 might be enough for you. Or, if you can find a (or two) Peavey Pro410 (NOT the Tour series) cabs, they're even cheaper than the Ampegs and I think they sound just as good. Maybe even better, but let's just go with "just as good".

I see SVT-410HLF cabs going pretty often for around $500. And I got my SVT 2 Pro in a Road Ready rack case for $900. You just gotta be patient and shop hard (TB Classifieds, eBay, and all the various CL's in your area).

PSPookie · #10 08-11-2010, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hdracer

Try a Peavey VB-2 great price and great tube head. Then find a nice cab for it and you could be under 1500.00

+1 I use a GB Uber 212 with my VB-2 and it absolutlely thumps.

A used VB-2 and a used Bergantino NV cab would also be a great rig and within your stated price range. My one piece of advice is not to skimp on the cab.

Bassdirty · #11 08-11-2010, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Carr

Seems to me you will need a lot more power than you think....

.... Mesa Boogie Carbine....

+1176

woody357 · #12 08-11-2010, 02:15 PM

You want a tube amp with power, and you need a good cabinet or two. Try this head, you'll get the power and sound, but it wont take all your money, so you will some to buy a good cabinet.
The 500W Gallien-Krueger MB Fusion tube preamp incorporates the same all-tube preamp of the GK Fusion 550 and maintains the amazing portability of the MB2-500. The ultra-light bass amp delivers 500W at 4 ohms, 350W at 8 ohms, and is equipped with an all-tube, 3x12AX7 preamp.

rpsands · #13 08-11-2010, 02:28 PM

A v4b and a pair of Kappalite loaded 15" cabs would be plenty for almost any gigging situation short of metal in big rooms with mic'd drums.

If you like the sound of the V4b, go for it. They sound great and are affordable.

That said, I would consider rolling with a micro amp and a VT Bass pedal. They can do a close approximation of the Ampeg sound with a much smaller and lighter package.

**butchblack** · #14 08-11-2010, 02:37 PM

If you're not into the have to have a big rig image conscious, I'd go with a GK MB 210 combo with the matching 212 cab. However, where you're coming from an Ampeg tube sound try to play through a broken in MB210 to make sure you like the tone.

brekfustuvluzer · #15 08-11-2010, 04:23 PM

hey, thanks for the tons of replies. all good advice here.