(sorry for another) Newbie question

joshmmorrison · #1 01-23-2011, 02:03 PM

I had posted about a week ago that I was looking into buying my first rig...but I just had a quick question and wanted to see some opinions about it...

Which takes priority? A better cabinet or a better head?

I know ideally having quality in both is important, but which of the two should i be putting priority in?

Sorry if this is a stupid question, This is the first time I've been looking into a rig and I want to try to find out as much as i can about it.

Thanks

GrowlerBox · #2 01-23-2011, 02:09 PM

Opinions will no doubt vary on this, but my feeling is to prioritize the cabinet. Everything will sound bad through a bad cabinet; a good cabinet will at least maximize the potential of the rest of the chain.

BurningSkies · #3 01-23-2011, 02:11 PM

If you have a great head and a crappy cab, you'll still sound like dook. You might as well get a nice cab, then work on getting together the head to make things complete.

Also, remember that USED gear is the best way to go on a budget. You can get a much better piece of gear buying used (sometimes twice the quality or capability).

**mikeddd** · #4 01-23-2011, 02:12 PM

I agree with GrowlerBox and BurningSkies. What kind of budget are you looking at, Josh? Don't rule out buying used gear, especially from a fellow TB'er. I bought my first bass amp and bass here from two diff guys. Honest, positive transactions both times. If you're just starting out, a nice combo amp (amp/speaker in same box) might be a good bet.

joshmmorrison · #5 01-23-2011, 02:13 PM

Okay sweet, Thanks guys. that was my hunch but i wanted to make sure i was on the right track with it.

joshmmorrison · #6 01-23-2011, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeddd

I agree with GrowlerBox and BurningSkies. What kind of budget are you looking at, Josh? Don't rule out buying used gear, especially from a fellow TB'er. I bought my first bass amp and bass here from two diff guys. Honest, positive transactions both times. If you're just starting out, a nice combo amp (amp/speaker in same box) might be a good bet.

I'm running about a $550 budget. I had a behringer ultrabass 180w amp, but it died on me and so ive had to borrow amps from friends over the years. It's time for me to pick one up for myself now haha.

I'm definitely not against used, i'm just trying to figure out as much as i can about it before i spend the money on it.

IngerAlb · #7 01-23-2011, 02:20 PM

My 2 cents: most players bring their own amp when playing live, so if you can't afford both, then get a decent amp first; there are many clubs / venues that have their own stacks in case you don't have your own, but having an amp you know well, on which you can set up your own sound is critical. Playing on gear you're not familiar with could affect your performance, so being in your comfort zone is the key to a pleasant experience for both you and your audience.

IbanezSGfan · #8 01-26-2011, 08:33 PM

Definitely need to get one to call your own, then go try a few that you might find used online. You can get a pretty loud used Peavey for that price (combo) Take your time in choosing though you don't want to end up with something you got just so you could make it to the gig this weekend

But +1 to IngerAlb to having your own gear and being compfortable/familiar with what its strengths/limits are and there will be alot less surprises and you can focus alot more on playing

Sartori · #9 01-26-2011, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joshmmorrison

Okay sweet, Thanks guys. that was my hunch but i wanted to make sure i was on the right track with it.

Your hunch was right. A crappy cab will make everything sound crappy.

**JxBass** · #10 01-27-2011, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeddd

Don't rule out buying used gear, especially from a fellow TB'er. If you're just starting out, a nice combo amp (amp/speaker in same box) might be a good bet.

My thoughts exactly. Some very nice combos come up for sale that would meet your budget and combine both a good amp and cab.

Gintaras · #11 01-27-2011, 05:21 AM

I see that you have a budget of $550.00.

these cabs get great reviews and would be a good start.
Two Carvin BRX10.2 Neo's

Also keep an eye out in the classifieds for a GenzBenz Neopak or Carvin BX500. Can usually be bought for $325 to $375.

Both of these would put you in the $650 range and you would have great gear. Also both heads are 2 ohm capable which allow more cabinet flexibility.

Also look at the GK MB combo series. (mb115, mb210, mb212) Lots of love for those on this site. do a search and you will be reading for an hour.

iualum · #12 01-27-2011, 05:55 AM

...I almost always agree that used is the best way, but (imho), this would be a super amp for you...if MF doesn't have it in stock, any other big online outfit that does have it would almost certainly at least meet this price...just food for thought, but I wouldn't wait too long if I wanted it...

http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend....&CJPID=3353204

Dr.JBass · #13 01-27-2011, 08:43 PM

+1 on the MB series. Light weight,price is good, plenty of power, and lots of external cab options, plus legendary GK sound. Slightly biased opinion because I love my MB212.

Chrisk-K · #14 01-27-2011, 08:49 PM

For $550, you can buy a GK MB200 and a nice cab (Avatar 1x12 or GK 1x15).

Green1 · #15 01-27-2011, 08:54 PM

For $599 you could get a GK 210 combo, which would probably get you by for awhile. Plus down the road, you could add an extension cab and you would be set.

will33 · #16 01-27-2011, 09:07 PM

Amps and cabs should work together to sound good. Example: Medium grade head and medium grade cabs will sound better as a unit than getting a great head and cheap cabs or great cabs and a cheap head. Although great cabs and a cheap head will sound a little better than cheap cabs and and great head so I guess there's really 4 options there, really 5.

1. Great head + great cabs

2. Medium head + great cabs

3. Medium head + medium cabs

4. Cheap head + medium cabs

5. Cheap head + cheap cabs.

Of course it really depends on the bass and player. Most things that go wrong in life usually involve some degree of user error. You should be able to sound "decent" on most anything and sound "really good" on high-end stuff. The "step up ratio" gets really thin once you get to the "good" range between medium and great when it come to gear, so much so that the only person that may realize a difference may be yourself.

Steveaux · #17 01-27-2011, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by will33

Amps and cabs should work together to sound good. Example: Medium grade head and medium grade cabs will sound better as a unit than getting a great head and cheap cabs or great cabs and a cheap head. Although great cabs and a cheap head will sound a little better than cheap cabs and and great head so I guess there's really 4 options there, really 5.

1. Great head + great cabs

2. Medium head + great cabs

3. Medium head + medium cabs

4. Cheap head + medium cabs

5. Cheap head + cheap cabs.

Of course it really depends on the bass and player. Most things that go wrong in life usually involve some degree of user error. You should be able to sound "decent" on most anything and sound "really good" on high-end stuff. The "step up ratio" gets really thin once you get to the "good" range between medium and great when it come to gear, so much so that the only person that may realize a difference may be yourself.

Hear, hear !

Well said.

samc2527 · #18 01-27-2011, 09:19 PM

when I was in a similar position, just starting out I found that getting a pretty nice cab and a mediocre head will sound a lot better than a super nice, powerful head going though a garbage cab....

tjh · #19 01-27-2011, 10:26 PM

every now and then I play a little game, where I try to piece together the best rig possible for $300, then maybe $400, and seldomly do I ever go over $500 ... I scower TB classifieds, Ebay (ending within 24 hours only), and the local Craigslists (within 1 1/2 hour drive) ... it is amazing when you actually put parameters around your search how much stuff you find ...I now need nothing, and simply buy now to increase knowledge of what is out there, but there is no doubt in my mind that I could put together a very decent, reliable set-up within each of the three $$ categories that could easily last me a lifetime, in 24 hours or less if needed ... it helps to clearly know your needs, and then look what fits in that category, AND just slightly above in terms of quality, value and avg used selling price ... that way when you see something that is just ABOVE what you expected to find, you know to snap it up ... its a game, but it helps you evaluate gear with a different mindset, and you start to see value vs quality a little differently after a while ... its a good learning experience, and really helps a person to become knowledgable on the products by limiting their investigation to the category that suits their need ... JMHO

DukeLeJeune · #20 01-27-2011, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BurningSkies

If you have a great head and a crappy cab, you'll still sound like dook.

Dude, you misspelled my name.

However your implication that I really, really suck at bass (or any other instrument for that matter) is right on the money.

Oh yeah... cabs. Well I'm pretty predictable there, but in the home audio world every few years some big-bucks speaker manufacturer will show to great effect with a "mystery amp" that turns out to be something like a $59 chip amp, their point being that the speaker makes more difference than the amp does. Annoys the heck out of journalists who waxed poetic over their room before finding out they'd been had.

One of the theories in home audio being, the speaker has the hardest job to do - converting an electrical signal into sound and propagating it through three-dimensional space. Not that a great amp can't put a big smile on your face even with modest speakers, but those modest speakers better be decent.