Time to buy an amp. Ampeg, Sunn, Peavey? (Doom)

[lazerviking]

I am finally in the position to purchase gear again. Going to be picking back up on a project that is strictly bass and drums, instrumental. Being the "lead" instrument, I want to be able to cut through loud drums. Along with that, the style of music is notorious for its volumes (doom), but don't need to be too over the top, maybe just a little

Here is where I am stuck at:
-A solid state Peavey Max 700. 700 watts @ 2 ohms, 475(ish) @ 4 ohms. ($300)
-Ampeg SVT Classic 300 watt tube. Ohm selectable. ($750)
-(Possibly) 1969 Sunn 1200S head. 120 RMS, made for guitar I believe. ($700)

The Ampeg and Sunn differ in price by around 50, depending on how much I can haggle.
The Peavey is, of course, the most affordable. I don't have unlimited funds. Then ontop of that, there is the cost of the cab(s).
When we perform live, it will be smaller places and house shows. Probably never mic'd.
And as far as cabs go, I have the chance at an Ampeg 8x10 for $500. The tubes would do well with that, but the Peavey would be @ 4 ohm with it. Could always wait and track down 2x 4 ohms.
From what I have read, the Peavey is a work horse, very solid but lacks much definition or color. Whiiiich in my case could be a plus.
No more babbling, thanks.

[Deluge Of Sound]

As much cred as you'll get with the Sunn, the Peavey is the best bang for the buck. You can pick up Peavey cabs and heads for (relative) chump change all day long (hell, I got mine for free).

The downside to that is that you're going to have to find a distortion pedal you like that works well with solid state heads.

[JimmyM]

no way i'd let an svt-cl get by me for $750. that's a really good price.

[lazerviking]

Originally Posted by Deluge Of Sound

As much cred as you'll get with the Sunn, the Peavey is the best bang for the buck. You can pick up Peavey cabs and heads for (relative) chump change all day long (hell, I got mine for free).

The downside to that is that you're going to have to find a distortion pedal you like that works well with solid state heads.

Awesome. For distortion I am leaning towards a Proco Rat (found a modded one with a switch that adds more bass) + an EQ, either MXR or Boss

[whisper14072]

Gotta side with Jimmy.... but I am an Ampeg fan through and through

[tdub0199]

Get the Ampeg SVT CL....

[JoshuaTSP]

the SVT and 8x10 should be a killer combo. RATs are great for dirt too.

If money is an issue, the peavey is solid and reliable.....and plenty loud.

Sometimes I prefer SS amps to keep the low end tight and punchy....with a tube amp, at gig volume the low end can get mushy.

[lazerviking]

I'd love to get a Peavey 3620 cab and another 4 ohm something. There is a 3620 on eBay, buy it now only, for way too much.

[JoeVictim]

Originally Posted by lazerviking

I'd love to get a Peavey 3620 cab and another 4 ohm something. There is a 3620 on eBay, buy it now only, for way too much.

Shipping would be ridiculous on that. I went the pre/power route with the Peavey 2-15" with kappa 3015lf's. Wowwee, I never thought my bass would sound so gnarly.

You should be able to put together a nice power/pre setup for under $500 with more watts than you will ever need. (did mine for $360) Then all you need to do is grab up a 2-15" or 8-10". Carvin had their 8-10" on sale for $569 a couple weeks back or you might find a local sale on a cab through craigslist.

[Mr. Foxen]

All of them is the true way of Doom.

[lazerviking]

Originally Posted by Mr. Foxen

All of them is the true way of Doom.

Oh how I wish!

[lazerviking]

Originally Posted by JoeVictim

Shipping would be ridiculous on that. I went the pre/power route with the Peavey 2-15" with kappa 3015lf's. Wowwee, I never thought my bass would sound so gnarly.

You should be able to put together a nice power/pre setup for under $500 with more watts than you will ever need. (did mine for $360) Then all you need to do is grab up a 2-15" or 8-10". Carvin had their 8-10" on sale for $569 a couple weeks back or you might find a local sale on a cab through craigslist.

There is an Ampeg 8x10 for $500 on my local CL. Those are a B to haul around. But cabs are hard to come by where I live, rarely do I see anything unique. I would prefer 2 cabs, that are 4 ohm each. Easier to move around and could be running 2 ohms.

[lazerviking]

A band I like, Thou, their bass player uses a Max 700 with a Fridge. I have never seen them live though so not sure how it sounds.

[Mr. Foxen]

Originally Posted by lazerviking

A band I like, Thou, their bass player uses a Max 700 with a Fridge. I have never seen them live though so not sure how it sounds.

I've seen them live with that rig. Pretty sure he has the trebly bass to cut through the stupidly detuned guitars thing going on, but I might be confusing with Moloch. Either way, not gonna get massive bottom from a standard fridge, detuned guitars severely swamp their frequency range.

My Doom recommendation is a VT bass, big cheap peavey power amp and all of the rest of your budget on an awesome well engineered cab (as in not Emperor or Monolith or something made to appeal to Doomers). Stuff more for the dudes rocking ERBs, with extended bottom end, carve a space below the guitars.

[Lazarus.Bird]

Have you owned an SVT before? If not, the definite answer is an SVT. If you do not like it, you can absolutely sell it and possibly even for a profit.

If you want to go cheap Peavey, skip the Max and find a Firebass. It's one of the best amps they've ever made. That or one of the Peavey Mark series. I found my Mark VIII in a pawn shop for $100. The Peavey solid state heads give you pure volume, and then you can color your sound with basses and pedals.

[lazerviking]

Originally Posted by Lazarus.Bird

Have you owned an SVT before? If not, the definite answer is an SVT. If you do not like it, you can absolutely sell it and possibly even for a profit.

If you want to go cheap Peavey, skip the Max and find a Firebass. It's one of the best amps they've ever made. That or one of the Peavey Mark series. I found my Mark VIII in a pawn shop for $100. The Peavey solid state heads give you pure volume, and then you can color your sound with basses and pedals.

From what I understand, the Firebass is exactly the same as the Max, just a different face and name.

[s_mcsleazy]

Originally Posted by Mr. Foxen

All of them is the true way of Doom.

so pretty it made me cry

[Old Fart]

No question. SVT and 6x10.

[Calaverasgrande]

For the style of music you are talking about there are only a couple of answers.
Ampeg SVT
Mesa Bass 400/400+
Tons of Sunn.
You do yourself a disservice by passing up that deal on the SVT. If it is in decent shape with no issues that is about $250 less than they commonly go for. It is not uncommon for a couple knobs or switches to be busted on those. If so talk them down further.
Especially in a two piece band the SVT can furnish you with a very broad sound that fills up quite a lot of space. I personally prefer the Mesa 400 because its a bit clearer in the mids. But the snot in the mids is what makes an Ampeg such an epic (yeah I said epic) bass amp.

[RCCollins]

s to the v to the t... it's a no-brainer