Upgrading for touring

quadpod · #1 06-13-2010, 10:19 PM

So my band is starting to tour and i need a upgrade on my amp.
The cab I'm getting is an Ampeg Heritage Series HSVT-410HLF 500W 4x10. and i need help finding a great head for it. I'm looking for something made around the 1980s or anytime. price range around $700.

if any one as any advice it would help alot!

thanks!

Marton · #2 06-13-2010, 10:21 PM

An old GK maybe ? Or a new one, they're great versatile head IMO. What music do you play ?

quadpod · #3 06-13-2010, 10:23 PM

Play with alot of Mid. kinda like Geddy lee if i had to name it. but i do play a heavy low when needed. but a really nice crunchy mid is what im shooting for.

A-Step-Towards · #4 06-13-2010, 10:45 PM

Gk 800rb, i just got one in great shape late 80's for 280$. There great heads that stand the test of time and wear and tear.

quadpod · #5 06-13-2010, 10:48 PM

thanks! ill do more research and think about buying it. thanks a bunch.

leche · #6 06-13-2010, 10:58 PM

I love me some carvins!

http://www.carvinguitars.com/bassamps/bassheads.php

D.A.R.K. · #7 06-13-2010, 11:03 PM

get something with a warranty.

strke-fender · #8 06-14-2010, 12:24 AM

Are you looking specifically at solid state? Mesa heads are awesome. Check out the M6/M9

gillento · #9 06-14-2010, 01:22 AM

Just got a Hartke LH-500 and I love it!!!!
for comparison, my other amp is a Sadowsky SA200 all tube amp!

Microbass · #10 06-14-2010, 05:16 AM

if you don't quite have your sound that you want to take with, peavey could be a shout. i've never tried GK, mind you, but you can bet on getting a solid workhorse - that can be run over and still work

- of an amp with plenty of power from Peavey

lbwdog · #11 06-14-2010, 05:45 AM

Lot's of choices in that price range, but Gallien-Krueger is my fave, especially for the money.

Wes Whitmore · #12 06-14-2010, 05:49 AM

Get something that will be portable, flexible, and can provide enough bass to cover a small bar if you get into somewhere without decent PA. If I were "touring", I would try to double up on everything I had. I would consider two top end combos (Mesa Walkabout comes to mind), or two small form factor heads (Genz Benz, Gallien Krueger MB500, Mesa Walkabouts, even the Carvins). I would also try to get two smaller cabs both for portability/flexibility, but also because if for some reason you have a problem with one cab, you have the ability to continue playing with the other while you source a fix. Ampeg never really made a 2x10 HLF that was "half" of a 410HLF though. Buy an amp that will allow both cabs to be run on one amp safely (4 ohm stable amp running 2 8ohm cabs, etc), and keep the other amp on standby, or run one cab per amp if you prefer. With two amps, you will have the flexibility to run a borrowed house cab as well as your normal rig if you need it for some reason. You can even run effects throgh one rig and clean through the other. There is a lot of flexibiity there...good luck!
If you are on a budget, buy used, check into carvin gear...and make sure you get covers or road cases to protect the stuff.
Wes

lbwdog · #13 06-14-2010, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wes Whitmore

If I were "touring", I would try to double up on everything I had. I would consider two small form factor heads (Genz Benz, Gallien Krueger MB500, Mesa Walkabouts, even the Carvins).

Yeah, RMC quoted me $450 for a G-K MB 500, so $900 would buy you two.
http://www.rmcaudiodirect.com/Gallie...Amps-s/129.htm

Mo'Phat · #14 06-14-2010, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quadpod

Play with alot of Mid. kinda like Geddy lee if i had to name it. but i do play a heavy low when needed. but a really nice crunchy mid is what im shooting for.

If I were touring and needed that tone in a reliable package...I'd go with a SansAmp RBI and a Carvin DCM-L power amp.

Lightweight, modular, cheap, reliable, and gets that exact tone with no problem.

Even toss a Tech 21 VTBass pedal between the bass and the SansAmp, and you've got a stew going.

Fergie Fulton · #15 06-14-2010, 07:24 AM

Reality of touring is never a volume issue, PA and monitoring takes care of that, it is reliability and part availability. You need a rig that can be used in many ways and parts are easy to get and install. So you need protection (Flight cases) and reliability. I use a two cab arrangement at the moment, 1x12s a Line 6 HD400 head and a TC Classic 450 as a Di/preamp/model/ stand alone etc.

As a lot of times it can be hire in rig, and if the rig is not to spec, the TC can help me shape the sound. If i have to fly, i pack the TC, or record a radio session i pack the TC. Again in that situation i can take one cab and the TC/Line 6.
In effect i have two rigs being used as one so the chances of both going down at the same time greatly reduces me not having a rig.
The thing about being on the road is you cannot wait for repairs or parts and if the repair fails you cannot afford the time to go back. So cover the main aspect of touring which is to play live,that's then and there at that moment in time.

Jim Carr · #16 06-14-2010, 12:31 PM

I tour with 2 cabs, two heads, two basses, two DIs, and a collection of spare cables, tuners, straps, tools, fuses, etc.

Bass stands, music stand, and standlight/flashlights are useful.

Jim Carr · #17 06-14-2010, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quadpod

So my band is starting to tour and i need a upgrade on my amp.

The cab I'm getting is an Ampeg Heritage Series HSVT-410HLF 500W 4x10, and i need help finding a great head for it...price range around $700...

Questions:
How long will you be out on the road? A day, week, month, year?
Are you using a trailer?

Opinions:
Your budget may be too small.
You may need spares and/or a more flexible rig design than a single cab and one head.

Kael · #18 06-14-2010, 02:17 PM

I always used a SABDDI into a monitor wedge we kept in the trailer as an alternative rig in case my amp went kaput on the road.

GK = cheap and fairly reliable.

Planet Boulder · #19 06-14-2010, 02:34 PM

Snag an old GK 800RB. If you need a backup head, snag another old one. If you play your cards right, you should be able to find one used for $350.00 - $400.00. They are built like freaking tanks (so much so that mine is out on loan to a friend now and I'm not worried in the least) and they are quite versatile. Love 'em to death.

I'm biased in favor of GK, but there's a damn good reason.

Rick Auricchio · #20 06-14-2010, 03:57 PM

What head are you using now? It doesn't help if we give 100 suggestions and you don't like them.

For touring, reliability would be the most important thing. Most of your volume (and tone) is coming from the PA anyway.

It would be best to use an amp that you can replace at any GC in a pinch. Having something that isn't serviceable (or instantly replaceable) can kill the tour. You also don't want to replace with something else, because you haven't the opportunity to learn to tweak a new amp on the road.