WANT 2x10 cab + Head Help

[Zodd42]

I play rock and heavy heavy Metal.

I'm looking for 300w of room.

I'm on a budget, obviously.

Need a cabinet with 2x10s and a head.

I'd like to build it myself if I could. I've been building my own effects pedals for quite a while now so I have a firm understanding of electronics and components and the like. However, I know that power supplies are a different animal, I'd like to learn about this side of the music.

I've read thread after thread in the DIY area but I can't find anything I'm looking for 'kit' wise for the head....grrrrrrr.

Any suggestions on drivers? Should I put a tweet in there too? I do lots of soloing in the upper register....

[anonymous02282011]

DIY tends to be a bit more pricey than an outright purchase.

The Avatar cabs seem to be a hit on here, and they're relatively cheap. I've never heard one myself, but you might want to check that out.

For amps, I'd scour CL and try out as many as you can.

[Zodd42]

What's 'scour CL'? Classifieds?

[father of fires]

craigslist.org

[UncleFluffy]

are you wanting to build the head for the experience of building one or to save money?

tube or solid-state?

[BigOldHarry]

metal... 2x10"... cheap...

I don't think you will be happy with what you get. Correct me if I'm wrong here, but don't metal bands usually play fairly loud? If you want a 2x10 that handle *loud*, you have to pay some real money...

Better to get a used 4x10 of a cheaper brand. That will at least push some air.

[WJGreer]

An Avatar 210 is $319 new and is their best sounding cabinet, in my opinion and experience. You might spend that much on 2 10" drivers alone for a DIY project. Unless building the cabinet is itself your goal (and nothing wrong with that), I certainly recommend the Avatar as a cabinet.

Now that we come to it, I never read discussion about DIY amplifiers on this forum either.

[georgestrings]

Originally Posted by Zodd42

I play rock and heavy heavy Metal.

Then you need more than a 210 - atleast a 410 or a 215, unless you want to start another thread later on about how your 210 isn't cutting it, or just blew up...



- georgestrings

[Zodd42]

Originally Posted by georgestrings

Then you need more than a 210 - atleast a 410 or a 215, unless you want to start another thread later on about how your 210 isn't cutting it, or just blew up...



- georgestrings

That made me laugh.
You guys are correct. I will need something more substantial in the future. Right now I can get away with a 2x10.

As for building the head . . . I'd like the exp. and yes, I'm on a budget. Let me explain more of what I do so you have a better idea.

I play backyard venues and bars. The biggest place I've ever played at was a hanger for the old F-4 Phantoms, two to a hanger if that helps at all. Nothing big right now. I've been playing on a Carvin 115 combo @ 100w and it's not cutting it since our drummer finally got himself a double bass set and our guitar finally made himself a Fuzz Factory clone that he can't get his foot off of.

We're comfortable where we're at right now. We're a close knit group that works together. We pooled the earnings of the last year and decided to upgrade some of our gear. Drummer gets db, guitar gets FF, I get a new cab and head.

The Carvin has been great, then I built a boost and it was even greater but since Jimmy got his bang set upped I can't compete.

[Eminor3rd]

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

metal... 2x10"... cheap...

I don't think you will be happy with what you get. Correct me if I'm wrong here, but don't metal bands usually play fairly loud? If you want a 2x10 that handle *loud*, you have to pay some real money...

Better to get a used 4x10 of a cheaper brand. That will at least push some air.

+1

[BassmanPaul]

If you have enjoyed your Carvin look at some of their newer offerings. To play metal you do need a 4x10 as a minimum. I use the 2x10 format but I'd never play a gig with a single one. I always use a pair. My current amp is a Carvin BX1500, the older version a Carvin DCM1000 with a tube pre-amp.

Paul

[RickenBoogie]

+100 on the whole, "you'll need more than 2 10's" thing. All true, bare bones minimum would be a 2x12, or 4x10. Bare bones.

[muddycreek]

Originally Posted by Zodd42

We pooled the earnings of the last year and decided to upgrade some of our gear. Drummer gets db, guitar gets FF, I get a new cab and head.

So what kind of budget are you working with?

If you really want to DIY, especially the electronics, you're not heading down the road of saving money. It goes something like this:

1) price out the major components
2) get excited that you can build something for $100 less than you can buy it
3) remember or realize all sorts of little bits you need throughout the build
4) get excited about the DIY/custom head you have
5) splurge for the custom front panel
6) pay more for the cool knobs in a weak ebay moment
7) wind up with a head that easily doubles what you could have bought used.

Said head will be 10% likely to live up to your expectations, 15% likely to sound OK, but not better than what you could have bought used, 30% likely to work but sound like ass, and 45% likely to not work at all.

If you've got $500 and a couple weeks to look used, you're golden. You should be able to cough up several options locally and here on TB that would do nicely for what you need. If you have half that, you still can find something that will work better than what you have.

[WannaJazz]

You guys might find this link to Craigslist helpful.
http://www.searchallcraigs.com/

[Sten]

In my experience, a 2x10" can cut in metal, if you do not have insanely big stages or insanely loud guitarists. I've managed to play live with Ashdown ABM 2x10", Ashdown MAG 2x10", Trace 1x12" and 1x15" combos, Markbass 2x10" cabinet.

But I have to admit, that it very much depends on the band and venues you play and you might feel differently. I personally would not mind to start off with a single 2x10" with the option to add a second one later.

Nevertheless, getting a cheap 4x10" is not a bad idea (Ashdown MAG 4x10" for example is almost the same price as the 2x10" !).

[kurotenshi]

What do you guys think of the TC's 2x10s? They've been getting some nice reviews no? Being roughly on the same boat as the OP and since I wanted four 2x10s or two 2x10s and a 4x10 for versatility, would you still recommend the Avatar 2x10?

[gregoire1]

I used my BFM Omni10 (2x10) in a loud rock band, under a 250w head, and I still had plenty of headroom, but we always had PA support for gigs. I do believe it would be fine in smaller venues even without FOH help.