What Bass Head is best for me? ( It's my first one) !!

Wehlan708 · #1 11-01-2010, 09:40 PM

Yay! My first Talkbass Thread. Ok so I'm probably going to buying a Bass head soon and it's going to be my first head. I've narrowed it down to a bunch of heads, new or used. Here they are:

Gallien-Krueger 2001RB
Gallien-Krueger 1001-RB II
Eden WT550
Orange Terror Bass 500
Genz Benz Benz ShuttleMAX 9.0
Ampeg SVT-3 Pro
Markbass Little Mark II
Mesa Boogie M6 Carbine
Fender TB-600
Fender Bassman 300 (If I can find one real cheap)
Carvin B2000

I play all different styles of music so I need the amp to sound great when playing finger style and slap. I play everything from fast metal to blues and everything in between. My top choices are probably the GK 2001RB and the Fender Bassman 300, but those are also the two most expensive choices. I'm open to cabinet suggestions too. I'll most likely be purchasing a 4x10 and a 1x15 or 2x12. My basses right now are a Warwick Thumb 5 Bolt-on, a Fender American Standard P-Bass and a Fender P-Bass Special. I'm also completely open to additional Amps that you think I should consider. All responses are taken into consideration and very much appreciated!!!

**garmenteros** · #2 11-01-2010, 09:43 PM

Out of all those I'd recommend the 1001rbII. If you can find one used at a good price get the mesa400+. Great all around tube amp.

80'sRocker · #3 11-01-2010, 09:44 PM

If you can afford the Mesa M-6 Carbine then go for it!

TussinBot. · #4 11-01-2010, 09:46 PM

Are you gigging? if not you may not need so much wattage? also everyone is going to tell you not to differentiate in speaker size, stick to one.

Wehlan708 · #5 11-01-2010, 09:46 PM

Thanks guys. Just read up on the Mesa 400+. Freakin' monster.

Wehlan708 · #6 11-01-2010, 09:48 PM

I'm not gigging at the moment but i will be in a month or two

paganjack · #7 11-01-2010, 09:50 PM

That's a ton of choices- those amps are all over the map tonally, but frankly none jump out at me as being bad choices. There should be plenty of music stores in Boston. So here comes the old refrain...
"try a bunch of stuff out and see what YOU like best."

Wehlan708 · #8 11-01-2010, 09:53 PM

I've tried out all of the amps except for the Orange, the Carvin, the M6 Carbine, and the Fender TB-600. All the amps sound different but they all still sound reaaaaaally good.

SactoBass · #9 11-01-2010, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TussinBot.

everyone is going to tell you not to differentiate in speaker size, stick to one.

+1 to this.

..and welcome to Talkbass!

You will find it very helpful to spend lots of time reading various TB threads on amps and cabs. And TussinBot is right....don't fall for the old 4x10 on top of a 1x15 cab thing. That arrangement may seem like a good idea at the surface, but once you become familiar with the science, that is, to put it bluntly, a lousy combination. Stick with matching cabs. Also, the 4x10 cab design may have seemed like a good idea at the time it was invented, but it is actually not a good arrangement of speakers. It is better to have speakers vertically aligned, not horizontally aligned. Lots and lots of info on TB about this, so don't just take my word for it!

Enjoy!

Wehlan708 · #10 11-01-2010, 10:07 PM

Is that why I see a lot of people stack 2x10s vertically and on top of one another? and would a Genz Benz 2x12 be a good buy because of the vertical speakers?

SelenaBassGirl · #11 11-01-2010, 10:12 PM

I have a Hartke HA5500..500Watts. I love it!
My cabs are a SWR workingman 4x10 and a Behringer 4x10

TussinBot. · #12 11-01-2010, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wehlan708

Is that why I see a lot of people stack 2x10s vertically and on top of one another? and would a Genz Benz 2x12 be a good buy because of the vertical speakers?

yes and i havent played the neox 212 but i hear good things

SactoBass · #13 11-01-2010, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wehlan708

Is that why I see a lot of people stack 2x10s vertically and on top of one another? and would a Genz Benz 2x12 be a good buy because of the vertical speakers?

Yep, that's exactly why you see vertical stacking of 2x10 cabs.

GB 212?? I have read nothing but good reviews of the Uber 212 cab as well as the Neox 212. Which one you like depends on your tone goals. Do TB searches and you will find out what people say about them.

Munjibunga · #14 11-01-2010, 10:33 PM

I am a man who knows what I like. The Eden WT-550 is an amp for the man who knows ...

... what I like.

TheBasicBassist · #15 11-01-2010, 10:34 PM

I like the LMII for a head. I feel that it'll allow you a fairly transparent tonal pallet which you can then color to your taste with either your on-board bass EQ or pedals, ect.

I also have a Markbass R500 which has a tube preamp that kicks some serious ***. :-)

jsh008 · #16 11-02-2010, 07:37 AM

Based on your list, my vote is for the Mesa. I also like the SWR sound, which is not on your list.

My favorite tone that I loved was using a SWR super redhead, and blending the SWR preamp, with a Ampeg BSP preamp. - Running through the built-in 2x10, and a 1x15 extension cab.

Bassdirty · #17 11-02-2010, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 80'sRocker

If you can afford the Mesa M-6 Carbine then go for it!

+1
That thing sounds dee-lish.

(Or the GK1001)

But if I had the cash, I'd go for the Mesa.

.

**duff84** · #18 11-02-2010, 09:03 PM

yah lots of good options you got there, i played a 2001 rb today thing was damn loud crazy volume that puts out, and the tone was great. i bet the 1001 rb would rock just as much. I also would recommend checking out the markbass amplifiers, i tried a little mark tube this time for the first time really experimenting with it, and i must say its a damn good amplifier.

id suggest going to many guitar shops trying out all the different heads you want see if they have them and experiment. Its all about the tone man. We all have our preferences.