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The dreaded rig question ...

ChopperDave

ChopperDave

Hai-ohhhhhhh!
Nov 14, 2012
689
30
Boston, MA
#1
Yeah, there are a ton of these out there, but everyone has different needs ... This is going to be a long one, since I already know the questions y'all are going to ask. :D

I'm upgrading from my GK MB115t (1st-gen). I'd like to go from its 200 watts to something in the 400+ range. I don't have a ton of cash (figure about $800 total).

My band: 5-piece. Drummer, guitarist (Ampeg Gemini, not a lot of distortion, but lots of delay, Gibson sound), two singers (one plays acoustic but we're gradually getting her into electric). Indie with a shoegaze/bluesy vibe (I call it "Bluegaze").

My equipment: Stock Fender JP 75RI J-bass 4-string (though I'm thinking of replacing the PUPs w/ Model Js to give it a fatter, more P-like sound). Effects in heavy rotation: MicroPOG, Flashback delay, DynaComp clone. Also: Big Muff, chorus, phaser ... I'm 75% pick, and for finger-style I usually solo my bridge PUP.

My needs (besides awesome tone): volume (for club gigs, or outdoors w/o PA support), portability (I have a small sedan).

Tones I'm after: Friday by Sunny Day Real Estate, Go by Pearl Jam, For Ivadell by Mineral.

My head choices so far are the Carvin BX500 and the GK1001RB, both of which are extremely well-reviwed and can be had for $300-$400. I'm debating an Avatar 210 for price and portability, and the idea that I can expand later with another cab (or can I?). GK might work, too. But I'm open to whatever suggestions you guys and gals have. My GC has limited stuff in stock, so I can't play everything.

The only pro rigs I've played recently are Ampegs (SVT-350 and SVT3Pro) with 410s, and I wasn't wowed by either. Not quite enough bottom (even with the HLF--or just not the right kind of bottom end). So I'm wondering if I should go with a 1x15t for now.

Thanks!
 
#7
I have the Avatar B210, and while I haven't tried out many different rigs, I really like it. Mine has the ceramics in it which can be wired 4 or 8 ohm. I believe the neos can only be 4 ohm so check that your head can do 2 ohm for pairing them up.
 
#8
Low_Ryder said:
I have the Avatar B210, and while I haven't tried out many different rigs, I really like it. Mine has the ceramics in it which can be wired 4 or 8 ohm. I believe the neos can only be 4 ohm so check that your head can do 2 ohm for pairing them up.
Click to expand...

You can buy it as 4 ohm or 8 ohm. An existing cab could not be "wired" for 4 or 8 ohm with two speakers without changing them. 2 or 8 ohm, 8 or 16 ohms are the possibilities.
 
#9
From reading what your lookin for there are plenty of choices. One thing I will say though is stay away from 210 cabs. They aren't all that. If you get a 410 with casters you can set the amp and your pedals on top and roll it all together but if you end up with 2 210 cabs you'll be dead lifting everything separate unless you buy some sort of cart to move it on. So smaller doesn't always equal easier to move. I'd really only recommend 210 cabs for people that live in like 3rd story apartments and have to carry their gear up the stairs
 
#10
B-string said:
You can buy it as 4 ohm or 8 ohm. An existing cab could not be "wired" for 4 or 8 ohm with two speakers without changing them. 2 or 8 ohm, 8 or 16 ohms are the possibilities.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I guess that sounded confusing on my part. I don't know anything about cabinet construction, but all that electronic technical mumbo-jumbo makes me think about wires, I guess. :hmm:
What I mean is that if you purchase a 210 from Avatar, you can buy one with ceramics or one with neos. If you buy the one with ceramics, you can specify a 4 ohm cab or an 8 ohm cab. And I just looked and the neos have that as an option as well, but I'm pretty sure that a year ago when I bought mine, you could only get the neo cab as an 8 ohm cab. But I could be wrong about that.

Edit: I am wrong about that! I meant to say that the neo cab was available only as a 4 ohm cab. But I could be wrong about that too!
 
#11
I'm really surprised you couldn't get the lows from the SVT410HLF. I had one and it got mad low, almost TOO boomy, but with a twist of the bass knob that was fixed.

I would definitely look USED, and not sure if a 2x10 will move enough air on it's own. Unless you have the cash for a pair of 2x10's, I would look at a single 15 to start.
 
#12
Low_Ryder said:
Yeah, I guess that sounded confusing on my part. I don't know anything about cabinet construction, but all that electronic technical mumbo-jumbo makes me think about wires, I guess. :hmm:
What I mean is that if you purchase a 210 from Avatar, you can buy one with ceramics or one with neos. If you buy the one with ceramics, you can specify a 4 ohm cab or an 8 ohm cab. And I just looked and the neos have that as an option as well, but I'm pretty sure that a year ago when I bought mine, you could only get the neo cab as an 8 ohm cab. But I could be wrong about that.

Edit: I am wrong about that! I meant to say that the neo cab was available only as a 4 ohm cab. But I could be wrong about that too!
Click to expand...

Pretty sure you're wrong. You should be able to order EITHER cab in 4 or 8 oh,
 
#13
Yes, the website offers 4 or 8 ohm as options for both the ceramics and the neos now. I checked earlier today to make sure. I just have this memory that about a year ago, when I bought mine, the neos were only available in 4 ohm.

Memory is a funny thing though. The times when I'm able to test it to see if I'm right, I'm getting about 80%. According to my wife though, when there isn't some way to look back and verify if I'm right about it or not, I'm getting it right about 15% of the time:eyebrow: So who knows...
 
#15
ive used my carvin bx 500 for several years now with no problems and it gets loud enough for anything ive done with power to spare. i use it with multiple cabs and it never lets me down. i agree with others that a 2X10 isnt enough, i would go at least 2X12 (which my next purchase is going to be an avatar 2X12).:hyper: :bassist:
 
#16
You're half way to my current holding pattern.... 2 x GK MB 115s I access via split outputs from a pedal.... love the 15s ability to move air. I should check with the kid down the hall (my 17 year old) and do a side by side with his 810 refer. Will advise.... but in the mean time $300-400 gets you a fix.

Ultimately I'll make my decision watching (listening to) other bands and figuring out how the sounds I like are making it to my ears. Side by sides in a store may not give one a reasonable test.
 
#17
I would look for a Genz Benz NeoX 212 used. should be able to find a good deal on one since they came out with the Nx2. I just traded for a new old stock NeoX 212 and I'm very impressed. These cabs are very portable, light, and loud.I get an awesome tone with my Genz Benz Streamliner.
 
#19
jlepre said:
I'm really surprised you couldn't get the lows from the SVT410HLF. I had one and it got mad low, almost TOO boomy, but with a twist of the bass knob that was fixed.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'm not sure why, either. Maybe they just weren't the right kind of lows ... I like the quality of the lows I get on my GK 15 with a low-D; maybe there's my answer, then. More wattage, 15".

But I'm tempted to go with 12s for a couple of reasons: 1) I played a show with a GK RB400 through a random 4x12 guitar cab, and liked that a lot. I imagine 12s made for bass would be even better. And 2) I will likely play guitar for a few songs per show in the future; 12s might be more versatile.
 

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