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rock/metal bassist looking for budget amp loud enough for gigs?

Alex Huddleston

Alex Huddleston

Aug 10, 2009
300
84
Portland, OR
#1
So our band has written a few songs and we estimate that we will be able to gig around late spring/early summer. We will be playing thrash metal at small to medium sized gigs. long story short, I need an amp that can handle gigging, but on a teenager budget (no more than $400-$500). I know you probably get multiple threads like these, but I've pretty much narrowed it down to 2 amps:

GK MB115
http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/GallienKrueger-MB115-1x15-200W-Ultralight-Bass-Combo-Amp?sku=581052

I'm leaning towards this amp, mainly because of the size and weight (only 33lbs). 200W, XLR out, etc. The main thing I'm worried about on this one is Im not sure if it has a line out for an extension cabinet. Anyone have any experience with this amp?

Acoustic b200h/b115 cab
http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Acoustic-B200H-200W-Bass-Head-and-B115-250W-1x15-Bass-Cab-Package?sku=483494

Heard plenty of good things about this. Basically the same features as the GK, but in a stack form and quite a bit bigger/heavier.

Those are the two amps Im leaning towards. Will these amps do good in a thrash metal setting? heres a video of one of the places we would most likely be playing at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zk3c4kkBye4
Any other amps I should be looking at? I'm definitely going to try these two out at the local guitar center. Then there's always the ability to plug into the PA and use the amp as a monitor. Any help would be appreciated!
 
#2
BUY USED.
You can get an ampeg 810 for $500 used, or a 200 watt combo brand new.
I play a 180 watt combo in a metal band, trust me, it will sound like arse.
Unless you want to be ALL mids and push your amp JUST short of clipping, buy something better on the used market.
 
#3
Even given the information you posted its hard for me to say without doing a side by side comparison. I can't tell anything by that video you posted. Does the place have a decent PA system? Are your guitarists disciplined with their sound/tone? I've been able to do speed metal with an Ampeg BA115 with the right eq settings vs professional guitarists with tube half stacks.
 
#4
yeah sorry, one of my guitarists is running a berhinger half stack and the other a line 6 spider III combo. I'm pretty sure the venue has a decent PA considering they run rock and metal shows almost every night. My guitarist's tones are pretty locked in and they are both very conservative with the volume knob. The thing is, I actually sound fine playing with my 20 watt peavey combo during practice in the drummers room. A little quieter than i would like it to be but A can hear myself and the amp isn't clipping or distorting at all. I wouldn't mind plugging into the PA, but I just want a decent amp. The main thing is I don't know if the GK can hook up to an additional speaker cab or else i would be all over it
 
#5
TreetarDed said:
So our band has written a few songs and we estimate that we will be able to gig around late spring/early summer. We will be playing thrash metal at small to medium sized gigs. long story short, I need an amp that can handle gigging, but on a teenager budget (no more than $400-$500). I know you probably get multiple threads like these, but I've pretty much narrowed it down to 2 amps:

GK MB115
http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/GallienKrueger-MB115-1x15-200W-Ultralight-Bass-Combo-Amp?sku=581052

I'm leaning towards this amp, mainly because of the size and weight (only 33lbs). 200W, XLR out, etc. The main thing I'm worried about on this one is Im not sure if it has a line out for an extension cabinet. Anyone have any experience with this amp?

Acoustic b200h/b115 cab
http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Acoustic-B200H-200W-Bass-Head-and-B115-250W-1x15-Bass-Cab-Package?sku=483494

Heard plenty of good things about this. Basically the same features as the GK, but in a stack form and quite a bit bigger/heavier.

Those are the two amps Im leaning towards. Will these amps do good in a thrash metal setting? heres a video of one of the places we would most likely be playing at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zk3c4kkBye4
Any other amps I should be looking at? I'm definitely going to try these two out at the local guitar center. Then there's always the ability to plug into the PA and use the amp as a monitor. Any help would be appreciated!
Click to expand...

I have a working Peavey Mark IV head and matching 2 x 15 cab you can have for FREE if you want to come get it. No kidding, it's yours.
I noticed you live about an hour away and I would like to give it to someone that could really use it.
 
#7
For the music you're going to play I'd take up Gerhn's offer. You'll have more than enough to compete with the two combos you mentioned. To answer your question, no, the GK does not have a speaker extension. It's 200 watts max in its 15" driver. I got the feeling you might be looking to keep the weight down since you mentioned it in your first post and the Peavey gear of Gerhn's is going to be heavy. Something to think about, but for the price and good reviews his gear has gotten I'd say it's definitely worth taking a look. Good luck!
 
#9
iabssplyr said:
For the music you're going to play I'd take up Gerhn's offer. You'll have more than enough to compete with the two combos you mentioned. To answer your question, no, the GK does not have a speaker extension. It's 200 watts max in its 15" driver. I got the feeling you might be looking to keep the weight down since you mentioned it in your first post and the Peavey gear of Gerhn's is going to be heavy. Something to think about, but for the price and good reviews his gear has gotten I'd say it's definitely worth taking a look. Good luck!
Click to expand...

yeah I was trying to keep the weight down, but hey, a free amp is a free amp! I'll probably still use my peavey combo amp for practices and just take the stack to gigs and such
 
#11
Treetar, I think your lucky day is here. Go check them both out and grab whichever you like better. The EV will be lighter and you'll still have plenty of boom with it. Just remember to do the same down the road for someone else on a teenage budget. That's the brotherhood of bassists! Nice job Gerhn...
 
#16
K2000 said:
Totally awesome!

I think you should get the 2x15... at least try it out, if possible. You'd be all set with that amp, for a while!

Oh man, so cool.
Click to expand...



Agreed on all of the above - If it's the deep Peavey 215, those are great cabs - with an upgrade to Eminence drivers, those Peavey 215s are as good as any on the market, IMO...



- georgestrings
 

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