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3 heads, which one?

N

NCdan

Feb 6, 2010
16
0
#1
After getting lots of helpful feedback on what bass to buy I'm back for round two: picking the right head. Unfortunately, I'm on a budget and I'm trying to make the most of it. I'm a drummer and guitarist as well, and on top of that I attempt to record myself and even try to do vocals (with mediocre results). Thus, my bass head budget is under $700.

:bawl: :crying: :p

I've narrowed my choices down to three heads. I play mostly reggae and hardcore. Here they are, listed in no particular order:

#1 Ashdown MK500: http://www.ashdownmusic.com/bass/detail.asp?ID=113 I like the extensive EQ section. The fact that it doesn't have a limiter or compressor worries me a bit, though.

#2 Ampeg B2RE: http://www.ampeg.com/products/b/b2re/index.html The EQ control on this one is great too. The one button limiter does bug me a bit though. I don't want any pumping or my attack killed.

#3 Carvin BX500: Invalid Link Removed Like the others, this one has comprehensive EQ control. I like the adjustable compressor. This one might be my favorite of the three going by specs alone.

So, which one do you think would be the best for reggae and hardcore? I like a deep, punchy bass sound, and the bass will be EQd below the bass drum. Of course, factors such as reliability, build quality, functionality, and sound need to be considered. I'm not really a bassist (yet), so I'm relying on your experience with the above brands and products to guide me. Oh, and I'm stuck in South Korea right now, hence the link to Carvin world, so I obviously can't try any of them out. Thanks.

:D
 
#4
The Ashdown MK-500 is a killer amp!

Onboard comps/limiters have a tendency to suck ime, I'd rather get a pedal.

Edited to add: forget horror stories about Ashdown reliability - the MK-500 is still UK made, quality is excellent.
 
#6
NCdan said:
After getting lots of helpful feedback on what bass to buy I'm back for round two: picking the right head. Unfortunately, I'm on a budget and I'm trying to make the most of it. I'm a drummer and guitarist as well, and on top of that I attempt to record myself and even try to do vocals (with mediocre results). Thus, my bass head budget is under $700.

:bawl: :crying: :p

I've narrowed my choices down to three heads. I play mostly reggae and hardcore. Here they are, listed in no particular order:

#1 Ashdown MK500: http://www.ashdownmusic.com/bass/detail.asp?ID=113 I like the extensive EQ section. The fact that it doesn't have a limiter or compressor worries me a bit, though.

#2 Ampeg B2RE: http://www.ampeg.com/products/b/b2re/index.html The EQ control on this one is great too. The one button limiter does bug me a bit though. I don't want any pumping or my attack killed.

#3 Carvin BX500: Invalid Link Removed Like the others, this one has comprehensive EQ control. I like the adjustable compressor. This one might be my favorite of the three going by specs alone.

So, which one do you think would be the best for reggae and hardcore? I like a deep, punchy bass sound, and the bass will be EQd below the bass drum. Of course, factors such as reliability, build quality, functionality, and sound need to be considered. I'm not really a bassist (yet), so I'm relying on your experience with the above brands and products to guide me. Oh, and I'm stuck in South Korea right now, hence the link to Carvin world, so I obviously can't try any of them out. Thanks.

:D
Click to expand...

Ampeg or Carvin.
Not Ashdown.
 
#7
I would also highly suggest buying used. I had an svt3 pro I got used for 450 that was in great shape. Used it for a couple years and upgraded to an swr 750x for $500 used at a local GC. For 700 used you could easily get these heads, a top of the line GK head, possibly even an SVT 4 pro depending on how much you shop around. All of these would be worlds better than what you are looking at. You can do a nationwide search of used gear at GC.com and have what you like shipped to you if it's not local, and buying from them gaurantees no DOA cause u can just bring it back...
 
#11
NCdan said:
So, which one do you think would be the best for reggae and hardcore? I like a deep, punchy bass sound, and the bass will be EQd below the bass drum. Of course, factors such as reliability, build quality, functionality, and sound need to be considered.
:D
Click to expand...

Given what you want to use it for...

This one is $1 under your $700 budget...Carvin B2000

Invalid Link Removed

Or this one (BX1500) which is similar to the BX500 only with more power and features...it's cost is $599

Invalid Link Removed
 
#14
NCdan said:
After getting lots of helpful feedback on what bass to buy I'm back for round two: picking the right head. Unfortunately, I'm on a budget and I'm trying to make the most of it. I'm a drummer and guitarist as well, and on top of that I attempt to record myself and even try to do vocals (with mediocre results). Thus, my bass head budget is under $700.

:bawl: :crying: :p

I've narrowed my choices down to three heads. I play mostly reggae and hardcore. Here they are, listed in no particular order:

#1 Ashdown MK500: http://www.ashdownmusic.com/bass/detail.asp?ID=113 I like the extensive EQ section. The fact that it doesn't have a limiter or compressor worries me a bit, though.

#2 Ampeg B2RE: http://www.ampeg.com/products/b/b2re/index.html The EQ control on this one is great too. The one button limiter does bug me a bit though. I don't want any pumping or my attack killed.

#3 Carvin BX500: Invalid Link Removed Like the others, this one has comprehensive EQ control. I like the adjustable compressor. This one might be my favorite of the three going by specs alone.

So, which one do you think would be the best for reggae and hardcore? I like a deep, punchy bass sound, and the bass will be EQd below the bass drum. Of course, factors such as reliability, build quality, functionality, and sound need to be considered. I'm not really a bassist (yet), so I'm relying on your experience with the above brands and products to guide me. Oh, and I'm stuck in South Korea right now, hence the link to Carvin world, so I obviously can't try any of them out. Thanks.

:D
Click to expand...

#1 - Don't know a whole lot about the Ashdown
#2 - Never heard anything good about the B2RE
#3 - I was actually looking at these, but significant reliability issues
 
#17
Ampeg blah? ........ Blah! humbug!!
..................................................................
To the OP ....... See my sig. and only buy used. I paid 600 for my 4pro, and it can do it all. Just look up the specs. It's a no brainer.
 
#18
What do you have against used gear? I got my Megoliath for $600 used and my SWR 750x for $500 used. Both have criss-crossed the country and been 100% reliable for me. For both combined that's less than the price of either one of those new and approximately 1/3 of the price of buying both of those new. And IMO it's one of the best sounding backline rigs money can buy (megoliath is king). Buying gear new is like buying a car new. It's all good and dandy and there's a bit of cache to it if you can say that, but it depreciates 30%+ in value the second you take it out of the box. ESPECIALLY guitar/bass gear. Some high end recording gear holds value a bit better. And at $700, beggars can't be choosers. I liken it to buying a brand new Daewoo as opposed to a CPO Honda or something. Used quality is much better than new mediocrity. If you buy a new Carvin head for $700 and decide you want to upgrade, you can hawk it for maybe $300 if you're lucky. Who's going to spend more than that on a used Carvin head when for just a little more you can get a used Ampeg SVT3 pro. Say instead you buy the SVT3pro used for $500 and you decide you want to upgrade, you sell it for $450-500. You'll get a better head for less money with less depreciation on your investment. It's just smart business.

*edit*

I bought a new Ampeg b4r many years ago and it was loud but didn't sound very good, and I took a huge bath when I went to upgrade later on. So if you are insistent on going new, I would vote against the ampeg.
 
#20
PSPookie said:
Really? Because that B2RE is no gem (and no longer MIA) and the UK-made Ashdowns (such as the MK) are supposed to be quite good.

Carvin certainly has its fans around here but I've never played one so I can't say.
Click to expand...

Where something is made is completely immaterial to me.
That my power amp is english,pre amp from newzealand, combo amp german and american, cabs australian, basses german, cables swiss, american, dutch, strings english is merely due to those things being the best I came across (and could afford)for the job intended for them as well as custom made by people whose work I like a lot.
Where al that stuff is made played no role in my decisions to get what I got

I'd say,get what you like best.
If that is stuff you can only afford second hand, I'd try that approach as well.:)
 

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