$500 for an amp and cab

[Ewo]

I just bought a TC Electronic BQ500 head from Sweetwater, as a backup to keep in my stage bag on gigs. (My gig amp is a Mesa Subway rig.)

It was $200 new, and I've been burning it in at home and getting familiar with the controls before I stash it in my stage bag.

I gotta say, it sounds good. And 500 watts for $200 is a very good price. (Can't comment yet on durability, of course.)

Added: Oops, sorry OP. I didn't catch that you had made a decision before I posted this.

 

[Mvilmany]

Buy the best thing you can find USED under $500. If you had a budget twice that, then I’d say look at new gear, but in that range, buy used.

 

[B-Lo]

I got a brand new Fender Rumble 500 combo for that price. It was listed at $599, but here's the kicker, the store will only stock one at a time (par for the course for items that don't fly off the shelves).

I told them I was interested and asked them to check the back for a new untouched one instead of the pristine "floor model."

Of course they didn't have any in the back and offered me a 20% discount for the open box item / floor model...ended up being right around $500 after tax.

Cool thing was that it was tucked away in the corner beside all the other Fender combos while everyone who wanted to test drive a bass plugged into the centrally placed MarkBass amps/cabs. I doubt anyone ever touched the Rumble 500 before I got it.

 

[DonaldR]

Ok, so now the question is, do I go with this or the GK combo?

GK Plex and MBP112 is the most versatile but the most expansive, but it can be used for silent practice and ampless gigs.

 

[sing-modulator]

GK Plex and MBP112 is the most versatile but the most expansive, but it can be used for silent practice and ampless gigs.

So you use the preamp pedal with a powered speaker? That's really interesting, if I'm interpreting that correctly. Guess it makes sense!

 

[DonaldR]

Yep you are right. They are both designed to work together but the preamp can be used on it's own.

 

[GBBSbassist]

Not sure where you're at in Illinois, but I'm trying to get rid of a Yamaha J120 2x15 cab. It's not new, but I'm giving it away for free to whoever will pick it up in the South suburbs of Chicago. Information in the thread below.

For Sale/Trade - FREE Bass Cab Yamaha J-120L

 

[sing-modulator]

Not sure where you're at in Illinois, but I'm trying to get rid of a Yamaha J120 2x15 cab. It's not new, but I'm giving it away for free to whoever will pick it up in the South suburbs of Chicago. Information in the thread below.

For Sale/Trade - FREE Bass Cab Yamaha J-120L

Shoot me a pm, i'm in chicago but could possibly make it out. thanks for the heads up, neighbor!

 

[Standalone]

GK 400rb (any version) or Backline 600 and see what you have left over for a cab. Two 1x fifteens are a great modular way to gig.

When you say “amp and cab” combo you’re kind of saying two opposite things. It’s either an amp and cab. Or a combo.

 

[sing-modulator]

GK 400rb (any version) or Backline 600 and see what you have left over for a cab. Two 1x fifteens are a great modular way to gig.

When you say “amp and cab” combo you’re kind of saying two opposite things. It’s either an amp and cab. Or a combo.

I realize i worded this poorly, I meant a combination of an amp and a cab. Oops!

 

[Maynjo]

I had this very Ampeg for about a week. It is in fine condition, has all the power and headroom you would want, it is 2 ohm capable, was marketed as a 2 channel option for electric/upright players, US made, and it’s just over the river in St Louis. I wanted something more tube-y, and that’s the only reason I returned it. Attached is a pic I took at the GC where I purchased it. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
View attachment 3422736

As for 12” cabs, I sold an Aguilar GS212 in excellent shape for $400. I’ve seen a few listed for even less. They are excellent, front ported, rich sounding cabs. The single GS 12’s don’t sell for much less, so why not have two? If $700-750 is simply out of the question for an Ampeg/Aguilar rig, then maybe a Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0 (I own one) would save you a little $ on the power end of things.

They had a barefaced cab at GC??

 

[Indiana Mike]

Grab that free cab then buy a head. Have change left over for dinner.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

I emailed gallant sound asking if theyd do a bass cab. I'm not set 100% on it, but I'm looking into it.

I'm not interested in combos, and I'm not interested in 10" or 15", I'm really looking for a head and a 12" cab for small and medium-sized venues.

I play mostly instrumental jazz/neo-soul/alt-country/solo stuff, so I will be using it for electric and upright bass. I don't need to compete with a full band blasting zep tunes or anything like that!

Keep in mind that speaker area is cheaper than wattage. A lower wattage amp with more speaker area from a volume standpoint. I would look for a good efficient 2-12 4 ohm cab, with 300-400 watt amp.

 

[MDBass]

IMO, I would shy away from combos if you are looking to get a reliable gigging amp on the cheap. You have the budget for a used, reliable, solid state head and cab that will serve you well for plenty of years to come. Generally* separate heads/cabs are more mid-tier (or higher) offerings from any given company, and thus tend to be more reliable than their combos. Plus, the modularity is always a bonus.

*[citation needed]

Not an accurate assessment at all: compare the Fender or GK combo and amp/cab lines and you’ll see why.

The gig size combos all have extension speaker outs as well for modularity.

 

[RollCats]

Not an accurate assessment at all: compare the Fender or GK combo and amp/cab lines and you’ll see why.

The gig size combos all have extension speaker outs as well for modularity.

Well, your mileage may vary. The V3 Rumbles seem to have gotten good reviews, and the videos I've seen they sounded good. A good rule of thumb is that if the head is sold separately but also exists in combos those combos may be higher quality than a typical practice amp, so I get that.

But I thought the V1's sounded pretty terrible and looked to be built pretty cheaply. Old Peavey TKOs and TNTs were more sturdy and better sounding, for cheaper.

Similiarly, I thought the V1 BA Ampeg series were muddy and dark, not impressed. V2 sounds OK, Portaflex better, and there's nothing compared to a V-4B stack in my eyes. So again...it will depend on the brand and certainly what market they are targeting with any given design.

 

[MDBass]

Well, your mileage may vary. The V3 Rumbles seem to have gotten good reviews, and the videos I've seen they sounded good. A good rule of thumb is that if the head is sold separately but also exists in combos those combos may be higher quality than a typical practice amp, so I get that.

But I thought the V1's sounded pretty terrible and looked to be built pretty cheaply. Old Peavey TKOs and TNTs were more sturdy and better sounding, for cheaper.

Similiarly, I thought the V1 BA Ampeg series were muddy and dark, not impressed. V2 sounds OK, Portaflex better, and there's nothing compared to a V-4B stack in my eyes. So again...it will depend on the brand and certainly what market they are targeting with any given design.

Yeah, I’m talking about current gear.

There is no difference between the Rumble 500 combo and the Rumble 500 amp and 210 cab setup, except the combo is more affordable: you’ll find similar things in the current GK line as well.

 

[Bruiser Stone]

They had a barefaced cab at GC??

No, that was mine. I brought it with me to test drive

 

[RollCats]

Yeah, I’m talking about current gear.

There is no difference between the Rumble 500 combo and the Rumble 500 amp and 210 cab setup, except the combo is more affordable: you’ll find similar things in the current GK line as well.

Yeah but at his price range... and he specifically said open to used gear.

 

[MDBass]

Yeah but at his price range... and he specifically said open to used gear.

Not sure what point you’re making: modern combos from brands like Fender and GK are literally identical in some cases to their separate amp and cab offerings, only more affordable.

“Don’t get a combo if you want a reliable gigging amp” doesn’t really apply anymore, and even used there isn’t a amp/cab set I’d recommend more than one of those combos in terms of tone, power and portability if your budget is $500 total.

The OP already made a purchase anyway, curious what he ended up with.

 

[Standalone]

I realize i worded this poorly, I meant a combination of an amp and a cab. Oops!

I figured. Definitely look at a regular class A/B GK head and pair with two 8 ohm cabs. You can start with just one 8 ohm cab, and as you get into larger gigs, buy a matching 8 ohm cab to get the full 4 ohm capability.