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Amp combo purchase help

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pankykapus

Jun 25, 2007
94
0
#1
Hi people!

So I've been playing bass for a while now and it seems that soon I'll be joining to a band so I need a stronger amp than my current 16W Kustom monster to be heard next to a drum. :)

The price should stay under 450 bucks. Stay with new stuff and then I'll see what I can buy used.
Which combo is the best in this category? As I read for band purposes I need at least 60W or so.

Thanks in advance :)

Panky
 
#3
What type of band or style of music?

60 watts isn't much power for playing with a band. I would recommend nothing less than 200 watts for small jams and you should go up from there.

Check out the Asdown Mag C115. It's comes in just under your price range at $439.00. It has the MAG300 head built into it and I belive you can add an extention cab to get the full 300 watts. Ashdown reliability has been suspect as of late so beware. Other than the Ashdown you are hard pressed to get something decent for $450.00 if it's new. You can get some decent gear if you look used.

I would recommend a used Avatar cabinet 2X10 or a 2X12 and a used head of some sort. I think this is a better bet instead of going with a higher powered combo. Look for used Peavey MAX 700 or Firebass heads. These are basicly the same head and put out 500 watts at 4 ohms and 700 @ 2 ohms. They are cheap used, sound good and are very reliable. Used GK RB seies heads are solid too. Lots of GK love n this board. I'm not a big GK fan but they are solid pieces of gear.

If you have to stay with a combo check out used Peavey Combo 115 and TNT's. These will allow you to ad an extention cabinet if needed. They get plenty loud and again they are super reliable. But they are heavey and bulky. I own and use a Combo 115 I know from experience.
 
#4
Hey thanks for the quick replies :)

@justBrian: do you mean that one or a same setup?

@srxplayer: I don't really know what kind of stuff we're going to play maybe some Pink Floyd or U2...but I really want to be heard :P I went to my classmate's band's garage and the bass was pretty loud but when the drums started playing it was all gone.

About the 200W thingie it's interesting I heard that even a Peavey Microbass can do the job with a drum...But I haven't even thought of that :)

I checked the stuff you advised: The Ashdown looks nice but in Hungary everything is a bit more expensive (so this one here costs 650$)
The Peavey MAX 160 is in reasonable price but it still doesn't give any sound yet... The MAX 700 is twice as much as the limit.
I'm not sure about that GK RB one are these its initials? Sorry I don't know much about these things... :)
The Peavey Basic 112 is under the limit. Would it be okay maybe with a latter cabinet upgrade to double the sound?

And also I have a DIY built 100W 1x12" speaker which I built with a friend to use it with an amp.

So basically I'm looking for a good head in the price of the Peavey Basic or a combo.

I found Fender Rumble series are they good in that categorie?

Sorry for the dozens of questions thanks for the replies guys :)
 
#6
Next competitor is the Roland Cube 100 Combo. It's around the price of the 'little' Ahsdown plus it has effects and amp models.

But I haven't really seen bunches here who have/had this combo.
Shall I make a poll? :P
 
#7
Pankykapus!!???? The Ashdown U mention would be a good buy IMO....they have a NICE WARM sound!
The Roland gear IS good, dunno about $$$$ for them in yr country tho. What about a NEMESIS combo!! They're VERY good for the $$$$ -made by EDEN !!!!!! Heard NOTHING but good about them-again I don't know $$$$$$ tho!!!!!!!
If U shop around & be thorough in yr checking the gear-2nd hand would be MY reccomedation.
Good Luck.
 
#10
+1 for the Roland Cube

I played a Stingray though one for about 20 mins at a store in the city. There were millions of guitards there attempting to shred, but the bass just blew them all away, it's all you could hear. :p I'm not really a fan of Ashdown combo's, I have one of the Brittish made Ashdown Perfect 10's and it's not bad, but nothing good. Though I do push it pretty far, maybe one of the more expensive combo's would be better.
 
#11
Okay +1 for the Roland :)

About the Ashdown T15 18S I couldn't find it on Ashdown's homepage anyone met with those? I highlight it so much because it has a very good price and also its preferences are good too...
 
#12
I did not realize that you were in Hungary. I still think that used Ashdown gear will be a good option for you. Peavey is probably still pretty inexpensive since they have pretty good Eurpean distribution. Laney may be an option as well. I'm just throwing out Euopean manufactures and or US companies with good distribution over in Europe. everything else I think of is a bit expensive.

Being in Europe will eliminate the Avatar cabinet option.

I still think you should look at cabinets and heads though and don't go below 200 watts.
 
#13
I'd also recommend the Roland, which is amazingly loud for its size and power rating and produces excellent tone. It has a DI, so you can use it as a stage monitor when you run the bass through the PA. If, however, you'll be playing club shows without PA support, you should try to have at least 200 watts through an efficient cabinet, either 2x10, 1x12, or 1x15.
 
#14
@srxplayer: which Ashdown gear do you mean?
Which has fair price is the Ashdown MAG300H. It's a 300W head and I could use it for a while with my DIY cab till I get a normal cab. But the speaker in it is only a 120W one so wouldn't it be a problem?

And I also don't think I'll play in clubs or such in the close future only rehearsing with guys around.

I'll gather what's in for purchasing later :)
 
#15
So I collected what I checked so far:

Combos:

Ashdown T15 180S - strongest in the low price rate. Got 180W and a 15" speaker.
Ashdown MAG-C115-300 - it's a beast with 307W but way above the limit so unless I find a used one it's out of the game...
Ampeg BA115 - it's a little bit more expensive but hey it's an Ampeg :) though it's little bro the BA112 is cheaper but it's got only 60W.
Fender Rumble 100 - affordable but I haven't really heard of it from anyone
Peavey Basic 112 - it's got 75W and 1x12" cab in it. Could it make it better to connect an additional cab to it? It's also under the price limit.
Roland Cube 100 - I've already tried this one not loudly though it sounded nice. It's got effects and I can afford it.

Heads:

These are the possible heads. For a while the head would run a 150W 1x10" cab with a not so good speaker.

Ashdown MAG 300H - 307W looks nice
Peavey Max 160 - more expensive, less powerful


Okay so plz at least tell me which not to buy :) Then I'll see the final budget and choose. :)

Thanks in advance dudes!


EDIT//: What about and Ashdown Perfect Ten mini rig (with two cabs)?
 
#16
pankykapus said:
So I collected what I checked so far:

Combos:

Ashdown T15 180S - strongest in the low price rate. Got 180W and a 15" speaker.
Ashdown MAG-C115-300 - it's a beast with 307W but way above the limit so unless I find a used one it's out of the game...
Ampeg BA115 - it's a little bit more expensive but hey it's an Ampeg :) though it's little bro the BA112 is cheaper but it's got only 60W.
Fender Rumble 100 - affordable but I haven't really heard of it from anyone
Peavey Basic 112 - it's got 75W and 1x12" cab in it. Could it make it better to connect an additional cab to it? It's also under the price limit.
Roland Cube 100 - I've already tried this one not loudly though it sounded nice. It's got effects and I can afford it.

Heads:

These are the possible heads. For a while the head would run a 150W 1x10" cab with a not so good speaker.

Ashdown MAG 300H - 307W looks nice
Peavey Max 160 - more expensive, less powerful


Okay so plz at least tell me which not to buy :) Then I'll see the final budget and choose. :)

Thanks in advance dudes!


EDIT//: What about and Ashdown Perfect Ten mini rig (with two cabs)?
Click to expand...

I would say the MAG 300 head, and then find a used cabinet. Ashdown, Laney, Peavey any of those will work. Or go with the Asdown Combo I mentioned earlier. It has the MAG 300 head built in and uses a 15 speaker. The Ashdown 180 might work ok since the Mag C115 combo is probably only putting about half of it's 300 watts into the 15" speaker. I think you will have to add another cabinet to get the full 307 watts. But the 180 watt unit is tapped out at 180 watts.

I just think you are wasting your money on anything less (Basic12, Ampeg BA115 or 112, Fender Rumble) if you plan on playing with a band.

Don't rule out any used gear either. You will get what you need and most likely under your budget if you carefully source used gear.

Just changed the Laney Combo comment to Ashdown...Sorry for any confusion.
 
#18
yeah I'm really into one of the Ashdown thingie. I don't rule out used gears but it's very hard to find a good buy here as there are relatively way more less sellers.

But yeah the MAG 300 head seems to be a good choice. I'll try what my DIY cab can do. If it'a a piece of crap I'll stay with the 180 combo :)

Thanks for the help :)
 
#19
Mr. Pankykapus, I don't know if Fender bass amps are available where you are.....if they are check out Fender's new 250 series of combos. I tried out a 250 with 2-10" speakers the other day and for the price it was great. Lots of features for the price. Reminds me alot of SWR's Redhead combo with out the big price tag!
 
#20
There's not much problem with availability but with the prices. (For example for the price of a 80GB iPod nano in the U.S. here you can get an iPod nano....so you can imagine) Every electronical stuff cost at least 30-40% more.

That combo is out of the price range but the head is fine.

I'm planning to go to a music store-trip someday to try to find the best amp for myself :)
 

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