Amp upgrade decision

[oldtimey]

Hello, first post.

I play in a 4 piece band, guitar, keys, bass, drums, and we all sing.

We play alt/rock/pop of the indie variety, think Pixies, Sebadoh, Pavement, Built to Spill, Big Star, that kind of thing, with a MIM Jazz Bass. My guitarist plays through a 50 watt blackface bassman, no marshall stacks. And the keyboardist just uses a DI to go right into the board. Our drummer plays with a fairly heavy hand.

We gig pretty regularly, but i'm using a practice amp at gigs, (with FOH reinforcement always), and it's really just not cutting it. It's an Ashdown Five Fifteen amp. 100watts, 1x15 inch speaker. It get's loud enough, but only with gain and volume at 75%-90%. At these volumes the amp distorts pretty badly. I like the vintage/lo-fi kind of sound, but this is too much. I'm a guitarist regularly, so i don't know a whole lot about bass amplification.

Money is a big deal, maybe 300-500 dollars to play around with.

I've found a great deal locally on an Acoustic b200h...which is supposedly 200 watts at 4 ohms. It comes with a 2x10 SWR cabinet rated at 8 ohms. Does this mean that I'll only be getting 100watts out of the rig unless I add another 8 ohm cab (prob. a 1x15)? If i don't add another cab right away, would the Acoustic b200h+SWR 2x10 be an "upgrade" over the Ashdown combo? I don't mind mild distortion or "warmth"...I like the vintage kind of tone, but I do need to get my bass a little bit louder before the hot hot fuzz kicks in. Headroom is what im looking for.

Ashdown 1x15, 100watts vs Acoustic b200h 200watts, 4ohms into 8ohm cab...that's the question.

Also, is the Ashdown utilizing ALL 100 watts? As in, is it properly matched with the correct kind of speaker...or am I really getting less wattage than advertised out of it? I can't find an explanation anywhere.

 

[LowBSix]

by used

 

[oldtimey]

yea that's the plan...thank you for your input.

 

[mb94952]

Yes, I believe that's correct. If you are using an 8 ohm cab, you are cutting the power in half. If you use 2 8ohm cabs, then it equals 4 ohms.

Just MY opinion - I have NEVER liked 115 cabs. They are just not loud enough, slow to respond, and a waste of precious 8 ohms.

I had used the 115/410 set up and the 115 was a waste of time. It doesn't give you the bottom you think it would. Use 2 410 cabs - It's the best overall sound, has TONS of volume, and you can split the cabs - one on the left and one on the right.

Save the 115 cab for upright bass players.

Also, just mathematically, a 115 has 15" of speaker. A 410 has 40" inches of speaker.

I will always say if you want value and you want quality, and you're on a budget, go for Peavey . Their bass cabs are famous for mega low end, and you can beat the heck out of them and they are SO dependable. You can pick up a 410 cab for around $250-$300. Also an SWR 410 cab is SWEET, too.

ALWAYS GO FOR USED GEAR ! It's like a car - let someone else drive it off the lot and take the hit on depreciation.

- Mike B.

 

[oldtimey]

thanks!

this particular deal is for the acoustic b200h and a SWR 2x10 8ohm cab. It's a killer deal i think, at least 50% off what this would cost new.

Is a 2x10 a "good" start, and then I could add a 4x10 later on?

 

[NoGraveConcern]

You are getting more than 100w w/ 8 ohms. I don't know the spec on that amp, but probably around 140w @ 8 ohm, though the difference is hardly noticeable. The 2x10 has about the same speaker surface area as your current 1x15 so approximately equivalent loudness. It's doubtful, but possible none the less, that you would be displacement limited (by the excursion limit of the drivers) at that low of a wattage. In short, this isn't an upgrade if maximal volume is what you are after.

You need to double your power to get 3db SPL which is about the lowest appreciable increment of SPL. Double your speaker surface area and that's another 3db.

 

[NWB]

It seems to me single 2x10s are fairly limited on volume. I'd suggest either a pair of 2x10s or a 4x10 if you want enough volume to fill a room.

+1 to used Peavey gear so far as $/volume.

 

[mb94952]

It's an ok start. Don't just get the first thing you see. I've played Acoustic at Guitar Center. The newer ones sound "boring" and distort at mid volume - hence the low price.

Just save a little more, or wait for the right gear. It's better to get used "pro" gear, than new "beginner" gear. Stay away from brands like Behringer, etc. It's junk.

I'm actually surprised that you can hear yourself with just a 115 100w combo. To play in a band situation, you need at least 200w and a cab.

A head and a 210 cab should be better than a 115 combo, but to get that low end, you need a 410. It's just become standard nowadays. Go see bands play at a club, etc. Almost guaranteed every bass player will have a head and a 410 cab.

 

[oldtimey]

Yea i'm having second thoughts on the whole thing. I can "hear" myself with the 1x15 combo...it just sounds mushy and lo-fi (i dont mind lo-fi, but mushy is bad). In the bigger clubs, I do need to have the soundguy give me some bass in the monitor. We aren't a "face-melting" kind of band. One guitar and drums is all i'm up against.

i don't want a tone that "slices and dices" i want something that blends nicely with a slightly overdriven guitar...that vintage j-bass sound. It's impossible for me to audition amps at a store, because I just don't have the experience to tell how something will sound in a live setting w/ other musicians just playing solo.