Amps for college use!

[brentonkim]

I'm heading off to college, and I need a good amp to play with. I only have a small crate practice amp right now, so I want an upgrade that'll sound good, and isn't too heavy. I'm looking to pay around 400-500? I was looking at the hartke hydrives, which seem good and affordable, and not too big.

I'm just looking for suggestions really, combo or small cabs/amp, I'm not sure. haha
Thanks.

 

[bassninja7]

headphones?

 

[brentonkim]

haha, I would, but I plan to gig a little bit.

 

[Jim Carr]

I strongly recommend raising your budget to ~$600-650 and that you go modular. Were I you, I would buy a good used 2x10 (Eden, Epifani, Avatar, EA, Bergantino, Ampeg, SWR etc.) and a small head, like a used SWR 350 or GK 800rb.

 

[LAPetrarca]

I picked up a Hartke HyDrive 115c about a month ago. Fairly hefty at around 70 lbs. but it sounds good! VERY good! And at 250 watts, plenty of power.

 

[brentonkim]

I strongly recommend raising your budget to ~$600-650 and that you go modular. Were I you, I would buy a good used 2x10 (Eden, Epifani, Avatar, EA, Bergantino, Ampeg, SWR etc.) and a small head, like a used SWR 350 or GK 800rb.

Hmm, I would, but I'm not sure if I could afford that, haha, I'm not an adult with a paying job.



But! Is there a possibility I could find a cheap nice cab, like an eden or epifani, a bit cheaper? or am I SOL? haha

 

[jam.majors]

If you wanna go combo, go with a used Eden Nemesis for light weight and good sounds.

If you go modular, try to Carvin BX500 for high power, low weight, and low cost new, and go Avatar SB112 for the same reasons.

 

[Breslin dp]

GK maybe even one of their new combos.

 

[JazznFunk]

Eden Nemesis combo, OR SWR WorkingPro combos. I got an SWR Workingman's 12 combo my freshman year of college and still use it to this day. If you can locate an older Workingman's 12 or 15 combo, those are great and usually very cheap these days. Very versatile amp for upright and electric.

 

[namuxtree]

you should check out carvin's combo's really powerful (500 watts) and really light (less than 50lbs?)

 

[PapaJustice]

I strongly recommend raising your budget to ~$600-650 and that you go modular. Were I you, I would buy a good used 2x10 (Eden, Epifani, Avatar, EA, Bergantino, Ampeg, SWR etc.) and a small head, like a used SWR 350 or GK 800rb.

+1

If that is your budget then you should be alright-- you don't really need anything terribly loud IMO. Most places will mic your cab or DI it. Used is the way to go.