Bass Amp for Power Trio

If you want scoopy PUNCH, a Fender Rumble amp will do.

If not, Ampeg comes to mind.

 

I play similar music in a power trio and I have never found anything better than vintage tube amps for tone, portability issues aside. For cabs an 810 or two 410s for the big outdoor shows would probably be my preference but I have a 215 that will suffice and is more portable.

 

Everything except the speakers/cab sound like good level stuff. Ashley and Carver are great companies. I play in a power trio that plays similar music. Just did an outdoor show yesterday and my rig killed. Spector NS2A>Tech 21 BDDI>Carvin HD1500>fEARful 12/5-15/sub. The FOH came straight of my BDDI. For smaller shows I just use the 12/6 alone. For real small shows or practice I only use my BDDI. If he like to build his own cab tell him to research the fEARfuls.....

 

410/115. Poor rig. Doesn't matter if lots of guys use one, it's still a poor match. Go 410 x 2 or 115 x 2 (or any multiple of identical cabs for whatever displacement you want/need as long as your amp supports the ohms).

 

A 4x10 plus 1x15 is a very poor combination despite its popularity. If two cabinets are needed then a pair of identical ones are the best choice.

I owned the tube version of the BMAX and I didn't like it that much. The Sonic Maximizer did nothing positive for my tone.

QSC make great power amps and are a good choice. That said, it doesn't matter how good the amp is if the speaker system cannot do it justice. I have no experience with the Fearfuls but I respect the opinions of some of the folk who use them. My own choice was Acme, http://acmebass.com/#/home

 

The fEARfuls give you what you put in. Also if his current cab is made with cheaper speakers the Bmax puts out huge low end and would not be a good match. Start with the cab before anything else. If you're looking cheap look at an old Peavey 2x15. The fEARfuls are great but even when you build them yourself they can be costly because of the quality drivers.

 

And tell him to warm it up with more mids.

 

I'd just get an Ampeg 8x10 fridge. There's a reason they're so popular.

Oh, and I'd rather have a VT Bass than that BBE preamp. With a QSC power amp, that would be a pretty awesome rig.

 

I use an LDS 215/265 cab with my 100 watt tube head and an 810 with the 300 watt. I've never paired a 15 with a 410. You said you were going solid state though didn't you. I also use GK rb heads through a 210 or 410 with BG and DB for small/medium gigs. Can't beat the old GK's for durability and good clean sound.

 

If you want LOUD, yet portable, check out the Rumble 350 combo.

 

IMO, the cab is one of the most important pieces of gear for getting "your sound".

Using low cost drivers, and stuffing them into a box without doing any of the engineering necessary, gives you a crappy sounding cab.

His pre/power amp should be fine.

Just get him to BUY a real cab.

 

Skip the combo's.

Tell your bassist to replace his home made cab with a home made 15/6 and then if he needs more add a 15sub.

 

Anybody else smelling recycled 1000w + power am, preferably tube, with improved attention to articulation?

 

^First thought that came to mind, good buddy. By the way, hats off to ya for calling it yesterday!

 

Dump the BBE, cab config?, any good cab you want. 2X115, 2X112, 1X212, 2X212 2X210, 2X410, 1X412, 2X412, 1X610, 2X610, 1X810, 2X810.

 

Go 4x10 for sure,brand name, best cab I ever used.
6x10 might be nice for a one cab setup.
I tried making my own cabs years ago. Same results, sounding ******.