Bass Gear Good Enough?

[jalapejoe]

I have never played a venue or gig before, my band mates have played for a very long time, many gigs in our area Twin Cities, MN. Anyway my current rig is a 2x10 Ampeg (sealed) cab and a 1x15 Ampeg (sealed) cab the PF series. The venues we plan on playing are pretty much sports bars and bars like The Park Link Removed

I am a little worried my gear wont be enough for bars such as The Park but my guitarist assures me its plenty and sounds great. Do you guys think I should worry or pickup a say Ampeg 6x10 or 4x10 ported cabs just in case? He tells me all the time I will run thru the house anyway doesnt matter.

Thoughts for me the noob?

 

[Bent77]

If you have house support, the cab is basically your stage monitor. You should be fine "if" thats the case

 

[jalapejoe]

Forgot using the PF-800 Ampeg head too.

 

[The Regulator]

For that venue in the pictures I'm pretty sure that you will go through the PA. I'm not a fan of mixed sized speakers, but the PF-210HE & PF-115HE are both 450 watts @ 8 ohms so you should be fine.

 

[jalapejoe]

For that venue in the pictures I'm pretty sure that you will go through the PA. I'm not a fan of mixed sized speakers, but the PF-210HE & PF-115HE are both 450 watts @ 8 ohms so you should be fine.

I would prefer to just run a 6x10 I bought this rig a few years ago not really putting thought into it and if I was going to gig. Now that I am in a band ready for shows, I'm wishing I had invested in a better rig. I agree with mixing speaker sizes, sounds better to me one size such as a 4x10, 6x10 and 8x10s.

 

[MobileHolmes]

If you're going through the PA, 2 cabs is probably overkill (but looks cool and wont' hurt anything). You'll be totally fine

 

[The Regulator]

Since the wattage of both cabs match, powering them with the PF-800 should be OK. Speaking of 610, I used to own a PF-800 and played it through an SVT-610HLF that my friend had at his rehearsal space and it sounded monstrous.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

I gig average 5 times a month. Indoors and outside. Mesa Subway D800 subway 112 + 115 cabs

 

[jalapejoe]

I gig average 5 times a month. Indoors and outside. Mesa Subway D800 subway 112 + 115 cabs View attachment 1029461

I like that setup, love Boogie.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

I like that setup, love Boogie.

Light 6lb head 800w at 4 or 2 ohms.
Each cab 35 ish lbs. 400w
Loud low and light. Handles low A# (we tune down 1/2 step)
Never had to really push it hard to get all the volume I need. Mesa reliability and support. Competitively priced.

 

[JimmyM]

Honestly, you could make do with one of those cabs for most situations where you have PA, and even some where you don't. When I had a PF115he, I'd just take the back wheels out of it and let it tilt back, and I could hear myself fine. Only problem with that is the head might slide a bit if you crank volume real loud, but I used it with a PF350 and it never slid. And with all due respect to Mesa, your rig is fine

 

[jalapejoe]

Honestly, you could make do with one of those cabs for most situations where you have PA, and even some where you don't. When I had a PF115he, I'd just take the back wheels out of it and let it tilt back, and I could hear myself fine. Only problem with that is the head might slide a bit if you crank volume real loud, but I used it with a PF350 and it never slid. And with all due respect to Mesa, your rig is fine

Good to know I feel more confident now about my current rig, thanks guys.

 

[1stnamebassist]

Good to know I feel more confident now about my current rig, thanks guys.

Holy Crap! I've played larger gigs with less equipment and did fine. Your setup is more than enough.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Honestly, you could make do with one of those cabs for most situations where you have PA, and even some where you don't. When I had a PF115he, I'd just take the back wheels out of it and let it tilt back, and I could hear myself fine. Only problem with that is the head might slide a bit if you crank volume real loud, but I used it with a PF350 and it never slid. And with all due respect to Mesa, your rig is fine

Honestly my point was that a smaller rig than what @jalapejoe is running is sufficient for most applications.
At the end of the day I've also giged with a 250 watt Carvin Bx250 210 combo with a 210 extension. Mid sized clubs with no front of house support. It is near its limit though
Its my rehearsal rig, lives in rehearsal space, but certainly gig worthy !

 

[blubass]

Your rig is great. I have an Ampeg 610hlf with a PF500 and/or GK 1001RBII. It's a good rig too, but overkill for small clubs.

Your rig would kill, even without PA support. I think you are underestimating what you have and what it's capable of.

 

[JGbassman]

Honestly, you could make do with one of those cabs for most situations where you have PA, and even some where you don't. When I had a PF115he, I'd just take the back wheels out of it and let it tilt back, and I could hear myself fine. Only problem with that is the head might slide a bit if you crank volume real loud, but I used it with a PF350 and it never slid. And with all due respect to Mesa, your rig is fine

Easy fix for small head on tilted cab. Bungee cord (black) from handle to handle on cab across top, holds the amp in place and costs just a few bucks. Easy, low cost fix.

 

[Downunderwonder]

Be prepared to turn down.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Easy fix for small head on tilted cab. Bungee cord (black) from handle to handle on cab across top, holds the amp in place and costs just a few bucks. Easy, low cast fix.

Or scoot the head forward and let the feet hang over the front edge of cab.

 

[pbass2]

I agree, your rig is plenty for those kinds of venues with PA support. Just start out with bringing both cabs until you've got a better sense of things, and then over time I guarantee you'll start using only one cab more and more often. Lugging unnecessary gear gets old real fast. The best part (IMO anyway--I hate carting amps around) is you'll also quite likely end up playing venues with backline, and you won't need to schlep an amp at all!

 

[beaglesandbass]

I have never played a venue or gig before, my band mates have played for a very long time, many gigs in our area Twin Cities, MN. Anyway my current rig is a 2x10 Ampeg (sealed) cab and a 1x15 Ampeg (sealed) cab the PF series. The venues we plan on playing are pretty much sports bars and bars like The Park Link Removed

I am a little worried my gear wont be enough for bars such as The Park but my guitarist assures me its plenty and sounds great. Do you guys think I should worry or pickup a say Ampeg 6x10 or 4x10 ported cabs just in case? He tells me all the time I will run thru the house anyway doesnt matter.

Thoughts for me the noob?

If the bass is running through the PA you'll be fine. At some gigs where I know I hav decent PA support I'll only bring my 1x15 200w combo. No reason to lug around my 410 and amp rack to be used as a stage monitor. I still do sometimes for fun, but if gets old lugging a bunch of stuff up and down stairs every weekend.