Bass head + cab for $2,000

[IbanezSDGR2]

I saw a similar post, but it's 7 years old. I've been using a Fender Rumble 500. It sounds muddy to me. If any of you have tried out most of the heads and cabinets in the $2,000 price range, what setup do you like the best? I was considering the Aguilar 500 watt tone hammer and the 1 X 12 cabinet.

 

[getBAK]

To make an effective recommendation, I need a lot more info.
For starters:
What type of music are you playing?
Do you play a 5-string?
What kind of venues do you need to support?

In general - I would say that it's very hard to beat the Genzler 350 Combo or a Combination of a Mesa 800+ head and Subway 1x12 Cab would be very hard to beat in most situations

 

[5StringBlues]

A new head and a lightly used cab. That's all I got.

 

[Kappaless]

I’ve only played thru a gk 1001rbii and a Mesa subway 2x12.

The gk thru the Mesa to me sounds so good that I haven’t wanted to try much else. Loud, clear, and punchy

 

[gtirard]

I would buy a Quilter Bass Block 800 and a GR Bass AT212

 

[Ethereal Thorn]

My money goes to a Mesa subway Wd800 and a Gr Bass At2x12 or Schroeder 2x12pl cab might be slightly over 2k but worth it.

 

[Ks68jazz]

I'm running a Mesa D800 head with the Subway 12 cab. When I play a 5 string, I swap the Subway to a GK Neo 15. No complaints, ( well maybe the neighbors).

 

[MaxSpinrun]

This combo is glorious

 

[75Ric]

Any of the newer Mesa Boogie Subway heads (D800 D800+ WD or TT) into any of the subway cabs (112, 115, 210). All sound great but give different flavors of tone. Bought all new might put you slightly over budget, depending on the combination. Used should easily be within your budget. Plus, weight-wise, the cabs are all light to carry.

 

[r_bnks]

 

[Zooberwerx]

What's your local second-hand market look like?

Riis

 

[pingvuiini]

I am enjoying my Quilter BB800 and GR Bass AT 212 Slim cabinet. I bought the Quilter used here on TB classifieds for a really good price which kept the entire rig well under $2k. I think the GR Bass cabs have gone up since I got mine, so if you bought everything new now it might end up slightly over $2k. But it’s a great compact and powerful rig.

 

[Ggaa]

Rumble combos sound better to me elevated. Mine is a mud bucket on the floor.

 

[joel406]

Subway stuff is pretty much top shelve. And there are a fair amount of people loving their products. Me among them. All their amps are voiced to different past offerings from Mesa. For me the D-800+ scratched an itch I've had for a long time. The 410 Subway cabs are awesome. But let me tell ya. Their 212 is going to be legendary.

That being said.

I have 2 Epifani heads. Ul901s. One is custom made at the factory. These have a great tone. Very close to the Subway. Their Dist3 cabs are crazy good. If I had found the Epifani stuff before I had 6 Subway cabs in the stable I might have gone that route. But I have had the chance to AB Mesa and Epifani cabs. I would have been a hard choice. I'm glad the fates intervened.

You can get a great rig of either offering close to your price range. I will "always" suggest the D-800+ Mesa Subway head. I've owned em all. That head has my sound. The WD and the TT we're just not for me.

Plain and simple the Epifani UL901 does it all. Priced close to the Mesa it's a thousand watts at 4 ohms. The third generation of the UL901 will be 2 ohms. I know because Epifani sent me one. Tone stack designed with the help of one Stanley Clark. Stanley knows tone.

With a $2k budget the suggestions will run on. Some people (like me) have had the luxury of being able to play professionally through a lot of different gear. What works for me may "NOT" work for you. My journey to tone heaven took years and more treasure than you would think.

But I did find the end of the rainbow.

 

[JohnRex]

Any of the newer Mesa Boogie Subway heads (D800 D800+ WD or TT) into any of the subway cabs (112, 115, 210). All sound great but give different flavors of tone. Bought all new might put you slightly over budget, depending on the combination. Used should easily be within your budget. Plus, weight-wise, the cabs are all light to carry.

I second this, WD and TT Heads are Awesome with Tube Preamps. I use 2 -210 cabinets for gigs and a 112 in the rehearsal studio. All of the Subway cabinets are excellent cabs.

 

[ItsmeSantiago]

Gonna hop on the Mesa train here. D800 and Subway 112 was my main rig for 95% of my gigs when I played all the time, and only added a Diesel 115 when I felt like punishing my back. Gets you under 2k too.

 

[DRBP]

I’ve only played thru a gk 1001rbii and a Mesa subway 2x12.

The gk thru the Mesa to me sounds so good that I haven’t wanted to try much else. Loud, clear, and punchy

my absolute favorite outdoor rig is a GK 1001RBII through two GK NEO1x15. Big indoor spaces i use a single NEO 2x12. love the sound for both 4 and 5 string.
Have had a chance to use Mesa and it is awesome as well. for some reason the GK stuff just resonates with me. I had a chance to buy a used WD800 locally at a great price a while back and was 1 day too late. would love to have one of those as well.

 

[DRBP]

View attachment 4774557

my home rehearsal room has the little brother to your rig. GK 4x10 cab with a 400RB on top. My first stage quality rig 25 years ago now. sounded great then, still sounds good now!

 

[pingvuiini]

I would be remiss not to mention mention Mesa. My TT-800 and 2 1x15 Subway cabs make for a fantastic rig. Unfortunately I haven't had the opportunity to play the whole rig live ever since I got it, but it sure aggravates the neighbors in my condo complex. As with my GR Bass rig, I was able to get the TT-800 and one of the cabs for under $2000. But recent price changes may push the cost over. Not to mention the short supply.

 

[Pings Bass]

Everybody loves Mesa's current offerings, with good reason, apparently. I'll probably give them a shout if/when I need something more than what I've got.

But I'm a dinosaur and stuck with the GK name that introduced me to modern bass amplification in the 80s.

Probably smaller than what you want, but I'm currently running an MB200 head and a neo 112 cab. I bought them both used and spent less than $500 total. It does have a baked-in GK sound that can more or less be defeated with eq (and by turning off the "contour" circuit that scoops the EQ).