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Best Bass amp and Speaker cab?

#42
OP, I would suggest you really look close at the situation and not let your desire to cover the gig with no PA support override your ability to easily carry your gear. As we age our ability to lift the large cabs can go in one arrgggh moment of pain.

I went the route of the lightweight gear several years ago and was able to get quite the sound with a lightweight 15 neo and a 12 neo, playing in a really loud metal band with guitarists using two Marshall stacks. Now I am replacing that with two 12's. I am in my 60's and lifting one of those large cabs is something I don't really want to do. The lightweight neo cabs of today can give surprising amounts of volume.

You are going to have to look at the fact that if it is a large outdoor gig you guys will have to rent a PA or chances are there may be one provided. As someone else has already mentioned, the days of just vocal in an large outdoor situation simply doesn't work. I encourage you to really take your time looking at the newer smaller neo cabs. The output is amazing on many of them. You could also look at a pre and a lightweight power amp and it would give you the ability to add a 2nd cab or pair of cabs which you could rent on the occasional large outdoor gig.
 
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#44
buldog5151bass said:
Remember, he who controls the good pa is in very good shape. A grand will get you a more than decent bass rig, and two grand will get a decent PA that could support vocals, bass and drums easily.
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Absolutely. In this situation I'd go with a smoking PA setup and a nice reliable 212 or 410 for the stage mix. Spend the money on the PA and get a solid but not overly expensive bass rig.
 
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#46
Old School P-Bass said:
I have a 1975 Fender P-Bass. I have been out of the music business for the past 20 years but looking to return. I play Allman Brothers, Skynard, Southern Rock and some contemporary. I like a clean sound and not so much distorted.

I will purchase a bass amp head and speaker cabinet in the near future but thought I would seek your advise. I do not play through a PA system and therefore seeking a stand alone system that has plenty of power for outside events and inside events. I don't want to come up short.

Oh, i'm also 52 years old and transporting heavy equipment is getting harder all the time.

Thanks for your help!
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1,600 watt Ampeg SVT-4Pro with two very nice powerful 2x12" + tweeter cabs vertically stacked for the height of an 8x10" or stack the two 2x12" cabs like a 4x12" half stack, 2 cabs are way easier to transport.:thumbsup: :bassist::bassist:And way lighter.
 
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#47
Barefaced fan here. I'd say the 610 they have along with a good head will be pretty stinking loud, and that cab is silly light. Or you could roll one of their 212 cabs.

GK 1001 should be loud as hell and not too spendy nor heavy.
New Mesa Subway when it comes out in a month should kill.


Should be able to combo that up for under $3k.

There is no best. If I was looking for new gear, this is what I'd go for in your situation. YMMV
 
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#48
Old School P-Bass said:
I have a 1975 Fender P-Bass. I have been out of the music business for the past 20 years but looking to return. I play Allman Brothers, Skynard, Southern Rock and some contemporary. I like a clean sound and not so much distorted.

I will purchase a bass amp head and speaker cabinet in the near future but thought I would seek your advise. I do not play through a PA system and therefore seeking a stand alone system that has plenty of power for outside events and inside events. I don't want to come up short.

Oh, i'm also 52 years old and transporting heavy equipment is getting harder all the time.

Thanks for your help!
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I like Glockenklang amp and cabs.
Rheingold are also very good( but heavy)
A further favourite is Merlin. This one is no longer being made but one might find one 2nd hand-it'S amazing.
Also; Hevos amps are very good!
 
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#49
I am similar age and playing similar music. I have the Ampeg PF stuff. Light and loud. I have 2 of the 15 inch cabs and can take one or both depending on the gig. Also if practicing just taking one cab is enough. Very versatile, sounds good, has the sound probably heard on the type of music you are listening to and playing.
 
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#51
I reckon´it is pretty much impossible to gain a consensus on a topic such as this as people value things subjectively...

That being said I´ve been actively seeking for a cab and a amp myself though my needs differ from those of the OP, as I do not need much power. Anyways, based on what I´ve tried, heard and read I´d go with a Greenboy cab and a good SS/hybrid amp.

As of this moment I play via Ampeg B-100R and fancy a Mesa Walkabout combo or a Vanderkley 12" cab to go with Marshall 8008 amp and Hellborg PR40 pre.
 
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#52
Best is subjective. My suggestion: about to be released Mesa D-800 that weighs < 5 lbs and will be stable at 2 Ohms, 1 new Mesa Subway 15 cab and 2 Mesa Subway 112 cabs (about 40 lbs and 30 lbs) for a modular rig, made in the US. 115 for a small gig, 2x112 for medium gigs, all 3 for major volume needs, with no single box weighing even close to 50 lbs. Life is good. If I was starting from scratch that's where I'd go with 3K in my pocket. There are many other superb, light options. Think Greenboy fEarless, Bergantino for cabs and GK for heads (again IMHO) as options.
 
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#53
buldog5151bass said:
Remember, he who controls the good pa is in very good shape. A grand will get you a more than decent bass rig, and two grand will get a decent PA that could support vocals, bass and drums easily.
Click to expand...

InhumanResource said:
Absolutely. In this situation I'd go with a smoking PA setup and a nice reliable 212 or 410 for the stage mix. Spend the money on the PA and get a solid but not overly expensive bass rig.
Click to expand...

IMO and from my experience, these are the best suggestions so far, and is exactly what I was hinting at earlier.
There are several really good PA cabs out there now. The choice of quality is phenomenal. EVERYTHING sounds better and an even mix is presented to the audience. And yes, I agree that "more than decent" bass rig as well as PA cabs can be obtained close to OP budget.

drakson said:
I am similar age and playing similar music. I have the Ampeg PF stuff. Light and loud. I have 2 of the 15 inch cabs and can take one or both depending on the gig. Also if practicing just taking one cab is enough. Very versatile, sounds good, has the sound probably heard on the type of music you are listening to and playing.
Click to expand...
Since I went this route of having two lightweight cabs years ago I have found myself using these variation so many times. The versatility, to me, is worth a whole lot. Grab one cab for practice or for an acoustic or restaurant gig, take two for the big gigs.
 
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#56
tbz said:
Op hasn't replied for a bit after deciding an easy answer was good enough.

About par for any "tell me what to buy" thread.

Gotta love the Internet.
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Thread is a day old. Forgive him for not being chained to the Internet awaiting your sage advice. Gotta love the Internet.

Edit: he's also liked most posts, including one 2 hours before the post I quoted.
 
#57
monsterthompson said:
Thread is a day old. Forgive him for not being chained to the Internet awaiting your sage advice. Gotta love the Internet.

Edit: he's also liked most posts, including one 2 hours before the post I quoted.
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My point is that there are tons of threads about basses and cabs here. Anyone that wanted to do any serious research could easily spend an hour or two reading. Then they'd have a good idea of what was out there and what people like.

In fact that sort of research is likely to provide a clearer insight than asking for opinions. At the cost of having to sift through a larger volume of input.

Instead, like most of these threads, it seems like he picked the easy answer and stopped even bothering to reply to the majority of posters.
 
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#59
tbz said:
My point is that there are tons of threads about basses and cabs here. Anyone that wanted to do any serious research could easily spend an hour or two reading. Then they'd have a good idea of what was out there and what people like.

In fact that sort of research is likely to provide a clearer insight than asking for opinions. At the cost of having to sift through a larger volume of input.

Instead, like most of these threads, it seems like he picked the easy answer and stopped even bothering to reply to the majority of posters.
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Still Researching. I found a
Bugera BN410TS - 2800-watt 4 x 10" Bass Speaker Cabinet For $550.00 New. Seems to good to be true!
 

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