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Best Bass amp and Speaker cab?

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!
Couldnt give me anything with a Bugera or Behringer badge on it. They have a history of being unreliable.


What is the best for you? I cant tell you that. Only you can. For me it is a Pre/Power rig with a fEARless cab. For @JimmyM it is a Heritage Ampeg rig, for @Munjibunga it is a Bergantino rig. Now if any of us couldnt get good tone from each other's rigs, I wouldnt be blaming the equipment. Furthermore, I would venture to guess I sound like me through anyone else's rig, and vice versa.

So go out and try everything you can. Dont get hung up on brand name, go with what your ears like.
 
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!

Have you ever considered checking out this link?

6 Classic Amps Every Bassist Should Know | Reverb

It's one of the first google results to your query, and I do think in this case it's fairly pertinent.

Try as many of the amps on that list as you can and just see what you like.

Granted there aren't any Greenboy cabs on there, but it is a good baseline of the basic types available.
 
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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!

Cab watts are meaningless without knowing amp watts. Sensitivity is a more meaningful measure for cabs. Cab watts are an indicator of how much they can take in, not put out.

That said, I've not heard anything spectacular about Bugera products and their large numbers they quote in their specs. I've never tried them so they could be fine. For my money I'd go elsewhere.
 
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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!

Certainly too good to be true. Bugera seems to have no conscience when it comes to spouting utterly meaningless power rating specs. They may be quality amps and cabs, they may even have perfectly adequate power handling/production, but the bottom line is that the company sees fit to market in a way that to me seems morally questionable. This is certainly my very biased opinion, but if Toyota were claiming that the new Camry had 900 horsepower the falsity of the statement would be only slightly less incriminating than the blatant attempt at exploitation.

At your price range you have options, and from those options there are plenty of companies that if not precisely honest with their specs, at least aren't being outrageous.

It would be the best option to invest in a PA system. If that isn't the road you're looking to go down then you might consider some smaller more specialized companies like Mesa Boogie, GK, or MarkBass. At your pricepoint you're also more than capable of getting some boutique or custom cabinets like Bergantino, Low Down Sound, or Greenboy.

If you're looking for the "best bass amp and speaker cabinet" that you can get and if weight is a consideration then in my opinion you should consider a newer class D head such as the Mesa Boogie D-800, or the GK MB Fusion 800 along with a couple of boutique or custom cabinets.

It is my opinion that Bugera does not constitute the "best bass amp and speaker cabinet". It is a fact that their cabinets and amplifiers cannot put out nor accommodate the advertised power ratings.
 
Thank you all for the great information. I researched most all the options that were posted and changed my mind 5 times after reading some of your post. I ended up purchasing the Ampeg 1,000 Watt SVT Pro Bass Head and a 1,200 watt GK 4 X 12 Neo Cab. Although the cab is a little heavier than I was looking for I think the wheels and skids will accommodate loading.

Thanks again!
 
I must say I have a WONDERFUL wife! I am over in Afghanistan and she called and asked what type of amplifier I would need to get in order to start or play in a group once I finish my tour over here! I kinda sat there with my jaw slapping the ground and babbling like an idiot in total surprise! So after some research, I am going to go with the Mesa Boogie new Subway D800 and the Powerhouse 2X12 Cabinet. I play in a little group here on the airbase and using a Markbass 210 amp and I am not impressed at all with it!
 
I must say I have a WONDERFUL wife! I am over in Afghanistan and she called and asked what type of amplifier I would need to get in order to start or play in a group once I finish my tour over here! I kinda sat there with my jaw slapping the ground and babbling like an idiot in total surprise! So after some research, I am going to go with the Mesa Boogie new Subway D800 and the Powerhouse 2X12 Cabinet. I play in a little group here on the airbase and using a Markbass 210 amp and I am not impressed at all with it!
You are an awesome fellow for your service, and here's to your successful return!

Speaking of Afghanistan, some of the guys from the Howard Stern show went over there a few years ago and discussed a pond they had for getting rid of sewage that they called the S---pond. Hope you're not anywhere near that!
 
Certainly too good to be true. Bugera seems to have no conscience when it comes to spouting utterly meaningless power rating specs. They may be quality amps and cabs, they may even have perfectly adequate power handling/production, but the bottom line is that the company sees fit to market in a way that to me seems morally questionable. This is certainly my very biased opinion, but if Toyota were claiming that the new Camry had 900 horsepower the falsity of the statement would be only slightly less incriminating than the blatant attempt at exploitation.

At your price range you have options, and from those options there are plenty of companies that if not precisely honest with their specs, at least aren't being outrageous.

It would be the best option to invest in a PA system. If that isn't the road you're looking to go down then you might consider some smaller more specialized companies like Mesa Boogie, GK, or MarkBass. At your pricepoint you're also more than capable of getting some boutique or custom cabinets like Bergantino, Low Down Sound, or Greenboy.

If you're looking for the "best bass amp and speaker cabinet" that you can get and if weight is a consideration then in my opinion you should consider a newer class D head such as the Mesa Boogie D-800, or the GK MB Fusion 800 along with a couple of boutique or custom cabinets.

It is my opinion that Bugera does not constitute the "best bass amp and speaker cabinet". It is a fact that their cabinets and amplifiers cannot put out nor accommodate the advertised power ratings.

One thing about the Bugera ads. Bugera does NOT use the same measurement scale that other amp manufacturers use. The openly admit they use a different scale and they provide their reasons for doing so. Just read a little further in their review threads or responses to reviews. I only figured it out because I was looking into purchasing one of their amps.

I have not used the Bugeras but was considering one since they seem great for the price. Check out the threads here on TB. For the people that have actually used the heads, they get good reviews for the money. But they are lower price range so you start to get the whole Squire vs Amer Fender vs Fodera thing going. And NO, I am not advocating starting that debate again here.

On side note, agree with yakmastermax that GK MB Fusion 800 or even non-fusion heads are great heads. Have not heard the Mesa D-800 live yet, so can't opine on that one.

As always, enjoy and rock on!
 
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You are an awesome fellow for your service, and here's to your successful return!

Speaking of Afghanistan, some of the guys from the Howard Stern show went over there a few years ago and discussed a pond they had for getting rid of sewage that they called the S---pond. Hope you're not anywhere near that!
LOL! Not quite Jimmy! But we are not far from Kunduz where all hell has broke loose! Part of the Airfield and Base Fire Department over here! Been a VERY busy week!! Thanks for the well wishes, our gents in uniform have been working around the clock here! They are doing a great job to say the least!
 
Thank you all for the great information. I researched most all the options that were posted and changed my mind 5 times after reading some of your post. I ended up purchasing the Ampeg 1,000 Watt SVT Pro Bass Head and a 1,200 watt GK 4 X 12 Neo Cab. Although the cab is a little heavier than I was looking for I think the wheels and skids will accommodate loading.

Thanks again!

That sounds like a pretty good choice you made. Is the Ampeg head you chose, the SVT-7PRO?
 
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The Bassman 500 head is 17 pounds and pretty huge for a class D amp + tube preamp. For an extra $100 you can get the GK MB800 fusion (+300 watts, only 5.5 pounds, fits in your gig bag).

The Bassman 610 has neodymium speakers, but still weighs in at 90 pounds in one big box.

If the shlep is a concern, consider an efficient 212 (should be under 50 pounds) and if you need more slam for your outdoor gigs, double up.

Edit: Not saying anything bad about the Fender stuff, just seems kind of big and heavy compared to other offerings.
The Fender Bassman 610 neo weighs only 77 pounds (the 810 neo only weighs 97lbs.). That's 30-50 pounds lighter than anything in it's class(Bergantino,Mesa,Ampeg). I've got one. Read the reviews. Especially the Bass Gear Mag. review by Tom Bowlus.
 
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The Fender Bassman 610 neo weighs only 77 pounds (the 810 neo only weighs 97lbs.). That's 30-50 pounds lighter than anything in it's class(Bergantino,Mesa,Ampeg). I've got one. Read the reviews. Especially the Bass Gear Mag. review by Tom Bowlus.

Hi eff-clef, I'm glad you like your Bassman 610 neo. I've heard that they are great-sounding cabs... But they still weigh 90 pounds.

fender-bassman-610neo-weight.jpg


From Fender.com: Invalid Link Removed
 
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Hi eff-clef, I'm glad you like your Bassman 610 neo. I've heard that they are great-sounding cabs... But they still weigh 90 pounds.

View attachment 708330

From Fender.com: Invalid Link Removed
That was a miss print/ a mistake. Mine is 78 pounds. The one reviewed in Bass Gear Mag. was 79 lbs.
And if you go to Guitar Center's website , you will see it is listed 77 lbs. under specifications.
Mine was only 90 lbs. in it's packing(lots of protection/stuffing) box shipped UPS. Search a thread in Talkbass
called " Fender Bassman 610 neo". Gougedeye stated his was only 77 pounds. I don't know why
Fender hasn't changed it's web site yet. When rolling it with "towel bar" handles , it feels almost like it doesn't
have speakers in it!
 
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That was a miss print/ a mistake. Mine is 78 pounds. The one reviewed in Bass Gear Mag. was 79 lbs.
And if you go to Guitar Center's website , you will see it is listed 77 lbs. under specifications.
Mine was only 90 lbs. in it's packing(lots of protection/stuffing) box shipped UPS. Search a thread in Talkbass
called " Fender Bassman 610 neo". Gougedeye stated his was only 77 pounds. I don't know why
Fender hasn't changed it's web site yet. When rolling it with "towel bar" handles , it feels almost like it doesn't
have speakers in it!

Well, that IS strange! You would think Fender would catch and update that. It is (obviously) quite an important spec! :)
 
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