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Best head for <$500

Fletz

Fletz

Jan 16, 2009
4,658
3,007
New Jersey
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Disclosures
Hartke artist
#1
Hi, guys. Its been a while. I've added an American Standard Fender P-Bass to go with my American Long Horn Jazz ('93) and my Geddy Lee Jazz. More important to this thread is that I have added an Ampeg 410 HLF cab. I am driving it with a GK backline 600 (300 watts). It sounds good, but not great. What would you recommend for a bar band playing everything from Stone Temple Pilots to Zeppelin to Black Crowes to Judas Priest to 3 Doors Down and everything in betwen. I want a warm tone with enough punch to accentuate my ego :) . What are you guys playing/recommending? I'll probably sell my GK and my old Hartke 3500.
 
#5
Doh!!! *slaps forehead*

I read the thread title and thought this was going to be another Tiger Woods topic!
:hiding:


But since we're talking about amps .... A used 700RBII should go for well under $500. I bought a one year old 1001RBII a few years ago for $500 shipped and in a 4 space rack. They usually go for a little under $500 used here. Great amp and all the power you could ever want.
 
#6
Have you tried a GK 800RB? I got an old US made model for $350, have had it for 5 years now without problem and it sounds killer. I have some very different basses and the EQ and the voicing filters have always been very handy in helping me to achieve the sound I wanted to get out of them. It's just a great versatile amp.
 
#7
A used GenzBenz Neopak. Will go down to 2 ohms and give you up to 500 watts. Tube preamp included. I see them around for around $400 to $450. Search the amp section and you will see lots of good reviews. I went from a Hartke 3500 to an LMII to a Neopak and a few assorted heads in between. This is by far my favorite head.
 
#8
Gintaras said:
A used GenzBenz Neopak. Will go down to 2 ohms and give you up to 500 watts. Tube preamp included. I see them around for around $400 to $450. Search the amp section and you will see lots of good reviews. I went from a Hartke 3500 to an LMII to a Neopak and a few assorted heads in between. This is by far my favorite head.
Click to expand...

...or you could get a carvin Bx500 with the same stats as a neopak plus 9 band parametric eq for 400 brand new at the moment anyway, at least thats the way I'd go.
 
#9
Time Consumer said:
...or you could get a carvin Bx500 with the same stats as a neopak plus 9 band parametric eq for 400 brand new at the moment anyway, at least thats the way I'd go.
Click to expand...

+1 I have to agree. If youre looking to buy a brand new head, the Carvin is a steal and a helluva amp. Second place goes to the Hartke LH 500/1000. I sold my LH1000 and kept the Carvin BX500 though simply because the Carvin is lighter and had more tone shaping features.
 

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