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Best head for <$500

#21
Honestly, if you're looking for something based on a small size, a used Shuttle 6 or Eden WT 400 would be perfect especially for your needs. Depending on how loud you need to play, the Eden may not do the job but I'm sure the 6 will. I know it wasn't loud enough through a avatar 410 going up against two JCM 2000 half stacks, playing metal. It was close enough to cutting the job however it clipped sometimes, especially with my fretless, and I can't have that. However, they sound like pure freaking gold.

Maybe even think of getting a different cab too...you could easily sell the Ampeg and get a used Avatar, Genz, or regular G&K 410. Surely those would be louder and would punch through the mix a lot better. The cab can be as important as the head.
 
#22
For your sound:

1) Hartke LH1000 or LH500 new or used. LH1000 is $499.99 new
2) Markbass LMII used
3) GK 700rb 1001rb

The Hartke really sounds amazing...I was blow away by the quality. You can't go wrong with the LMII or GK either. Seriously look at the Hartkle LH500 or LH1000, depending on your wattage needs.
 
#27
So...how many different heads does that put us at? :p;):D

Really go and try out heads, if you can, through your local market. I live in a big city with a limited market (stinking Alabama!) and I usually have to buy blind based on reviews and sound clips. I've gone through some heads but the process really is quite fun (for me...not my wife :D). Try out some heads and really work on finding the sound you want.
 
#28
...the Eden WTX-500 goes for about 650 on MF, which is a tad above your pricerange, but if you can find one used, I'd vote go for it!

I currently own an ENX-260, and am financing a WTX-500 - great Eden tone, a high degree of tone-shaping capacity, portability, and 500w into 4ohms!
 
#29
FWIW - I've owned a NeoPak, LMII and GK700RBII and used each one with my friend's SVT410HLF (USA) at our rehearsal space\studio for jams, recordings and rehearsals.

My favorite of the 3 is the GK700RBII with that cab. I actually sold my first 700RBII to get the LMII and ended up selling it and buying another 700RBII.

The LMII sounded very good with that cab as well, but doesn't do 'dirty'.
The NeoPak was my least favorite of the 3 with that cab. I felt like I had to do too much knob twiddling to get the same big, punch you in the family jewels tone that I could get with the LMII or 700RBII with nary a twiddle.

I'm not a tone nazi. I like simple, plug and play. The LMII and 700RBII work for me perfectly in that fashion.

As already stated the LMII or 700RBII can be had easily < $500 easily now. I sold my LMII last summer for $500. I sold my first 700RBII for $375!

BTW - I played in 4 piece rock cover band that pretty much played the same stuff as you listed. I played a passive SX PJ and MIM PJ through the GK\Ampeg rig and RAWKED FN BALLS!! :bassist:

I currently still use that rig for any recording sessions we do.
 
#35
Here's another vote for a used 700rb-II... I have and SVT410-HLF, and a pair of 700rb-IIs, and can tell you that they pair up VERY well with one another... That pairing will easily cop the tones you described in the OP, and a whole lot more besides... I also have a Mesa PH610 I usually gig with, but wouldn't be the least bit concerned if I needed to use the SVT410-HLF in it's place...

Go for the 700rb-II - you'll be glad you did... Here's a look at some of my rigs:

Rigpics.jpg



- georgestrings
 
#37
LMII, Shuttle 6.0, 800RB are all as much amp as most people ever really need. I've currently got or have owned all 3, and it just comes down to taste. Check out GC, listen, then stalk the classified.

I have Backline 600 too, I think it sounds pretty good, especially for acoustic gigs. The other 3 sound better, but it sounds like a GK to me.
 

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