Building my first rig. ampeg, mesa or GK?

[styxnpicks]

hey ya'll, I'm new here, and sorta new to the bass altho I've been playing guitar for about 8 years now and drums for over10. I'm at the point where I want to build a nice sounding bass rig for basement practice and church gigs.

Right now I'm looking at an ampeg svt 210he for $150 and will most likely get a matching 115 to go under it. BUT I also have the chance to get a mesa 4x10 cab for $250.... I play alot of slap bass if that helps... cause I'm clueless what cab setup I should get short of an 8x10... which I want but really dont need

right now I'm playing through a crate 125d which is a 125w solid state acoustic guitar amp with 2x8's and a horn...

 

[RobertPaulson]

All nice stuff, that mesa cab sounds like a steal though.

 

[PeterT55]

Yeah, I agree, all good stuff. I have owned all those amps/cabs. I am an Ampeg guy but I also own a GK2001RB and I have to say it is very, very responsive to all kinds of tone. You don't necessarily need the big boy, maybe a 700RB, but thier cabs are killer too. I think you'd be happy with a GK rig.......I mix and match my 2001 with Ampeg and Hartke cabs. They all soung good with it. It's all fun,....

 

[nextcliffburton]

I would say the mesa is a steal but I'm an Ampeg guy. They have great amps and sound amazing. Very good classic rock and Vintage sound. I would go for ampeg man! I'm using a Ampeg V6B with a 6x10 cab and a Ampeg B2R through a 15x2 cab with my Rickenbacker and they sound ****in awesome! Good Luck dude!

 

[styxnpicks]

I'm mainly looking to start dinking arround in the basement... I'm not happy untill things are falling off the shelf tho

 

[realbadgroove]

For the money GK is nice stuff. My friend spent a grand and got a backline rig that sounds great and is really loud. Its 2x10s and 1x15 with the backline head. The only thing is the head doesnt sound that great by it self he uses a ART mic pre with it and its awesome. I have a ton of money in my rig and his sounds almost as good.

 

[lowendgenerator]

I think you'd be quite happy with the Mesa cab, that's a great deal. I think from a price standpoint, The GK is going to give you the best bang for your buck.

You won't touch a Mesa head for under $1000.

Any Ampeg worth buying (IMO and IME) is going to cost at least as much.

I bought a GK 1001RBII used for under $500, and it's got more tone and power than I'll need any time soon.

 

[lawsonman]

I think you should tell me where the Mesa cab is for $250 and I'll make sure it's worth it.

 

[kosmicwizard]

I seriously would buy that Mesa 4x10 before it is gone, that is a great price on an amazing cab. Then get a G-K 700Rb head and have a blast! Cheers.

 

[jsingles]

GK 1001rb-ii!!!!

 

[jimmy rocket]

I had that combo of Ampeg cabs (210he and 15) and it killed. Ampeg heads and GK heads both sounded awesome through it.

They also sounded like sweet sweet goodness with a MarkBass LMII running through them.

 

[kosmicwizard]

GK 1001rb-ii!!!!

G-K 2001RB or Fusion 1050!

 

[rpsands]

Get the mesa cab. Then buy a GK 1001 RB II from rmcaudio.

 

[jsingles]

G-K 2001RB or Fusion 1050!

GK dominates....

 

[kosmicwizard]

Oh yes they do!

 

[styxnpicks]

well.. I'm probably gonna end up picking up the mesa 4x10 cab today.... now if I feed this thing with a 600w amp what should I expect?

 

[lowendgenerator]

You should expect small animals to explode and humans to tremble with fear!

 

[dean owens]

well.. I'm probably gonna end up picking up the mesa 4x10 cab today.... now if I feed this thing with a 600w amp what should I expect?

you should expect.... AMAZING! especially if that's 600 watts is coming from a gk.

 

[smogg]

well.. I'm probably gonna end up picking up the mesa 4x10 cab today.... now if I feed this thing with a 600w amp what should I expect?

You will like the mesa cab. If you are not finding anything you like on your local outlets (craigslist, pawn shops, etc.) Def check out the for sale section here on TB. Every one here is so anal (including myself) about their gear, you can't help but find a fair deal on something that has been well taken care of. I think I saw a Kustom 1200 floating around the other day. More than enough power and great bang for the buck. It may not be the most "Hi-Fi" amp ever built but, it has enough tone options to cover most needs. And some GK's are floating around as well, they are always a safe bet as well. Unless weight is a major factor stick with a traditional head for now. You can always upgrade to a higher end set up down the road.
Hope this helps, smogg

 

[Baird6869]

+1. I am an Ampeg guy too (SVT-CL, 2 2x10s and a 1x15) but also love my GK 700RB-II.

For a basement, I use my 700RB and an Ampeg 2x10 and a 1x15. With a really loud drummer and guitarist at rehearsal, MAYBE I turn it to 3. Crazy loud!

I have used Ampeg cabs with Mesa, Markbass, GK, Carvin and obviously Ampeg heads and they always sound great.

You don't mention what head you are using/considering with the cabs, but IMO for approx $200 ($150 for the one you are looking at), used Ampeg cabs are the best value out there.

P.S. an 8x10 only looks cool generally. Unless you are playing arenas, it is unneccessary IMO. A 4x10 will fill most large rooms and many outdoor gigs without PA support. Many use 8x10's and that is cool. But lugging around a 165lb cab to play in front of 12 people in a small bar is crazy IMO.

P.P.S. The Mesa might sound good but they are an aquired taste IMO.

Yeah, I agree, all good stuff. I have owned all those amps/cabs. I am an Ampeg guy but I also own a GK2001RB and I have to say it is very, very responsive to all kinds of tone. You don't necessarily need the big boy, maybe a 700RB, but thier cabs are killer too. I think you'd be happy with a GK rig.......I mix and match my 2001 with Ampeg and Hartke cabs. They all soung good with it. It's all fun,....