• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Building My First Rig and Looking For Advice

J

jmanbass15

Nov 13, 2022
3
4
#1
Hi all,

I am in the process of building my first rig for live performance and I'm looking for some advice. I currently have the Tech-21 GED-2112 Rack Mount SansAmp. I would like to pair that with a new power amp and speaker cabinet (currently using a friend's old rig and would like to return it to him). I'm looking for advice on what to look for in terms of power requirements and reliable brands. I'd like the rig do to double-duty with a line out for FOH and also act as on-stage monitor that can cut through the guitar player's amps. We're a hard-rock cover band so things can get loud. Any advice is much appreciated.

Thank you!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Riff Ranger
#3
Riff Ranger said:
Do you need something light and/or compact? Do you have a budget?
Click to expand...
… because if you don’t, you can go big and/or inexpensive by acquiring the “it” gear of a generation ago: SWR, Hartke, and Eden gear from the ‘90s has gotten really inexpensive since Class D and neodymium everything came along. I put together an ‘80s Peavey rig that can go large/medium/small for all of 600 USD within the past few years, and there’s still plenty of that out there.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Craig22221, HolmeBass, Jonny Reese and 3 others
#4
Riff Ranger said:
Love that choice of preamp; that’s a great start for any number of rock and roll sounds.

Do you need something light and/or compact? Do you have a budget?
Click to expand...
Yeah, lots of options in lots of price ranges. What can you tell us about the types of gigs you’ll be using this for (small bars, large clubs, regional festivals) how you plan to transport it and what your budget is like. Also, who are some of the players who’s sound you like?

Knowing these things could help us to narrow things down as there are really a LOT of choices out there that would work well for hard rock.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Riff Ranger
#8
Thank you for all the responses so far. Let me see if I can provide some more input:
  • Price range - I'd like to keep it all under $1K (for both Power Amp and Cab)
  • We play small-to-mid size bars, outdoor parties, etc. We'd like to get to some bigger clubs if we could, but we're not there yet. I'd like something I can grow with for awhile.
  • Transportation is my car (an SUV). It doesn't have to be anything too light/compact.
  • The rig I'm using right now is an old Behringer Ultrabass 3000T head with a GK 1-Speaker cab. The tone is good, but it's doesn't seem to really let the GED shine. Our last gig I went DI into the PA and the tone was some of the best I've ever had. I'd like a cabinet that can showcase the capabilities of the GED.
  • I'm contemplating adjusting the jumper in the GED to mix the two signals into one, or getting a Y cable. We cover AIC, STP, Foo Fighters, U2, Green Day, Smithereens, Collective Soul, Audioslave. So I mix the 2 channels, and tone versatility is important.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Riff Ranger
#9
Right on :thumbsup: sounds like you would probably want minimal coloration from the power amp and cab, then. Since it sounds like budget will constrain you more than size and weight, I’ll reiterate my earlier suggestion of high-end used gear from before the Class-D-neodymium revolution (not that that the newer technology’s bad or even necessarily expensive; just more expensive than cobbling together a rig from older parts).

I have a hunch that SWR might be the thing for your situation, but hopefully someone who really knows that stuff well will chime in; I really only know Peavey, GK, and Ampeg from that era, and those will all impart at least some of their own color to the overall sound.

If you do go newer, I find Traynor’s current offerings affordable, relatively uncolored, and solidly built, but maybe hard to try out if you’re not in or near Canada. I took a chance on my Traynor gear and ordered it based on reputation and features alone, but I’m glad I did. I use the YYZ with mine—maximum Ged on a budget :bassist:
 
  • Like
Reactions: HolmeBass and Murch
#10
jmanbass15 said:
Hi all,

I am in the process of building my first rig for live performance and I'm looking for some advice. I currently have the Tech-21 GED-2112 Rack Mount SansAmp. I would like to pair that with a new power amp and speaker cabinet (currently using a friend's old rig and would like to return it to him). I'm looking for advice on what to look for in terms of power requirements and reliable brands. I'd like the rig do to double-duty with a line out for FOH and also act as on-stage monitor that can cut through the guitar player's amps. We're a hard-rock cover band so things can get loud. Any advice is much appreciated.

Thank you!
Click to expand...

SVT-810, and never look back.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bluzeman90, Masbutch and JimmyM
#11
jmanbass15 said:
Thank you for all the responses so far. Let me see if I can provide some more input:
  • Price range - I'd like to keep it all under $1K (for both Power Amp and Cab)
  • We play small-to-mid size bars, outdoor parties, etc. We'd like to get to some bigger clubs if we could, but we're not there yet. I'd like something I can grow with for awhile.
  • Transportation is my car (an SUV). It doesn't have to be anything too light/compact.
  • The rig I'm using right now is an old Behringer Ultrabass 3000T head with a GK 1-Speaker cab. The tone is good, but it's doesn't seem to really let the GED shine. Our last gig I went DI into the PA and the tone was some of the best I've ever had. I'd like a cabinet that can showcase the capabilities of the GED.
  • I'm contemplating adjusting the jumper in the GED to mix the two signals into one, or getting a Y cable. We cover AIC, STP, Foo Fighters, U2, Green Day, Smithereens, Collective Soul, Audioslave. So I mix the 2 channels, and tone versatility is important.
Click to expand...
212, or 410. 212s are usually smaller and lighter than 410s, and kick decent lows with decent clarity. In other words, a 212 cabinet is pretty perfect for stage sound in the greater part of most scenarios.

For everything else, add another one.


I like the ampeg 212av

I also like the Mesa Subway 212

And the darkglass 212

And the TC k212 (good luck finding them though. People don't let them go)


Power amp, Duncan power stage 700. Peavey also makes great power amps at reasonable prices.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Marko 1
#12
Try getting a used class d pa power amp they usually can be had pretty cheap in the $200-$500 range then put the rest of the money into something like a decent 2x12 or 4x10 cab or If you can handle carrying a bigger cab that works too. I've seen 6x10 and 8x10 cabs going cheap lately too at around $350-$500 range a 2x15 or 4x12 are probably gonna be Abit more then the current budget tho.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mikezimmerman and Redbrangus
#13
Been using the GED 2112 for years . IMHO the unit shines the brightest when it is used as a two channel pre , into a two channel amp , out of two separate cabinets. Although I do have one set up for single cabinet use , it is switched internally. I also carry a Behringer micro mixer in my bag just in case I have to send a single channel signal while using one of my two channel rigs . YMMV … I PM’d you …
 
  • Like
Reactions: basscooker and Riff Ranger
#14
Adding to @Riff Ranger ’s points, I picked up an older Crown power amp and a Hartke 4 x 10 XL cabinet for $80 each recently. The power amp came from some kind of audio contractor pulling out old heavy installed amps and installing modern lightweight ones, and unloading the old stuff. The cab came from a private individual who had just gone lightweight and Markbass, and was tired of storing the heavy older cab.

Neither one is much fun to pick up and move, but they work well and were cheap, and if you have an SUV and a dolly, and keep your ear to the ground, you could probably find similar deals.

Also, I’m not a FB user but both of those items came up on FB marketplace at different times, and were mentioned to me by friends. So spreading the word to music buddies might help expand your search too.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Riff Ranger
#15
This isn't the lightest option but find a used Crown XLS1500/1502 (9 lbs). That'll give you options for matching power ratings from a lowly 300 watt 8Ω cabinet up to driving 1500 watts into a 4Ω cabinet. With that, I'd look for two Fearless F112s or a single F212. You can put the Crown and Tech21 into a 3U, short plastic rack. If you want to get a head and just use it as a power amp, consider a Quilter Bass Block.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Riff Ranger
#17
chuck65 said:
Been using the GED 2112 for years . IMHO the unit shines the brightest when it is used as a two channel pre , into a two channel amp , out of two separate cabinets. Although I do have one set up for single cabinet use , it is switched internally. I also carry a Behringer micro mixer in my bag just in case I have to send a single channel signal while using one of my two channel rigs . YMMV … I PM’d you …
Click to expand...

This is why my post earlier. Seems the 2 channel set up is the whole point of that pre.

If OP is just going with the jumper anyway then now we know so he probably isn't shopping for a standard rack power amp.

If that's the case, yeah you've got the whole world of quality amps to shop from. All it needs is an effects loop.

Next, cabs. As much as it's totally true the 90s and early 00s stuff is still good and will sell inexpensively... just go modern with the majority of your budget on quality cab/cabs.

Don't get a "cheap" amp, but you just need it's power section, not loads of features and tube pre etc. Don't buy more than it needs to have. The Traynor 500 little one looks like a real value new. A used unit would be a super find. Send from your jumpered GED to the fx return of whatever amp and out to a modern cab.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Riff Ranger and chuck65

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back