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Buying a new amp

K

klejst

Oct 5, 2010
6,647
3,676
#1
I am looking to buy a new amp this week and have narrowed it down to what I think are some good choices and that I can also afford. Therefore, I am just looking for opinions on which would be a overall better choice. I am not able to try each of these amp out so I will basically have to go off reviews, demo YouTube videos and input from the ever helpful TB community. I have been ampless for my main rig for about a month now, been using my Fender combo, but now it's time to pull the trigger on getting a new amp.

My cabinet is a Mesa/Boogie PowerHouse 2x15EV and the only downside is it is 8 ohms and I play Fender Precision standard basses. Below is the amps I found - Fire away.

- Ampeg B1RE
- AMPEG B2RE
- Acoustic B200h
- SWR PB-200
- SWR Workingmans 4004
- Gallien-Krueger 400RB-III
- GK MB200
- GK Backline 600
- Hartke 2000
- Hartke 2500
- Hartke 3000
- Hartke 3500
- Peavey Tour 700
- Peavey Firebass 700
- Peavey Delta Bass
- Peavey Mark III/IV
 
#3
Really, it's a matter of personal preference. If you're able to try all these amps out, then you can decide with your own ears. Otherwise, all anyone here can do is pick what *they'd* like best. I will say, with an 8 ohm 215, I'd be looking at getting as many watts as you can, but all those amps will sound different from one another, and tone is a personal thing, not a popularity contest.
 
#4
Was mainly looking for opinions from those who either own or have used any of the amps I listed to make a choice a little easier. I know obviously they all are different and will sound different.
 
#6
If you can afford, B600 is The Animal.

I got it and it's all I ever wanted.

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I did not try new B800. I can imagine, it's just far too better and louder. I just cannot imagine how they did it. Reviews are just too good to be truth:

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#7
Scott thanks for the input. I kind of figured GK and Amepeg at least going by brand were going to be the more popular and they are both great brands but I am more going for a amp that can (at the risk of kinda avoiding your question) do a combo of retro and modern. But not so much as that but has potential to dial in almost any kind of sound/tone. Basically this will be my main amp for awhile I am sure due to money being tight so I want to get the best I possibly can right now (within my means of course). Thanks for the suggestion Tvrtko, however the above amps I mentioned because I found them within my price range and as much as I would love to I really cannot shake out of that.
 
#8
I've found the Hartke 3500 very flexible tone-wise as it has both a tube and ss preamp you can mix to your heart's content. Also has a decent graphic EQ. IIRC that's 240 watts into 8 ohms, not bad.

The EVs are very efficient speakers so they don't need that much to get them going.
 
#11
Another vote for Hartke. HA series heads have the SS and tube preamps each for itself. That way you can really make it sound tubey like old school or SS modern kind of sound .. and of course mix of both :D The awsome graphic equalizer can be used to shape any kind of tone you want. If you are looking for many different and good sounds, this is it.
Also you must remember that Hartke amps are almost undestructable and even if something gets damaged, Hartke offers really good customer support.
If I'd be you, I'd go with Hartke, but I would get HA5500, just to make sure you don't ''run out pf watts'' ;)
 
#12
At least you have a great cab. I have a Mesa powerhouse 215 cab and its a beast despite its massive weight...$200 that's not much to spend so your options will be limited. I still own a SWR 4004. It's a solid, reliable head. I used to drive a 410/210 setup without difficulty and I played in a loud metal band. $200 seems about right for it.
 
#15
Just on the Peavey note, the Deltabass is a much lower output version of the Firebass. They also had the Nitrobass which was somewhere in between the two. However, the Firebass and Nitrobass amps were rated down to 2 ohm for maximum output.

They were also released as the Delta, Nitro and Firebass as the Peavey Max 160, Max 450 and Max 700 respectively (as far as I'm aware it was just a change in name and possibly some minor internal changes, prettymuch the same amps).

Also, to throw a spanner in the works, have you looked at Ashdown, Trace Elliot or Laney amps? I'll admit that I'm not sure what the prices would be like stateside.



Out of interest, do you know if the individual speakers in the Mesa cab are 4 ohm or 16 ohm? If they are 4 ohm speakers you could put them in parallel, making a 2 ohm cab. Would get a bit more juice from the amplifier and be a little bit louder (if you went for an amplifier that was 2 ohm capable).
 
#16
I own vintage as well as GC Acoustic.

I own the GC Acoustic b200 combo as well as the b200 head and 1x15 cab.

The combo was purchased because I needed something compact and lighter due to lower back, hernia nad transportation issues.

It was a false economy, as the seperate head and cabinet; although 2 trips is actually easier to transport; both components being lighter; seperately on their own. The b200 head/ cab is a little more expensive.

Also, the head/ cab can truly utilize a second cab, whereas there is an ohm mismatch when you plug in a 2nd cab to the combo; actually loses power.

I have tried every combo out there. Granted the Mark bass has a better tone at 4 times the price..not worth it for something that small and weak. Also the Markbass could not handle B-String. I have no farting-out issues with either Acoustic combo or head/ cab rigs.
 

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