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can anyone recommend a solid inexpensive, powerful bass amp?

Discussion in 'Amps and Cabs [BG]' started by clanner, Dec 4, 2005.

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  1. Dec 4, 2005 #1
    clanner

    clanner Token Black Guy.

    Apr 27, 2005
    ummmmm, marietta GA
    you may remember my Kustom Poll/thred, plans changed and I need to find something that is less expensive but not something that has now power, I'll be playing with 2 guitarists with fullstacks (100-200 watts each i believe) and a very loud drummer.

    can anyone recommend a combo or head and cab that they think would work?

    I play alt rock ranging in style from the chili peppers to nirvana to some punk stuff aswell as jazz and ska. i need something that will enhance my basses natural tone (i leave my tone controls flat on my current amp, a fender Rumble 100)

    sorry if this kind of thing has been done before but i'll be mostly broke for christmas and need a new amp for my band to continue.


    price range is under $1000.00 US currency.
     
  2. Dec 4, 2005 #2
    BassNoob?

    BassNoob?

    Sep 18, 2005
    Redding, CT
    avatarspeakers.com
    You can get a nice 2X12

    rmcaudio.com
    You can get a GK 1001RB for $600

    Thats my new rig!!! I just got it this week. I'm so happy. And it only cost $950!!! Thats like 450 watts of power. And I'm going to add another cab wen i get money. I've only been playing for a year now so....

    You said your style is like that of Flea's. Flea plays a GK 2001 RB. Which is the extreeemllly loud version of the 1001RB
     
  3. Dec 4, 2005 #3
    clanner

    clanner Token Black Guy.

    Apr 27, 2005
    ummmmm, marietta GA
    i'm currently looking at gallien krueger stuff because i trust a local store that carries them. hoping for atleast 300 watts.
     
  4. Dec 4, 2005 #4
    cheezewiz

    cheezewiz Supporting Member

    Mar 27, 2002
    Ohio
    GK 1001RB II and a Low Down Sound or Dr. Bass cabinet. You may go a bit over 1K, buying new, but not by much. Buying used, you'll be under.
     
  5. Dec 4, 2005 #5
    Jazzin'

    Jazzin' ...Bluesin' and Funkin'

    Jul 12, 2004
    Montreal, Quebec, Canada
    Kustom Groove Bass 1200
    1200W 600$
    That's 2W/$!!!!!:eek:
    I think it's the best W/$ ratio out there.
     
  6. Dec 4, 2005 #6
    clanner

    clanner Token Black Guy.

    Apr 27, 2005
    ummmmm, marietta GA
    thats the rig i was originally going to get, i need an amp and cab for wel under 1 thousand, i can get that cheaper, but want to try and save as much as possible right now.

    i'll see what it will cost with me getting only the 215 and the head, that should take off about 200 (bringing my total from a little under 1200 for a 4x10 cab, a 2x15 cab and the head to a little under 900)
     
  7. Dec 4, 2005 #7
    Barfly

    Barfly

    Dec 27, 2000
    GTA, Canada
    Do you have roadies?


    Save yer $$$$


    Yorkville 200 watt 2x10 combo and a SANSAMP will get u there for $750 US or so.


    You are not playing the Gardens, you'll have 200 watts off-the floor AND you'll have 2 onboard DI's. And u can add an extension cab if needed.
     
  8. Dec 4, 2005 #8
    ADbassman

    ADbassman

    Apr 7, 2004
    Augusta, GA & Saint Louis, MO
    Eh, My PLX 3002 worked out to 24 cents/watt
     
  9. Dec 4, 2005 #9
    Jazzin'

    Jazzin' ...Bluesin' and Funkin'

    Jul 12, 2004
    Montreal, Quebec, Canada
    I mean't for heads.
     
  10. Dec 4, 2005 #10
    Kelly Lee

    Kelly Lee Yeah, I'm a guy! Supporting Member

    Feb 17, 2004
    Marana, AZ, USA
    Avatar Speakers

    Halfstack
    Ashdown MAG 600 + Avatar B410 NEO = $889

    -or-

    Fullstack
    Ashdown MAG 300 + Avatar B410 NEO + Avatar B115H Neo = $1000
     
  11. Dec 4, 2005 #11
    Plain Old Me

    Plain Old Me

    Dec 14, 2004
    Tucson, AZ, SF Bay, CA
    What sound are you after? What do you play?
     
  12. Dec 4, 2005 #12
    chaosMK

    chaosMK

    May 26, 2005
    Albuquerque, NM
    Too much hip thrust
    Kustom Groove is a good deal for power. If you go through Americanmusical you can get it in 1/3 payments ($200 down basically). In most situations it will be pushing 800 watts @ 4 ohms.

    Ashdown MAG 300 is a good deal too, and only about $300. Since it is so warm souding, it might have a little trouble pushing the right (slightly harsher sounding) frequencies that would cut through full stacks without another tool like a Sansamp.

    My original economy bass setup was two ebay 1x15's and a MAG, totalling under $1000.
     
  13. Dec 5, 2005 #13
    clanner

    clanner Token Black Guy.

    Apr 27, 2005
    ummmmm, marietta GA
    i play a little bit of everything. mainly alt stuff, peppers, a very minute amount of Nirvana (if it's easy enough where i hear the first three bars and can play the entire song without ever hearing it before that, it's to easy)

    used to play alot of punk and play alot of worship music and jazz standard (a'la Blue Monk, Four, A Night I tunisia, What child is this and a Charlie Brown Christmas, all good for the 'please who you can' gigs)

    on my bands originals, (8 so far with 9 or ten more awaiting lyrics) i leave all tone controls flat.

    i'm going to see how the Kustom head and 2x15 cab will work out with the discount I get from our sponsors. if i can get it cheap enough it will definately be my main rig, I'm currently using a fender Rumble 100 with all controls flat, G&L L-2000 and ibanez sr405 5 string.

    i can get the haed for 100 of the retail ($500 instead of $600) and the cab for $300 instead of $549.95

    grand total if I got this route, $800 instead of $1050

    that works for me.

    i may also buy the head case so protect my investment
     
  14. Dec 5, 2005 #14
    Plain Old Me

    Plain Old Me

    Dec 14, 2004
    Tucson, AZ, SF Bay, CA
    Kustom Head=Good
    Kustom Cab=Bad
    I would support the notion of Avatar with either the Ashdown or Kustom head. If you get the Kustom head for cheap with the sponsorship, I would look into a 410 (neo) on top of a 115 or 212. Or look at Dr. Bass cabs, those are very awesome for the price as well. A SWR Gol III would be good too, as would an Eden 410. Too many choices! But DO NOT go with the Kustom 215, or at least try it live before you settle on it.
     
  15. Dec 5, 2005 #15
    seamonkey

    seamonkey

    Aug 6, 2004
    Another tack
    Get a good preamp. You'll stick with this for years. The majority of your sound will come from the preamp. You'll also record with it and get to know it quite well

    Speaker: Get an Avatar, or something used
    Pick up a cheap stereo/bridgeable amp.
    The amp itself is replaceable and you can upgrade later.
    And you can add more speakers and amps when you need them.
     
  16. Dec 5, 2005 #16
    clanner

    clanner Token Black Guy.

    Apr 27, 2005
    ummmmm, marietta GA
    thnx for the advice, i have 1 last question though. what exactly does the gain knob do on alot of these heads. i've played through a couple and i always thought gain was distortion, however, when i turn the gain knob all the way down, ther is no sound, and it acts more like a volume knob.

    what exactley is it supposed to do if not overdrive/distortion type thing?
     
  17. Dec 7, 2005 #17
    DAcat

    DAcat Supporting Member

    Jun 14, 2005
    Iowa
    Hey Clanner-I'm not an electrician,but I've been told to think of gain as Preamp volume(for the power that goes into shaping your tone-and often it can get more distorted past the noon positiion-esp on tube heads-but it depends on the amp.You need to turn the gain up to get power flowing from amp to pre amp. :bassist: Also another inexpensive amp/cab combo which may work for you which I'd suggest that you try is the Yorkville XS800H head-800watts at 4 ohms (there's a "like new " one on Talkbass Classifieds right now for $550 shipped). Then I'd consider the Avatar Neo 4x10 cab at 4 ohms for about $400 including shipping-that will leave you $50-enough for a good speakon cable and a celabatory dinner and concert... :hyper:
     
  18. Dec 7, 2005 #18
    SteveC

    SteveC Moderator Staff Member Gold Supporting Member

    Nov 12, 2004
    NE ND
    If your guitar players are going to crank those 100 watt heads through full stacks, you are gonna need way more than $1,000.
     
  19. Dec 7, 2005 #19
    klorence

    klorence

    Nov 21, 2001
    Pittsburgh, PA
    i'm selling a loud combo, if you're interested.

    specs from carvin site are here

    the carvin is a great answer. it's simply more than I need for what i do.

    you could also plug an additional speaker into it for really loud or outdoor gigs. be careful not to p*ss off your soundman, though.

    i've been playing professionally for 25 years, and i'm not trying to BS you.

    generally, more speaker area equals loudness moreso than just adding watts.

    2x12, 4x10 or both + 500 or more watts should be loud as heck.

    and if your guitarist feels the need to be louder than that, he's got other issues to worry about.

    bottom line: there are thousands of solutions for under a grand.
     
  20. Dec 7, 2005 #20
    thejohnkim

    thejohnkim

    Sep 30, 2003
    NYC
    i'd take a look at that Peavey BAM 210 thats for sale right now, seems like a great deal, and you would even have enough left over in your budget for an extension cab from avatar
     
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