• 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.

Choice in Amp or Cab

Starling_D

Starling_D

Sep 3, 2023
16
5
23
#1
I plan to go for an amp or a cab , for cab I only have one option markbass 1*15 ny 300 watts

And for amp , I am keeping 2 to 3 , rumble 40 or ampeg 50 rb both 10 inch speakers

And a Peavey max115e which is a 60 watt 15 inch speaker but I have no idea since it's peavey

As for processor I will either take a behringer vamp pro bass or a zoom b3n so I am mostly using the processor for simulating

Also you could suggest some of your amp choice. I will try to look into them as well

And as for the cab I heard that I wouldn't be able to plug the behringer directly into the cab as I would need a power amp in between or an amp head which I wouldn't be able to afford over that.

Apologies if I posted in the wrong format or for any mistake in this.

Also sorry for the long post , lot of talk from my side.

Here, Have a
 
#2
Welcome to TB!
We usually refer to a unit that contains a preamp, power amp, and speaker altogether as a “combo”. The Rumble 40, Ampeg RB and Peavey Max115 are all combos. Some combos provide connections to add an additional external cabinet, but none of your combos do.

A bass amp (“head”) is a unit that combines a preamp and a power amp, and is used to drive external cabinets.

Cabinets are enclosures that contain speakers but no amplifier. Markbass makes both 115 combos and 115 cabinets so you need to be more specific. If it is indeed an external cabinet you will need either a bass amplifier or a power amplifier to use it. In the latter case, your Behringer Vamp is your preamp between your bass and the power amp.

In order to suggest a bass amp, it is helpful to know what your musical tastes are, what kind of places you will be playing in, budget, etc.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bassic_desires, gtirard, LiptonJigglers and 3 others
#3
abarson said:
Welcome to TB!
We usually refer to a unit that contains a preamp, power amp, and speaker altogether as a “combo”. The Rumble 40, Ampeg RB and Peavey Max115 are all combos. Some combos provide connections to add an additional external cabinet, but none of your combos do.

A bass amp (“head”) is a unit that combines a preamp and a power amp, and is used to drive external cabinets.

Cabinets are enclosures that contain speakers but no amplifier. Markbass makes both 115 combos and 115 cabinets so you need to be more specific. If it is indeed an external cabinet you will need either a bass amplifier or a power amplifier to use it. In the latter case, your Behringer Vamp is your preamp between your bass and the power amp.

In order to suggest a bass amp, it is helpful to know what your musical tastes are, what kind of places you will be playing in, budget, etc.
Click to expand...

Apologies , I didnt frame my details and requirements properly.

The Markbass 115 is an external cab Ny300 watts model which will definitely require an head or a power amp in this case , some person was selling it used and it was cheap and affordable for me but the head for markbass along with that would become unaffordable for me.

So I had picked rumble 40 or ampeg rb both 10 inches and were also at the same cost for me and they both are combo amps but had a pa line out so I decided between either.

For now I saw a peavey 60 I which was 15 inch and bigger than both of the previous woofers and also pretty cheap.
But its out of stock so I might wait but I have no idea about peavey , from what I had heard through the grapevine that they are generally not so reliable so I also wanted an opinion about them.

Also about my musical taste , I was trying to emulate Chris Wolstenholme or Joe Dart or that royal blood dude's tone for starters so I was looking for markbass or fender but if peavey offers me that plus I was anyways going to run a zoom B3N or a behringer vamp pro either so I can emulate those cab sims from that.

Sorry for the long rambling about the bush.

Here's a
 
Last edited:
#5
abarson said:
Your grapevine is withered. Peavey has a reputation for building very reliable equipment.
The Max115 60 watt combo hasn’t been in production for ages but they do have a new line of good combos.
The DI line out is to connect an amp to a mixer or audio interface, not a cabinet.
Click to expand...

Yeah I mean the PA line out for the mixer

I might check out some new peavey bass amps then , I think the 300 watter which is a max II is also there albeit a bit more expensive but its 300 and an amp or else I will check out more recent peavey ones

You could also recommend some other amp models too
 
Last edited:
#6
  1. What kind of band situations are you playing in?
  2. How many people in the band?
  3. What genre of music?
  4. Have you used the combo setups on stage and were you able to hear yourself at a show?
From everything you have posted, I think you are digging yourself a hole. It looks like you are buying what you can afford rather than researching what you truly need. It's OK though. If you don't have the knowledge about what you really need, you can't make the better decision! Talkbass will help with that!

Amp recommendations: a 500 watt at 4ohm head is a good place to start. Coupled with the Markbass 15 (if that is a stand-alone bass cabinet).
 
  • Like
Reactions: Starling_D
#7
Gearhead17 said:
  1. What kind of band situations are you playing in?
  2. How many people in the band?
  3. What genre of music?
  4. Have you used the combo setups on stage and were you able to hear yourself at a show?
From everything you have posted, I think you are digging yourself a hole. It looks like you are buying what you can afford rather than researching what you truly need. It's OK though. If you don't have the knowledge about what you really need, you can't make the better decision! Talkbass will help with that!

Amp recommendations: a 500 watt at 4ohm head is a good place to start. Coupled with the Markbass 15 (if that is a stand-alone bass cabinet).
Click to expand...

Yeah the Markbass 151 , I should have been clear , thats a standalone cab 300 mb 151

The cab along with the behringer or zoom processor is in my range but getting an amp head might dent that.

Thats why I wanted to go for a 50 or 60 watts so that I could practice at home as well and carry it. Besides those amps have a pa line out for the mixer as well or I could mic it too , worst case.

For now , the band lost a bassist and I was the guitarist so I am moving to bass and we might try and practice it as a royal blood duo type of thing.

I have never actually used any combo amp bass setup of my own but I used a hartke 50 once and I wasnt happy with hartke at all.
 
#8
Starling_D said:
I plan to go for an amp or a cab , for cab I only have one option markbass 1*15 ny 300 watts

And for amp , I am keeping 2 to 3 , rumble 40 or ampeg 50 rb both 10 inch speakers

And a Peavey max115e which is a 60 watt 15 inch speaker but I have no idea since it's peavey

As for processor I will either take a behringer vamp pro bass or a zoom b3n so I am mostly using the processor for simulating

Also you could suggest some of your amp choice. I will try to look into them as well

And as for the cab I heard that I wouldn't be able to plug the behringer directly into the cab as I would need a power amp in between or an amp head which I wouldn't be able to afford over that.

Apologies if I posted in the wrong format or for any mistake in this.

Also sorry for the long post , lot of talk from my side.

Here, Have a
Click to expand...
The NY 151 is 400w 8 ohms.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Starling_D
#12
Stylee Mousse said:
Find a used head you can afford, put it on the 15 and rock out. It will be fun. Oh and split the signal and also run yer guitar amp all distorted but don’t go too loud there. Cut lows out of that line so you don’t blow it up
Click to expand...

Doubtful as the cabinet is just stretching my estimated range along with the processor , amp heads would be expensive , cant find an used one , only found an used cab
 
#16
If you don't mind something heavier, you can find old Peavey/SWR/Ampeg heads for the same price as that combo amp to power the cabinet. It'll be louder and sound better, and you can replace the amp head down the line with something lighter and more powerful if you feel the need
 
  • Like
Reactions: Starling_D
#17
john hennessy said:
If you don't mind something heavier, you can find old Peavey/SWR/Ampeg heads for the same price as that combo amp to power the cabinet. It'll be louder and sound better, and you can replace the amp head down the line with something lighter and more powerful if you feel the need
Click to expand...

If I could , I would have , I saw some used little marks not a lot of ampegs , just 1 or 2 peaveys but in bad condition but they are just too expensive for me at this pt, maybe when I get a full-time job I might buy and get those along with a cab
 
#18
Starling_D said:
If I could, I would have , I saw some used little marks not a lot of Ampegs, just 1 or 2 peaveys but in bad condition but they are just too expensive for me at this pt, maybe when I get a full-time job I might buy and get those along with a cab
Click to expand...

Best advice we can all give you: buy more bass gear when YOU HAVE THE MONEY TO DO SO. STOP purchasing "good deals" right now. Lurk around Talkbass some more and find out what you really need to purchase for playing out. My concern is that you will spend hundreds of dollars in the next few months and end up with a pile of gear that is sort of good, but completely useless for what you are trying to do. Then you will need to sell all of it at a loss, just to get something that will make you happy. Don't ask me how I know that. ;)

My advice to all bass players, avoid the combo, and buy separate amp heads and cabinets. You will always have more flexibility in tone AND volume with separate pieces.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Marko 1 and Starling_D
#19
If you’re on a budget, I’d try and shoot for a 12” combo for a band. You might be able to squeak by on a 10” if you keep the volume levels in check and/or have a Pa to plug into.

Rumble, Ampeg BA or RB, Peavey max are all great. Just get as much speaker as you can!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Starling_D
#20
CallMeAl said:
If you’re on a budget, I’d try and shoot for a 12” combo for a band. You might be able to squeak by on a 10” if you keep the volume levels in check and/or have a Pa to plug into.

Rumble, Ampeg BA or RB, Peavey max are all great. Just get as much speaker as you can!
Click to expand...

Even the ampeg micro cl is possible for me if I stretch out a bit because its ampeg plus its 2 10 inchers
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: CallMeAl

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back