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Down-Sizing My Rig

A

americanmade

Feb 12, 2005
66
0
40
#1
My current rig is a Kustom Groove Bass 1200 through a Schroeder 1212, but I'm afraid I need to downsize for a few reasons:
-Financial woes (about $700 in tickets in one weekend)
-This rig doesn't shine unless it's really pushed, which is not necesary for the seedy and crowded bars I play in a college town so I feel like it's complete overkill when I'm competing with two fender princeton 65's (drowning out drums and guitars is fun, but not necesarily musically useful)
-I'm not comfortable bringing a rig this expensive to said college town
That being said, I have a few questions for you guys. I was wondering what you would expect Guitar Center to pay for this gear; I was hoping for about $500 for the cabinet and $300 for the amp, or am I just kidding myself? I was also wondering what you guys would recommend in the way of a smaller/cheaper rig that can handle bars and smalller shows. At 6'4" and 200+ pounds, portability isn't as much of a concern as cheapness. I was checking out the Ashdown MagC115T (only on the internet unfortunately), but I've read they have a tendency to fart out and I play a few songs in drop D. I like the idea of having one 15 with a lot of power so I have the option of adding a second 15 or 2 tens later if I want/need. I play up-beat power-pop and pop-punk with either a p-bass of a schecter Ultra Bass (also considering selling, though). I've never experienced a 15 inch speaker having a tough time keeping up with me, so maybe my ears aren't refined enough or some of these guys are too particular. Please chime in with any other suggestions for a good bar rig. Thanks, and sorry for the long post.
_Mike
 
#4
Why don't you try selling your stuff here on TB? Much more likely to get a fair price. As to how much your gear is worth, well that depends on it's condition and what you paid for it, etc...

The two things come to mind for your situation. Either an older Peavey 1x15 combo (TNT, Combo 300, etc.). Or an older GK 400RB and used good 1x15 (Peavey, Bag End, older Eden D115, Avatar, etc.). The Peavey combo might be your cheapest route... plus, most if not all of their 15" combos allow you to add an extension speaker if you find that you need a little more volume.
 
#5
I'm using an Eden Nemesis NA650 and an Avatar SB112 Delta LF. Till it was all said and done, I put about $900 into both. I play a 5 string in a band that has two guitarists running through Mesa's and a rock drummer. No problem being heard and I have hardly ever run the master over half - even outdoors. The low B doesn't suffer at all either (as a matter of fact the guys in the band all smile when I go for it) and my rig has never left me down. I have also had lots of positive feedback about the sound from other musicians. It's a great, nice size, easily transported combo and I highly recommend it.
 
#6
Right now my bar rig consists of an old Eden D210T cabinet on it's side and a Peavey Max 160 on top. Very portable, very flexible (I could get a lot more power and volume by adding another 8 ohm cab), somewhat inexpensive, and sounds quite good. At my last GTG it was the only "big" amp there and it really filled the room, everyone liked the tone.
 
#7
Thanks for the advice guys, but I think some of you have a different idea of what cheap is to a college student. My current rig cost me less than a grand and I thought that was expensive. I would like to find something for about $500 or less. It could be pushed up to maybe $600, but that would put a stretch on my wallet. I have heard good things about Peavey combos all over TB, but I've despised every one I've touched. One of my complaints with my current rig is that I really can't feel much rumble for how much power I'm pushing, so I was hoping 15's might help with that. Nobody has anything else to say about the ashdown combos? The prices on those are pretty hard to beat.
 
#8
dude just my 2 cents, but get a part time job to cover expenses, or put your equipment to work and make some money with it. don't go to guitar center and expect to sell your stuff or trade down. they will rip you a new one. it would probably end up costing you about $200 to trade your rig for a $600 one. if you have to get rid of your stuff, sell it yourself!!!! it takes longer but you can make out ok. then you can stroke up into guitar center with cash an haggle from a position of strength. (everybody takes cash, not just guitar center) or better yet buy used and come out even better. there is no shame in downsizing your rig, just be smart about it.
 
#9
Also, if you're in or around a big city, check your local craigslist.org. I live in Chicago and the music instrument section is great. I've sold gear for good prices, and I always see good deals pop up. That said, it's the sort of thing that you have to check every day, but it takes what, 5 minutes max to run through all the listings for the day? Not a big deal at all.

If you're trying to spend next to nothing, go used. Best bet is to go to a Guitar Center and play everything they got, new and used, and see what you like, it'll make a lot easier to know what you want to keep your eyes open for on the used market.
 
#10
You want a smaller more effective rig than a 1200/Schro 1210?
Dream on!
Seriously, that's a great rig you have there, and I wouldn't part with any of it unless you have the inclination to ditch the somewhat heavy 1200 head for something lighter like TFB, Markbass, Superfly....
My 1210 opens up nicely at lower volumes, and kills at high volumes. I've not played a 1200, but the issue may be how it works, or how you're setting it.
Also, it's relatively cheap to insure your gear, check misc forum for ideas there.
YMMV, g'luck:)
 
#11
CrackBass said:
dude just my 2 cents, but get a part time job to cover expenses, or put your equipment to work and make some money with it. don't go to guitar center and expect to sell your stuff or trade down. they will rip you a new one. it would probably end up costing you about $200 to trade your rig for a $600 one. if you have to get rid of your stuff, sell it yourself!!!! it takes longer but you can make out ok. then you can stroke up into guitar center with cash an haggle from a position of strength. (everybody takes cash, not just guitar center) or better yet buy used and come out even better. there is no shame in downsizing your rig, just be smart about it.
Click to expand...


+1

IN lieu of GC, you will get a slightly better value if you give a couple hundred bucks to a crack whore and then have her break your gear, sell it on ebay for you, and invest the proceeds for you.

GC will molest you on the price, and then charge you 300% too much for lesser gear.

Been there on the tickets. The worst part is what NJ car insurance co's do to you afterwards. YEEEEEEEEOOOOOUCH.
 
#13
americanmade said:
I have heard good things about Peavey combos all over TB, but I've despised every one I've touched.
Click to expand...

Have you tried putting something in front of one of these? I've used a SansAmp BDDI with combos from Peavey, GenzBenz, Carvin, Crate & G-K with great success. The MXR M-80 or Fulltone Bass Drive will also do the trick.

Recipe for success: Get a great sounding "always on" overdrive/preamp pedal and plug it in to an inexpensive combo.

You should be able to do this on the used market for well under $500.
 
#14
I agree. Get a Peavey TNT 150 or maybe an SWR WM15. Both are nice amps, get pretty loud, can be found cheap and benefit from some sort of preamp pedal.

I used a WM10 for a long time - wish I still had it sometimes - and it really sounded nice with an old TubeWorks 4001 tube DI - wish I still had that, too.

Preamps, DI's, etc. can really make a difference with a more inexpensive amp. Heck, I even use a Radial JDI with my Eden head.
 
#15
NUTT said:
Have you tried putting something in front of one of these? I've used a SansAmp BDDI with combos from Peavey, GenzBenz, Carvin, Crate & G-K with great success. The MXR M-80 or Fulltone Bass Drive will also do the trick.

Recipe for success: Get a great sounding "always on" overdrive/preamp pedal and plug it in to an inexpensive combo.

You should be able to do this on the used market for well under $500.
Click to expand...

+2

I recently picked up an Ampeg BA-112 for practice and playing with a couple of guitar player buddies. I was initially a bit disappointed by it's overall volume. Then I plugged in my Ibanez PD7. Wow! Now it's plenty loud with impressive low end. Very solid sound.
 
#20
Chef said:
You want a smaller more effective rig than a 1200/Schro 1210?
Dream on!
Seriously, that's a great rig you have there, and I wouldn't part with any of it unless you have the inclination to ditch the somewhat heavy 1200 head for something lighter like TFB, Markbass, Superfly....
My 1210 opens up nicely at lower volumes, and kills at high volumes. I've not played a 1200, but the issue may be how it works, or how you're setting it.
Also, it's relatively cheap to insure your gear, check misc forum for ideas there.
YMMV, g'luck:)
Click to expand...

Actually, he posted a 1212 not a 1210 in the first post.
Just wanted to clear up any misconception.

GC won't even know what a Schroeder is. You will get a
better return here. (You have to have a supporting membership
to sell on TB, but you'll get a better price and then some.)

Good cab ideas above, I have nothing more to add to that.
 

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