I currently have a Gallien Krueger Backline 1x15 Combo amp. But I am looking for a new rig thats in a decent price range and that has a lot of power and good tone. Pretty much what everyone is looking for. I am looking at a used fender pro 400 off of Craigslist and I was wondering what peoples experiences are with this particular amp. If I shouldn't get it, what is a good combo or a good bass rig (head and cab) that has served you well in the past. Thanks for the help.
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Fender Pro 400
- Thread starter muuzikmaan
- Start date
I used a friend's 400 Pro 2x10 on a club gig once. It had decent tone and enough power for that particular room which holds about 150 people. I don't know how it would do in a larger venue.
Not bad if you can get it at a decent price. But I hate to say it, they are heavy and are known to break down. Thats what a sales rep at a local store said to me.
popgadget
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- Sep 4, 2005
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I have the original (non-pro) Bassman 400 combo and Iwould have to say that it is a very under rated. It has a very tight sound, no honk at all. Plenty loud and a quiet DI. I bought it new and have used it hard, including using it with a 4-10 extension cab which presented the amp with substainially less than the recomended 4 ohm load. It never whimpered, overheated or showed any other sign of duress. Lately I have been using an Eden WT-400 with an Ampeg 410HLN. It is definitely louder, but I have to use compression to deal with the honk.
If the deal on the Fender is good, I would go for it, I still use mine.
If the deal on the Fender is good, I would go for it, I still use mine.
I used to work in a guitar store that carried Fender, Ampeg, Hartke, Peavey, Ashdown, and Crate bass heads/cabs. We had a 400 Pro in the mix. I have to say that the Fender was accurately rated on its power; it was very loud. However, the tone seemed lifeless and without character. I tried it on 115's, 210's, 410's, and 810's from all of the before-mentioned companies. In comparison with all the other heads, it just wasn't there, if you know what I mean.
popgadget
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- Sep 4, 2005
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When I said under rated, I was not referring to power output but rather its standing in the comunity. They were not usually held in high regard. I was also referring to the combo amp with 2-10's. In my opinion it stands up very well compared to other combos its size.
I would agree with this. I thought it was underpowered, but now reading this, it was more about the tone being lifeless. I bought it at GC, used it with a 115 and 410, but returned it within the 30 days.
I used to have a 400 Pro combo (2 10s) and loved it. It did well against a drummer and a guitarist with a Fender Twin Chorus -- rock and blues. Never tried it with an extension cab. It really had great tone and just the right amount of dialed in grit. Fantastic with a passive Jazz. It took me a while to find the right sound, but when I did it was what i was looking for. Sat great in the band mix. Never had any problems with it. Dug the built in compression.
But it was heavy. 80lbs and a bit bulky made it getting up and down the stairs every time we practiced a drag.
I'm happy with my new rig, but really miss that amp.
But it was heavy. 80lbs and a bit bulky made it getting up and down the stairs every time we practiced a drag.
I'm happy with my new rig, but really miss that amp.
