First bass amp advise?

[SamJ]

GK212
Traynor SB200
Fender Rumble
Aguilar Tone Hammer

all good heads from what I've seen and heard myself...

As for giging, it's going to depend on where you play and how loud the drummer and guitarist play, but you should be ok with 200-300w and a decent 1x12 to start with... Do yourself a favor and get the best you can afford, so you don't go thru the headache and added expense of buy, sell, trade that many of us do.

 

[buldog5151bass]

I like going modular rather than combos. Look at class D (lightweight) heads in the 300-500 watt range, such as Carvin BX-500 - Kustom makes one similar.

For cabs, I would look at a pair of 2x10s, 1x12s, (you can keep one cab in the rehearsal room, one at home for practice, and use both for gigs) or a lightweight 2x12. For the price, GK is a good option. Based on where you are, you might want to look up Revsound, who makes a 38 pound 2x12.

This gives you the most options, and gives you a rehearsal/home practice/gig package for about a grand.

One 15 probably is not enough.

 

[Jim Carr]

@oldangelmidnigh — What is your budget? Realistically, if you are not buying used gear, get ready to spend ~$900 USD.

 

[electracoyote]

A good rule of thumb for a gigging rig is 300-500w into a 2X12 or 4X10.

Indeed. Or a 1X15.

I found cutting corners with size, watts, and speaker surface to be a big mistake, especially when I'm around loud-azz drummers.

No matter how large your rig is, you can always turn it down. But if it's too small, once it farts out, you're done turning up. Game over, the drummer and rest of the band carry the day and you look like a mime.

So if there's any possibility of gigging this rig, get one with enough output and bottom end to at least match your drummer.

 

[iualum]

@oldangelmidnigh — What is your budget? Realistically, if you are not buying used gear, get ready to spend ~$900 USD.

I'd still do used. Buying used (still excellent shape, though), that amount should get anyone a very respectable amp/cab(s) setup. All you need to do is to do research, scour what's available, & bide your time. Not needing/wanting it immediately can almost assure pretty sweet gear. And if you don't need the full $900, that much better.

(Wish the OP was around to see his thread , g****r**t .)

 

[JimmyM]

You've gotten some good advice so far for the most part. Estimating how much volume you need just to get by is a bit of an art, and it takes a little experience and trial and error. For example, with my band and a PA system, I can use a 35w practice combo with a single 10", and I can cover a very small room with it if I have to. And I have covered an 800-steat theater with a 25w Ampeg B-15 and no PA. My band is not loud but we're not quiet either, and we have horns as well. But if I'm jamming with another band and I'm unsure of what I'm going to need for volume, I always make sure that I bring a rig that has some power and air movement behind it, usually like 300w into a 410 or two 210's or two 115's or similar. Not too gigantic, not too small. The 300w amp/410 cab rig is a classic setup for people looking to gig because it can do pretty much everything you'd need, isn't too giant, and is available used dirt cheap. And if I were starting out and didn't have anything else, I would get a bigger rig before I get a smaller one.

That's not to say the smaller one won't do you. But if you have to guess how much you'll need, rule of thumb is to bring more than you think you'll need. And if you're looking for amps with character, I might invite you to take a look at the Ampeg line of amps.

 

[JimmyM]

(Wish the OP was around to see his thread , g****r**t .)

Take it easy, Wallace Only been a day.

 

[iualum]

Wallace? Do you mean Francis ?

 

[JimmyM]

No, Wallace Shawn. The guy in your avatar.

 

[iualum]

Oh yeah. Him. That Wallace .

 

[Clap Trap]

I would recommend the Markbass LM250 Black over the Rumble 200

 

[oldangelmidnigh]

Thanks for the thoughts, everybody.

If I go with the Rumble and its 1x15, would a 2x10 extension be a good supplement? Does mixing 10s and 15s get you a best of both worlds situation or does it tend to be a mess?

Is it usually an option to line out to the PA?

 

[buldog5151bass]

Search mixing drivers and you will get multiple explanations. Short answer is probably not.

 

[static0verdrive]

500W micro head with an 8ohm cab. If you need more, you simply add an 8ohm cab! Start with a 2x10 or a 1x15, and get the other to expand.

 

[Anachronism]

Thanks for the thoughts, everybody.

If I go with the Rumble and its 1x15, would a 2x10 extension be a good supplement? Does mixing 10s and 15s get you a best of both worlds situation or does it tend to be a mess?

Is it usually an option to line out to the PA?

Some people on this forum really, really hate mixing drivers and will probably let you know why shortly (they also really hate stereotypes about the characteristics of different size speakers). Adding more speakers will get you more volume, and generally I'd say the tone turns out ok, but the results can vary. The only way to be sure of good tone when mixing speakers is to test it. Meanwhile, getting a duplicate of a cab you already like will always result in more of the same good tone.

 

[JimmyM]

Thanks for the thoughts, everybody.

If I go with the Rumble and its 1x15, would a 2x10 extension be a good supplement? Does mixing 10s and 15s get you a best of both worlds situation or does it tend to be a mess?

It can go either way, and the only way to know is to actually try it. But they're both full range bass cabs, so the best-of-both-worlds thing is a myth, really. I've seen cabs with 10"s go much lower than cabs with 15"s and vice versa, and I've seen bright and snappy 115 cabs and dark sounding 210 cabs and vice versa. Listen with ears, not eyes

 

[cfsporn]

Thanks for the thoughts, everybody.

If I go with the Rumble and its 1x15, would a 2x10 extension be a good supplement? Does mixing 10s and 15s get you a best of both worlds situation or does it tend to be a mess?

Is it usually an option to line out to the PA?

Don't mix drivers, don't talk about mixing drivers, don't even think of mixing drivers.

 

[SamJ]

Thanks for the thoughts, everybody.

If I go with the Rumble and its 1x15, would a 2x10 extension be a good supplement? Does mixing 10s and 15s get you a best of both worlds situation or does it tend to be a mess?

Is it usually an option to line out to the PA?

oh now you've opened up a can of worms! haha.. Yeah, I've done A LOT of research on this recently, and while for example Mesa markets some o their cabs in a "mix", the consensus on here (and I trust the overall pulse at TB for a lot of things) is that mixing is a net loss of clarity and tone.. Pick a size and stick with it.

I'm a 10" guy.. (don't go into the gutter with that!) size works for me, so I got 210's times 2..

For a 1st rig, you can really go with anything from a single 210, to a 1x12 or 1x15... try before you buy IMHO.. and go with something that offers a quality driver... such as anything made by Eminence.

 

[Bill Whitehurst]

My vote is for used.
Find something good.
Not nesassarily current, but known for being
decent sounding, reliable, a known quantity.
A good vintage rig is still a good rig.

Modular.
An amp and speaker cab.
That lets you upgrade one or the other
as deals and/or need arises.

While almost anything wil work for home practice,
3-500 watts is a good starting point if you plan on playing out.
Plan on matching speaker cabs.
You may be fine starting with one, but a second one may well be needed to play out.

115s, 210s, 410s.
A lot may depend on what kind of space you have to put them in
or vehichle to haul them.
You might find a screamin' deal on an 810 or 215.
If it's just too good to let it get away, then snag it...
if you can move it
or
have a practice room it can stay in.

 

[hrodbert696]

I've heard the "500-watts-into-a-4x10-is-the-absolute-minimum" thing a lot around here, and honestly it leaves me wondering what bars people are playing in or what insane drummers they're playing with. I've usually played with 200 watts into a 1x15 or 2x10 and the volume halfway up, and never had a problem being heard with a rock band in a bar. I can't visualize a band where that setup would be inadequate in a bar, unless said band were so obnoxiously ear-splitting loud it was driving customers out (and I have heard a few bands that did just that). A bigger rig might be fun, but it's hardly "necessary."

If the venue is bigger, I would assume there would be a PA and you can take a DI off your head or mic the cab. If you're playing outdoors AND have no PA support to piggyback on, then I can see saying more than a 200w 1x15 is "necessary," but only then.