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First Bass Rig for Under $500

avatar 210NEO....328.00 shipped.......www.avatarspeakers.com........acoustic B200H 200w head....www.musiciansfriend.com.....250.00 + tax...free shipping....i know its a little more than 500.00 but you will have brand new stuff ( and who doesnt like new stuff? )....i use an avatar 112NEO with an eden wtx-260 head and i love this little combo...i have played 300 seat churches without pa support with this....go ahead...spend a few more dollars and get that new car smell!!
 
+1000 to what UncleFluffy said.
I was actually going to post the same amp but he beat me to it. I just had a very positive experience with Carvin's Ebay store and would recommend them to anyone. I got an excellent deal on a Neo 410 and I couldn't be happier. If you don't see what you want there today keep checking back.

Fletch
 
A lot of people are recommending new cabs that are nearly $400-$500, leaving you nothing to buy a head with. I personally have a hard time finding decent used cabs at fair prices. It seems like everyone around here either has junk to unload or wants new prices for a used cab.

If you have to go new for a cab, I think dollar for dollar, Carvin is tough to beat. Their LS1503 (~$325) gets a lot of praise here, but I understand it has a rather strong midrange that can be difficult to dial out. If you're looking for a more traditional cab, you can try their BR210 ($250) or BR410 ($330). This will leave you at least $200 for a used head.

The BR615N is a combo with a tilt-back 15" speaker that will likely be loud enough for most gigs, and gives you the option of adding a second cab later on if you want. It is a little over your budget at $550, though.
Good luck.
 
Here's a thought...

I have a POD XTLive with Bass Model Packs installed. What if I got a 1000 watt power amp, say a used Carvin DCM Series, and then 2 1x12 PA type speakers. Something like this...

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into 2x
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Not necessarily that setup, as I'd have to buy used pieces in order to stay in my budget.

Then I can use my POD for tones, and play bass or guitar through the same setup. I can also choose to bring only one 1x12 if it's a small gig, or both 1x12's for larger shows, or for a stereo setup.

Thoughts?
 
That's what I'm building right now.

Single rack containing:

- Bass Pod Pro
- Guitar Pod Pro
- active crossover / rumble filter
- Carvin DCM2000-L
- computer interface

Seems like a good idea to me as well. Still waiting on delivery of the power amp so can't comment on how well it all goes together.
 
Not sure about speakers - I'm going to have to do some experimenting there myself. Going to start out with the fEarful 12/6 home-build design that's in another thread here.

Power amp should be 500W RMS or better, I'd say, to cover all possible situations. Some may say that's overkill, but I like overkill, it's good insurance.

Used power amps turn up on eBay, but make sure that's 500W of RMS power. A lot of cheaper brands advertise themselves as X thousand watts, but it's some non-standard "peak" or "music power" measurement. In fact, that's probably a good filter - if the advertised power is 2x the RMS power or higher, then it's junk.

As for brands ... err ... peavey, crown, qsc, ... anyone else care to chime in on good power amp makers?

Edit: just spotted this in the TB classifieds. Head is (a) good, (b) light, and (c) detachable.
 
I'm torn here guys! I see 3 workable options for me...

1. A used head (GK 400RB for example) with a 2x12 cab.
2. A used combo (Carvin BR510 for example).
3. A poweramp/speaker setup with my POD.

I feel like I would get better tones out of a straight bass setup, but it'd be a nice feature to be able to use an existing piece of gear (the POD) as well as have the opportunity there to gig on guitar, which will probably happen in the future, without having to buy a new rig.

That being said, IF I went with a straight bass rig, I'm then torn between a combo and a head/cab setup. Get a used 2x10 combo and stay well in my budget, but that might not be enough for my 5-string hard rock.
 
I think the GK 2x12 will suit you the best. It would be simplest, and since it is a head and a cab, it is expandable and upgradeable.

The Carvin is good, but it's a combo, so you'll be stuck with it.


The line 6 and the power amps would be great sounding, but will probably cost you the most in the end. You'll need a rack, speakers, cables, and all that stuff.

You're call. Can't go wrong with really any of those options.
 
I think the GK 2x12 will suit you the best. It would be simplest, and since it is a head and a cab, it is expandable and upgradeable.

The Carvin is good, but it's a combo, so you'll be stuck with it.


The line 6 and the power amps would be great sounding, but will probably cost you the most in the end. You'll need a rack, speakers, cables, and all that stuff.

You're call. Can't go wrong with really any of those options.

All great points, and exactly what is flowing through my head currently!

I have to weigh the options, and then see what deals might show up locally, especially in the cab market...