First Cab

Get out to some stores and try some things. Maybe consider an Avatar 2x12 and the GK head that fits your budget. Buying used usually makes sense.

 

you don't need a 810!!! most people don't.

check out some 210's, 112's, 410's.

if you want to buy new, www.avatarspeakers.com seems to be a good place to start on a limited budget, or used cabinets, just make sure they work!!!

you might have to buy used to get a decent amp for $400-500. I recommend you get a minimum of 400w@4ohms output.

 

Unless you plan to play Madison Square Garden sized venues, you don't need a 8x10.

I played a large club last week and the volume of my 450W Ampeg head was only turned to 2 or 3. This is only with 2 2x10 cabs.

Most of us use cabs only for stage sound.

An Ampeg fridge is 165lbs and a complete pain in the a$$ to move around.

 

Poke around craigslist, ebay, etc and see what kind of deals you can find. My Current Rock-Rig cost me $450 dollars. Said rig is an ampeg svt-3 pro into an eden 4x10. You'd be hard pressed to find such crazy deals but you can still find really good stuff for much cheaper than new.

With that budget... don't, don't, don't, don't buy new.

Some brands to look at:

Heads: Ampeg, Gallien Krueger, SWR, Ashdown, Peavey, Carvin
Cabs: Ampeg, Aguilar, Carvin, SWR, Hartke, GB, Avatar

The above all have different pros and cons and provide different sounds. Once you figure out what sound you are after, you can thin out the list a little bit. However, being that you probably want to keep it in the used market, you will need to either have plenty of patience or a willingness to sacrifice when making your decisions.

 

The kind of music you play will help us help you. Also, what tone do you want?

 

my boy

r u in walla walla

make a run to seattle to bass northwest and als guitarville
and there is a gc in seattle and one in tukwila

i am an old coot now and i have hauled my share of 8 x 10's
i used to use two of em with my svt

2 x 15's
2 x 12's
and others

i still have one 2 x 15

and recently i downsized to:
a mesa walkabout head (300 w rms) and solid state with a tube front end

and a schroeder 1212L

i have only had this rig for a month
and i have less than 100 hours on it
but i dig it i dig it i dig it

its loud
it is full on creamy toniness
and it is lite
the mesa is 13 lbs
and the schroeder is 42 lbs

my back and the boys in the band thank me

 

I'm gonna suggest you look for a used Hartke 4.5 XL. I played one of these for about 10 yrs in all sorts of situations and it never let me down and they can be had used pretty cheap. The metal cone look that was once all the rage has not become passé.