Head and Cab advice

[Ljorges]

Hello fellow bassists,
So my little carvin mb10 finally gave up the ghost. So it's time to upgrade. I've just recently started to gig with a small group, mostly at bars, car shows, and other smaller venues.
I'm looking for a head and cab for my fender pbass. We mostly play motown, Sam cooke, James brown, Beatles, classic rock. We don't have pa support at the venues so we haul our gear in every time.
Looking at a 1200$-1500$ budget.
Recommendations?

 

[Ljorges]

In my area, small venues in bars means very small stages so a cabinet with a small footprint is what I would recommend.

I use two GK Neo IV 112 cabs with a class D amp of 500 watts and never had to turn it up more than 40%.

I’m now considering a 210 cab such as a Markbass MB58R 102 PURE for its very light weight and smaller footprint but the tone doesn’t convince me so far………

Tons of options are available nowadays but for your Motown stuff, an Ampeg cab would be a good fit IMO.

I'm assuming that the cab accounts for most of the tone that I'm looking for. Are the ampeg cabs more reliable than some of their pf heads, like the pf500.
I was given the suggestion to get a used pf500 and ampeg 2x10 cab, but I've been reading quite a bit of negative comments on the pf500.

 

[Gervais Cote]

I'm assuming that the cab accounts for most of the tone that I'm looking for. Are the ampeg cabs more reliable than some of their pf heads, like the pf500.
I was given the suggestion to get a used pf500 and ampeg 2x10 cab, but I've been reading quite a bit of negative comments on the pf500.

According to what I witnessed, the cabs are reliable but some amp heads are not. The Ampeg SVT Pro is bulletproof though.

 

[Ljorges]

According to what I witnessed, the cabs are reliable but some amp heads are not. The Ampeg SVT Pro is bulletproof though.

The whole line of svt pro or specific model?

 

[tubedude]

Usually a makeshift stage.

Outdoors are tough on bass. So much power is required to get the same sound as an indoor stage with a back wall. Without PA reinforcement, you might have to just enjoy the good sound on stage. Getting huge cabs for the occasional outdoor gig means excessive wear on the back for all gigs.

 

[bherman]

Well…….

Maybe I should stop focusing on sound, improve my technique and get a Markbass cab dedicated to live performances then !

Ha! I guess I'm the one who started this by stating in my comments that "personally, I'd don't care for MarkBass much". Somehow that always brings out the MB defenders. Particularly in this case where the OP stated that he mostly plays Motown, Beatles, Sam Cooke, etc I think that there are much better choices. I play upright bass also, and I think that some of the MB stuff is well-suited for that, but in this case I think that the OP would be much better off with Mesa, Genzler, or Ampeg sound profiles.

 

[agedhorse]

Not to be contrary, but the same can be said for Mesa heads. It's a sound I personally love, but it's not for everyone.

I find this a puzzling comment, especially because there are 4 very different voicings available in the line. The D-350/800/800+, WD-800, TT-800 and BD-800 voicings, none of which are much alike.

 

[SJan3]

The ubiquity of Markbass gear is enough to prove the shade unwarranted IMO. I'm guessing that much of the shade is thrown by the brightness of all that yellow more than it is by sound and performance.

Artist endorsements have never swayed me much, as that is often more about the money (highest bidder) than sound preference. I think that most accomplished bassists are going to be able to get a great stage sound out of anything of high quality, so why not: "Show me the money!!!"???
These days especially, in the era of IEMs, the backline is often just for show, but certainly not always.

I agree but I don't think these world class players would use gear they didn't like when they have so many choices.

 

[SJan3]

I find this a puzzling comment, especially because there are 4 very different voicings available in the line. The D-350/800/800+, WD-800, TT-800 and BD-800 voicings, none of which are much alike.

And, FWIW, I find the Voicing control to do exactly what it says. In combination with the 4 band EQ, Gain control and Bright switch, it yields a host of different tones. I find the D350 to be a very flexible amp!

 

[agedhorse]

And, FWIW, I find the Voicing control to do exactly what it says. In combination with the 4 band EQ, Gain control and Bright switch, it yields a host of different tones. I find the D350 to be a very flexible amp!

They all are, each in its own way.

 

[Hawk620]

Hello fellow bassists,
So my little carvin mb10 finally gave up the ghost. So it's time to upgrade. I've just recently started to gig with a small group, mostly at bars, car shows, and other smaller venues.
I'm looking for a head and cab for my fender pbass. We mostly play motown, Sam cooke, James brown, Beatles, classic rock. We don't have pa support at the venues so we haul our gear in every time.
Looking at a 1200$-1500$ budget.
Recommendations?

I have just one word for you and it's not plastics.

Genzler. You can get the MG350 combo in your price range and experience something much better than your Carvin and a 175w 1x10 combo. Dig a little deeper and add a second BA10-2-S2 cab and you'll have 350w 2x10 rig that will handle about anything you'll ever need it for.

As for portability, the combo weighs just 23lbs and the BA10-2-S2 cab just 19lbs. You can easily grab one in each hand and carry them in. I'm 75 years old and live in second floor unit with 22 steps up from the ground floor. What I'm suggesting to you is my own rig and it's great with any bass.

Here it is with my PBass. Even the combo alone can handle a gig.

 

[Gervais Cote]

The whole line of svt pro or specific model?

The ones I witnessed were the SVT Pro 3 and 4

 

[Wyvern]

Anything but Markbass. They sound plastic and they like to die for no reason. I just demoed some $1000 MB head and cab and it sounded like it was in the other room- horrible.

Honestly I would rock a Heartkey head- sounds good, reliable, affordable, Their Hy-drive cabs are really nice, but you can get some Avatar cabs to save money, the 212 is easy to move Solo, the 410 gets heavy fast, they also make/made neos that are lighter.

Their kit looks very utilitarian so people sleep on them.

 

[Wyvern]

I agree but I don't think these world class players would use gear they didn't like when they have so many choices.

Money.
Endorsement money.
The fans probably aren't going to hear a difference between a good rig, PA or Markbass.
But the artist will hear that endorsement check hit their bank account, "Cha, Ching"

Sorry, I'm being opinionated, but bad products and endorsement deals make me angry.

If you like it, more power to yah! you buy for you, not for me.

 

[Hawk620]

If going with an Ampeg SVT get the SVT III if you can not the Pro version. It's not the same amp nor is it as good. I played an SVT III for years. They're bullet proof.

 

[Tommy Sparks]

From the music you play I’d suggest you try a Fender Rumble. That would be my choice if I was in your situation. That’s just me though.
As said above it’s up to your ears.

 

[dune]

Not to be contrary, but the same can be said for Mesa heads.

That's either one of the most inaccurate generalizations I've seen here, or you forgot to include the "".

 

[SJan3]

Money.
Endorsement money.
The fans probably aren't going to hear a difference between a good rig, PA or Markbass.
But the artist will hear that endorsement check hit their bank account, "Cha, Ching"

Sorry, I'm being opinionated, but bad products and endorsement deals make me angry.

If you like it, more power to yah! you buy for you, not for me.

Yea, you have a case of MDS. I disagree with your assumption but that's what America is all about; the freedom to express yourself.
Personally, I would not use anything I didn't like, endorsement or not.
Happy 4th!!

 

[Ljorges]

Thanks for all the input. I keep seeing the big names pop up which is expected.
I think I'm leaning towards a used mesa d800. I think the d800+ adds features that at my level, I don't need.
So, that's a lot of power. Would a 2x10 cab handle that or do I need to move to a 2x12?

 

[Wyvern]

Yea, you have a case of MDS. I disagree with your assumption but that's what America is all about; the freedom to express yourself.
Personally, I would not use anything I didn't like, endorsement or not.
Happy 4th!!

Sadly a huge part of America is all about status, name dropping and attention so corporate America is all about assigning a familiar face with a product and usually the one who offers the most wins the bid, because people usually put money above principles.

Just look at the sell-out kings KISS and Shaq.

Not everyone is like this though.

 

[Wyvern]

Thanks for all the input. I keep seeing the big names pop up which is expected.
I think I'm leaning towards a used mesa d800. I think the d800+ adds features that at my level, I don't need.
So, that's a lot of power. Would a 2x10 cab handle that or do I need to move to a 2x12?

Personally I think the 2X12 will sound better.

But size does equal power handling (or volume), it usually does affect the response.