• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Head/Cab Suggestions and Advice

#24
I have alot of good things about that Hartke LH500. The head doesn't seem to have a whole lot of control but many people swear by it. My first impression is it doesn't have a whole lot of features but the reviews makes me think I am missing something.
 
#25
xXColaXx said:
I have alot of good things about that Hartke LH500. The head doesn't seem to have a whole lot of control but many people swear by it. My first impression is it doesn't have a whole lot of features but the reviews makes me think I am missing something.
Click to expand...

I just upgraded my lh500 to the lh1000. It may depend on the bass you have too. I have a EBMM Sterling and a Yamaha attitude running in mine. They both sound great.
 
#26
#27
Slackerprince said:
This cabinet just came out:

Buy Fender Rumble 410 4x10 Bass Speaker Cabinet | Amp Cabinets | Musician's Friend

A 4 ohm cabinet rated at 1000 watts with Eminence speakers. Can't go wrong for the price/in your price range.
Their 350 watt head might do it for you, but put you over your budget and may not be enough juice, but probably would.

Buy Fender Rumble 350 350W Bass Amp Head | Solid State Amp Heads | Musician's Friend

Maybe get a used GK head to go with it.
Good luck.

S
Click to expand...

I recently tried that fender setup. Loved the cab but wasn't to crazy about the head. I compared it with the lh1000 head and walked out with the Hartke. The cab doesn't lack any low end punch. Kinda heavy though. Main reason I got the hydrive cab.
 
#28
It is a bit over my budget though. I know I tried the combo version of the Fender rumble and I wasn't too satisfied with it. The head/cab may be different, I will definitely look into trying it out for myself though.

@BassPlayerBob How do/did you like the LH500. Is there anything you disliked? And did you have any issues dialing in your desired tone with so few knobs? The bass I play is a lower end Ibanez that I have adjusted to play nicely for me. Right now my focus is on the amp but I will be upgrading basses when I can as well.
 
#30
This might work:

Buy Fender Rumble 350 350W 2x10 Bass Combo Amp | Solid State Combo Amps | Musician's Friend

There are some happy Fender Bassman people here:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f15/fender-bassman-amp-club-388234/index4.html

You might be able to find a used SS Bassman combo that would work.
Not sure why I'm all over the Fender love today, just thought that brand
might work in your price point.
An Acoustic B200 or bigger head/cab might work for you:

http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Acoustic-B450-450W-2x10-Bass-Combo-Amp-?sku=484907

A bit over your price, but brand-new with warranty! Great tone in these amps, too.
Kind of tough getting enough juice and tone for $500.
Used is definitely going to be the way to go.

S
 
#31
xXColaXx said:
It is a bit over my budget though. I know I tried the combo version of the Fender rumble and I wasn't too satisfied with it. The head/cab may be different, I will definitely look into trying it out for myself though.

@BassPlayerBob How do/did you like the LH500. Is there anything you disliked? And did you have any issues dialing in your desired tone with so few knobs? The bass I play is a lower end Ibanez that I have adjusted to play nicely for me. Right now my focus is on the amp but I will be upgrading basses when I can as well.
Click to expand...

I loved the lh500. The only reason I upgraded was for tax purposes. My band covers a wide variety of artists like modern rock, motown, reggae, funk and classic rock. My dials are set as follows : bass at 3 mid at 8 and treble at 5. You have to remember that the tone knobs arent configured to cut and boost so at first glance you might think my bass control should be higher. They act like passive tone knobs. Each knob effects the other knobs characteristics. Really simple but powerful eq.
 
#32
bassplayerbob said:
I loved the lh500. The only reason I upgraded was for tax purposes. My band covers a wide variety of artists like modern rock, motown, reggae, funk and classic rock. My dials are set as follows : bass at 3 mid at 8 and treble at 5. You have to remember that the tone knobs arent configured to cut and boost so at first glance you might think my bass control should be higher. They act like passive tone knobs. Each knob effects the other knobs characteristics. Really simple but powerful eq.
Click to expand...

Oh yeah. A friend of mine has the lh500 and 2 xl410 cabs and he uses a gar model ibanez. He loves it.
 
#33
I am getting more and more interested in that head for sure. It was a bit off putting to see no graphic eq and only a couple knobs, but it seems like every owner loves it and every bass player has either played one or knows someone who owns and loves them.

With the LH500, what cab/s were you using and what size gigs have you played? Did you ever encounter any sort of struggle for volume or tone and in the price range, is there any head you would say is better, or just as good?
 
#34
xXColaXx said:
I am looking to put together a bass rig soon that will easily handle most decent size stage scenarios without having to sacrifice tone to push it to the max. I would like to keep it under $500. I have been told 10in speakers would be best for both finger play and slap ( I do both) but I am open to hear otherwise.

Any suggestions, links, videos, advice, or things I may want to look for are all greatly appreciate.

Thanks for your time!
Click to expand...

$500?

Tough order. Old SWR cab and an old GK head is where I'd go with this... but at $500 it will be tight. New gear is a non-starter. Nothing you will buy for $500 will get you where you want to be.
 
#35
I saw where you had posted earlier you were interested in the Carvin BX500. I just received one a week ago which doesn't make an expert by any means yet. But so far I love this little amp. I have paired it with an Avatar 2 x 12 I bought off of Craigslist. So far they sound great together and all together it was $650.00 or so for both units including the shipping for the Carvin. I obviously haven't had the opportunity to put it through all of its paces and get it completely dialed in but so far I am impressed with what I have been able to do with it. Flat out of the box it sounded great and it has only gotten better as I have begun experimenting. FWIW I love it so far.
 
#36
@BigOldHarry I doubt it will be the last rig I ever buy but so far thanks to all the people on this forum I have tons of options in my price range to get me started. Since the musician community is so big, I can always sell what I get now to upgrade later. My goal is to start off on the best foot possible.

@elwood1205 The BX500 Has definitely captured my attention. I would say it is one of my top interest bass heads at the moment. As you use it more, feel free to share any things that really stand out to you in both good and bad ways. I would say the BX500 and the LH500 are both things I will be looking into further.

It will be a little while before I can make my purchase but I am the kind of person that does their research before making a purchase. I want to have a good idea what I want, what is good for the price, and what will get me the most for my money. When the time comes for me to my make the purchase I will be able to do it with confidence, knowledge and I can get the best choice for me. I think we have all been in situations where we have the money in hand and it pushes us to make a quicker decision when a better one could be made, learning from this I research anything I am buying that costs more that 50 bucks.
 
#37
xXColaXx said:
I am getting more and more interested in that head for sure. It was a bit off putting to see no graphic eq and only a couple knobs, but it seems like every owner loves it and every bass player has either played one or knows someone who owns and loves them.

With the LH500, what cab/s were you using and what size gigs have you played? Did you ever encounter any sort of struggle for volume or tone and in the price range, is there any head you would say is better, or just as good?
Click to expand...

At the time I was using an Ampeg bxt115 4 ohm cab and rarely got it over 3 in volume. My band will do regular sized clubs anywhere from 50-100 people, no pa backing my amp to 200-500 people with pa support and I have been asked to turn down a little! We also played a few outdoor gigs over the summer and I wasn't aching for volume at all. I think you may be hard pressed to find 500 watts new for 350 dollars. You may find a bk 1001 used in that price range, I had one for 5 yrs before I got my lh500 head. Again, the only reason I upgraded was for my taxes this year.
 
#40
I play all types of music but the band I am looking to put together I had mentioned earlier in the thread but I will quote it here.

"The music I want to make is nothing I can really classify by genre but the bass will play as much of a rhythm role as it does lead role depending on the song which is why I definitely need something that can hold up to a live setting. I can say it is not pop punk with a pick or any sort of metal, I guess the closest way I could loosely categorize my ideas would be experimental/progressive/math-esque."

So you have a link to audio/video of you playing with the lh500?

I found out Victor Wooten plays, or at least has gigged with the LH1000 into a 4x10 and a 1x15. With the LH500 model, Would I be able to have a similar cab set up if I purchased a 1x15 down the road?
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back