Head for BEAD?

After too long of a hiatus, I'm getting back into playing bass.

Right now, it's just a Squire P, but it's soon to be modded with an aluminum neck, Gotoh 206 string thru, and either Duncan 1/4lbs or Dimarzio Split P. I'm seriously leaning towards stringing it in BEAD.

The aluminum neck should take care of any tension problems, and I've got a 15" Musicman cab that should be fine for now. So I need a head.

Things I'm considering-
Behringer 3000 or 4500 head.
Ashdown 300
an old traynor, bassman, or V4 (if I can find one on the cheap)


Is there anything special I need to consider when head shopping? Any brands or models that are notorious for not being able to handle the low B? Any particular amps I should add to my list?

Thanks!

 

Price range is 'cheaper the better', more or less. $400 tops, maybe a little more if I wait til after the new year.

I don't really have a particular sound in mind. My background is jazz, but I'm into more aggressive and varied sounds these days. LOW, swans, nina simone, radiohead, james brown, Khanate.

Warmth is always a good thing, and if necessary, I can get most of my dirt sounds from my pedals. If I end up with a solid state amp, I'm probably going to buy or build some sort of tube pre/dirt box.

 

I've read good things about the Ashdown stuff. I need to find someplace here in town where I can give it a sitdown.

300W should be enough for my needs... mainly playing at home. If I ever got into a serious band again, I'd make the investment into something stage ready. 300W should get through a rehersal, if I was in that situation, right?

Also, does the MAG series include a footswitch? (like the behringer stuff...)

 

Waiting is probably the smart move. I'm not in any real hurry, but for now i'm playing through a 15W tube amp into the 15" cab - it works, but it's getting old quick.

Then again, my wife still doesn't know what she's getting me for the holidays - the right amp could be a solution...

I think I saw that Traynor as well... $400, I think. Shipping would be a bear.

 

That Traynor is definitely on my list.

I'm waiting on a big payment from a client, so if the Traynor is available once I get paid/after the new year, I'm might to try and snatch it up...

But back to the original question - is there anything anything special I need from a head to be able to accommodate BEAD? From the responses so far, I'm guess no...

 

That's what I thought... Does the same hold true if I go SS?

 

Well, I just sent the guy an email... We'll see what happens.

 

I definitely agree that they are very different animals. I'm only considering the Behringer due to its price and availability - the V4, I've owned in the past, and other than the weight, I wouldn't mind another.

For my limited needs, I think my 15" should be fine. Or am I wrong about that... As long as it works for now, I can handle have to upgrade if I get into a live situation again.