heads under $500? extra cabs?

[Jackporkchop]

I have a P-Bass, have an Ampeg 15" cab, and an old Yorkville head that's maybe 200-400 watts. The problem is that the head is unreliable at this point. I may send it back to Yorkville if they'll take it, but I'm scoping out the scene for a new cheaper head.

I want to play bars, so I need decent wattage. I like the cushiony sound you hear on Bob Marley LIVE and most dub records/ '70's reggae. I need lots of low end, minimal crunchiness as far as I can tell. The Hartke 3500 looks good. Just looking for any input.

Also thinking of stacking another cab on the 15". 4 x10? 2x10?

I can't trust the sound guys here, so I need to be able to handle a medium size bar. The style of music will be ambient dub kind of thang, so I won't be competing with crunchy guitars.

 

[Captain_Arrrg]

Carvin's new Link Removed is something I've had to talk myself out of on multiple occations. A 5.5lb 500w tube amp for $400 is hard to pass up. Check out the thread.

As for adding another cab, I would go with the 2x10. You'll get enough of the 10" dynamic for the rooms you'll be playing. Two more would (IMO) just add volume and weight.

 

[PSPookie]

Check the classifieds here on TB. I would look into MarkBass, Genz Benz, or GK heads.

Adding another cabinet is pretty much always a good idea.

 

[Jackporkchop]

Man, that Carvin looks delicious. Glad I asked. Thanks for all the input so far.

 

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Peavey

 

[BAW]

the hartke LH500 has K I L L E R dub sound capabilities. i would give it a try if you can find a shop with one. tube pre, 500w @ 4ohms/ 380w @ 8ohms, loud, simple, affordable, great head!

also the 1000 watt version isnt much more either.

 

[Captain_Arrrg]

Let me help some more: You can get Link Removed, and use your existing 15 with it.

 

[dreadheadbass]

I can't trust the sound guys here, so I need to be able to handle a medium size bar.

the soundguy will try and mic you up or DI anyway just so he can feel important running things through his pissy little mixer and destroying the sound

i once played a gig in a bar so small it could only hold 40 and there wasnt even enough room on the stage for the drumkit yet the spotty little oik still insisted on DI'ing me and whinging about the fact his desk was clipping and insisting i turned down
i ended up pulling the DI out which angered him greatly before uttering "dude its 400 watts of valve power why would you DI that?"

the hartke 3500 is a cracking amp i owned one for a while and was gutted when i sold it

 

[RickenBoogie]

+1 on adding a 210 to your 15. Great match up.

 

[NWB]

Carvin's new Link Removed is something I've had to talk myself out of on multiple occations. A 5.5lb 500w tube amp for $400 is hard to pass up. Check out the thread.

As for adding another cab, I would go with the 2x10. You'll get enough of the 10" dynamic for the rooms you'll be playing. Two more would (IMO) just add volume and weight.

Beat me to it!

Edit: Not a real tube amp, just a tube pre-amp with a class D poweramp.

 

[Joey3313]

the hartke LH500 has K I L L E R dub sound capabilities. i would give it a try if you can find a shop with one. tube pre, 500w @ 4ohms/ 380w @ 8ohms, loud, simple, affordable, great head!

also the 1000 watt version isnt much more either.

I was just gonna say this. I got mine right before new years, and the thing sound sooo good.

 

[ErebusBass]

I have a hartke 3500 and it kills. Affordable, loud, and has a really flexible EQ. I've heard good things about the LH series as well, but I like a more extensive EQ.

Also, a 2x10 would be plenty, 4x10 probably a bit much.

 

[drden]

gk rb series

 

[lomo]

For a big bottom-dub 15 that's light and clear I'd recommend Epifani.

 

[By-Tor1000RR]

I've got a Kustom Groovebass 1200 that I picked up for $400 used. You can find them new for $500 or less. I'm really impressed with it. It can go down to 2 ohms so you can stack two 4 ohm cabs with no problem. I'm running an 8 ohm Hartke 4x10 XL through mine and I've never had to jack the volume past 40% in a progressive metal / cover metal band.

There happens to be one in the Talk Bass classifieds for much less than I got mine.

 

[*insertcoolname]

For an extra $60 dollars you could pick up a Peavey Tour 700. That's what I've been rockin and it can get really loud. Lots of watts for not a lot of change, and you would have to try to break it.

 

[rayzak]

I want to play bars, so I need decent wattage. I like the cushiony sound you hear on Bob Marley LIVE and most dub records/ '70's reggae. I need lots of low end, minimal crunchiness as far as I can tell. The Hartke 3500 looks good. Just looking for any input.

Also thinking of stacking another cab on the 15". 4 x10? 2x10?

Sounds like you like 15's to me. Maybe even a 212 cab. My Aguilar GS212 goes Deep! It sounds great at those sounds that you describe.