I have two Genz Benz 6.0 bass combos....32 and 38 lbs. Great sound, 375 watts as a combo and 600 with an 8 ohm extension cabinet. That would be my suggestion.
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Help choosing an amplifier for first time
- Thread starter bass-smoothie
- Start date
Check out the Hartke LX8500 on Thomann's site. It's a great head and it's only $400 through them. Cost me 70 bux to ship to US but I still saved like $180 over buying it in the US. Leaves quite a budget for a cab
If it will be your only amp, and you won’t have a backup, consider something new in the $400 range like the inexpensive Hartke mentioned above or a Peavy MiniMax. At least to get started. There are great deals to be had on older used heads; I have a couple myself and love them. But parts to repair older heads, like transformers, mosfetts, etc., are becoming harder to find and expensive. So get a reliable head and go cab shopping, taking the head with you to try them out. A reliable head and that Eden 410TN from your list would make a very nice, affordable first rig.
Glad that you’re looking at used gear - but those prices are definitely on the high side. For small bars and schlepping to rehearsals, I’d recommend a 112 or 210 that can stand vertically and an head around 300w at 4 ohm. You might consider a combo. If you do, GK makes some great lightweight gear, and I’ve been very very happy with my Mesa Walkabout Scout for years.
Yeah, don't overlook used Genz Benz gear, it's all great stuff.
A streamliner 600 or 900 would be my suggestion.
Hey thank you for all your replies. There is a lot of infos and advices there hehe! I may be more confused now!
I will take all of this into account and rent some material before buying, great idea.
I will take all of this into account and rent some material before buying, great idea.
Wasn’t on the list but this is definitely a better solution than everything that was. Especially the redhead, yuck.
Is this better than the Fender rumble? Sadly there is no used ones in my area. Would it be equivalent to a RB700 head with a cab? If so, which cab?
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If it can help reduce the amount of suggestions, I look for a sound that is defined and growling in the low-mids. I'm not much into deep frequencies. I won't do slaping but do want some nice highs/high-mids as well. It's hard to explain but I hope you see what I mean. Something well balanced with a growling tone.
I've found that I rarely need more than a 2x10 cab with a 200W head, as long as it's got a good direct out for the sound board. I started off with an Ampeg Micro VR, which has good mids (to my ear). It's super light as well. I use an Ampeg PF-50T for most gigs now, but I still bring the Micro VR as a backup.
I would be looking at any of the neo 212’s to pair with that head and should get you into the same ballpark, albeit for a hell of a lot more money.
Sorry, missed your first question. Definitely better than the redhead, cheaper and lighter too. The redhead is in a heavy, awkward cabinet and sounds ultra twangy.
D
Groove Pump is correct on lots of things. I would go with Battle 3500 Hybrid, a 2/10 and a 1/15. 2/10'are light and the 15 is even lighter. Cabinet brand is up to you. Make sure they match up obvi. I had a Mark bass rig with this configuration. I loved it. It was easy, and depending on whatever, I could decide on what to bring. I've had all manner of Amps/combos. I think I miss the sound of that 3500 the most. (Tube hybrid thing) I used one in a metal band. Those are on Reverb right now for reasonable prices.
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The SWR Redhead is a great amp but it’s really heavy by today’s standards.
Of the two Hartke stacks mentioned, the TP (Transporter) cabs were Hartke’s budget line so the stack with the 410XL is a better deal, especially since it’s cheaper. For most gigs you won’t need the second cab so you can look at the 115TP as a spare, something to leave in a rehearsal room or call it into duty when higher stage levels are needed, like outdoors with limited PA support.
Of the two Hartke stacks mentioned, the TP (Transporter) cabs were Hartke’s budget line so the stack with the 410XL is a better deal, especially since it’s cheaper. For most gigs you won’t need the second cab so you can look at the 115TP as a spare, something to leave in a rehearsal room or call it into duty when higher stage levels are needed, like outdoors with limited PA support.
Not sure where you're located, (*edit, Canada) but I always check Guitar center used. Have them ship it to your local GC to try it.
Heads (I searched up to $600)
Solid State Bass Amplifier Heads | Guitar Center
Cabs (up to $600)
Bass Amplifier Cabinets | Guitar Center
When I search, I list prices Hi-low, after putting in my Max amount.
Good luck.
More info you give, the better help you will get. - Music style-location - Tonal goals/preferences.
T$
Heads (I searched up to $600)
Solid State Bass Amplifier Heads | Guitar Center
Cabs (up to $600)
Bass Amplifier Cabinets | Guitar Center
When I search, I list prices Hi-low, after putting in my Max amount.
Good luck.
More info you give, the better help you will get. - Music style-location - Tonal goals/preferences.
T$
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D
Being a guitar player, do you already own any guitar amps? Some older "vintage" tube guitar amps can be SUPERB bass amps if you don't need tons of clean volume. Most modern multi-channel guitar amps aren't very good for bass but if you've got any 100w tube amps from the 60s/70s you might be surprised at how good they can be for bass, when used with a good quality BASS cab. A couple of examples would be amps like Fender Showman, Hiwatt DR103 and Marshall SuperLead (which is only a couple of component values away from a SuperBass). Many older tube guitar amps (or even tube PA amps, if they have hi-Z jack inputs) can be SUPERB bass amps, as long as you don't expect the massive clean headroom and output volume of modern bass amps. Just don't plug them into a guitar cab and crank the volume when playing bass, your guitar speakers won't like that! You definitely need a bass cab for this! I've gigged and recorded a LOT with vintage "guitar" tube amps and actually prefer the tone over many modern bass amps.
Any less than 100w will probably not be enough though, and like I said, it's really only sounds great with vintage tube amps. Modern guitar amps are generally not great for bass.
I'm not saying you should BUY a 100w tube guitar amp for this. Ideally you may need a bit more power. But if you already own a suitable guitar amp it might be worth a try and could sound great with the right cab.
Any less than 100w will probably not be enough though, and like I said, it's really only sounds great with vintage tube amps. Modern guitar amps are generally not great for bass.
I'm not saying you should BUY a 100w tube guitar amp for this. Ideally you may need a bit more power. But if you already own a suitable guitar amp it might be worth a try and could sound great with the right cab.
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A lot of great suggestions here - I don't think I saw what style of music you're playing. I have experience with 2 of the pieces you're looking at.
I had an SWR Redhead for many years and LOVED it; I wish I hadn't sold it. It was also really HEAVY. I found it to be great for lower volume gigs. My experience was that, even with an extension cab, if you needed to get loud, it just wouldn't cut it. Really flexible and great sound, though. I wish I still had this one, but honestly, it would probably only get used for home practice.
I have an Ampeg 410HLF, and it sounds good, but I don't like it at all for rock/metal type gigs - to me, the sealed Ampegs sound way better. It's also fairly heavy. I keep it around as a just in case backup, and I do like its sound in the right context.
I haven't gigged since Covid, unfortunately, but a rig that really worked well for me in a flexible and fairly minimal fashion is a ToneHammer 500 head (or sometimes i would bring a GK 700RB), and two of the GK Neo 112-II cabinets. For small stuff, just bring 1 cab and the head, for bigger stuff with PA support, bring them both. That rig would keep up with a fairly loud metal band at rehearsals and small/medium bar gigs, but could be paired down for small/quieter stuff; the DI sounds good too.
I had an SWR Redhead for many years and LOVED it; I wish I hadn't sold it. It was also really HEAVY. I found it to be great for lower volume gigs. My experience was that, even with an extension cab, if you needed to get loud, it just wouldn't cut it. Really flexible and great sound, though. I wish I still had this one, but honestly, it would probably only get used for home practice.
I have an Ampeg 410HLF, and it sounds good, but I don't like it at all for rock/metal type gigs - to me, the sealed Ampegs sound way better. It's also fairly heavy. I keep it around as a just in case backup, and I do like its sound in the right context.
I haven't gigged since Covid, unfortunately, but a rig that really worked well for me in a flexible and fairly minimal fashion is a ToneHammer 500 head (or sometimes i would bring a GK 700RB), and two of the GK Neo 112-II cabinets. For small stuff, just bring 1 cab and the head, for bigger stuff with PA support, bring them both. That rig would keep up with a fairly loud metal band at rehearsals and small/medium bar gigs, but could be paired down for small/quieter stuff; the DI sounds good too.
^^^ Good points in here. ^^^^
I also agree with the "SWR Goliath 410" If you insist on a 410, and don't mind the weight, this is the cab. (Was the best 410 I've ever played, which is why I bought one back in the day).
THAT said, Currently I use 2 112 (Epifani) cabs, (and a Genz Benz Shuttle 6, and a 5 String) and I've never needed for more, of course we always have full PA support, so.. there's that.
T$
Guys you are awesome!
To S.F.Sorrow, I do have a good collection of guitar amps. My oldest ones are
- Traynor Bass Master '72
- Fender Princeton '69 modified into a head
- Fender TwinReverb '75 modified into a combo with 2 Altec 417-8C
I thought to use the Traynor but the lack of controls made me fear a difficulty in dialing what I want.
To Madmaxreach, the style of the band will range from full band modern rock, to full band modern acoustic songs (acoustic rock covers).
My personal playing genres are wider including blues and metal.
Thanks again for all your inputs, much appreciated!
To S.F.Sorrow, I do have a good collection of guitar amps. My oldest ones are
- Traynor Bass Master '72
- Fender Princeton '69 modified into a head
- Fender TwinReverb '75 modified into a combo with 2 Altec 417-8C
I thought to use the Traynor but the lack of controls made me fear a difficulty in dialing what I want.
To Madmaxreach, the style of the band will range from full band modern rock, to full band modern acoustic songs (acoustic rock covers).
My personal playing genres are wider including blues and metal.
Thanks again for all your inputs, much appreciated!
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