I own that amp for a year now. It has limits, one is that it is not loud enough for my six-piece variety band. Doubt it will be loud enough for a punk band, unless you can DI or Mic it into the PA, then it will be fine. Tone-wise, it can deliver lots of great tones. Really a 250-watt head is not powerful enough for anything other than a soft-jazz or folk duo.
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Help!!! I need help in my search for cheap loud quality tone!!!!
- Thread starter hardrocker8
- Start date
I own that amp for a year now. It has limits, one is that it is not loud enough for my six-piece variety band. Doubt it will be loud enough for a punk band, unless you can DI or Mic it into the PA, then it will be fine. Tone-wise, it can deliver lots of great tones. Really a 250-watt head is not powerful enough for anything other than a soft-jazz or folk duo.
You guys aren't paying attention. He wants *new* most likely because this will be a potential christmas present from his parents. His parents aren't likely to scour craigslist looking for that rare 'great deal'... they want to go to Guitar Center and whip out their credit card.
For playing in a band with drums, you need at least a 100 watts and a 15" speaker (or two 10" speakers.) Even then, that's barely enough. The Acoustic B200 combo is in your price range, is NEW, and will get the job done. On sale for $325 at GC right now.
Yeah, at that price point, forget tone, just go for cheap and loud.
Exquisite tone doesn't matter if it's not loud enough to be heard.
For playing in a band with drums, you need at least a 100 watts and a 15" speaker (or two 10" speakers.) Even then, that's barely enough. The Acoustic B200 combo is in your price range, is NEW, and will get the job done. On sale for $325 at GC right now.
Yeah, at that price point, forget tone, just go for cheap and loud.
Exquisite tone doesn't matter if it's not loud enough to be heard.
You guys aren't paying attention. He wants *new* most likely because this will be a potential christmas present from his parents. His parents aren't likely to scour craigslist looking for that rare 'great deal'... they want to go to Guitar Center and whip out their credit card.
For playing in a band with drums, you need at least a 100 watts and a 15" speaker (or two 10" speakers.) Even then, that's barely enough. The Acoustic B200 combo is in your price range, is NEW, and will get the job done. On sale for $325 at GC right now.
Yeah, at that price point, forget tone, just go for cheap and loud.
+1
I don't think you've stated any price limit yet, but anyway...
GK MB115 combo ($399 at MF)
GK MB212 combo ($699 at MF)
GK MB200 + GK MBE410 (~$700 at MF)
Ampeg PF-350 ($299 at MF) + used 410
Ampeg Micro-SVT ($299 at MF) + used 410
Used GK 700RB + used 410
... for cheap go buy used gear. Those are what I recommend anyway. Go GK if you want growls in the upper mids/highs and cut through the mix. Go Ampeg if you want mid growls for a classic rock tone.
GK MB115 combo ($399 at MF)
GK MB212 combo ($699 at MF)
GK MB200 + GK MBE410 (~$700 at MF)
Ampeg PF-350 ($299 at MF) + used 410
Ampeg Micro-SVT ($299 at MF) + used 410
Used GK 700RB + used 410
... for cheap go buy used gear. Those are what I recommend anyway. Go GK if you want growls in the upper mids/highs and cut through the mix. Go Ampeg if you want mid growls for a classic rock tone.
You guys aren't paying attention. He wants *new* most likely because this will be a potential christmas present from his parents. His parents aren't likely to scour craigslist looking for that rare 'great deal'... they want to go to Guitar Center and whip out their credit card.
For playing in a band with drums, you need at least a 100 watts and a 15" speaker (or two 10" speakers.) Even then, that's barely enough. The Acoustic B200 combo is in your price range, is NEW, and will get the job done. On sale for $325 at GC right now.
Yeah, at that price point, forget tone, just go for cheap and loud.
I saw that, but ignored it, because anyone for whom money really is an object and needs to keep things cheap does not buy new.
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Check these guys out. Pretty cheap, kinda flimsy, but with about $20 worth of padding in them their cabs can sound pretty good.
I'd look for used Peavey or GK heads at this price point. Acoustic is an option too. I was considering getting one of their 2x15s but got a Peavey instead, and I'm not considering stepping up to a Bill Fitzmaurice cab. I'd love to have the ability to be louder than the band's PA...
Check these guys out. Pretty cheap, kinda flimsy, but with about $20 worth of padding in them their cabs can sound pretty good.
I'd look for used Peavey or GK heads at this price point. Acoustic is an option too. I was considering getting one of their 2x15s but got a Peavey instead, and I'm not considering stepping up to a Bill Fitzmaurice cab. I'd love to have the ability to be louder than the band's PA...
Not totally true, there is a fourth variable, compactness. You will get better tone, price and quality if you settle for something bigger and heavier. They will use older speaker technology, chipboard instead of plywood in speaker construction, things like that.
OP, volume can come from lots of watts or lots of speakers. Eventually you will pay extra for lots of watts because carrying is a PITA, but in your situation that is your saviour.
Look for a head that can run two cabinets, and one cabinet to start. This gets you going, and leaves you a path to expand later.
Volume wise, it's roughly linear with speaker area, so a 2X10 will be about the same volume as 1x15.
Chose speakers with paper cones unless you know what you are doing, since there is more risk you will not like aluminium cones. This rules out a lot of Behringer and Hartke cabs. I would probably stay away from Behringer anyway tonally. Hartke heads might be worth a look. Their VX cabs have paper cones if they are in your price range.
I would still point you at Peavey because their stuff tends to be loud, good value for money, and designed in a way that is simple therefore more reliable. Ashdown may also be worth a look. Very old school tone.
Please feel free to ask follow-on questions...some of what I have said has been a bit simplified. Also I am in Australia. Both pricing and what gear is available are different here.
Good luck with it!!!
Man, I don't think you get into anything new for that kind of cash that will keep up in a hardcore/ punk band setting. And I certainly wouldn't go with a combo, because you'll end up realizing it's not up to the task, only to end up spending a lot more in the end. I think if you want new from someone for Christmas, then I'd ask for a head, and look at used cabs to purchase on your own.
I got a Carvin MB15. It gets pretty loud, loud enought to get through a drum kit, but to get decent low end you need an extension cab with 8 ohms. It also depends on if the guitarist is willing to back down his levels a little to match the bass. If he has a big amp and likes to twist the knob off it, the MB15 will get swamped no matter what cab you hook it to- besides another amp...
I don't know if you have the budget on your own to get a used cab; I have seen decent ones for sale for $100. If it still is too quiet, you can jack into a (cheap) used PA power amp and let it drive the cab, using the MB head as the cab's preamp with its XLR post-eq direct out. This way you can add piece by piece and not have to come up with $1000 all at once to get the levels and sound you like. Or when you get more money you can get a real bass head and use the Carvin for a backup or practice amp.
New Carvins are mail order only if you don't live near California stores/ factory.
Made in USA, about $349.00 200-250 watts depending on the impedance of the ext cab. Or you can go to GC, etc. and bring your bass and try out new
China made amps. At least you can hear them first.
I'm not real crazy about the sound of the MB15 alone(weak on the fundamentals,) but it has power and jacks to expand easily and will do in a pinch.
There is no one perfect answer, but some decent options, especially when you add the dimensions of time, a little more money and pawn shops!
I don't know if you have the budget on your own to get a used cab; I have seen decent ones for sale for $100. If it still is too quiet, you can jack into a (cheap) used PA power amp and let it drive the cab, using the MB head as the cab's preamp with its XLR post-eq direct out. This way you can add piece by piece and not have to come up with $1000 all at once to get the levels and sound you like. Or when you get more money you can get a real bass head and use the Carvin for a backup or practice amp.
New Carvins are mail order only if you don't live near California stores/ factory.
Made in USA, about $349.00 200-250 watts depending on the impedance of the ext cab. Or you can go to GC, etc. and bring your bass and try out new
China made amps. At least you can hear them first.
I'm not real crazy about the sound of the MB15 alone(weak on the fundamentals,) but it has power and jacks to expand easily and will do in a pinch.
There is no one perfect answer, but some decent options, especially when you add the dimensions of time, a little more money and pawn shops!
The OP doesn't list a geographic area. All the people who say "buy used" are correct on paper. In reality, not everyone lives in an area with a copious amount of people desiring to part with gear at a price cheaper enough than new to make it worth it. I can send you the classifieds from my town if you wish to dispute this. I am aware of ebay and other sites that offer nationwide availability, but anyone who disputes shipping issues and risks is deluding themselves
To the OP, I demoed the GK MB15 or whatever it's called. I didn't care for the tone, and halfway up on both gain and master you're still talking over it. I also demoed a Fender Rumble 150 combo. I thought it wasn't that loud, but sounds decent at low volumes. There is a Fender Rumble 350 combo might fit the bill, but I haven't demoed it. If you have a large trunk and long arms, the Peavey TKO 115 amp is 400-watts, all the goodies (XLR-out, 7-band eq, shape and countour controls), and a rich sound.
Don't discount the Acoustic amps from GC. I have one. It fits my bill just fine, and I need loud, clean, and reliable.
dhomer
Commercial User
- Apr 9, 2009
- 675
- 13
- Disclosures
- Owner, Gigmaster Soundworks, Auth. greenboy designs builder, MI
dhomer said:
I respectfully disagree. I picked up an Eden WTDI direct box from Music Go Round for $89. Quality tone, for sure. Not very loud, though.
