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Help me choose an inexpensive class D head

#41
I bought a used PF500 that had been gigged a LOT. Worked great, sounded amazing. I paid $180 CAD for it and traded it for $275 value towards a new bass, Long & McQuade is now looking to get $375 for it. Lots of PA/DI options on it that head. If it’s used and it’s working, you should be safe.

I’ve been impressed with every piece of Traynor gear I’ve played through, and I’m Canadian so that’s a lot. You wouldn’t be disappointed with their Class D amp.

I’ve also enjoyed GK gear, and really loved my old RB700-II. The new mini amps they have sound good.
 
#44
andruca said:
If you were to spend just a little more there's the Tech21 VT 500 which IMHO is way more versatile than the MiniMAX or PF350. I personally don't have many good things to say about Tonehammers, I find their crunch not too appealing and not remotely as plug&play as SansAmp based stuff, where you can get a sound you like way faster IME.
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I, too, got rid of Tone Hammer rather quickly... Not saying that it's a bad amp...just the price/sound ratio is not great, IMO. Markbass LM III does the trick for me better for 2/3 of the price...
 
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#46
I played through a Rumble 800 in store and was super impressed with the Bassman models and several of the fuzz/overdrive models. Not sure how they’d sound in a mix or onstage, but solo sounded pretty good, and 800 watts in a liftable combo is also pretty great. I want to try out the 500, which doesn’t have the modeling capability, but considering trading my MB CMD121P for one if they sound good.
 
#50
I've always found GK to be the best bang for the buck for quality, volume, and overall tone. Especially if you are using it as an aux to your main amp, most GK stuff can be setup to run very clean and very quiet. Light, cheap, reliable. I'd do an MB 500 used for $300 for GC. I run a 400RB on my second channel now and I love it, although if I did it again I'd up to the MB 500 to get some more power for about the same price.
 
#52
Koog said:
For another $100 you can find a used Aguilar TH 500 here on TB or elsewhere. It will sound great through about any solid 4x10 or 2x12.

Relatively easy to find for about $475 - $500 shipped.

I have one that used to be my primary. It's now the backup I will never sell. And, anytime I'm thinking I want a more vintage sound, it's the TH 500 that goes with me to the stage.

Well worth the short stretch in price in both my opinion and experience.

Hope this helps.

Koog
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+1. Does exactly what the OP wants, and will deliver 250-300W into 8 Ohms. Plenty loud and substantially better build quality than your standard TC, Ampeg PF350/500, Rumble etc offerings. You should be able to find them at around $400 2nd hand at this point.
 
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#53
From your list, I would get the TC or the Ampeg. Most people around here love the Fender, I can say that I do not like it one bit. So, feel free to keep my bias in mind.
 
#58
The Hartke TX and the new Acoustic series are probably the best bang for your buck in terms of features per dollar, and they sound pretty good. The Shuttle series is probably the best overall sound and quality for the price. A shuttle 3 should be plenty for that cab. I have the ShuttleMax which is basically the same but with an extra FET preamp channel. Honestly, i'd say it sounds damn near as good as the SVT CL I've used in the same space. I use the FET channel for clean stuff because that's what it's there for, but the tube channel (which is what's on the regular shuttles) can be plenty clean if that's how you dial it in. But it also gets that nice tube breakup/grind.

I like GK and Ampeg in general, but I've found the MB and PF series to be kind of plain sounding. That may be what you're looking for though. The shuttle can do "plain" but the EQ is pretty flexible (sometimes "too" flexible, lol) to get you anywhere you want. I do like the SVT 7 Pro, but those are outside your budget by probably a couple hundred, and also WAY more wattage than you need.
 
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#59
About a year ago , I picked up a refurbished PF 500 through Sweetwater for just under $300. Their refurbished units are returns that have been gone through very thoroughly. Mine has been problem free and is gigged regularly. It sounds real good through my old Peavey 2 15 cab with the Scorpions in it and it sounds incredible through my 8 10e. DI works great and I can bury my band with it if I want to with the 8 10. Haven't tried it with the 2 15.
 
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#60
sharkbait130 said:
About a year ago , I picked up a refurbished PF 500 through Sweetwater for just under $300. Their refurbished units are returns that have been gone through very thoroughly. Mine has been problem free and is gigged regularly. It sounds real good through my old Peavey 2 15 cab with the Scorpions in it and it sounds incredible through my 8 10e. DI works great and I can bury my band with it if I want to with the 8 10. Haven't tried it with the 2 15.
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It’s a beautiful amp, really nicely done - I wish I could have kept mine.
 

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