Help Me Downsize My Rig

[FletcBass]

My current rig is a Laney 4x10 and a Laney R4H. Whilst it has a decent sound it's way too loud for rehearsals (Barely have the volume one and I out compete everyone) plus I need a more portable rig as my band doesn't have a large car for transporting gear.

I'm thinking of getting a Ampeg Portaflex 350 and an Ashdown 2x10 cab. The head head will be running at 8ohms 250w. I'm just wondering if this will be loud enough for small venue with the capacity size being between 100 - 300 people in most circumstances.

Any thoughts and recommendations are welcomed

 

[RoadRanger]

Get two of the 2x10 cabs - one often isn't enough and with two you can vertically stack them which sounds MUCH better than a 4x10 .

 

[FletcBass]

Thanks for the advice. Is there any reason why one wouldn't be enough? I've seen many bassists do it before, It'll be DI'd so it should do for an onstage monitor right? Alternatively would a 2x12 or 1x15 do the job?

I don't have the money to buy two cabs and a head unless i get a couple of the Hartke 2x10 TP's or the Kustom DE 2x10's as they're dirt cheap on thomann. Only thing this with that is they wouldn't give me a heap of power handling

 

[Nydhog]

I'm thinking of getting a Ampeg Portaflex 350 and an Ashdown 2x10 cab. The head head will be running at 8ohms 250w. I'm just wondering if this will be loud enough for small venue with the capacity size being between 100 - 300 people in most circumstances.

That's plenty for what you're doing. Especially if you have a direct out and the venue has a PA. I've played venues that size where I decided my 4x10 cab and 1000W split head was absolutely not happening so I just used a PA speaker as a monitor of sorts (so I could hear my sound behind me). Truth be told: I have yet to ever have to turn my amp past 5 even at festival gigs. If you're worried that a 4x10 is too much and can't do 2 2x10's, could always get (or make) a 2x15. Not quite as classy but it'll work and be plenty loud. As far as head: A 350w head is going to be more than enough.

 

[FletcBass]

That's plenty for what you're doing. Especially if you have a direct out and the venue has a PA. I've played venues that size where I decided my 4x10 cab and 1000W split head was absolutely not happening so I just used a PA speaker as a monitor of sorts (so I could hear my sound behind me). Truth be told: I have yet to ever have to turn my amp past 5 even at festival gigs. If you're worried that a 4x10 is too much and can't do 2 2x10's, could always get (or make) a 2x15. Not quite as classy but it'll work and be plenty loud. As far as head: A 350w head is going to be more than enough.

Thanks for the info. The head would be running at 250w not 350w however I can't see that making a huge difference. A lot of the show's I will be playing at the cabs will be provided by the main act however their will be ones where I'll be using my own and aIprefer the sound of a 2x10 over other cabs so it's great to know it'll do the job.

If it gets to the point where I need more power I'll just buy another 2x10 however I can't see that happening as all the local venues I'll be playing at have great sound techs plus plent of wedges for monitoring.

 

[Nydhog]

Sorry bout that. Was a typo. My bass always sounds almost always sounds amazing live, and truthfully that's in the hands of the sound guy. The vast majority of what the crowd will hear in clubs is through the PA. A buddy of mine had one of those "pocket" bass amp heads that weighs like 3 pounds and used that with a 4x10 and then ran it into a PA. You'd have thought he was using a super expensive rig. A great sound guy can make a shovel with strings sound good.

 

[svtb15]

+1

Get two of the 2x10 cabs - one often isn't enough and with two you can vertically stack them which sounds MUCH better than a 4x10 .