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Help on building my first stack

M

MPica

Feb 13, 2010
116
0
#1
I'm going to be upgrading from my combo amp to a half or full stack pretty soon and I need some suggestions.

For the head, I've been looking at the Peavey Tour 450, the Gallien-Krueger 400RB, and the Behringer BXR1800H. I've heard great things about the Peavey and GK, but they're kind of pricey. The Behringer is very affordable, but I know Behringer isn't the best brand. Still heard some good things about it though.

For the cabs, I want to go with a 115 cab and a 210 cab. I know most people go with a 410, but the smaller size of a 210 would make transportation much easier(I have a VERY small car:hmm:) and it will still add some punchiness to my tone. I'm leaning towards the Ashdown MAG 115 and 210, I've heard they're great cabinets, and the price is good. But then there is also Acoustic and GK cabs. I've heard not to terrific things said about the GK Backline 210, but it's still a GK so how bad could it be?

Also, I'm completely lost on the issue of ohms. I've heard that 8 ohms is the best to have, and if you mismatch them it won't allow the best wattage out of the amp? I'm very confused on that matter.

I'm going to be picking up a new Jackson CMG within a few weeks and I primarily play metal.

I appreciate any and all feedback, thanks.
 
#2
First of all, stay away from Behringer. It's just not worth it bass gear wise. Now mixers and stuff, they're fine. Not bass gear. I understand your desire for portability, but a 2x10 can't hold it's own in a band setting. Adding another cab to the 2x10 would definitely help. However, I wouldn't add a 15 unless you bought an amp with a crossover built into it. The general rule is, if you want to add another cab, get another identical cab. Things just work out better that way.
 
#3
At a very broad overview...get a cab or cabs that maximizes the impendance of your head. If the head is 300w@4ohms. Get a 4ohm cabinet or 2 8ohm cabinets. You can run 1 8ohm cab, but you're only running approx half of your head's power. In this example, approx 150w. DO NOT run a 4ohm and 8ohm cabinet together on a head that only runs at 4ohms.

There's A LOT more people on here more intelligent than me that can explain everything right down to the mathamatical equations, SPL's, speaker surface, yada, yada, but that's the general gist of it.

You say you're playing metal. I don't think a 210 alone will work for you. I'd consider a 4x10 at the minimum or as mentioned 210+115 or even a 212.

Out of the 3 heads you listed I'd choose GK or Peavey. I've never owned any Peavey bass gear, but it gets good rep here on TB, as solid, dependable, inexpensive, USA made, quality gear.

I'm a GK fan myself.
 
#5
I know that 210 won't hold it's own by itself, that's why I want a 115 to go with it.
Myth_103, I really don't see what you mean by having the same cabinet. By that logic, no one would ever use a 410 and 115 together. Or am I misunderstanding what you meant?

Quality over quantity my friend.
Click to expand...
Not sure what you mean by that. Care to expound?
 
#8
From your list, I'd pick the Peavey Tour 450 for reliability, with the Ashdown 210 and 115 cabinets, since they're good sounding and very reasonable for the price. Although for metal, I'd probably agree with everyone else and say that at least a 410 would be better suited, but that all depends on who you're playing with and how loud you need to be.
 
#9
GK has a head that i think is the 600 or something... its $300. they also have a 2x10 and 1x15 that are $200 each. all of these are at GC. for $700 its a great sounding rig that can easliy be upgraded piece by piece.

also stay FAAAAAAAAAR away from behringer. I have a friend that works for a major music store and he said that the fail rate is completely insane. Ive personally had one experience with behringer... i bought a mic pre from them a couple years back... it was broken when i took it out of the box... so i went back to the store and got another.... that one was also broken... so i went back to get another but decided to try it out at the store first. guess what, it was broken... so we kept trying at the store and 5 of the 6 that they had were dead out of the box. So total at the store from my first purchase they had 1 working unit out of 8. I will never buy anything from them again.
 
#11
I have a GK 600 that I picked up on TB Classifieds for $200. It is awesome. Great tone, super loud, lots of nice features. I also have an older GK 400, it's a nice head but the 600 is tons better.

As for cabs, do yourself a favor and look into Avatar. Great quality drivers, at a good price.

A used GK 600 and a new Avatar 410 would make a killer first rig that will take a beating and last, for a decent price. Good luck! :hyper:
 
#12
You mentioned the 410 and 115, which is very popular, BUT also very misleading. All based on myth, (10's for the brightness, 15's for the lows). It is not true. For a smallish rig, it's a good idea to start with a 2x12, and add another identical 2x12 later, when you can afford it. There are many good cabs to choose from. Avoid ANY brand's entry level gear, including GK's Backline. I mentioned 2x12's because one will suffice, where a 2x10 won't. 2 2x10's is fine, heck a 210 and a 15 is fine, sometimes. But a 2x12 will get you rocking right away, and a second 212 will really tear it up. As for an amp, I agree with those who said to look for something used. A GK 700RB wouild last you forever. Buy cheap now, and you'll be upgrading tommoro. Buy quality used gear, and you're set for a long time.
 
#13
Hi, folks!

Ive also planning on building my first rig, and ive also fallen quite in love with the GK heads.
And i would love to use a GK cab also.

So, my question(s) would be:

1.) Is 212 cabs enough for a medium sized club/bar? (i have no clue about such things)

2.) I have some troubles finding GK 212 cabs? Any directions on where i could find em and which ones that work well live?

3.) Only GK 700 i can find is the "GK 700RB II"... whats the difference? If there is one...?
I see there are newer and more exspensive models out there also, are they worth having a look at for your first rig?

4.) As RickenBoogie pointed out, "Buy cheap now, and you'll be upgrading tommorow", is not something i want to do. I want a rig that will last me a long time, until the day i get famous :smug:;)
So, the issue is: Im from Norway, and here we only have 1(!) shop that distibutes new GK products, and as you can imagine, there aint many used GK products sold on Norwegian trading-sites.
Any tips on where i can find used products and at the same time not ruin myself on shipping?

All help appritiated!
(Sorry for the crap grammar)

/Maestro
 
#14
I'm also in the same boat as the original poster. Looking to upgrade to a head/cab from a beat up old combo that's almost dead.

I found a good deal on a used Yorkville XS400H, but also just noticed a GK700RB up for sale for a similar price! I'm pretty torn on which to get.

How useful is the biamping setup on the GK700RB? What could I connect that 50watt horn output to? Only an actual horn?
 
#15
I use a GK 400RB IV, a Traynor TC210 and a Traynor TC115. The Traynor stuff is dependable, solid, well made and quite portable. I tested and considered the Ashdowns but got a smoking deal on the Traynor gear and have not been disappointed.
I can use both cabs together for a bigger venues (big club or outdoor gig) or one or the other for smaller venues, depending on the layout. The 210 by itself is good for "small-small" venues (jazz club). I also have a Yorkville 410 but I don't take it to gig too often, although I get a great sound with it. It's a carpet covered cab and requires "lots" of post-gig cleaning with a sticky-rolly.
I tried out some Behringer bass gear a couple of years ago. I agree that Behringer makes some good PA stuff - I have some of that as well - but I wasn't impressed with the bass gear.

GK + 210 + 115 = sounds good !
 
#16
i have owned many behringer products over the years and have never had a problem with any of them at all, and i would buy their products again.

At $150 the behringer head is very cheap, but its only 180 watts at 4 ohms i believe, and thats behringer watts lol

so if 180 behringer watts is all you need, i would say buy it.

but as others have said the GK Backline 600 is very nice
 
#19
MPica said:
I know that 210 won't hold it's own by itself, that's why I want a 115 to go with it.
Myth_103, I really don't see what you mean by having the same cabinet. By that logic, no one would ever use a 410 and 115 together. Or am I misunderstanding what you meant?


Not sure what you mean by that. Care to expound?
Click to expand...

It can just get very muddy if you have different size speakers covering the same range. That's why I wouldn't necessarily suggest it unless your amp had some sort of crossover built in. Just a personal opinion based on my experience.
 
#20
I don't know if this will help much, but to my understanding, ALL new peavey gear comes with a standard 5 year warranty. If anything goes wrong with the Tour 450 (or 700 if you can throw down an extra $70), you can bring it into wherever you bought it, and just exchange it right there.

I originally went to the store to buy a Tour 450 to pair with an Avatar 212, but walked out with the 700 because of the very little price difference. You can't go wrong with extra headroom.

If you hooked up two 8 ohm cabs (maybe a 115+210, or 410+410) you could get 700 watts through the Tour 700.

I have nothing bad to say about the Peavey Tour gear, and love it. I expect it to last me a very long time.

I hope this helps.
 

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