Help with new rig

[Kevorargh]

I just got a Mesa Subway 880+ which is awesome and I run it through 2 112s. I also have a DNA 800 which, when working properly, is a great amp. I am trying to unload an Ashdown Rootmaster 500 which is stupid loud, has a drive channel, a compressor, and sub effect on reverb.com. If you are interested, PM me.

 

[76 Stingray]

I've been playing since the mid 1960's.. and with few exceptions, I've never sold off my old gear (I want to find my acoustic 360 and 1971 Ric 4001.. beyond that I still have it all) ... As I hit my 60's, my back has forced me to get something light and powerful. As a cost savings, I'd stick with the used market.
My current rig varies... the bottoms are aguiar GS112 (1-12") and a pair of GS-210 (I usually use only 1 of them, I saw the second on sale so I had to grab it!) .. this is now defunct and is the 2-10 version of the GS410... That easily covers 200-500 seat room, depending on what you put on top. I wish I could recommend a single head, but I screw around with many...I purchased two broken Hartke HA-7000's (both were easy low cost fixes) for about 100-200 bucks each on ebay... this has a variable crossover so I play with it depending on the room and the musical idiom. For some gigs that cross between slap/modern sounds and traditional 70's rock, I bring both in heads (as they stay in the van anyway) as I hate playing with the settings.
I am electrical engineer, I spend lots of time repairing Crown and Mackie (since you have to purchase some of the specific descretes in quantity) and I'm not a big fan of off the shelf power amps for bass, unless you have a place to limit long term vibrations or you have old solid Phase Linear or Crown-type amps were the internals are rock solid. Newer amps have limited repairability even though they weigh very little with higher power.. this is, in part, due to the replacement of toroidal coils.. Remember, whatever you choose in the trade-off of cost, tone, weight, long term reliability, power (pick two of those and the other elements can diminish).
Best Wishes!

 

[sharkbait130]

My favorite rig is still a 300 watt Ampeg classic with an 8 10e. Recently , my 66 year old back started complaining loudly at me. Currently running a PF 500 with an Ampeg 2 12 cab and have been quite happy with it. It covers anything my big rig does. Haven't tried it on a big outdoor gig yet and to tell the truth , I will still probably take the big rig for those. Maybe just the 8 10 with the PF 500. I was using that set up for a while and it really kicked @55. I have a good set of earplugs if my back starts complaining.

 

[arbiterusa]

Ditched my lead sled a couple years back, got some used SWR Neo cabs (out of business now) and first Markbass (great amp, not quite the sound I was looking for) and then GK heads (which WAS the sound I was looking for). So much good, lightweight gear out there. That Markbass stuff - it will get you heard. I saw a guy couple years ago do my 200 seat Elks Lodge with a 121H single 12" combo. It wasn't in your face, but you could hear him. Over two guitarists playing Hot Rod Deluxes and a drummer.

So Markbass, GK, Mesa, Quilter - too many to list. Try 'em all out. Buy used cabs if you can, you save a ton of money that way. My whole rig, heads and cabs, came used from Guitar Center, bought it all online, returned the stuff I didn't want to my local store. 45 day return window, BTW. Even if you eat shipping, it's WAY cheaper than renting.

Great time to be a bassist.

 

[Chad Michael]

Open your wallet real wide, seems you want the same gear that everyone else does.... it'll cost ya to not pack heavy stuff.

 

[bherman]

For cabs, I'd suggest taking a look at RevSound. Some of the cabs being made out there (built by the company owner in NH) at a good price point. I'd start by looking at the 212 (35 lbs and sells for about the same price as a Subway 112), but call and talk to David - he's very knowledgeable and approachable and is great at guiding you towards a cabinet that will best meet your needs.

I drive my Rev 210 with a Bergantino Forte (others have already mentioned that great amp) but also used a Mesa Subway D800+ and a Genzler Magellan 800 - both 800 watts of goodness at 4 ohms. The Forte and Subway can go down to 2 ohms if (for some reason) you needed a second 4 ohm cab.

RS212 Bass Cabinet | RevSound

 

[basscapes]

i'm not looking for amps (now!), but this is the one i'd be looking at if i was.

It's pretty awesome! If you run an external pre-amp into it (either front inputs or rear panel balanced), you have two options for the amps to react.- if you use the front inputs, then depending on how hot you dial up the GAIN control, you can actually get the power section to limit just like a tube power section. If you run into the XLR on the rear, the power section stays pretty darn hi-fi-like.