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How to shop for a new rig?

Matthew_84

Matthew_84

Nov 7, 2010
6,497
5,101
Greater Toronto Area, Canada
#1
Hey guys,

I've never had a rig before, just a small practice combo. I want to buy a bass head and a cabinet, but I have no experience with either.

Right now, I have an entry-level Stagg J-bass. After I buy this rig, I'll be saving up for a Warwick, upgrade my pickups in my stagg, and later on probably get a Fender P.

I'm looking between 8 different amp heads, and as for a cab, I don't even know. I still have to try out some 1x15's, 2x12's, and 4x10's. Literally, I have no idea what to expect out of any of this. Just looking for the right combination.

Is there anyway to properly shop for my gear? Do I need to try out all 8 amps with every cab in my price range? Should I just select one amp, then find a cab from there, and then use that one cab on all 8 amps? Also, I'm bringing my bass to the shop, will try out a warwick, a J, and a P.

If I shop the way I feel I should, trying out every combination imaginable, I'll spend all day there, and will probably be more confused as ever. Is there anyway to limit my search?

Also, since I want active and passive basses, do I need an amp with an active/passive selector. Is this essential? I understand what it does, and why it's there, does any amp figure it out on its own? For example, a Mark Bass LMIII, doesn't have this selector. Do actives sound good through it, too loud, too much treble?

Sorry, I know this is a weak thread, but I have no experience shopping for gear, and I feel like I'm going to get a little overwhelmed and may make a poor, quick choice.

Thanks in advance,

Matt
 
#2
Go out and sample. It's the only way to find out what speaks to you. Trust me, some combinations will speak to you. The input pads are really only for on the fly switching of basses and aren't perfect active to passive compensation. Its essentially turning down the volume knob. Cabinet brand, construction, and drivers make a lot more difference than driver size on your tone. Really, stop thinking so much and plug in to something!
 
#3
Go to GC and play every amp they have through every cab they have, then go online and buy actual new ones that haven't been trashed by every teenager in the state. ;)


The tone you are going for, genre of music you play and band situation would be helpful information too.
 
#4
Yeah, I know.. I just need to go, play, and figure it out. I was just looking for some way to limit it. But I'm doing too much window shopping and not enough test driving. I'll just try and figure it out. Will be a fun day for sure, also, highly expensive, lol.

As for tone, and genre. I'm just looking for something very versatile. I like all music. Right now, it'd be rock. In a couple of years could be funk, in five it could be blues, and in ten could be jazz. Just looking for as much versatlitiy as possible.
 
#5
1) Define what you need your rig to do. Where will you play, what situations will you want it to handle?
2)Read up on TB and learn about how gear works.
3)Try as much as you can but be aware that playing it in the store will only tell you a bit. How it sounds in a band mix live cannot be checked out in a store-that's why reading and learning about live bass sound and TBers' experience helps.
4)Generally speaking, 500 watts at 4 Ohms is a head that can handle most situations for most people, along with a 410 or 212, but if you wanna play thrash metal with no PA, maybe an 810 is your minimum
Good luck.
 
#7
You will probably find that a vented 4x10 cabinet (perhaps with a horn - most of them have it) is the most versatile. It has a lot of punch and great bottom end. I would focus on that. I auditioned a bunch of 410s, including Ampeg, Peavey and GK. The Ampeg was nice, but pricey. I don't know what your price range is, but I chose the GK 410MBX in the end (about $350) and could not be happier.
 
#8
You're going about it the right way, window shopping, checking reviews, and any research you do will give you a good basis to start your test drives. There are lots of great amps and cabs out there, and one will trip your trigger. The prices are always a factor, but there's lots of great sounding gear that's not too expensive. Your individual concept of how you want to sound should be your final deciding factor. Orange Club and Phil Jones Club
 
#9
Thanks for all of your help guys. You have narrowed it down a little for me, and yeah, I'll just read a bunch of reviews and that should help.

Just another question, is there a big difference between 450w and 500w? Will 450 still be enough for most situations, especially if it's backed up by 4x10's? There are a couple 450's I like, the Ampeg SVT450 with the graphic EQ, comes to mind right now.
 
#10
Matthew_84 said:
Just another question, is there a big difference between 450w and 500w? Will 450 still be enough for most situations, especially if it's backed up by 4x10's? There are a couple 450's I like, the Ampeg SVT450 with the graphic EQ, comes to mind right now.
Click to expand...

There is no appreciable difference until power is doubled. If you want louder than 300 watts, it will take 5 or 6 hundred to hear a real difference through the same cab (assuming the cab can actually handle the extra watts) . More and larger speaker cones have a faaaaaaar greater impact on volume than power. This is the type of stuff you'll learn by reading up on TB. A 300 watt head on an 810 will absolutely crush a 750 watt head on a 212, for example, in terms of volume. If you want to be very loud, plan on 2 8 Ohm cabs (like 2 410s) that are 8 Ohms each and can be used together or alone.
 
#12
one other idea is to find some TB-ers in your area and ask to try out their rigs. Most TB guys are more than willing to do this. Our local Get Together is a mass-bass player version of this. Great way to hear then difference in rigs.

Personally I have been very happy with my Markbass LMII ($400 used) and Epifani PS 112 ($300 used), and also with my Trace Elliott 1518c ($300 used). But a lot depends on the bass you play, the strings you use, then tone you prefer and the type of music you play.

KJung here on TB was very helpful to me when I was looking to overhaul my rig last year, give him a shout, he will help direct you.
 
#13
Go to the Long & McQuade store near you and try everything. There's a place in Etobicoke called Club Bass, IIRC, who has Mark Bass products. Don't sweat the power out levels too much - it takes ten times the power to get twice as loud. A 4x10 or a 2x15 should handle what you need in speakers or if you find a 2x10 that sings to you a pair may be the way to go.

Bottom line is that the amp has to please you and, invariably, your tastes will change over the years. Go shopping and enjoy yourself.
 
#15
Hi Mathew 84.

Bass newbie here. (Actually I’m a home recording guy with the main instrument being guitar)

I was shopping for a bass rig only 3 days ago. Knowing not much about what to listen for I was really up against it.
The shop guy was great. I plugged into Eden, Hartke, Markbass, Ampeg, and a few other brands of gear.

At my request he also swapped amps and cabs so I could hear what they sounded like. If you do this it outlines the bit of equipment that was responsible for you liking that sound.

My advice (like christw said), some of the combo’s will speak to you. Let your ears do the listening.

Go in on a non-crowded day. Get the guy to work for you and have him pull down cabinets and swap amps etc.

In my experience, Markbass was the best on the day. It was actually easier to play with the Markbass Amp as it hid a lot of my crappy bass technique. I dunno how or why. It was also friggin’ expensive…

You may find some other brand suites your ears and your pocket. Just spend the time in the shop.

Hope this helps.
Cheers,
FM
 

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