- Jul 7, 2010
- 3,383
- 2,311
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- Endorsing Artist for: Duncan Pickups; Line6, Hipshot, GHS Strings, Somnium Guitars
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Whatever you do, buy used.
If you happen to be a DIY guy, and the idea of building a cab intrigues you, check out the fEarful line up. Huge bang for the buck, and a very satisfying project. I can pull off a 12/6 for around $300, plus my time. That's plenty for most gigs.
Not a DIY guy? Big, loud, heavy, used cabs are going begging. You should be able to stay in the $300 range on this item.
Today, watts are cheap. Especially cheap, older power amps. Check the classifieds. Heck, a brand new Carvin HD 1500 is around $300 and under 6 lbs.
fEarful, or used cab, and raw power in hand, you just need to pick your preamp flavor. Here's where you can get into some dough, or not.
There's a number of guys on here that use a Zoom B3 to feed a straight power amp. The Zoom gives you a taster menu of amps, pre's, and tons of effects. Around $100 used these days. It's a Swiss Army knife for bass, killer practice tool, drum machine, metronome, looper, interface, di, amps, effects, artist patches, and free editing software for your computer.
I think I could build the fEarful, B3 and power amp rig for under $700.
Happy hunting!
If you happen to be a DIY guy, and the idea of building a cab intrigues you, check out the fEarful line up. Huge bang for the buck, and a very satisfying project. I can pull off a 12/6 for around $300, plus my time. That's plenty for most gigs.
Not a DIY guy? Big, loud, heavy, used cabs are going begging. You should be able to stay in the $300 range on this item.
Today, watts are cheap. Especially cheap, older power amps. Check the classifieds. Heck, a brand new Carvin HD 1500 is around $300 and under 6 lbs.
fEarful, or used cab, and raw power in hand, you just need to pick your preamp flavor. Here's where you can get into some dough, or not.
There's a number of guys on here that use a Zoom B3 to feed a straight power amp. The Zoom gives you a taster menu of amps, pre's, and tons of effects. Around $100 used these days. It's a Swiss Army knife for bass, killer practice tool, drum machine, metronome, looper, interface, di, amps, effects, artist patches, and free editing software for your computer.
I think I could build the fEarful, B3 and power amp rig for under $700.
Happy hunting!
$1000 will buy you a GOOD rig if you shop for used gear. If you buy new, it won't buy you much but a bunch of GC pressboard.
Craigslist for cabinets. I've ended up with too many just because they were so cheap. People don't want to ship, or pay for shipping..... Hit the pawn shops, I've gotten a markbass tube 800 for $299. I didn't like it. Sold it.
Power amp that can bridge to a sizable wattage can be had for pretty cheap. Super durable. Someone's always parting out a big PA somewhere.
Then a preamp or di pedal that you prefer. Really nice ones out there these days.
This would put a massive rig together for not much money. And, it could do anything you want. Biggest question is what will you be moving the rig around with. Just don't say Honda Civic !
Power amp that can bridge to a sizable wattage can be had for pretty cheap. Super durable. Someone's always parting out a big PA somewhere.
Then a preamp or di pedal that you prefer. Really nice ones out there these days.
This would put a massive rig together for not much money. And, it could do anything you want. Biggest question is what will you be moving the rig around with. Just don't say Honda Civic !
What kind of music are trying to play/band are you trying to join? That will really dictate what kind of gear you should get.
Generally speaking 800w is not necessary unless you want stupid amounts of headroom and/or play in a metal band. 350-500 is USUALLY plenty, as long as you don't have a really inefficient cab. The cab is really where you get most of your volume from (technically all your volume comes from your cab, but you know what I mean). I would say for typical rock/pop stuff playing "clubs" (ie 150-500 people or less), a 4x10 or 2x12 or 2x15 should get the job done. 410s are easily had for cheap. 2x15s too, but they may or may not be good quality with decent enough power handling. But they can certainly be pretty loud with not a lot of power, and you could always think about getting one and then replacing the drivers if they weren't up to your requirements. But it sounds like you want a more modern sound, and that means having a tweeter or midrange, and a lot of commercial 15 based cabs dont have either (stuff like the SWR son of bertha does though). Since you have a decent budget, you can always start with what you find for cheap locally, and then cycle through a few times until you find something that works for you. When I was starting, the way you learned about gear was by reading all the magazines you could get your hands on, and just going to all the stores and trying everything you could. Now everyone expects web forums and google to hand them just the most pertinent information instantly, but the way you become an expert is by absorbing all information over a long period of time whether it's immediately obviously useful and pertinent or not.
Generally speaking 800w is not necessary unless you want stupid amounts of headroom and/or play in a metal band. 350-500 is USUALLY plenty, as long as you don't have a really inefficient cab. The cab is really where you get most of your volume from (technically all your volume comes from your cab, but you know what I mean). I would say for typical rock/pop stuff playing "clubs" (ie 150-500 people or less), a 4x10 or 2x12 or 2x15 should get the job done. 410s are easily had for cheap. 2x15s too, but they may or may not be good quality with decent enough power handling. But they can certainly be pretty loud with not a lot of power, and you could always think about getting one and then replacing the drivers if they weren't up to your requirements. But it sounds like you want a more modern sound, and that means having a tweeter or midrange, and a lot of commercial 15 based cabs dont have either (stuff like the SWR son of bertha does though). Since you have a decent budget, you can always start with what you find for cheap locally, and then cycle through a few times until you find something that works for you. When I was starting, the way you learned about gear was by reading all the magazines you could get your hands on, and just going to all the stores and trying everything you could. Now everyone expects web forums and google to hand them just the most pertinent information instantly, but the way you become an expert is by absorbing all information over a long period of time whether it's immediately obviously useful and pertinent or not.
- May 20, 2002
- 1,384
- 1,225
- Disclosures
- Provided content for Genzler Amplification
Though weight may not matter too much, if you plan on gigging regularly, hauling a big cabinet up a narrow staircase with loose carpeting gets old pretty quick. Plus, if you end up doing smaller gigs where "turn down" is the owner's mantra, bringing a 4x10 feels like bringing a bazooka to a knife fight.
Mind you, I'm not trying to dissuade you from a big gig rig. I hauled a 4x10 to gigs great and small for years and it served me very well. Nowadays, almost everywhere I play has a backline (and they don't want any substitutions).
It's tough to plan ahead since you don't know which band you'll be playing in, but if you can, try to get an idea of the venues you'll likely be in. Is there PA support for band as well as vocals? How strict are they on decibel level?
Used is going to save you plenty. Also, if your situations or tastes change, you'll make more of your money back should you re-sell.
Mind you, I'm not trying to dissuade you from a big gig rig. I hauled a 4x10 to gigs great and small for years and it served me very well. Nowadays, almost everywhere I play has a backline (and they don't want any substitutions).
It's tough to plan ahead since you don't know which band you'll be playing in, but if you can, try to get an idea of the venues you'll likely be in. Is there PA support for band as well as vocals? How strict are they on decibel level?
Used is going to save you plenty. Also, if your situations or tastes change, you'll make more of your money back should you re-sell.
I agree, you can have too much, and dragging overkill around gets old.
For example, the venerable GK 1001 rb 2. I had one, and my experience was that it liked to be loud. Sure, it's got a volume knob. But a low volumes, responsible, adult volumes, in smaller clubs, it wasn't happy. Kind of cold and sterile.
Get with some louder guys, and let the 1001 open up, and it's great.
I shrunk the rig from an old heavy 2-15 and the GK, to one better 15, to a 12/6 cube and a Streamliner 600. Improvements all along the way.
Then I hijacked my kid's keyboard amp, an Acoustic Image Ten2. A 29 lb, 2-10 combo that puts out 600 watts. Combo in one hand, bass in the other and a slung gear bag, I'm in and out in one trip.
I love my fEarfuls and the Streamliner, but this combo nails it for the small stuff.
For example, the venerable GK 1001 rb 2. I had one, and my experience was that it liked to be loud. Sure, it's got a volume knob. But a low volumes, responsible, adult volumes, in smaller clubs, it wasn't happy. Kind of cold and sterile.
Get with some louder guys, and let the 1001 open up, and it's great.
I shrunk the rig from an old heavy 2-15 and the GK, to one better 15, to a 12/6 cube and a Streamliner 600. Improvements all along the way.
Then I hijacked my kid's keyboard amp, an Acoustic Image Ten2. A 29 lb, 2-10 combo that puts out 600 watts. Combo in one hand, bass in the other and a slung gear bag, I'm in and out in one trip.
I love my fEarfuls and the Streamliner, but this combo nails it for the small stuff.
In your shoes, I would buy a new Peavey miniMega 1000 amp. 1000W into 4 ohms. Really nice EQ section and lots of other nice features. Small and around 7 pounds or so. Can be had new, from an authorized dealer, in eBay for around $500. They are $600 from places like MF, GC, and SW.
With that amp, you will never need more power and likely never need any other features. As you get experience under you belt playing in bands, you may develop a taste for something different - like tube amps, for instance. Once you have developed your own taste to the point where you know something different that you want, you can get that and have the Peavey as your backup amp. A backup amp is something I would especially recommend if you start gigging with a tube amp. I gig with a tube amp 99% of the time and I always take a backup micro head. Only needed it once, but damn glad I had it! I just ordered a Peavey mM1000 today for myself. I already have 5 amps (4 tube and 1 SS), but the reviews on the mM sound too good and I just couldn't resist one at the price. I can't wait to see what it sounds like through my 810 cab!
For a cab, I agree with everyone that says look for a used 410 on CL or other local places. A good 410 is the jack of all trades cab. Small enough to not look ridiculous at a coffee house. Enough output (if you get something of decent quality) to really handle MOST shows you'll probably ever play. And you should be able to find one for $500, which would keep the whole rig within your budget.
With that amp, you will never need more power and likely never need any other features. As you get experience under you belt playing in bands, you may develop a taste for something different - like tube amps, for instance. Once you have developed your own taste to the point where you know something different that you want, you can get that and have the Peavey as your backup amp. A backup amp is something I would especially recommend if you start gigging with a tube amp. I gig with a tube amp 99% of the time and I always take a backup micro head. Only needed it once, but damn glad I had it! I just ordered a Peavey mM1000 today for myself. I already have 5 amps (4 tube and 1 SS), but the reviews on the mM sound too good and I just couldn't resist one at the price. I can't wait to see what it sounds like through my 810 cab!
For a cab, I agree with everyone that says look for a used 410 on CL or other local places. A good 410 is the jack of all trades cab. Small enough to not look ridiculous at a coffee house. Enough output (if you get something of decent quality) to really handle MOST shows you'll probably ever play. And you should be able to find one for $500, which would keep the whole rig within your budget.
