I need to buy gear for gigs, please help

[Gintaras]

I love buying from TB members. Have never got even close to being ripped off.
Here is a great deal on a head.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=437704&highlight=silverado

And a cab. This is for local pickup only but an example

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=447032

This would be a really nice rig for $480.00. spend $20 on a speaker cable and there is your 500 bucks.

 

[honestjohnny]

Nobody has mentioned it, but I would never do a gig without an electronic tuner. Have you ever tried to tune your bass in noisy bar while everyone is watching you, without one? I have and trust me, it sucks! Even a cheapo Fender pedal tuner or Korg pocket-sized tuner--so long as you can plug into it--is a great thing to have on a gig.

 

[MusicMan01]

From reading all posts I made some conclusions:

Combo amp:
- Does it have room for growth? If I get something like Carvin BR610 (which i just checked is a heavy mother), later on can I hook up a Cab to add on. And how many more cabs can I connect to it?...Do I really need to connect more cabs to it?

- Convenient in which I only have to carry 1 piece of equipment, even if it weighs 50+ lbs. Although I don't think this has wheels. And I complain about the weight of my small practice amp.

Head/Cab
- There are different opinions on which to buy used or new. I would say from my common sense to buy the head used and the cab(s) new. Since I would not know what kind of power they connected to the cabs. Since I have zero experience with these equipment. Can you really damage a head? or Which should be the way to go?

- A lot of people mentioned the mix Ashdown/Avatar. What would be the best deal here? (models, compatibility...the ohms thing I guess). I am going to have to buy an electronics book.

- The Avatar website says "Bass cabinets are not sold speakerless...loaded only", that threw me another upper cut...And something about a compressor and a tweeter. K.O.

Side note again...Where can I get some gigging classes? I auditioned for a band. They asked me if I had gig experience. I said no, but how hard could that be. I noticed the "get the heck out my face" look.