• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Input on selecting a gigging bass amp/rig

Ted Mowery

Ted Mowery

Apr 25, 2020
74
38
Indianapolis, IN
www.bandmix.com
#1
basses: Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar
(*Potential later bass upgrades
PRS Kingfisher or Kestrel
Yamaha RBX375 or Trbx305)

(Have been playing on and off for 38 years)

I've been lurking the threads here for a bit and am currently using an older Hartke B60 hernia box that I use as a practice amp. Have been on a tight budget but that's about to open up enough to permit the following (albeit budget) rigs for garage jams and eventual gigging:

Numbers in parentheses represent cost in US dollars I've found pieces in usable condition.

I realize some people on here have brand hatred, so donning flame-retardant suit.

***When I was younger, i did own a paradise 4x12 cabinet and a heavy tube head, so the idea of lugging an 80 or 100 pound cab doesn't exactly thrill me to my core, hence why I'm not looking at 6x10 or 8x10 cabs...

Combos:
1. BUGERA BXD15A 1000-Watt 2-Channel Bass Amp (~300) - prob 350w output
2. Hartke hd500 (450)
3. Fender Rumble 500 (550)

Heads
1. Genz Benz GBE 400 (450w @2ohm, 330w@4ohm) Head (<200)
2. Behringer Ultrabass 4500h (~200)
3. SWR Workingmans 4004 Bass Amplifier Head (~250)

Cabinets
1. SWR 4x10 cab (<200) 4O
2. Seismic Audio - 1x15 & 2x10 BASS (~315) 4O
3. GK410GLX 400w cab (~180)
4. Schroeder 2010s MN (250)
5. GB 210t cabinet (200)
6. Acoustic B115c (180)
7. GK Neo cab 4x10 (500)

Looking for real-world input from people with gigging and jam sessions with LOUD @$$ drummers - you know the drill - I usually play hard rock, metal (not drop-tuned) and blues.

Not currently on a 5 string, have owned 2, may get another. Probably wont ever go to 6 string.

Ultimately, ideally, I'd try to buy one rig for a few years at least, comprised of some of the gear above.

TLDR: Using gear listed above, pick what you think is likely to be most effective gear a few years of gigging/jams with loud ass hard rock and metal drummers.

Thanks in advance for advice.
 

Attachments

  • 20200423_183537.jpg
    20200423_183537.jpg
    709.2 KB · Views: 107
#2
I play blues blues/rock usually in small to moderate clubs (Beale st. Memphis) always with a drummer that knows the appropriate volume to play. The guitar amp of choice in my world is the Fender Deluxe Reverb, 1x12 and 22 watts average volume is about set on 3. My normal gig rig is a Mark Bass 350 watts at 8 ohms into a 1x15 cab, it’s all I’ve ever needed. My basses all 4 string are a Peavey T45, EBMM Sterling and a stock P bass.
39F20F86-16F0-4842-8E3D-AC19935C4B86.jpeg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jim Carr, imabuddha, foolforthecity and 9 others
#4
Tough call. The Fender Rumble 500 is a heck of a combo for gigging. The Rumble series gets lots of love here on TB. Your lower back should appreciate 36.5 pounds, plus most of the Rumbles have an XLR line out that can feed a P.A. system.
Hundred proof said:
I play blues blues/rock usually in small to moderate clubs (Beale st. Memphis) always with a drummer that knows the appropriate volume to play. The guitar amp of choice in my world is the Fender Deluxe Reverb, 1x12 and 22 watts average volume is about set on 3. My normal gig rig is a Mark Bass 350 watts at 8 ohms into a 1x15 cab, it’s all I’ve ever needed. My basses all 4 string are a Peavey T45, EBMM Sterling and a stock P bass.
Click to expand...
Is that a Peavey Bandit 65 I see there behind the guitarist? Love the old Meridian, Mississippi-built stuff. Tough as nails.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jack Butler, foolforthecity, Fluid Power and 5 others
#10
el murdoque said:
That calls for a minimum of a 4x10 cab.
From your list, I'd pick the Genz Benz or SWR head and one of the 410 cabs.
Click to expand...

Do you lean towards any specific combination of head and cab?

I like the sound deep and boomy, but still with some definition, not that I don't ever play high on the neck/look for punch, but i spend most of my time south of 12th fret. I guess i woild classify my attack as aggressive fingerstyle and rarely use a pick (*on bass)

Thanks for paying attention to BUDGET constraint. The rumble combo is the most expensive piece suggested, apart from the neo cab (which is a nice piece, but honestly more than my entire budget).
 
#11
SwitchGear said:
350 into a 1x15 or 2x10 cab, your set
Click to expand...

I can get behringer 3500 head for roughly 175 and a hartke 3500 head for maybe 250 or the swr if you think thats head and shoulders above the gb/hartke/behringer

Any particular cabs I've listed you think pairs well? And doesnt weigh a damn metric ton?

*if i prefer a deep, boomy, tightly defined tone and play an aggressive fingerstyle? (With occasional popping, not much slap, never use pick on bass, dont like the tone)
 
#12
jazzbass_5 said:
4x10 Neo 4 ohm cab, Quilter BB800, Ampeg SCR-DI in front of it.
Click to expand...
Hahaha the quilter is BRUTAL earthquake the drummers off their thrones

Unfortunately its as much as my entire budget lol

*What i didnt list here is my pawnshop squier jag may have unresolvable intonation issues and i may have to upgrade to one of the Yamaha basses, or need those $ to stretch for the PRS Kingfisher... i was tryijg to avoid opening that can of worms... if i stay below 12th fret the jag is real close to being fine/not having issues. I wont go into detail, its a great bass for the $ on the 1st half of neck hahaha

Kudos on a great suggestion for a rig in 2-3 years, id pair that 800w with the neo cab and break loose the new madrid fault in the Midwest.

Anyone think the drummers and full-stack guitarists know we plot for world domination here in these threads?

*Better to have the power and not need it than need it and not have it
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: RumbleBot, jazzbass_5 and TN WOODMAN
#13
Ted Mowery said:
Do you lean towards any specific combination of head and cab?

I like the sound deep and boomy, but still with some definition, not that I don't ever play high on the neck/look for punch, but i spend most of my time south of 12th fret. I guess i woild classify my attack as aggressive fingerstyle and rarely use a pick (*on bass)

Thanks for paying attention to BUDGET constraint. The rumble combo is the most expensive piece suggested, apart from the neo cab (which is a nice piece, but honestly more than my entire budget).
Click to expand...


Well, when you run on a budget and want a huge amount of volume, it's time to break out the big iron from the old days and hope that your back will take it. You won't get a good sound and a lot of volume from a light setup that's cheap (yet).
I personally would slightly lean towards the SWR set. I have a soft spot in my heart for their gear, they possibly come from the same seller and they match well. Do you have any info which cab model it is?

I guess you pulled those possibilities from the second hand markets available to you, so testing is out of the question. The Genz Benz head with the 210+115 combination sounds like it could be great - but it could be meh, too. This could be an option, but I'd insist on testing it out before pulling the trigger.
 
#14
Ted Mowery said:
I can get behringer 3500 head for roughly 175 and a hartke 3500 head for maybe 250 or the swr if you think thats head and shoulders above the gb/hartke/behringer

Any particular cabs I've listed you think pairs well? And doesnt weigh a damn metric ton?

*if i prefer a deep, boomy, tightly defined tone and play an aggressive fingerstyle? (With occasional popping, not much slap, never use pick on bass, dont like the tone)
Click to expand...

Honestly any of the heads you listed will work with the cabs you mentioned
 
#15
Ted Mowery said:
basses: Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar
(*Potential later bass upgrades
PRS Kingfisher or Kestrel
Yamaha RBX375 or Trbx305)

(Have been playing on and off for 38 years)

I've been lurking the threads here for a bit and am currently using an older Hartke B60 hernia box that I use as a practice amp. Have been on a tight budget but that's about to open up enough to permit the following (albeit budget) rigs for garage jams and eventual gigging:

Numbers in parentheses represent cost in US dollars I've found pieces in usable condition.

I realize some people on here have brand hatred, so donning flame-retardant suit.

***When I was younger, i did own a paradise 4x12 cabinet and a heavy tube head, so the idea of lugging an 80 or 100 pound cab doesn't exactly thrill me to my core, hence why I'm not looking at 6x10 or 8x10 cabs...

Combos:
1. BUGERA BXD15A 1000-Watt 2-Channel Bass Amp (~300) - prob 350w output
2. Hartke hd500 (450)
3. Fender Rumble 500 (550)

Heads
1. Genz Benz GBE 400 (450w @2ohm, 330w@4ohm) Head (<200)
2. Behringer Ultrabass 4500h (~200)
3. SWR Workingmans 4004 Bass Amplifier Head (~250)

Cabinets
1. SWR 4x10 cab (<200) 4O
2. Seismic Audio - 1x15 & 2x10 BASS (~315) 4O
3. GK410GLX 400w cab (~180)
4. Schroeder 2010s MN (250)
5. GB 210t cabinet (200)
6. Acoustic B115c (180)
7. GK Neo cab 4x10 (500)

Looking for real-world input from people with gigging and jam sessions with LOUD @$$ drummers - you know the drill - I usually play hard rock, metal (not drop-tuned) and blues.

Not currently on a 5 string, have owned 2, may get another. Probably wont ever go to 6 string.

Ultimately, ideally, I'd try to buy one rig for a few years at least, comprised of some of the gear above.

TLDR: Using gear listed above, pick what you think is likely to be most effective gear a few years of gigging/jams with loud ass hard rock and metal drummers.

Thanks in advance for advice.
Click to expand...
Get a PJ bass. The bugera 15 combo with the paper cone (not the A) is a great little amp. Its loud enough, and small enough, and sounds great. But you'd get more out of a peavey. I'd probably go with like a 500 watt head and a 410 though. Or 2 210s so you're not stuck with only one option. But, having the bigger option in one package has its perks also.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ted Mowery
#16
el murdoque said:
Well, when you run on a budget and want a huge amount of volume, it's time to break out the big iron from the old days and hope that your back will take it. You won't get a good sound and a lot of volume from a light setup that's cheap (yet).
I personally would slightly lean towards the SWR set. I have a soft spot in my heart for their gear, they possibly come from the same seller and they match well. Do you have any info which cab model it is?

I guess you pulled those possibilities from the second hand markets available to you, so testing is out of the question. The Genz Benz head with the 210+115 combination sounds like it could be great - but it could be meh, too. This could be an option, but I'd insist on testing it out before pulling the trigger.
Click to expand...

Yes - all the listed gear is 2nd hand, apart from the Bugera and a new Fender rumble 500w is only $50 more, so might as well buy new, but it's $100 over max budget, so...

Unfortunately the Acoustic 115 is an 8ohm cabinet, I'm trying to avoid those, (that would knock the GB head down to 200w range, then I got to buy another cab to get down to 4 ohm @ 330w, so... ugh)...

Being on a tight budget makes life rough, so while that would be my most economical option (besides the Bugera which I can get for around 285 + tax), I'd be bypassing tax on both the SWR cab and the GB head, coming in at just around $340 US.

The behringer head with one of the 2x10 cabs (tax ugh) comes in as next best affordable option (leaving $130 for a potential bass upgrade), coming in around $370.

Both SWR pieces are gonna be $450 minimum and are from the same seller (head has a damaged knob or two), both pieces light use, and approaching the upper budget limit. At least no tax.

Taxation is theft!! lol
 
  • Like
Reactions: TN WOODMAN
#17
Ted Mowery said:
basses: Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar
(*Potential later bass upgrades
PRS Kingfisher or Kestrel
Yamaha RBX375 or Trbx305)

(Have been playing on and off for 38 years)

I've been lurking the threads here for a bit and am currently using an older Hartke B60 hernia box that I use as a practice amp. Have been on a tight budget but that's about to open up enough to permit the following (albeit budget) rigs for garage jams and eventual gigging:

Numbers in parentheses represent cost in US dollars I've found pieces in usable condition.

I realize some people on here have brand hatred, so donning flame-retardant suit.

***When I was younger, i did own a paradise 4x12 cabinet and a heavy tube head, so the idea of lugging an 80 or 100 pound cab doesn't exactly thrill me to my core, hence why I'm not looking at 6x10 or 8x10 cabs...

Combos:
1. BUGERA BXD15A 1000-Watt 2-Channel Bass Amp (~300) - prob 350w output
2. Hartke hd500 (450)
3. Fender Rumble 500 (550)

Heads
1. Genz Benz GBE 400 (450w @2ohm, 330w@4ohm) Head (<200)
2. Behringer Ultrabass 4500h (~200)
3. SWR Workingmans 4004 Bass Amplifier Head (~250)

Cabinets
1. SWR 4x10 cab (<200) 4O
2. Seismic Audio - 1x15 & 2x10 BASS (~315) 4O
3. GK410GLX 400w cab (~180)
4. Schroeder 2010s MN (250)
5. GB 210t cabinet (200)
6. Acoustic B115c (180)
7. GK Neo cab 4x10 (500)

Looking for real-world input from people with gigging and jam sessions with LOUD @$$ drummers - you know the drill - I usually play hard rock, metal (not drop-tuned) and blues.

Not currently on a 5 string, have owned 2, may get another. Probably wont ever go to 6 string.

Ultimately, ideally, I'd try to buy one rig for a few years at least, comprised of some of the gear above.

TLDR: Using gear listed above, pick what you think is likely to be most effective gear a few years of gigging/jams with loud ass hard rock and metal drummers.

Thanks in advance for advice.
Click to expand...
I have the Kestrel. Its great. But, not enough mids or high end to stand out in a metal band. The kingfisher would probably be a lot better for you than the kestrel. But, it sure does look good though. Still, a PJ bass would most likely be your best bet with hard rock.
20200407_183359.jpg
20200418_223737.jpg
20200418_223721.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ted Mowery
#18
JeezyMcNuggles said:
Get a PJ bass. The bugera 15 combo with the paper cone (not the A) is a great little amp. Its loud enough, and small enough, and sounds great. But you'd get more out of a peavey. I'd probably go with like a 500 watt head and a 410 though. Or 2 210s so you're not stuck with only one option. But, having the bigger option in one package has its perks also.
Click to expand...

Thanks for suggestion, but I hate Peavey with an undying passion (My first large bass amp + head was a Peavey with 2 15's, I swear it weighed 150 pounds! I was so glad when I sold or traded it in on a tube head and the Paradise 4x12 cabinet). I don't think I've ever had any Peavey gear I liked. I see where a lot of people are using them now, perhaps they've changed their ways, but man they used to suck. Fiercely.

Honestly, being that I can probably get the Bugera for $285 plus tax, I'm tempted to go that route first. I've looked at probably 80 reviews for it and found 1 bad one and 1 mediocre one. Everyone else has liked them or raved about them, despite the egregious fact they claim their peak 1000w output instead of their likely constant ~300W power. That's a lot of volume and tone for ~45 pounds.

I'm 53 now, and not a small guy, so I *could* lug a bigger/heavier cabinet, it wouldn't be my first choice if I can get enough volume and good tone from a solid smaller combo or cabinet - Hartke makes a high-wattage 2x10 HyDrive that runs $300 new, but no one's selling theirs secondhand! lol

I just remember lugging huge 4x12 and 2x15 cabs up flights of stairs ALONE, and the idea of doing that now... whew
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back