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Is this rig good enough for gigging?

squeally dan

squeally dan

Mar 30, 2008
572
668
#1
I found on Craigslist a Hartke HA3500 head and GK BLXii 4x10 cab. I am playing bass in a wedding band that plays mostly dance/funk music (cameo, kool and the gang, commodoores, etc.). We will have monitors and pa for all gigs. Will 350 watts be enough power?

Also is $350 a good price for the head and cab?

Thanks guys!
 
#2
squeally dan said:
I found on Craigslist a Hartke HA3500 head and GK BLXii 4x10 cab. I am playing bass in a wedding band that plays mostly dance/funk music (cameo, kool and the gang, commodoores, etc.). We will have monitors and pa for all gigs. Will 350 watts be enough power?

Also is $350 a good price for the head and cab?

Thanks guys!
Click to expand...

350w is plenty. Is the cab 4 or 8 ohms? At 4 ohms you'll get the full availability of power; at 8 ohms you'll get more or less half that, generally speaking. 350 watts will get you volume and there's enough headroom there to give you a nice 'bump' in the lows.

Even at an 8 ohm load you're running 150-200 watts, which is enough to get the gig done. you might be shy for a little headroom, but you have PA. Ideally your amp is just a stage/personal monitor anyway. I'm using a 400RB at 4 ohms, and I'm kickin' booties all over the dance floor. :bassist:

And yes, that's a decent deal. Say you paid $200 for the head and $150 for the cab- a score.
 
#3
"Good enough" is kind of a subjective thing. There's the quantitative factor, and the qualitative factor.

Quantitatively, you should have ample power for the kinds of gigs you're doing - especially if the cab is rated at 4 ohms. And the price? Very good, IMHO - if the gear is in good to very good condition.

Qualitatively, you have to be the judge. If the rig suits your particular playing style, the genre(s) of music you'll be covering, etc., then you should be golden. Tip: As much as possible, use your ears - and your ears only - to judge tone, frequency response, and all other things auditory.

MM
 
#5
squeally dan said:
Thanks for the info. Would I be better off getting an 400RB or 400RBII. I see a 400RBII for sale on this forum.
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I would pretty much always recommend an old GK head, but that's because I like what they do. That Hartke is a good amp also. You're going to go through a few before you can home in effectively on what you like.

So I'll play: Get the 400RB. You asked! :p

P.S. These are always not-so-great questions, because of the answer. Many will give an answer based on their preference- can't help it. Do your homework and look at what each piece of gear offers in features like power, how the eq operates, what's the control layout: Do you prefer a graphic eq or para/semi-parametric eq? Is there a DI?... What does the 400RB-II, an upgrade, offer that the 400RB doesn't?

That Hartke is a solid head. The GK is too, and both will retain some resale value. I would call none of these heads a screw-up purchase.
 
#8
Wait, About the ohms thing: I'm also getting that same amp head, and My planned Cab is also a 4x10, with 8 ohm impedance. Would there really be any noticeable lack in the volume department? I've heard that people using that head have never needed to turn up above 4 in practice. That seems like plenty of headroom. Would an 8 ohm cab really cut down that much? It seems to me like you'd still be able to get everything out of it that you needed to.

Sorry if I'm kind of hijacking this, but I'm just wondering. I don't need Earth-shattering volume: I'd get a 500+W head for that. But Would it make a huge difference? Would the 8 ohm cab ever really struggle to be heard loud and clear at max volume?
 
#9
Ezmar said:
Wait, About the ohms thing: I'm also getting that same amp head, and My planned Cab is also a 4x10, with 8 ohm impedance. Would there really be any noticeable lack in the volume department? I've heard that people using that head have never needed to turn up above 4 in practice. That seems like plenty of headroom. Would an 8 ohm cab really cut down that much? It seems to me like you'd still be able to get everything out of it that you needed to.

Sorry if I'm kind of hijacking this, but I'm just wondering. I don't need Earth-shattering volume: I'd get a 500+W head for that. But Would it make a huge difference? Would the 8 ohm cab ever really struggle to be heard loud and clear at max volume?
Click to expand...
No, it doesn't make a huge difference. You get a little volume bump but it's mostly in the form of extra headroom. You will be fine running at 8 ohms.
 
#11
Ezmar said:
Wait, About the ohms thing: I'm also getting that same amp head, and My planned Cab is also a 4x10, with 8 ohm impedance. Would there really be any noticeable lack in the volume department? I've heard that people using that head have never needed to turn up above 4 in practice. That seems like plenty of headroom. Would an 8 ohm cab really cut down that much? It seems to me like you'd still be able to get everything out of it that you needed to.
Click to expand...

One mans band practice is another mans bedroom volume, be wary of comments like that...

The ohms thing won't make a big difference to your volume, so no worries on the cab IMO
 
#14
I don't have that combo, but I do play through a 450 watt head and a 4x10 cabinet (behringer, shhh!).

It is loud as balls. No question. I have never turned mine up more than about 1/3 of the way (except once I powered it on and it was turned up to like 7) and it is definitely shaking booties.

Play it first, but if you are questioning the power of your rig esp. for weddings & such don't worry about it. 350 watts is huge.
 
#18
squeally dan said:
Should I instead just buy the hartke head and spring for a better cabinet?
Click to expand...


You're not making a real critical decision here. Look at it this way: It's a world full of stuff, and you get to have some of it. Opportunities will come, like it or not, and you can decide to move stuff around when you're able.

But something and get playing. Opinions will vary... never mind 'em, at a point.
 

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