Never been better, really. Basses and bass gear is an order of magnitude better than it was when I started out in the 70s. Plays better, sounds better, lighter, more reliable and cheaper. New is *good*.
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Light Weight Amplifiers?
- Thread starter JoshBassDude
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Never been better, really. Basses and bass gear is an order of magnitude better than it was when I started out in the 70s. Plays better, sounds better, lighter, more reliable and cheaper. New is *good*.
devnulljp
Supporting Member
Traynor make a lovely little class D head that's about 400 Canadian pesos new. You can't get a latte and a bagel for that in NYC.
But I agree, get a TH500 for $500 used (or a TH350 for less).
FWIW, I just sold my TH500 and bought the Mesa D800 and couldn't be happier with it.
But I agree, get a TH500 for $500 used (or a TH350 for less).
FWIW, I just sold my TH500 and bought the Mesa D800 and couldn't be happier with it.
My Avatar pic shows my basses and my Fender Rumble 500 combo. 36 lbs for 500 watts (350 if no ext cab) . It's loud enough for just about anything. It has killer tone. and did I mention it's only 36 lbs and it cost me only $550 brand new after tax (talk nice to the store manager).
I have a Rumble and a Mesa D-800. both cabled to a pair of Epifany UL2 1x15. Its not even close. The Rumble sounds like a muddy mess when compared to the Mesa. I cannot get a tone I like with the rumble and my Ric or Carvin. I cannot find a tone I DON'T like on the Mesa.
The Rumble is a fine piece of equipment....but it is far from the "end all be all".
Josh,
Google "class D bass head" for lightweight heads (lots of good ones were mentioned in this thread). I use a GK MB800.
Google "neo bass cab" for lightweight cabs (these use neodymium for the speaker magnet instead of classically heavy ceramic). I use Avatar 210 Neos.
For lightweight combos, many were already mentioned, but you will probably find the best value from: Fender, GK, Ampeg. The Fender Rumble and GK combos get a lot of love.
For all of the above, look used if it is out of your price range. I can usually score gear on Craigslist for about 60% - 70% of what it costs new.
Hope that helps
Welcome to Talkbass!
I'm gonna bet OP thinks $500 - $1000 is expensive. I can't think of all that many common non-tube amps out there exceeding $1000
You may be right about OP's view of what constitutes expensive, but $700 in current dollars (to take the price of a new Mesa as an example) is a great deal for a quality, powerful gigging amp that can fit in a gig bag pocket. And the pro-quality amps heads available used for under $500 are as good a deal as there has ever been for bass players. And if OP doesn't need quite that level of quality or power, there are options like the Fender Rumbles that can be had for even less.
First time seeing GIMF. Coincidentally, I Googled it to see what it meant.
Seems so much harder to post and review responses (sorting through the sarcastic ones) than to search, but it's the world we apparently live in...
I googled it too. I had no idea the Global Islamic Media Front was even involved in suppressing the prices and brands of lightweight amplifiers.
I guess terrorism is everywhere! Scary!
Ditto on the Hartke stuff, good amps and cabs and very reasonably priced IMO. 
No love for TC Electronics here? I have two BG 250's, one 115 and one 210. Small (24 x 18 x 15"), 250 watts, 40 lbs. And loud as hell. If necessary I can run both together (requires an A+B box though) and fill a 150 seat room from the stage no problem. I don't, usually run the XLR out direct to the board with amp basically being a stage monitor. Works like a charm and sounds killer out front. Bought both used in practically new condition, have less than $500 in the pair. As others have stated, buy used for the most bang-for-the-buck. Deals are out there, you just have to be vigilant and a bit patient till they pop up.
No love for TC Electronics here? I have two BG 250's, one 115 and one 210. Small (24 x 18 x 15"), 250 watts, 40 lbs. And loud as hell. If necessary I can run both together (requires an A+B box though) and fill a 150 seat room from the stage no problem. I don't, usually run the XLR out direct to the board with amp basically being a stage monitor. Works like a charm and sounds killer out front. Bought both used in practically new condition, have less than $500 in the pair. As others have stated, buy used for the most bang-for-the-buck. Deals are out there, you just have to be vigilant and a bit patient till they pop up.
I used to take this stuff, Just the smell gives you a headache.
I forgot to mention for the OP. I got the Mesa D-800 (new) and the 2 Epifany UL2 1x15(used) for under $1000.
Worth every penny.
DNA (David Nordschow Amplification) just started shipping their DNA-800. It's 800 watts rms into a 4 ohm load. Street price is $750 and it has an adjustable compressor too. Weight is 4-lbs.
I would guess the peavey minimax to have among the best price ($350 new) to power ratio (500 at 4ohms) out of the current production class d heads.
Best value lightweight cab is a little harder to pin down because of the variety of configurations though the fender rumble 1x15 and the ampeg svt210av each for $300 new would have to be contenders. Carvin has their 2x10 and 1x15 in the micro bass series for $230 a piece. And then there's @basscooker's chop shop amps 1x12 for $275. All comes down to taste. Im sure there's plenty i missed.
Best value lightweight cab is a little harder to pin down because of the variety of configurations though the fender rumble 1x15 and the ampeg svt210av each for $300 new would have to be contenders. Carvin has their 2x10 and 1x15 in the micro bass series for $230 a piece. And then there's @basscooker's chop shop amps 1x12 for $275. All comes down to taste. Im sure there's plenty i missed.
First time seeing GIMF. Coincidentally, I Googled it to see what it meant.
Seems so much harder to post and review responses (sorting through the sarcastic ones) than to search, but it's the world we apparently live in...
Google Is My Friend.
If you do a search in google and type Talkbass at the end it will search this site.
