Bag End goooood. Carvin had all the bass stuff showing out of stock. BX1600 now is showing in stock. I really like my BX1600, but I paid less before the liquidation, and I would probably go for a Mesa D800 if I were buying today.
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Limited finances- advice Re: head and cabs
- Thread starter FatDaddySam
- Start date
I hear a lot of dogging on Carvin bass cabs but I've used the 4x10's and 1x15's for over 25 years. I've always loved them. Very heavy duty. I can't tell you how many times they have been dropped back in the day, after too many beers during gigs.
For the most part, light weight and low cost are mutually exclusive.
If you are willing to move more, you have enough budget for a decent
rig, buying used gear.
If light weight is your prime concern, it will cost you to go light.
If you are willing to move more, you have enough budget for a decent
rig, buying used gear.
If light weight is your prime concern, it will cost you to go light.
Same here. That thing can keep up with a full drum kit w/o an extension cab even..
(I put a 400w 410 Hartke under mine and the rig is a beast.)
Under 40 lbs? Under $700........my new choice would be a Fender Rumble 500 combo. Even better, a used micro head (maybe a Fender Rumble 500) for 300 and a better usd cab for 400....separates will make it far easier to build a modular, more versatile rig over time....and if something breaks, it's not the whole shebang that has to be sidelined for repairs.
I will second this. Got my PB500 stack (head, 4x10, 1x15) as a graduation gift, still rocking 20+ years later and it has not had an easy life.
However, I don't think it will meet the weight requirements!
That would be a no in my book. I like the sound from a 4x10, but 90lbs is insanely heavy. And I drive a Honda Fit; it’s got to fit in the car.
You live in GA, know anyone with a truck or SUV?
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I had gs112's.
See if you can find a pair cheap, along with an Aguilar head, if ultra portable is a must.
I don't know how loud you play, or your venues, but the TH350 is no slouch.
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I had gs112's.
See if you can find a pair cheap, along with an Aguilar head, if ultra portable is a must.
I don't know how loud you play, or your venues, but the TH350 is no slouch.
Thanks for all the feed back.
Combos are great options, but I’ve used them most of my life, first as a guitarist and now as a bassist. I’m intrigued by the options available in going the great and cab path.
Low weight and low price are certainly proving to be opposing ends of the spectrum. Don’t forget durability in there. Markbass is my favorite in store rig, but the reviews of repair horror stories have me opting for safer waters
I’ve played the Fender heads; the rumble is pretty versatile. Fender cabs are pretty solid; glad the weight is coming down.
I’m hunting Ampeg gear to give it a whirl. So many of my heroes were Ampeg users back in the day; if I can find the right head at the right price, who knows?
Cabs and weight/size:
$400 for a cab under 55lbs (weight over my original mark, but I’m being reasonable). Suggestions?
Combos are great options, but I’ve used them most of my life, first as a guitarist and now as a bassist. I’m intrigued by the options available in going the great and cab path.
Low weight and low price are certainly proving to be opposing ends of the spectrum. Don’t forget durability in there. Markbass is my favorite in store rig, but the reviews of repair horror stories have me opting for safer waters
I’ve played the Fender heads; the rumble is pretty versatile. Fender cabs are pretty solid; glad the weight is coming down.
I’m hunting Ampeg gear to give it a whirl. So many of my heroes were Ampeg users back in the day; if I can find the right head at the right price, who knows?
Cabs and weight/size:
$400 for a cab under 55lbs (weight over my original mark, but I’m being reasonable). Suggestions?
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My .02:
I'd buy a separate amp and cab. There are significant advantages, including the ability to later replace one part and keep the other, or add another cab if you like what you've got and just want more of it.
I'm not at all negative about Carvin gear (used a set of powered cabs as monitors for several years), but with Carvin Audio defunct I'd wonder about servicing, in the future.
I'd buy a separate amp and cab. There are significant advantages, including the ability to later replace one part and keep the other, or add another cab if you like what you've got and just want more of it.
I'm not at all negative about Carvin gear (used a set of powered cabs as monitors for several years), but with Carvin Audio defunct I'd wonder about servicing, in the future.
Ric5
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- Jan 29, 2008
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Go to a music go round ... (if you have one near you) ... and test out some used amps. Maybe you will get lucky
Gallien Krueger mb 500 2x12” combo. If you don’t care about weight get an SWR Goliath 4x10 and a decent head.
I would hesitate to invest much in Carvin amps right now, at least the more modern stuff that has no service information on their website. On the cabs though, if it's in good working order, and you can verify that plus it does what you want, I wouldn't hesitate. Unfortunately, the MB series were the really light weight cabs and those dried up about 1 mSec after they liquidation sale began. The MBs are also designed to be paired with a 250 Watt MB combo, so although light in weight, probably not the best thing for high power rigs. Everything else I think is heavy, at least for what they are. BR series might come in under the weight radar, barely. Older "red eye" or "redline" whatever they called them, I fear also heavy. I wouldn't seek Carvin cabs used, it's a long shot I think, but if you come across one in person, it might be worth looking at it.
I second visiting any stores that carry used gear. If you can identify several you like at musicgoround, sam ash, guitar center, etc. and if their prices are not good, you can always buy elsewhere, already knowing what you want. It's always good to test used gear, but there are deals to be had on reverb and such if you know what you want and they guarantee it works.
It's almost the end of the month.
That's the best time to deal bc some guy has to get his #'s up, some of us worked straight commission and we have bills to pay, if a store has a manager he wants his overall #'s up.
Whatever it takes can work in your favor late in the month/beginning of a quarter.
Maybe you could talk some crazy points scheme up at GC if you saw something primo you liked.
Don't they have their own credit thing still?
That's the best time to deal bc some guy has to get his #'s up, some of us worked straight commission and we have bills to pay, if a store has a manager he wants his overall #'s up.
Whatever it takes can work in your favor late in the month/beginning of a quarter.
Maybe you could talk some crazy points scheme up at GC if you saw something primo you liked.
Don't they have their own credit thing still?
A guy has one of these in my local CL for $450 and it's not moving.
That would be a solid deal if you unscrew the head and stack it.
After back injury I decided to down size weight wise, plus I bass on a budget. I am not kin to Bill Gates! Sold my big combo. I currently play a TC electronics 250 head I bought on sale at GC for $212.00 I was Leary of it. GC offers a 45 day return so I saved everything. I have 2 SWR cabinets, a Pro 12" and a WM15 cabinet. Really sounds good on either cabinet. Weight wise, the head is 4 pounds, the 12" cab is 30 pounds, and the 15" cab is 43 pounds. So I went from 80lb 15" combo and a 60lb 12" combo to 34lbs and 48lbs. My cabinets are old, but still sound good, plus I play them easy. But, I do miss my SWR combos...
