lookin for my first rig! YAY!

When it comes to heads, I believe in buying new, unless you know the seller and how the head was treated.

Maybe a Gallien-Krueger 400RB-II --- 240W to bother the neighbors and lots of knobs to keep you busy.

As for testing.....what can I say? Hook it up to your head, (ideally, bring it with you), or something in the store very similiar in size and price to your cab and try it flat first. No EQ'ing or tone controls boosted, just see what the cab sounds like on it's own. Is it pleasing to your ear???

Then you can turn up the bass, gain, and volume as much as the store will allow and throw a lot of low notes through it. Listen for distortion, rattles or mettalic sounds, and of course, whether it has the sound you're after. Boost those treble/presence/EQ controls and see it it has a high end you like. Check out warranty info, too.

 

Best Head for Under $500 IMO is the ampeg B2r I don't think you will find many people who will say this is not a great head for the $. As for Cabs, I would get a ampeg 4x10, The only 4x10 I have heard that I really did not like was the alum. Hartke but hey thats just me

 

I'd agree with that, Fat. I didn't mention it because I've never seen it priced at $500 or less.

 

Yup Ampeg B2R very cool not to complicated or cluttered just knobs and switches but I'd rather buy the cab first because there you are with a head you can't even use for a while I had the same problem when I started my rig. At least when you have the cab you have every thing you need when you get the head. How long do you think it will take you to save up until you have enough money to buy the whole thing Freaky?

 

How would the Carvin R600 ($570) compare to others in its price range?

 

the cab.

 

Doesnt matter if you dont have anything to hook the cab up to while you are waiting for your head. When I bought my first cab I had a peavey combo to hook the cab to. Either way it doesnt matter. Good choice on the Ampeg. I have never had any problems with my stuff.

jtbp

 

A better cab will improve your sound more........and that's not just my own opinion.