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Make my amp decision for me...

sigmafloyd

sigmafloyd

May 1, 2011
1,994
675
#1
I know next to nothing about amps. For some reason I can't get excited about them the way I can about basses or strings. That said, my Ampeg BA115HP combo just isn't providing enough head room for the (loud guitar player) band I'm in right now.

Here is my criteria:
1) Reliable. I'm the guy with the worst gear in the band I don't want my amp crapping out during a gig
2) Relatively inexpensive (between 500-1k)

The Aguilar tone hammer sounds cool, but the fender rumbler 500 is also getting some pretty good reviews it looks like. Combos appeal to me because I don't know much about pairing cabs and heads. My current options I'm evaluating are:

1) Fender Rumble 500 Combo( ~ $550): It's on the cheaper end of my price range and it seems the most plug and play solution. My concern is that it might have the same quality level as my current ampeg amp which never really sounds/feels that great.

2) Fender Rumble 500 Head + Fender 410 cab ($400 + 400 = $800): Pro: flexibility with the detached head. Cons: more expensive.

3) Used Aguilar TH500 + Fender 410 cab? )(~$550 + 400 = $950): Pro: Have heard nothing but good things about Aguilar. Seems like a more permanent setup. Cons: High price point - not sure if that cab even goes with the head, etc etc.

To put it in terms I can understand, if amps were guitars, I'm fine with whatever the Squier VM or Squier Classic Vibe level of quality in the amp world is. Doesn't need to have the fit/finish extra something special, just a solid and reliable workhorse.

Thanks - appreciate the input.
 
#4
MrLenny1 said:
Aguilar is nice but pricey.
Go GK. 500 watt head and 2x12 cab i.e.
Combos are not flexible, components are easy to add to.
Look into used market there is a ton
of good gear at a fraction of new gear.
Click to expand...
I agree.

Gigged my GK Neo 212 II for the first time last night (powered by little mark tube 800) and it was great and can get very loud (but tilt it or raise it for your monitoring). Sound man running the house PA was a bassist and liked the sound, as did the band.
So, yeah, go modular. A GK is a fine, more affordable cab (as I imagine are some others). You can get much cheaper heads than mine which will do the job well.
 
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#8
shawshank72 said:
If you have up to 1k to spend please look at the GK MB212-II.
500 Watts into a 2x12 that weighs like 40lbs.
It will be all you ever need.
Click to expand...

Plus, if you find you need or want more power you can get MBP cabinets for it. They make 2*12, 4*10, 2*10, 1*15. I have the MB212-II with a MBP115 under it for a total of 750 watts. More than enough for anywhere most people normally play.
 
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#9
I use a GK MB500 micro head into a GK Neo 212-II cab and I can attest to it's power and value. Been using them for years, very reliable for me.

When I need even more from it, I throw a 210 cab on top.

Also, don't get a combo because you don't understand cab/amp pairings. Combos are very limiting and you will probably regret it at some point down the road. Understanding this stuff is actually pretty simple.

My amp is rated 500w at 4ohms.

My 212 cab is rated 8ohms.

Therefore, my amps available watts drop to about 250 or so. Which is fine because the cab probably can't use much more power than that.

If I add a second 8 ohm cab, the combination results in a 4ohm load. (This is the weird part: 8 + 8 = 4. Never mind why, it just does.)

Then my amp has the full 500w available, 250 per cab.

There's a big more to know, such as stuff about combining cabs with different ohm ratings and amps that can do loads as low as 2 ohms, but this should be enough to get you going.
 
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#12
I would go with Hartke Products all the way for the amp. Avatar for the Cabinet. You simply can't beat the bang for the buck with these two companies. 4 Ohm Avatar B212 and a LH1000 is my pick.
 
#15
The GK combos are the ticket for best bang for the buck on new equipment in your price range. I have the 210 combo which sounds great. The 212 combo is also very nice just be sure to get a combo that allows the use of an extension cabinet and has an XLR out. Then if your gigs require more volume you can simply add the extension or route to house.

For used equipment, you're not going to find a better cab than Bergantino. If you see one of their 410, 212, 215 or 610 cabs for any where near $600 just buy it. Then look for a clean used 150 or more watt tube amp or a used 300 watt or more solid state amp and you'll have an killer system. My current main rig is a Bergantino HT322 with a vintage Musicman HD150 head. The total rig cost me just under $1000 and is the best sounding rig I've ever heard.
 
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#16
If you get the rumble 550 combo, which is a far sight above those ampeg combos, just get the available 210 extension cabinet to get the full 500 watts. Super simple just get the cab and a speaker cable and plug in to the appropriate holes.
I love my older rumble head they're a great value with some great components and the new cabs are loaded with eminence speakers. They're sick man I'm like two shots away from ordering 2 of their 115 cabs at any given time.
Good luck with the search homey
 
#19
scottfeldstein said:
I myself have been wondering about the new amp heads at Carvin. Great features, great price...just don't know if they're reliable or not.

I would go avatar cabs, sure. I like that they have a new 12 + midrange driver cab now. Like a poor man's fear cab.
Click to expand...
I'm a strong advocate for Carvin amps. They don't tend to get a whole lot of love around here, but I can't think of an amp manufacturer that gives a better bang for the buck, and their amps are typically loaded with features (whether that's a good or a bad thing is up to you).

I've owned 2 carvin heads (B1500 previously, and a BX500 currently) and have had no problems at all with either.
 
#20
Your problem is not having enough volume. Your solution is "as much speaker as you can get".

Pretty much all heads pair up with all cabs - if you're only running one cab, its tough to mess up. (most heads will run a 4 ohm load - lower is more "extreme" in this case) Most speaker cabs are either 4 or 8 ohms. So running one cab, you probably won't have any issue pairing a head to a cab. Wattage ratings - try to get them close.

This is severely dumbed down advice - read through the FAQ here for specifics.

For best volume get any head in the 200-500 watt range, and a speaker cab like a 4x10, 6x10, 8x10. A 2x12 might work too. A single 15 won't cut it. A 2x10 won't do either.

Now these are just examples and there's definitely exceptions to the rule where one brand 2x12 wouldn't be very loud and another brand 1x15 could be super loud. But to keep things simple and let you choose, just think that what gives you the most volume will be the total speaker area and then you can see that many combos won't be big enough without adding a cab. And if you're doing that, you might as well just get a head and cab setup to start with. (again, with a list of exceptions to this "rule")
 

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