METALHEADS help me find an amp

[ErebusBass]

I'm looking for some input, i'm shopping for a new head. I play in a symphonic black metal band, and it would be appreciated if anyone who plays a similar style could tell me about their rig to give me some more ideas. I've been leaning towards Hartke or Ampeg, preferably something hybrid, tubes are good.

Lets talk about my current set up first. Currently i'm playing through a Hartke 2x10 XL and a Behringer BA1x15 (which is also to be replaced, but the head is a priority). Those two cabs are currently being powered by the head of a Behringer 4x10 combo, and as you can imagine, it sounds like dirt. My main bass is a Schecter Stiletto Elite-5 if that makes any difference.

The head has to be loud, I need to play over two guitars with half stacks, as well as a triggered drum set and a keyboard, both of which are running through a PA. I'm looking for pretty standard features, I need a good EQ (preferably graphic), a D/I, an onboard compressor (that's not required though), etc.

Last thing to mention is budget, i'm trying to keep it around $500 but that is flexible if the quality is good enough. The two particular heads i've had the most interest in are Hartke HA3500a and Ampeg SVT-3Pro. If anyone has any experience playing those particular heads for metal your input would be golden. Any other input is also appreciated. Thanks guys

 

[BassSurfer]

why dont you look into Gallien Krueger?


its obviously best to go used.. maybe a used 700 or even 800RB?

 

[ErebusBass]

Sorry, i should have mentioned, i don't like GK. Don't know why, the tone just isn't appealing to me.

 

[Bryan316]

Eden. A WT550 and a 210XST will rumble like thunder. Get the cab 4 ohms, and if you need to upgrade down the road, the 550B will let you drop to a 2 ohm load no problem.

 

[Jouni]

I play Death/Black-metal through an Ashdown EVO II-head, into a 18"plus 2x10" cabs.

Against two halfstacks and a drummer it's plenty, somewhere halfway on rehealsals and maybe a one quarter on small gigs, as I get to stand further away from it, so, plenty headroom.

-Hybrid
-575Watts
-Graphic EQ (except for three knobs)
-DI right on the front of the amp.

-No onboard compressor.

-effects loop
-plug and speakon outputs.
-adjustable, metered input level.

Very versatile in sound, lightweight to the max!..

 

[Kgoodrich]

I'm quite interested to see what heads are recommended because I myself am looking for a new amp to go with my rig.

The ones I am looking at are the Peavey 450 Tour (Highly recommended on this site) and the GK 700RB2 which since you don't like GK you wouldn't like.

I'd suggest checking out that Peavey

 

[herndonbassist]

I've gotta tip my hat to Peavey on this one... I've owned 5 of their heads at this point, and they NEVER disappoint for shear POWER.

 

[neptoon]

+1 on peavey...i use a discontinued peavey max preamp through a peavey 8.5c poweramp into an ampeg 810 and it's pretty deafening

 

[MoD_Scotty]

x3 on Peavey. I have a Firebass which doesn't have a tube preamp, but it has 700 friggin watts at 2ohm. I've been playing mine for almost 5 years with no problem. I run through Avatar B410 and B212 cabs, and my band has 2 all-tube halfstacks, plus keys vox and drums running through a PA. I'm constantly being told to turn down.

 

[roflol]

I play in a symphonic black metal band

just plug straight into the pa and don't bother turning the volume up if you wanna get that proper black metal tone

 

[ErebusBass]

just plug straight into the pa and don't bother turning the volume up if you wanna get that proper black metal tone

Tried that, doesn't quite work. We are black metal, but it's pretty artsy (lots of classical influence) and my bass has to sound good. We don't go for that traditional "we recorded this in a cave in a foot and a half of water" sound.

 

[LarryO]

honestly every amp company makes an amp that will suit your needs. go with what's available to you..GKs are nice a lot of ampegs are nice some hartkes are as versitle as any swr would fit the bill.....etc but a used peavey firebass, nitrobass, t max, kilobass or mark series head will do it for less money and be one of the most reliable things you have ever purchased. but that's only my opinion

 

[ErebusBass]

Peaveys are durable, that's for sure, but i don't like their ss tone. I've noticed a couple of tube peaveys (Tmax i think was the one i was looking at) has anyone used a tube peavey and liked it?

 

[neptoon]

i favor the tube side of my max preamp...

 

[RickenBoogie]

How about Mesa?

 

[joeydavidson]

If I was in a black metal band I would definitly look at a Sansamp and poweramp.

I think the Sansamp (or similar preamp) would give a good tone for the style of music and would be cheaper than buying a tube head.

 

[L.A. Moore]

You could try the Kustom Groove bass 1200. Tons of power, in your price range, and has lots of options for cabs. (1200 watts at 2 ohms)

 

[crazyguy832]

If you hadn't said you disliked GK's I would've reccomended the 700RB-II or 1001RB-II in a heartbeat. Since you don't like em... I agree with the Kustom Groover 1200. Ridiculously powerful cab (but you can pretty much only find them used nowadays).

Besides that, a Peavey would do you fine. However, I'm going to reccomend a Mesa-Boogie amp (sorry I can't say a specific model). Mesa and GK are two of the more popular "metal" brands... and with good reason! They're both loud and have very unique and piercing tones. Try out some Mesa amps and you shouldn't be dissapointed.

 

[stranger0]

There is no "metal" tone for bass, if you want a bit of grind to your tone however I like what I've got going.

Markbass LMII, 500watt head and run that through whatever cabs you want, buy the EBS Tube Overdrive...you'll be sounding like Sharlee D'Angelo in no time.

 

[sedan_dad]

A couple of Ampeg 810's and I hear the 8 pros are good.