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modular rig or combo???
- Thread starter pegdrums
- Start date
- Feb 5, 2013
- 1,686
- 2,281
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Used Fender Lead Sleds and Hartke cabs with bent grills
Yep ... won't touch another Chinese Peavey. I've been playing PV guitar and bass amps for 30 years and never had an issue. But had a new MiniMax head going south after a year and a half, a brand new Elf that started squealing as soon as I turned it on (it went right back) a brand new Max 112 combo with a weird whine thru the speaker and headphones and a non-working DI (it went right back), the read about all the issues with the MiniMega here, which I loved the tone of. I've never had issues like with any brand. My Hartkes, older SS Fenders, and older PVs were perfect. In 40 years of gigging out I have never had an guitar or bass amp go south. Had to replace a preamp tube in a Laney once during a break. What's the saying ... "This ain't your father's Peavey amp."
Lots of other companies are having their amps made in China and they're (usually) able to run for a couple years before the magic smoke is let out. PV has no excuse.
And yes ... try to find out the true continuous wattage on any amp you buy. Not the slightly scammy "Peak Watts" (always at 4 ohms) most are using now. And you don't need 500 watts to be heard as long as your cab is good and you have enough speaker. The Gnome is something like 125 watts at 8 and 200 at 4. And with a couple of quality 8 ohm cabs it'll probably carry a band at 200.
Just make sure you understand the true rating of any amp and that you search here for reliability reports.
It's a different world out there.
Last edited:
Passinwind
I know nothing.
- Dec 3, 2003
- 23,079
- 46,050
- Disclosures
- Designer/Toaster Tech @ Passinwind Electronics
It's the power consumption at something between 1/8th and 1/3 max power, as usual when labeled to industry standards.
I'm in the minority who voted combo.
I have a Berg 4x10 + GB head, and a Berg 1x12 + GB head (with attachment), an EBS 115 combo and a Line 110 combo.
If I had to go for one, I'd get a combo I liked and mayyybe an extension cab. The EBS Drome 15 doesn't have an extension cab option, but I've played pretty big stages and it did well, and of course in smaller clubs and venues it was borderline overkill, an ext. would've been helpful, but not critical. It's fairly bulky I think new combos are better packaged.
Right now, I would probably get something like a GK combo or a Fender Rumble 500 or 800 and an extension if needed. If the venue is big enough, you'll have PA and monitor support, so I would put a premium on portability if it's your only serious amp in the arsenal.
For sure buy used, if it's a quality piece of gear that wasn't abused you'll be happy. Not sure what country you're in, but ebay-kleinanzeigen has a lot of really good stuff. I've sold and bought a few basses there.
I've also bought amps on Facebook marketplace, so far, no duds.
I have a Berg 4x10 + GB head, and a Berg 1x12 + GB head (with attachment), an EBS 115 combo and a Line 110 combo.
If I had to go for one, I'd get a combo I liked and mayyybe an extension cab. The EBS Drome 15 doesn't have an extension cab option, but I've played pretty big stages and it did well, and of course in smaller clubs and venues it was borderline overkill, an ext. would've been helpful, but not critical. It's fairly bulky I think new combos are better packaged.
Right now, I would probably get something like a GK combo or a Fender Rumble 500 or 800 and an extension if needed. If the venue is big enough, you'll have PA and monitor support, so I would put a premium on portability if it's your only serious amp in the arsenal.
For sure buy used, if it's a quality piece of gear that wasn't abused you'll be happy. Not sure what country you're in, but ebay-kleinanzeigen has a lot of really good stuff. I've sold and bought a few basses there.
I've also bought amps on Facebook marketplace, so far, no duds.
Phil Jones drivers are small, but they use more per cab. Again, it’s the total speaker area that matters, not the size of the individual drivers.
I like combos. My preferred setup is and has always been a small combo between me and the drummer, with line outs to PA/FOH. I also like Fender amps. A Rumble 200 is enough for anything that should reasonably be happening in a rehearsal room, and a legion of bassists gig with a Rumble 500 every day in this great land of ours. Hartke also has amazing option for combos. If you are limited on funds, new combos are still an amazing value.
Yeah, that's what I would expect it to be but I've never seen a power consumption rating that was lower than the output wattage. Wonder what's going on here???
AIUI if you have an ultra efficient amplifier design, it can deliver more watts out than the power supply puts in, because the psu is receiving its incoming watts for 60 seconds in every minute, but the amplifier only delivers peak power out for a fraction of that. Still makes my mind boggle though.
Funny you mention that. There’s a seller up the road with a 12 x 5” PJB combo...asking $1600 but it weighs like 72 lbs!
Riis
Phil Jones makes great stuff, but it’s not really lightweight. Or cheap.
Mine are super light weight. I think the Cab-27 is 29 pounds and the Cab-47 is 39 pounds. Compared to my DNA 410 which is 110 pounds
A Rumble 500 will get you on the board and you can add a cabinet later if required. I’ve got a Rumble 500 i’ve used to cover everything from hillbilly string band stuff to 2 guitars and a drummer covering Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Allman Brothers, etc etc etc. i’ve also got a 500W head and a couple 12/6 cabinets which I use when I play out because it gives me enough headroom to cover most any room or outdoor situation. When I got the Rumble I started to buy an extension cabinet, but after using it for a while I decided to just keep using my head and 12/6 cabinet(s) if the 210 combo was in danger of being overtaxed. Since I’ve been doing that I’ve used the Rumble more, but most of that was more COVID related than anything else.
No on the 1000 watts. I would say they push about 200-250 watts. I compared it to my Fender Rumble 500 combo and Markbass CMD151p combo. The Bugera was just as loud as the Rumble and almost as loud as the Markbass. The Rumble sounded very muddy in comparison to the Bugera. I since sold both the Fender and Markbass. I kept the Bugera because it was that good.
Also the Bugera is very reliable. I really love mine. I've been told to turn down because I was getting louder than our PA!
