More Power?

[brendanbass]

Ok, about this time last year, I bought a Crate BT100 combo (100 watt), a 1x15 speaker, thinking i would have enough power to be able to play some small gigs. Boy was i wrong . I recently played an outdoor gig, and my guitarists were playing through a Marshal half-stack and a Crate half-stack, and with a fairly hard hitting drummer, my amp (at its size and weight i figured it could manage) coudnt keep up . It has an additional output on the back for connecting to extra speakers, and I connected it up to a 4x10 cab (dont know what kind) that was there, and it hardly increased the volume at all. I'm guessing that that is mainly because at 100 watts it coudnt power the cabs to their maximum output at all.
So since I don't want to get stuck in the same boat as I was before, I came here looking for some input on an affordable amp head and cab. I already decided I would go with a 4x10 cab, probably used, and probably the one I used before, but was wondering if the amp head I was looking at would be adequate enough to cover two halfstacks at high volume, while still maintaining good tone. I was considering the Ampeg B2RE 450w Solid State head, so if anyone has used this or has a better idea in the price range of $400-$700 for a head, please let me know. Also if the cab really matters a lot on the volume, is a 4x10 cab enough for that, and does it really matter for brand names on the cab? I beleive the one I'm looking at may be either ampeg or roland, but its also quite old. Any input would be greatly appreciated, as this is m first time dealing with bass heads and cabs, since i was combo all my life prior to this. Thanks.

 

[anyonefortennis]

In that range I would look at the Ashdown Mag series depending on what kinda sound you are after...

 

[Figjam]

Probably going to need 300+ watts, at least.

 

[will33]

First of all, playing outside is a different animal all together, need lots of power and bass because there is nothing to hold the sound in but anyway a decent 410 and a decent head 300-500 watts will keep you up with the g#^&*rists most anywhere you play, if you do a lot of outdoor gigs with a PA system that's not big enough to support bass you may want to look into adding a 15" speaker later on. Anyway $400-$700 for a head gets you some pretty good choices of decent gear. If you're looking at Ashdown, look at the MAG600, that's in your price range, also is middle if the road ampegs, good GK's, look at Carvin and Yorkville and Peavey and SWR Workingpro, there are other good suggestions that I'm sure people will mention. Try as many as you can you can locally, company A's 300 watt amp may sound louder/bassier than company B's 400 watt amp, etc. For brands you can't find locally check talkbass for people who have actually owned/gigged them and post again when you have it narrowed down to 2 or 3. It also would help a lot if you'd say what your other gear is ex. what is this other 410? What kind of bass you play or plan to get? What kind of music do you play now and expect to be playing in 2-3 years etc.

 

[snappytom]

If you want power, stay away from the B2RE. It is rated at 450W (4 ohms) but it is a very quiet 450W.
I used to have an earlier model (the B2) rated at 350W, got rid of it for the same reason you want to dump the BT100.

As for what to buy, Will33 gives good advice, try as much as you can.

 

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Peavey would also be a cheap yet good quaility idea

 

[brendanbass]

Thanks a lot for the suggestions, by the way I found out the 4x10 cab was an eden (which i guess is really nice??) and I think he wants about 300-400 for it. My style of music is Hard Rock/Blues/funky (not funk, funky), sorta like the Chili Peppers, or Silvertide. I play a Shecter Stilletto Elite-5 (emg pickups), with the B string tuned up to D (I find it a much more practical use for it), and dont really plan on upgrading any time soon, as I just got it. I'm looking for some good low end (nothing lower than the D really), but not necessarily overpowering lows, and a good mid range sound, as that's where it's mostly at. I dont play much up on the high end, so its not extremely important to me as of right now. I would also like to get something that I wont have to worry about upgrading anytime soon or something that's gonna break in like a year.
So what i've got so far is... stay away from the ampeg B2RE , its too quiet, and consider ashdown as a choice, and maybe peavy. I see some yamaha heads that seem pretty cheap, are they any good? Also, considering my budget (300-700), should I go with solid state or tube?

 

[groove pump]

Bullseye--300 to 500 watts will be a good power range to look for, but this is the important part: know how your amp will match the resistance of your cab. I have a 400 wt head, but it runs at 400 with a four ohm load and my 4x10 is an 8 ohm cab so I probably get around 275-300 watts in that setup. If the exact same cab was 4 ohms, I'd get the maximum power out of my head. If you see a 500 watt head that only runs at that power at 2 ohms, it's actually a little weak.

Damn! You got it right the first time with an Eden 4x10 and your price range for a head is certainly healthy. Research and shop all you can and you'll have a puff rig in short order. A head with a tube preamp and solid state power amp--a hybrid--is a good bet for sound vs. cost and reliability. I personally don't trust Gallien Krueger (hope that spelling is close) for reliability, but Eden, Ampeg, and SWR all offer solid options and good ones in the used market aren't rare. I could list a dozen other really good brands but if you keep kicking around, you'll find the one you need. Welcome to the next level of groove capacity!