Need a new setup

[LushPuppy]

A couple of friends who I respect play the pf ampeg/210 situation and it sounds great, at least w/ pa support. Although I have heard those flip tops can have some buzzing issues, not being fixed to the cab.

I play an aguilar tone hammer 500 + two ampeg 210av cabs and i have never played a room (even without pa support at weddings, etc.) that was too much, especially when stacked vertically. If you can afford those and a decent head like a tone hammer, you’re golden. Never had one problem with those in probably 800+ gigs. They’re great because I just take one to small gigs and both for medium to large gigs.

If you’re actually just playing smaller rooms w/ pa support, I’d bet the 112av would be fine. Just make sure your head is putting out 8ohms to get the most of the 300 watts if you’re trying to be efficient/need that wattage.. But it would honestly probably be fine w/ the 4ohm 150 watts, or whatever it would be otherwise, in a smaller room.

 

[MaxSpinrun]

So many good suggestions. I like the modular approach. For flexibility. My Mesa D-800+ puts out 400 watts to an 8 ohm load. Can be driven to 2 ohms if I want to add more cabs. My cab of choice is the Genzler BA 15-3 SLT. A GREAT 15 IMHO.

 

[Jim Beaver]

Hi Jim - good luck on your journey! While I love Ampeg’s tube amps and cabs, I vastly prefer Aguilar when it comes to solid state. It’s expensive, but if you can swing it, that stuff sounds great and will last forever. My main Aguilar rig is a DB751 and SL210/115 cabs, but I also have a Tonehammer 700. I have also tried similar offerings from Mesa and Genzler - all great stuff.

I love the tone hammers. The first time I heard them I made an audible oooooo sound that I never made before. So rich and warm and just a great sound. I don’t know if I can swing it right now tho. I’m on the fence. Thanks for the recommendation, I’ll go ooo and ahhh over them a little more on YouTube!

 

[Jim Beaver]

Big thanks to everyone that’s replied so far. I really do appreciate it. It’s definitely overwhelming trying to arrive at the right fit since I’ve been out of the game since college. I think at this point I have it narrowed down to any combo of the following...

Ampeg pf500 head or tone hammer 500.
Ampeg pf210he cab or Galien Kruger cx210 cab

the gk cab seems to be a solid choice/comparison to the ampeg cab that is $50 cheaper and 10 pounds lighter. And that seems to be a nice stackable option if I need the added power of two 2x10s in the future.

 

[Blues Bass 2]

I'm an Ampeg guy but that GK 210 looks very nice . I like the PF series amps and I haven't tried the Tone Hammer so my vote would be for the PF500 and the GK 210 . Lighter is better for an old guy like me and the GK has ceramic magnet speakers and still only weighs 39 pounds . I use an Ampeg PF800 and the PF500 sounds just the same .

 

[Jim Beaver]

I'm an Ampeg guy but that GK 210 looks very nice . I like the PF series amps and I haven't tried the Tone Hammer so my vote would be for the PF500 and the GK 210 . Lighter is better for an old guy like me and the GK has ceramic magnet speakers and still only weighs 39 pounds . I use an Ampeg PF800 and the PF500 sounds just the same .

I have a line on a used “mint” tone hammer for $600 I’m about to pull the trigger on. Pair that with the gk cab and I think I’ll be good to go? I have lower back issues so the lower weight really is a selling point for me.

 

[Jim Beaver]

So many good suggestions. I like the modular approach. For flexibility. My Mesa D-800+ puts out 400 watts to an 8 ohm load. Can be driven to 2 ohms if I want to add more cabs. My cab of choice is the Genzler BA 15-3 SLT. A GREAT 15 IMHO. View attachment 3942068

If you don’t know this guy on YouTube, he’s a monster player, Nathan Navarro. Just did a review with these cabs and they sound awesome very cool tilted design for better performance.

 

[muddycreek]

I have a line on a used “mint” tone hammer for $600 I’m about to pull the trigger on. Pair that with the gk cab and I think I’ll be good to go? I have lower back issues so the lower weight really is a selling point for me.

That's going to be a great rig, especially if the tone hammer "spoke" to you when you heard it. That's important. Otherwise we'd all be fine with <insert cheapest class D 300-500w amp> and <insert cheapest 210/212/115>.
Just relax and don't assume it's your last purchase ever. On the other hand, future purchases should be of the "want to/different" variety, instead of "need to/better."

 

[Jim Beaver]

This is probably as close to “dream setup” as it’s going to get for me for the foreseeable future. If I have to in the future I’ll either add another 2x10 or a 15. But for now this will definitely put a Big smile on my face when everything arrives. I’ll put a video or two of me up playing with everything. Thanks again to everyone that helped me out.

 

[Downunderwonder]

This is probably as close to “dream setup” as it’s going to get for me for the foreseeable future. If I have to in the future I’ll either add another 2x10 or a 15. But for now this will definitely put a Big smile on my face when everything arrives. I’ll put a video or two of me up playing with everything. Thanks again to everyone that helped me out.

Lost us, between posting someone else's review of random gear and now you're in gear heaven????

 

[Jim Beaver]

Lost us, between posting someone else's review of random gear and now you're in gear heaven????

I posted that gear review video because it was about the speakers that someone else mentioned they had and I thought he would enjoy seeing it.

 

[labeledbass]

The PFs are pretty solid amps. Whats the budget? I was in the same boat as you a year ago. Out of the game for about 12 years, ALOT has changed (everyone makes pedals now..) don't count out tube power, i recently got a Ashdown LB30 and its LOUD and only albeit tube, 30 watts. Theres a couple of its sister amp (CTM30) in the classifieds now. For a vintage sound any Aguilar Tone hammer would be reliable, those PF Ampegs have a good classic/current rock sound too. You could also go the floor route, have some DI and/or preamp pedal board and a class D like a Bass Block, Baby Sumo, Trace Elliot Elf for the power, they would even fit on the board itself. Im all about the rack at the moment, I could go into those possibilities if you want but it definitly isn't an easier setup than amp/cab combo

 

[Jim Beaver]

The PFs are pretty solid amps. Whats the budget? I was in the same boat as you a year ago. Out of the game for about 12 years, ALOT has changed (everyone makes pedals now..) don't count out tube power, i recently got a Ashdown LB30 and its LOUD and only albeit tube, 30 watts. Theres a couple of its sister amp (CTM30) in the classifieds now. For a vintage sound any Aguilar Tone hammer would be reliable, those PF Ampegs have a good classic/current rock sound too. You could also go the floor route, have some DI and/or preamp pedal board and a class D like a Bass Block, Baby Sumo, Trace Elliot Elf for the power, they would even fit on the board itself. Im all about the rack at the moment, I could go into those possibilities if you want but it definitly isn't an easier setup than amp/cab combo

thanks for replying. I ended up getting a used tone hammer 500 and a GK 2x10 cab. I didn’t really have a set budget which was kind of a problem cause of the number of options out there. I have a wife tho so I couldn’t be too crazy and I wanted to be able to carry it around somewhat easily cause I have some lower back issues. I didn’t want to get something that would be too weak without PA support, but was also strong enough to stand on its own.

There were lots of great suggestions thrown out but it was tough to choose since I couldn’t drop into my local stores to try them out. I’m happy with where I ended up in the end. I watch too many YouTube videos and do too much research and torture myself over purchases like this so coming here was a big help.

 

[labeledbass]

I watch too many YouTube videos and do too much research and torture myself over purchases like this so coming here was a big help.

Yeah I hear yah, I'm guilty of over researching what I'm out to get too. Starts off reasonable and snow balls into a huge investment. Glad you found something. If you have back problems also look into Aguliars SL line, they are high but the price reflects the weight savings as it goes for almost any Neo loaded cabinet

 

[Blues Bass 2]

I think you did good .

 

[Jim Beaver]

Yea the Aguilar cabs were what I really wanted but that’s where the explanation to the wife comes in and I didn’t want to fight that battle. I would’ve loved an ampeg 2x12 or an Aguilar 112 but for different reasons I couldn’t. The GK cab was a happy medium for all aspects. Combined with the head I’m around 45 pounds which is great. It can be built on with another cab if I need one down the line.