Need Help Upgrading My Amp!

[Downunderwonder]

Look away from 4x10 cabs. Their beaming dispersion is worst for mids and highs. No point in being loud if you can't be heard clearly. Better to find a pair of 2x10 or 2x12 in the vertical format.

 

[Munjibunga]

Look away from 4x10 cabs. Their beaming dispersion is worst for mids and highs. No point in being loud if you can't be heard clearly. Better to find a pair of 2x10 or 2x12 in the vertical format.

Take this with a grain of salt.

 

[Downunderwonder]

If you want salt, take a stride across the room where a 4x10 or 8x10 is carrying all the bass. You will hear it very bright and clear right in front and progressively darker to the sides.

 

[oerk]

Yes, a 4x10 has really bad dispersion. But they are most likely the easiest to find used, especially if you want loud on a budget.

Just keep it elevated so you can hear yourself. Best way to elevate a 4x10 is to put an identical 4x10 under it

 

[Vince Klortho]

Well thanks for the advice so far guys! Sorry it came out like I didn't know about having an amp head... I was just going to slap on what I found in my price range.. nobody has any thoughts about the cabs though? How do they relate to that 100w guitar amp?

It's important to remember that just because he/she has 100W does not mean they have to use it all. Amps have volume controls and that is a very good thing.

I recommend checking out a Hartke HA3500 or possibly HA5000 amplifier. They can easily be found used for very good prices and they are very versatile amps with built-in EQs, compressors, and XLR out.

For cabinets, 4x10s and 2x12s are good. If you want to go a bit bigger then 2x15, 6x10, and 4x12s are all nice. My preference is Hartke 4x10 cabs. The 4.5XL is a nice one that can play very low. Of course, not all cabinets are created equal so it is best to try before you buy.

 

[Rock Lobster]

Yeah, i definitely feel like a 4X10 is right for me. If i were to buy these things used, however, and i found two really good deals on a separate cab and amp from different locations, how would i be able to test if the amp head is OK/working properly without having a cab? Or Vice Versa if i was buying the cab first? Also, i don't really have any friends who know that much about bass stuff.... what are the certain things to look out for when buying used cabs/ amps? I think i have pretty good ears when it comes to finding my tone, my only question is how i would do this without owning a cab... i just don't want to buy somebody else's problem as Cirk stated earlier.

 

[ArtechnikA]

i just don't want to buy somebody else's problem as Cirk stated earlier.

Buy from someone you [can] trust.
Check their TB feedback.
Check their EBay feedback.

There's a fine line on money-back guarantees tho, especially for private parties, because it's possible (even easy for some...) to damage an amp or a cab through mistake or misuse.

I'd be a little skeptical of buying a cab some someone who doesn't have some amp to check it out with - similarly amp but no cab.

You won't get exactly the same sound as with your matched pair, but you can check for proper operation, obvious distortions or rattles, and general feel. If there's evidence of user tampering (e.g. drivers replaced, covers removed on SS amp) I'd back away. There's plenty of good stuff out there.

You haven't said if you're looking at tube or SS - it makes a difference how you approach cab impedance matching.

 

[Rock Lobster]

I think I'm going to roll with SS amps. Unless there is some obvious reason to go tube?

 

[Wesley R]

Take this with a grain of salt.

Munji is correct, which is not uncommon for him. While there certainly is much proof that the whole beaming etc. thing is accurate, and real, many thousands of very successful gigs have been done with 4x10, and 8x10 cabinets.

Luckily, I am spoiled as this area is full of Mom&Pop stores, GC's, Specialty stores, Music Go-Rounds, etc.

 

[Dave W]

I think I'm going to roll with SS amps. Unless there is some obvious reason to go tube?

Nothing wrong with either, it's a personal preference. What are you thinking about grabbing?

Based on your budget it's going to be tough to get a tube amp. They can also be tough to buy used without knowing much about them. I'd say you have a greater chance of getting someone else's problem with a used tube amp. That's not to say that there is anything inherently wrong with them, just that they can be complicated.

I know I mentioned buying from GC's used site earlier, but it really sounds like that an option you should look at heavily. You wouldn't have to worry about testing a head without a cab since they'll have cabs to use and vice versa. They also have a nice return policy, so if you find something wrong or don't like it you can simply return it.

 

[KeddyLee]

In the mean time, your current amp should not be distorting at 1/4 volume. Are you comfortable with your balance between gain and volume settings? Is you speaker in good shape?

 

[Rock Lobster]

Are you comfortable with your balance between gain and volume settings? Is you speaker in good shape?

First off, my amp is in VERY good condition after running it for two years. A little dust, some small external scratches, but no internal damage. Thing plays like it did the day i got it. With that being said, the gain/volume knobs are very interesting on this amp. With the gain knob at zero, or slightly above zero, i will have very little sound or no sound at all. Once i kick the gain up about 1/8 of a turn, my volume kicks in. However, anything above an 1/8 a turn i feel gets too gritty. Especially with the VM jag bass, which already gets pretty gritty depending on its preamp settings. So for volume, i use the volume knob. However, once i get to just under halfway, i start to distort and clip very easily. (especially when slapping). I think this is just because of lack of headroom. As for my other knobs, i run low at 7/8 turn, lo-mid at cap, hid-mid at cap, and high at cap, since the low end is MUCH louder on this amp. Any notes played on the E or A string are considerably louder than the D or G strings. Honestly, i think its clipping just because of the way the amp is made. Its the first generation B100, so i'm guessing they probably tweaked some things between generations. I know you generally don't want to run things at cap, but if i don't my mids and highs suffer tremendously.