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Need some advise.

V

Viper027

Mar 28, 2008
21
0
Pataskala
#1
Ok a little background first. I play in a rock cover band, been together for about a month. I have been playing bass for about a year and 3 months. I got a Backline 600 for christmas and last weekend my wife bought me a GK 115 GLX. My band is currently looking at purchasing a decent PA, I don't anything about PA's, but this one has 2 18's, 2x12's, and i am not sure how many monitors.
So on to my question. I like the 1x15 but the band I am in will be gigging this summer. From all my searching on here and reading, it looks like I need more that the 1x15. I have around 400 to spend, so should I get another cab, like a 2x10. Or should I return the 1x15 to GC and use the money and the credit back towards another cabinet( better one like the neo or RBX)
My other line of thinking is I will need a better quality bass, do I spend the money on that instead.
Just wanted to get some advice or opinions on what I will need to start gigging with. (must have's and nice to have stuff)
thanks in advance!:hyper:
 
#2
Viper027 said:
Ok a little background first. I play in a rock cover band, been together for about a month. I have been playing bass for about a year and 3 months. I got a Backline 600 for christmas and last weekend my wife bought me a GK 115 GLX. My band is currently looking at purchasing a decent PA, I don't anything about PA's, but this one has 2 18's, 2x12's, and i am not sure how many monitors.
So on to my question. I like the 1x15 but the band I am in will be gigging this summer. From all my searching on here and reading, it looks like I need more that the 1x15. I have around 400 to spend, so should I get another cab, like a 2x10. Or should I return the 1x15 to GC and use the money and the credit back towards another cabinet( better one like the neo or RBX)
My other line of thinking is I will need a better quality bass, do I spend the money on that instead.
Just wanted to get some advice or opinions on what I will need to start gigging with. (must have's and nice to have stuff)
thanks in advance!:hyper:
Click to expand...

Add the 2x10 and you'll have a powerful enough and gig worthy set up. For $400 you could get an Avatar 2x10 in 8 ohms, but the GK would do well too if you don't want to do mail order.

Put good strings on your bass and that's all you must have to play a gig. You don't need a rack with compressor, power conditioner and all that junk. Keep it simple and get your technique up enough and get used to how the amp works to get a good sound every time you play.
 
#3
The rig you have onstage sounds like it will only be your stage monitor. The PA System is definitely going to carry your bass tone to the audience. The big 2x18 cabs will put out the low end below 200hz and the other 212's of the PA will put out everything above 200hz.

If your GK Backline head and 15 cab work well for hearing yourself, then you are set. Bass with good strings is always important. How are you going to send the sound of your rig to the PA system? Easily solved - direct connection out of the amp head or put a microphone on your bass cab.

Tuner, cables, backup cables, strings, flashlight, duct tape, backup rig if your funds allow. Good luck dude
 
#4
I just purchased a couple of GK RBX 210. I'm biased, I think 2 210 cabs gives you a lot of flexibility.

My advice is to go with a 2 10 configuration.

blue



Viper027 said:
Ok a little background first. I play in a rock cover band, been together for about a month. I have been playing bass for about a year and 3 months. I got a Backline 600 for christmas and last weekend my wife bought me a GK 115 GLX. My band is currently looking at purchasing a decent PA, I don't anything about PA's, but this one has 2 18's, 2x12's, and i am not sure how many monitors.
So on to my question. I like the 1x15 but the band I am in will be gigging this summer. From all my searching on here and reading, it looks like I need more that the 1x15. I have around 400 to spend, so should I get another cab, like a 2x10. Or should I return the 1x15 to GC and use the money and the credit back towards another cabinet( better one like the neo or RBX)
My other line of thinking is I will need a better quality bass, do I spend the money on that instead.
Just wanted to get some advice or opinions on what I will need to start gigging with. (must have's and nice to have stuff)
thanks in advance!:hyper:
Click to expand...
 
#5
The 1x15 is loud enough for me to hear myself at rehearsal. Dont know if that will be the same noise level as being on stage. We play pretty loud during rehearsal. 2 guitar players and a pretty loud drummer. Our singer sings into the board with 2 monitors only. So if I can hear myself on stage with what I have and run direct to the board, I should be set. Maybe I will look at another bass now, and later the summer pick up a 2x10 or whatever I feel I need/want at the time. Thanks for the advise guys!
 
#6
Yeah, if your show sound is going to the PA, your needs will be much different than if your rig is providing all of the bass sound.

Regardless of that, though, in my opinion you should return the speaker cabinet. I'm not familiar with GK cabs, but after a quick check on musician's friends it appears they use a GK-made driver in there. I would advise you to do more research on speakers and cabinets, and buy something with high-quality name brand drivers like Eminence which happens to be the brand used in Avatar cabinets. Or, instead of researching it for hours (years) like I did, just take my and tons of other TBers' advice, and buy Avatar cabs. I especially like my B212 Neo 2x12"

I believe you should not settle for anything less than the very best quality speakers in your bass rig. The low frequencies will be hard on your drivers, and with Avatar you don't really pay more for the best. Just my 2c

Further, I would say wait on buying another bass until you sort out your live sound. Depending on your style of music, and the tone you're after, you might like flatwound strings. They virtually eliminate finger noise, give you a nice fat old-school tone, and can make even a cheapo player-pack bass sound great.

Good luck, and have fun! :bassist: :hyper:
 
#7
ChrisB2, if you are unfamiliar with G-K stuff then to infer they are a less than top notch brand is not very intelligent. The BLX line is the "budget line" for entry level and I would recommend the NEO,RBX or RBH series from Gallien-Krueger. G-K makes 99% of their own drivers now and have had greatly reduced failure since going to their own manufacture.
You want the very best in your rig why are you using Eminence? They are very good and many use them to build their own special designs, but they are not THE BEST in the market.
 
#9
B-string said:
ChrisB2, if you are unfamiliar with G-K stuff then to infer they are a less than top notch brand is not very intelligent.
Click to expand...

:hmm:

I said nothing about the brand overall, I own a GK amp. I simply made a judgment that the cabinet Viper027 has is not "top notch." It seems from your post that you agree with me. He even questioned if he should get a "better one."

Do you agree or disagree that it's important as bassists to use high-quality drivers?

Do you agree or disagree that a 1x15 cabinet that retails for $225 including dealer markup probably contains cheap components?

I merely related my experience and belief that Eminence is a top-notch driver, and that Avatar cabinets provide a great value to bassists without dealer inflation. Like I said, "just my 2c."

[SIZE="-2"]Additional comments withheld.[/SIZE]
 
#10
To quote what you said: "I'm not familiar with GK cabs, but after a quick check on musician's friends it appears they use a GK-made driver in there. I would advise you to do more research on speakers and cabinets, and buy something with high-quality name brand drivers like Eminence which happens to be the brand used in Avatar cabinets."

Yes I agree I'm not a fan of the Back Line stuff. I'll agree that Avavtar is very good "bang for the buck".
I would not agree that G-K Artist series cabs are low quality compaired to Avatar however. Not just the driver issue but I also believe that poplar plywood is a much better contruction (G-K Artist) than MDF (Avatar).

I have no problem recommending Avatar for anyone with budget issues :)
 
#11
I´m in a similar position; in a cover band and on a budget.
So for an amp I decided to go for a GK Neo700/112 combo with an extra Neo1X12.
It gives me all the prescense I need on stage and will cover small/medium venues.
A big plus is that I can carry the gear for by myself. If your gonna be gigging a lot, portability is a big +

The way I think is, if your gonna spend your hard earned money on gear, get something that really convinces you. remember its your TONE
 
#13
I guess I wasn't real clear. I think the GLX is ok, but I was thinking I could take it back and with 400 more get a neo, RBX 4x10 and the quality will be better. Also I think I can play a 4x10 and with support from the PA, be fine. Dont know if that is a better way to go. Does anyone know if the Backline would be better through a GK 4x10 Neo? Thanks for all the advise guys.
 
#15
B-string said:
I'll agree that Avavtar is very good "bang for the buck". I would not agree that G-K Artist series cabs are low quality compaired to Avatar however. Not just the driver issue but I also believe that poplar plywood is a much better contruction (G-K Artist) than MDF (Avatar).

I have no problem recommending Avatar for anyone with budget issues :)
Click to expand...

Really? So when Avatar says they are using, "13 PLY voidless Baltic Birch PLYWOOD with rabbet and dado interlocking side joints for extreme strength" on their website that translates to MDF (medium density fiberboard)? Is this not very similar to the 13-ply Finnish Birch used in the construction of the MarkBass cabs that cost over twice as much? How much difference can there be between 13 ply Finnish birch and 13 ply Baltic birch?

So far as I know Avatar has never used MDF. My Avatar cabs are over 3 years old now and going strong. If I ever switch to something else it might be Dr. Bass cabs. Unless I get some cool endorsement deal of course! Like THAT would ever happen to an old dude like me. LOL

I have no problem recommending Avatar for anyone doing anything short of a world tour where a $10,000 Mesa Tour rig carried around by a team of muscled roadies would be in order. I've owned Ampeg, Fender, Sunn, more Ampeg, Peavey, SWR and more Ampeg cabs. Plus I've also used lots of shared rigs at gigs.

The Avatar stack I'm using now handles more power and sounds just as good if not better than any of the bigger, heavier and more expensive cabs I've owned. As a bonus Avatar is "Made in the USA." I plan to pass these cabs to my son for him to use when I am through with them.

Eminence makes speakers just for Avatar's bass cabs. They are not the standard Eminence Neo speakers but beefier. So you can't really compare them to stock Eminence speakers. How many other 2x10 cabs take 600 watts? Very few and none in Avatar's price range.

My Avatar cabs have one weakness! There is only 1 Speakon connector per speaker when I'd like to have two.

I've never used any GK cabs that I can remember, so I am not qualified to comment on them but lots of people like GK's higher end gear a lot.

VIPER027, as for your 1x15 cab, I would keep it. I like the way a 15 sounds. However, when on stage with the monitors going your 15 might get lost in the stage-wash. Putting the 10's on top puts them more at your ear height so you hear yourself better. It also helps for me to allow some distance between me and the stack. I seem to hear it better when I get about 10 feet from the stack.
 

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