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hi, I would get what they call a room tuner ok, runs about 275.00.dbx driver pa 2. you wont reget it
Well I have a Hartke HA3500 (350 Watts) and that's plenty loud!
If you can transport an 8x10, get it. A tube head would go great with it. If I could transport that rig, I'd have one.
Jim Carr
Dr. Jim
- Jan 21, 2006
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Those amps excel at overdriven, snarly, melt your face distorted tone. If that is your thing—go for it. If not, skip them. All IMHO.
All you really need:
Most bassists who buy amps of 600 to 1000 watts RMS and/or 8x10 cabinets typically recognize eventually that they spent too much money on amplification and put too little thought into living with their gear in their home. Also, how much carry space do you have in your car?
Even if you get to play professionally (i.e. making a living as a bassist) for a while, you'll probably find greater wisdom in my recommendation above than in buying high-wattage, high-output gear then lugging it around to play with your output volume way-down-low most of the time.
A DI cable to the house PA could save you hundreds of dollars on your own amplification and free up space in your home and in your car. Then there's the hundreds you could save on chiropractors from lugging around more speakers than you need.
- 200 to 500 watts RMS into a 1x15 or 2x10 cabinet for small-to-medium size venues, supplemented by DI to the PA
- a second 1x15 or 2x10 cabinet for medium-to-large and outdoor venues, supplemented by DI to the PA
Most bassists who buy amps of 600 to 1000 watts RMS and/or 8x10 cabinets typically recognize eventually that they spent too much money on amplification and put too little thought into living with their gear in their home. Also, how much carry space do you have in your car?
Even if you get to play professionally (i.e. making a living as a bassist) for a while, you'll probably find greater wisdom in my recommendation above than in buying high-wattage, high-output gear then lugging it around to play with your output volume way-down-low most of the time.
A DI cable to the house PA could save you hundreds of dollars on your own amplification and free up space in your home and in your car. Then there's the hundreds you could save on chiropractors from lugging around more speakers than you need.
IMO, 500 watts through a 4X10 will let you hang with anyone at any venue. Need a bit more volume? Just add a 15. And that's my 2 cents.
It's really not about size or "power" - in my opinion, it's about quality. I'd suggest you start with a good used head (a tonehammer 500, for example) and a good 2x12 or 4x10 cab 8ohm cab. THEN, if you need more drivers (say like matching cabs) then add them. Don't skimp on the cabs - the builder makes a BIG difference in how good you'll sound as well as how loud you'll be. Never forget that no matter what ANYONE tells you, you get what you pay for. Cheap is just that - cheap.
I don't know nuttin' about nuttin', but I do a lotta club work, and in the summer a lot of "downtown after 5" and private outdoor stuff. I bring two 2x10 cabs to the clubs, and add a 4x10 for outdoors. I got a used Genz-Benz Streamliner 900 at a nice price here on FB, and with that and a DI, I can pretty much play anywhere. My big breakthrough in clubland was realizing that I could stack the 2x10s on their ends, substantially reducing my stage footprint. I was mad at myself for a long time for not thinking of that about 20 years ago.
Haha check out this stage footprint. I had a fridge right behind me all night cause the band after us had a fridge behind mine!
If you have to ask...get a book on "Sound Reinforcement" and educate yourself on Signal Chain: Flow, Matching, Ohms, Watts, Cabinet designs, Speakers, Horns, Time Alignment etc. You'll be glad you did (the last two sentences of my post will explain why)
Then determine your application needs: Style, tone, venues etc.
You'll get many different opinions here and if you're going to play venues with "Front of House" sound reinforcement systems: Your amp is nothing but an onstage monitor.
That's where a high end Pre-Amp is most important.
And remember, if the soundman sucks...Your whole band is going to suck, regardless.
Why, because the final mix (front of house) "Makes The Music."
Then determine your application needs: Style, tone, venues etc.
You'll get many different opinions here and if you're going to play venues with "Front of House" sound reinforcement systems: Your amp is nothing but an onstage monitor.
That's where a high end Pre-Amp is most important.
And remember, if the soundman sucks...Your whole band is going to suck, regardless.
Why, because the final mix (front of house) "Makes The Music."
When you get to the point where you truly "need" that kind of firepower onstage then usually(hopefully) you're not schlepping your own gear from your house/apartment, etc. to the gig. If you do in fact own said big rig, then cartage is transporting it for you and it's not living in your house. Or, more typically, you're using rented back line (and you're glad for it!).
a lot. however much you think you need, double it. you can always turn down, can't always turn up.
To many variables when it comes to requirements, which is why you're getting so many different opinions.
- Venue size
- Style of music
- Indoor/outdoor
- PA reinforcement
- IEM/good wedges
Consider what you have used in the past for a keys amp and the purpose it served. Full sound? more of a monitor?
Also, try and think back to what the bass players you've played with have used for rigs.
I run a 250/210 Fender Bassman and a Traynor YBA-200 (200 watts @ 4/8 ohm) through an Ashdown 4x10.
They both have seen many stages, but I bring what is needed based on show requirements. If I have a full PA to run through, I bring the little guy and it acts mostly as a
monitor and preamp/DI for the board. Backyard parties, dive bars and such shows I bring the bigger one so I can provide the volume needed.
IF your completely unsure of what you need I would plan to get yourself a nicely powered SS head and run the modular setup which will let you scale appropriately per show.
The only reason I say SS over tube is reliability. IF you choose tube, and you're a serious player you better bring a backup head with you.
- Venue size
- Style of music
- Indoor/outdoor
- PA reinforcement
- IEM/good wedges
Consider what you have used in the past for a keys amp and the purpose it served. Full sound? more of a monitor?
Also, try and think back to what the bass players you've played with have used for rigs.
I run a 250/210 Fender Bassman and a Traynor YBA-200 (200 watts @ 4/8 ohm) through an Ashdown 4x10.
They both have seen many stages, but I bring what is needed based on show requirements. If I have a full PA to run through, I bring the little guy and it acts mostly as a
monitor and preamp/DI for the board. Backyard parties, dive bars and such shows I bring the bigger one so I can provide the volume needed.
IF your completely unsure of what you need I would plan to get yourself a nicely powered SS head and run the modular setup which will let you scale appropriately per show.
The only reason I say SS over tube is reliability. IF you choose tube, and you're a serious player you better bring a backup head with you.
Also for everyone saying you NEED an 8x10 or NEED 1000+ watts. Seen Geddy Lee's rig recently? its a micro speaker in his ear 
Its all relative to what you're doing.
Its all relative to what you're doing.
