Power amp and preamp

Chances are, your bass doesnt send a hot enough signal to drive the power amp.

I'd get a carvin DCM1500 and a BBE pre, should be about $650... that would be perfect for what you need.

 

depends on the power amp, and your bass. If your bass is active, has a battery, you'll probably have more luck using just a power amp. If your bass is passive, you might be ok but you might want to use a preamp, just to boost the signal to the point where the amp can make best use of it

You can use a power amp and a preamp too

 

If you run srtaight from the bass into the power amp, you are relying on the strenght of the batteries to drive the amp. If you use a preamp, you always have a strong signal, even if your battery dies (provided you have a passive option on the bass). Also, a preamp provides many "nice to have" features, such as an effects loop, tuner out, direct out, etc.

 

your battery will die pretty fast if you plug straight into a poweramp. you'll need some kind of preamp for long term use, or you can use the preamp on your existing head and use the preamp out, line out, or effects send to run a line to a poweramp.

 

The battery dies faster depending on what it's plugged into?

 

What kind of head are you playing through right now? I'm curious because you mentioned that you were considering a Carvin, which, in my experience, is "liberally" rated, wattage-wise, and it may not be appreciably "louder" than what you have now, depending upon what it is you are currently using.*

*Heinous example of run-on sentence.

 

Say what???

 

typically peavey gear is very conservatively rated, meaning that it will be a "louder" X watts than the competition's X watts. if the peavey head you have isn't loud enough, perhaps the next power level up will be better for you. of course, if you don't like the tone you'd be better with something else.

don't forget used gear when money is tight. great deals can be had on power for the money you can spend. if you're patient, that is.

robb.

 

Check out used gear...big time. You'll get a better amp for the money you have to spend. As far as a Pre/Power amp set up..Definately get a pre to go along with the power amp. Plugging straight into a power amp usually leaves you going..."man, if I could only turn up more bass"...or "I wish I could turn down the mids.." A pre amp will give you EQ, tone shaping and sometimes compression. Plus, you'll usually have a line out from the Pre for the PA at shows. Keep in mind that getting a good Pre+Amp setup is usually more costly than one head (not always, though). Good luck with your search!

 

Check this stuff out. Together they are dang close to your price range (you won't have to pay for shipping).

Power Amp

Preamp

Many people use this setup. In terms of power and flexibility it is quite respectable. The people I know of who use this as their rig have had no reliability issues (not to say they don't exist somewhere).

You will have to come up with a rack to keep this in.



Joe.

 

get to work, son. start searching the for sale forum, bassgear.com, harmony-central.com, ebay.com, etc. for heads and power amps for sale. i'm sure you'll be able to find something that meets your criteria. it's not like there's only one right answer.

i think that's QSC, homes, unless you've been watching more cable TV than you ought to admit.

robb.