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Ready for upgrade, amp or cab?!

K

Kid-A

Nov 26, 2009
56
1
56
Indianapolis, IN
#1
I have an intermediate rig that I've built over the last few years. Now I'm ready to build to the next level...but I'm not sure where to start

My question is: initially, what would go furthest to improve my overall tone, a new amp or a new cab?

Thanks
 
#8
Kid-A said:
Peavey Pro500 powering a Peavey TX410 and an Avatar 210
Click to expand...

Which cab do you like better? Whichever one that is, get an identical one and ditch the other cab. Or keep the other cab for practice purposes/backup use. The Peavey 410 is almost for sure louder than the 210 and the cabs are are not designed to work together from an engineering standpoint.

The amp head will probably serve you just fine.

To answer your question, getting another identical speaker cab will take your rig the farthest at this point.

But, as others have already mentioned, what parts do you want to improve?
 
#9
Peavey may not be the flashiest name but I'd bet a lot and I mean a lot of players on TB have used Peavey at one time or another during their days. Older Peavey gear has a well earned rep for being bulletproof although a little heavy. Their is nothing wrong with that TX 4X10. Like gearhead said, grab another one and use the 2x10 for practice. Down the road maybe upgrade your amp if you like. Depending on the tone you like maybe add a pedal (VT Bass, BDDI, Etc.) to help out.
 
#10
Thanks for all the feedback. Let me be a little more specific, if possible...


I guess I was just curious which, the amp or the cab, has a greater influence on my tone. I can't afford to buy a new rig complete, so ill be forced to piece one together over time. The order that I purchase things will depend on what makes the greatest impact...I'm hoping to work my way to my sound gradually, steadily improving as I go.


To answer a few of your questions:

My Peavey rig growls and I want a purr...

I'm wanting a warmer, tighter, butter tone if that makes sense.

It might be my ignorance of a compression unit that leaves me feeling my current rig doesn't work for me...I really need to tighten up my sound. It feels muddy

I appreciate all the help I can get...thanks everyone
 
#11
New strings.

Do you need to sell stuff to get the next stuff? Can you demo new gear at a GC or similar?

You quite often see matched pairs of 2x10 and 2x12 in the classifieds. That would see off any mud you could be getting from the odd cabs.

Would you build a cab?
 
#13
Downunderwonder said:
New strings.

Do you need to sell stuff to get the next stuff? Can you demo new gear at a GC or similar?

You quite often see matched pairs of 2x10 and 2x12 in the classifieds. That would see off any mud you could be getting from the odd cabs.

Would you build a cab?
Click to expand...

I thought it wasn't a good idea to mix speaker sizes due to wave length? I heard it gives inconsistent sound to various parts of a room. Then again, I don't really know for sure...
 
#18
Thanks, ill do that...

...and what about my original question? Head or cabs?


Kid-A said:
I guess I was just curious which, the amp or the cab, has a greater influence on my tone. I can't afford to buy a new rig complete, so ill be forced to piece one together over time. The order that I purchase things will depend on what makes the greatest impact...I'm hoping to work my way to my sound gradually, steadily improving as I go.
Click to expand...
 
#19
Kid-A said:
Thanks, ill do that...

...and what about my original question? Head or cabs?


Kid-A said:
I guess I was just curious which, the amp or the cab, has a greater influence on my tone. I can't afford to buy a new rig complete, so ill be forced to piece one together over time. The order that I purchase things will depend on what makes the greatest impact...I'm hoping to work my way to my sound gradually, steadily improving as I go.
Click to expand...


It's a tough call, as everything in the entire chain from your fingers to the cab affect tone.

Best advice is to try out new heads and new cabs. Only your ears can tell if the head/cab is giving you what you want.
Click to expand...
 
#20
An amp that is putting muddy tone into a cab is a seriously crappy amp.

Mix'n'match cabs are notorious for generating mud, as is too much low bass in too small a room, also "boosting" with house PA when the stage bass is already loud. You could do better going down to just the 2x10.

Start by looking at cabs. I'm picking the amp isn't at fault.

Do either of your cabs sound good by themselves? If not, take the amp cab shopping. If that doesn't work take the 2x10 amp shopping.
 

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