• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Rig for $2600 or less

  • Thread starter Thread starter Deleted member 5551
  • Start date Start date
#21
Here's another idea for you...EBS!

Read the reviews of EBS in Bass Player Magazine if you don't believe how wonderful their gear is! The Fafner head lists for around $1800. It's 400 watts into 8 ohms and 610 watts into 4 ohms. It's a solid state amp with a tube section placed AFTER the preamp, which enables you to go completely solid state, but add tube warmth to your sound as you see fit. And, it's loud!!! And, it cuts through like nobody's business! And, it sounds fantastic!

I know it's expensive, but I'm selling my EBS rig. Yes, it's a plug, but one that's really, really worth it! If you go to the section regarding Bass gear for sale on talkbass, you'll see my posting.

By the way...I'm also selling the matching 4x10, which pumps out 111db, more than just about any 4x10 on the market. You want loud? You want fantastic sound? Amazing stuff! If you're interested, I can tell you that you can pick up a 1x15 EBS cab for around $400 or $500.

You won't be disappointed!
 
#23
Well, RAM, I've been resisting talking to you about the EBS stuff. I've played a Fafner, and was mo' impressed. I could get GAS real bad if this went too far. I just ordered my new bass, and mam'cita wouldn't cotton too well to another big expenditure. But, since we're talking about it, why don't you e-mail me what your best offer is so far? Hmmmm?
 
#24
Since I'm in the market for upgrading my current system (10-year-old Ampeg ½ stack) and have roughly the same budget, I felt compelled to write. I have heard a good number of systems, but like many, I don't live where I can A/B all the systems I want to hear. I have ruled out some "stuff" because of cost, weight, sound, or many reviews pushing me away. The systems left are:

1) Fafner with either EBS cabinets or Tech Sound System cabinets

When I A/B the Fafner with Ashdown, the Fafner (w/ their 2 x 10") blew me away. I like the EBS cabinets, but they're expensive and heavy. Even so, the EBS 311 (Triad) cabinet was recommended by Bass NW as their choice for EBS single cabinet system. If I were to add a cabinet to the 311, it would be their 210. Another choice to go with the Fafner is a pair of Tech Sound System cabinets (2 x 12"), they're light, affordable, and have been raved about by LA Bass Exchange and Norwood Fisher (Fishbone). Unfortunately, the only place to check out the Fafner with the Tech's are in LA (far from NY).

2) Kern pre-amp, Stewart 1.2 Power Amp, and either Epifani 310 or Euphonic Audio 210.

This choice combines great quality components for the price range. My concern going this direction (part of the trade off of comparing separate components) is getting all quality components while maintaining room to grow. The last system changes the pre-amp and power amp to afford more cabinets.

3) Ampeg pre-amp, Carvin 2000 power amp, and Euphonic Audio 208 and 210

By lowering the amp cost, you get another cabinet. This could also work with the Epifani cabinets, but they're harder to pair up due to the impedance (ohms). There are other combinations with other power amps (brands or power).

I'm currently on my quest to A/B these systems. This is the fun part, as long as I don't give up hearing a system due to not wanting to wait any longer. (I hope it's not a five-year mission in space.) Happy hunting.
 
#25
EA's need power. Sunn has power and a good price. If you go the 2 ea's route, at least check it out. Don't let the peer pressure to buy the Fafner or Ashdown of the day make you eliminate such a nice choice. Bassplayer's review of this head was pretty darn good and with the right combo of bass and cabinets, like any other rig, this combination can be a killer.

I use either the Pulcinella level 5 I just purchased, or a Reverend Rumblefish 5 depending on the mood of the day and the venue. I used an EA 1x10 and 2x8 on the last gig with the Level 5 and it sounded great (see quasi review in the Larry Kaye/Pulcinella string in the basses section.)

Happy hunting, I know it's fun, but once your decision is made to change, do it as you're doing, be thorough, test it with different basses, sounds, etc. You seem to keep things a long time.

If you go with the Techsound cabs, please review them for us!!!



LKaye
 
#26
Larry,

Thanks for the feedback. I understand what you mean about peer pressure, but I'm a bit too old to give a damn. I have tried the Sunn and was not impressed. In addition to Sunn, I've crossed off Ashdown, SWR, Eden, Ampeg (with the possible exception of their per-amp), and GK. I will try the Mesa 400+ when I see it and maybe retry the Sunn again with the EA products.

As far as the Fafner, the range of sounds from this head is impressive, but it's not the most powerful head you'll find. The EBS cabinets are very efficient, making them a good match for their head. The Tech's may be a good match, but most dealers on the East Coast will only special order them. As far as peer pressure, most bass players in this part of the country look for physical abnormalities on me when I say "Fafner". And resale of the Fafner / Tech system here would be a losing battle. Also, going with the Fafner would not allow for a lot of changes in the future. All that said, I really liked the sound!

I play a Lakland dlx 5 and a Zon Legacy Standard fret-less 5. The difference in amp settings between the two is "comprehensive". So, even if I was tempted to buy a "bells and whistles" pre-amp, I would like to change basses within a set without too much tweaking.

Sammy
 
#27
Originally posted by Sammy
<snip>I play a Lakland dlx 5 and a Zon Legacy Standard fret-less 5. The difference in amp settings between the two is "comprehensive". So, even if I was tempted to buy a "bells and whistles" pre-amp, I would like to change basses within a set without too much tweaking.

Sammy
Click to expand...

I use those same two basses together regularly, Sammy. I don't tweak my amp at all when changing them. Of course, I use a non-standard head (AMP BH-420), with the EQ set flat. I get such a great sound from the amop this way I can do minor tweaks at the basses. I wholeheartedly agree with Larry on the peer pressure thing, I could care less if I see anyone else using an AMP, it doesn't make it a lesser amp in my eyes. I haven't found an Eden or especially an SWR I'd use in it's stead. BTW How often do you see a Walter Woods? ;)

It really should be about what you listen to and like, not what you see everyone else using. When the Acmes came out a few years ago people raved about them, according to some, immediately all other cabs were substandard. I tried them...and didn't like them. I've seen lots of used Acmes for sale since, apparently the "latest and greatest" shine wore off for some.

I've heard Gary Grainger's Tech Sound rig a few times. It sounded very nice but nothing earthshaking. They don't seem to be available here on the East Coast...oh well. The Epifani's have excellent word of mouth, I'm thinking about checking out a 310 but with a 24hr approval, that's not much time to check out an $800+ cabinet.

I've been the "big stack of equipment" route and for anyone who digs that...cool. My rig now is loud, relatively small, has excellent tone and works for me. I have less than $700 in it (400w head, small 15 and 210t cabs)and it's never been in a situation it couldn't handle, in most cases it might be considered overkill.

BTW Edens break, so do SWRs (I've seen enough of them broken:). Reliability can be as much of an issue with them as other lines. While a lot of that can depend on how they're treated, the same is true for other lines. For example, I've never had a failure of any type with any Peavey equipment I've owned. Does that make it better?
 
#28
If it comes down to Fafnering is what works for you, BUY IT. You're a long time user. I tend to switch equipment and cars much too often for my wife's taste!!! If you're going to keep something a long time like you have your ampeg's, get what sounds good to you and makes you happy mentally and in your wallet.

Don't worry about db's or watts, shlepping factors, name plates etc. It's up to you. I'm just glad that in this forum someone has tried everything. I had mentioned in another forum I used to participate in that here in Cleveland, no one carries anything upscale. No EA, Lakland, Epifani, Ashdown, Dingwalls, Modulus, you name it, nothing expensive is carried here. We NorthCoasters need to hear the experiences that other bassists have had either trying out or actually owning this type of equipment.

Thanks for your feedback on Fafner. By the way, have tried out the Warwick amps? I played one very briefly at Rudy's in New York when I visited there a year ago and it sounded EXCELLENT also. Any feedback on those heads, especially the newest 600 watt, 4 tuber?

LKaye
 
#29
I wish I tried everything. If I had, I'd be concentrating more on my job.

I agree with the need to hear from others players to avoid wasted miles, and I'm sure all will agree that sound is "a matter of taste". Since my recent start of equipment surfing, I've wondered how many of us are out there knowing "what" we want to try without the ability to get our hands on it.

For me, I have three true goals: 1) To improve the quality of my sound, 3) To not piss of my wife too much in the endless cycle of musical events (buying AND playing) and 3) To never carry a 4 x 10" again. I do also consider power, reliability, resale, hearing myself over the drummer, etc., but if I could find the sound I wanted meeting the goals, I'd but it! I'm also too old to piss away my money on something that sounded good without checking around. And yes, I guess I am a long time user. I don't want to buy gear every year! I'd rather play bass every day.

As for the Zon / Lakland - I tend to have the Zon's bass & lower mids up on the guitar due to it's sound. This makes me lower those frequencies on the amp compared to the Lakland. This may be an Ampeg thing (not clear sounding), I guess I'll find out soon enough. It's also the reason I'm considering the EA's.

I did call Walter Woods and they did send me material but it was useless! From the literature I couldn't even tell if the amp contained tubes or not! Users seemed to love them, but unless I hear one I won't buy. And regretfully no, I have not tried the Warwick amps. There's a lot of ground to cover, I'm half way there. It took me years to pick my Zon and Lakland, and that was before I had kids. If only they'd take a "mini NAMM" on the road.
 
#31
Originally posted by Sammy
I wish I tried everything. If I had, I'd be concentrating more on my job.

I agree with the need to hear from others players to avoid wasted miles, and I'm sure all will agree that sound is "a matter of taste". Since my recent start of equipment surfing, I've wondered how many of us are out there knowing "what" we want to try without the ability to get our hands on it.

For me, I have three true goals: 1) To improve the quality of my sound, 3) To not piss of my wife too much in the endless cycle of musical events (buying AND playing) and 3) To never carry a 4 x 10" again. I do also consider power, reliability, resale, hearing myself over the drummer, etc., but if I could find the sound I wanted meeting the goals, I'd but it! I'm also too old to piss away my money on something that sounded good without checking around. And yes, I guess I am a long time user. I don't want to buy gear every year! I'd rather play bass every day.

As for the Zon / Lakland - I tend to have the Zon's bass & lower mids up on the guitar due to it's sound. This makes me lower those frequencies on the amp compared to the Lakland. This may be an Ampeg thing (not clear sounding), I guess I'll find out soon enough. It's also the reason I'm considering the EA's.

I did call Walter Woods and they did send me material but it was useless! From the literature I couldn't even tell if the amp contained tubes or not! Users seemed to love them, but unless I hear one I won't buy. And regretfully no, I have not tried the Warwick amps. There's a lot of ground to cover, I'm half way there. It took me years to pick my Zon and Lakland, and that was before I had kids. If only they'd take a "mini NAMM" on the road.
Click to expand...

Sammy, on my Legacy 5 fretless I keep the onboard bass control maxed, turned the internal mid control up slightly (years ago:D) and keep the highs flat. I favor the bridge pickup. On the Lakland I use far less EQ, slight bump on the bass, mid and treble sometimes depending on how I'm playing, usually use both pickups with the coil selector on bridge or both. And I don't have to touch the amp. Massive, warm, articulate sound. Easier said than done...until (for me)now.
 
#32
I'm redoing my rig currently, and it's shaking down like this (using Zon Lightwave fretless 5 and Lakalnd 5 Deluxe):

Old: GK400RB, Epiphany 1-10, Eden 2-10T
Good: small, fairly light, decent tone
Bad: farts out when you push it, somewhat "plastic" sound

Now: EA iAmp 600, Epiphany 1-10, EA 1-10
Good: really portable, great tone (I can hear what the bass sounds like), plenty loud
Bad: risked violence from spousal unit

I will probably get rid of the Epiphany for an EA 2-8 cabinet...cover a bit more sonic ground and push a bit more air.

If I were spending $2600, I'd definately think about an EA rig. $1100 for the head, $500 for a 1-10, $700 for a 2-8. Or go with a pair of 2-8 cabinets and really breathe fire. And you won't break your back hauling it around.
 
#33
Like ive said before, you dont need the 8x10s FJC. Especially not now, being that you are playing more mellow music. With people with small ampage. I like the EA idea, with the 10's and 8's, but thats freakin expensive. Why not get an SWR 4x8 and a bass 350 or something, and use the rest of the money to upgrade your bass? That would suit you much more, IMO.
 
#34
I think i like Angus's idea the best for me. Except i might end up with like a 2X10 possibly Goliath 3 Jr. & Son of Bertha 1X15 with a bass 350 head or so. Yep I'm no longer playing metal as my main style of music. The rig is gonna be used with my Jazz Bass then come December an Ashbory. Thats all
 
#35
I'm afraid I don't understand the love of SWR stuff. IMHO, the Bass 350 is a totally wimpy head...350 watts maybe in some strange parallel universe, but not on this planet. While tone is subjective, and SWR cabs have their particular "sound", the ability of an amp to push a cabinet is less subjective...and I've found that in my hands, SWR heads just don't cut it. And I'm playing in relatively low volume jazz situations. But again, my opinion in my experience.

There is an argument in the guitar world that I think holds water for bass too. A really nice guitar through a cheap amp will sound like crap. A cheap guitar through a really nice amp won't sound nearly as bad. I'd rather spend the money on good electronics and cabinets rather than fancy wood. Of course the best thing is to spend it on both, but that's another story...
 
#36
The Head is the part thats gonna take the most consideration since theres sooo many of them. I think the 2X10 & 1X15 will be what i end up getting. thats all
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back