Rig under $1300 question - New to the board

[Monotheist]

First, sorry if this has been asked before.

I've been consulting the board for a while but never posted until now.

I'm green when it comes to rigs and I wanted to know what is the best rig I can uy for $1300.00 or less.

I want something with a good low end sound since I'm into metal.

Brands don't have to match, I just want the best combination for what I can spend.

Thank you all for your help.

Nice to meet you all!

 

[SactoBass]

Hey! Welcome to TB!

I gotta warn ya though......anytime anyone posts asking "what is the best this" or "what is the best that", the poster usually receives a plethora of reply postings saying "there is no best of anything..it all depends on what your preferences are."

So, be prepared for the onslaught!!

EDIT: if you are looking for lots of low end capabilities (that handles the B string with aplomb), do some searches for fEarful 15/6 cabs loaded with the 3015LF driver and mid-driver. Pump around 750 watts into one of those cabs, and be prepared to blow the hair back on the audience members. A pair of those will level buildings.

 

[dokazaado]

where do you live, dude?

I'd say for that much you could buy a (used, obviously) Mesa 400 or 400+ and a Mesa Diesel 2x15". THUNDER.

 

[dokazaado]

alternately-

$500 - used Ampeg 8x10
$150-$200 - Sansamp VT Bass or Tronographic Rusty Box
$500 QSC 1450 power amp

still killing it.

 

[T. Alan Smith]

If you have little experience with bass rigs, I'd check out the Peavey TNT combo.
If you have more experience w/bass rigs, I'd check out the GK800RB and a pair of recommended 8 ohm 1x15" cabs(personally, I'm a fan of SWR's Son or Bertha, but their Golight 1x15"s are reportedly very similar in performance). I'm a quality over quantity guy and would recommend one nicer cab with the 800RB, and add the 2nd down the road as your gig dollars roll in. Alternatively, you could get a pair of Avatar 1x15"s as well if your not a quality over quantity guy like me.

 

[Monotheist]

I live in Ottawa.

 

[RickenBoogie]

You have a good enough amount of dough, just go amp shopping, and use your ears. When you hear 2 or 3 rigs you like, come back and we'll talk.

 

[FunkyJazzMan]

Hey there, I live in Ottawa too and I am selling a Genz Benz shuttle 6.0 with Mesa Boogie 2x10 and 1x15 cabs.

 

[waleross]

+1 on be prepared for the onslaught .....Shop around with your bass and do your homework(read equipment reviews) . $1300 is more than enough to get a great rig of your choice. Maybe a new head and a used cab, its up to you. If you know another bass player with more experience in buying then take them along, like buying your first used car, etc......I don't like anybody getting ripped off.....Best of luck . . .

 

[jeff7bass]

This is your winner. I played it San Diego and have been gassing ever since.

Invalid Link Removed

 

[Lesfunk]

You should be able to find a very decent rig for 1300

 

[Monotheist]

Thank you all for your input guys! I have come across these amps so please let me know what you think.

These would be in my price range.

Heads:
Peavey Tour 700
Ampeg B2RE 450W
Hartke Systems LH1000

Cabs:
Ampeg B410HLF 4x10"
Hartke Systems 410XL 4x10"
Hartke Systems HX410 4x10"
Hartke Systems VX410 4x10"
Mesa Boogie PowerHouse 1x15
Mesa Boogie Vintage PowerHouse 2x10

Which combination would be better for me?

If I go with the Mesa Boogie PowerHouse 1x15, I would add the Mesa PH 2x10 to it probably next year.

I want a rig that I will be happy with for a long time.

Thanx again!

 

[lomo]

Ask yourself how loud you will want to be. If you will be in a loud band and not always have PA support, a 410 is as small as I'd go, with at least 500 watts. Assuming that's the case, the Hartke is a good (but heavy) choice. I'd go with that and an 8 Ohm 410 so you can add another 410 down the road if you need it. I'd stay away from combining drivers (like 15 and 210)-it offers no advantages over combining identical cabs and can cause problems, depending on the acoustic situation. Another good option is a pair of identical 212s.

 

[Geddyfleaharris]

Hey there, I live in Ottawa too and I am selling a Genz Benz shuttle 6.0 with Mesa Boogie 2x10 and 1x15 cabs.

^^^^^ That is a nice rig! Quality gear.

A 1x15 will keep up to a 2x10. In my experience a 1x15 gets drowned out by a 4x10. So the above cabs are well matched.

 

[Monotheist]

Ask yourself how loud you will want to be. If you will be in a loud band and not always have PA support, a 410 is as small as I'd go, with at least 500 watts. Assuming that's the case, the Hartke is a good (but heavy) choice. I'd go with that and an 8 Ohm 410 so you can add another 410 down the road if you need it. I'd stay away from combining drivers (like 15 and 210)-it offers no advantages over combining identical cabs and can cause problems, depending on the acoustic situation. Another good option is a pair of identical 212s.

The band I'll be playing with is loud. Both guitar players play with very loud Vader cabs with Randall Heads so I need somehting that's going to punch through that.

 

[kosmicwizard]

where do you live, dude?

I'd say for that much you could buy a (used, obviously) Mesa 400 or 400+ and a Mesa Diesel 2x15". THUNDER.

Where do you live dude? I just got a used MESA Bass 400 and at the door it was $907.48 WTB a MESA 2X15 cab for under $400.00 ... Also you think you can get an Ampeg 8X10 for $500.00? Not around here you can't. Cheers.

 

[bassplayerbob]

Thank you all for your input guys! I have come across these amps so please let me know what you think.

These would be in my price range.

Heads:
Peavey Tour 700
Ampeg B2RE 450W
Hartke Systems LH1000

Cabs:
Ampeg B410HLF 4x10"
Hartke Systems 410XL 4x10"
Hartke Systems HX410 4x10"
Hartke Systems VX410 4x10"
Mesa Boogie PowerHouse 1x15
Mesa Boogie Vintage PowerHouse 2x10

Which combination would be better for me?

If I go with the Mesa Boogie PowerHouse 1x15, I would add the Mesa PH 2x10 to it probably next year.

I want a rig that I will be happy with for a long time.

Thanx again!

Peavey Head: Had issues using 1 cab. The DDT would ALWAYS stay on at high volume, but when i used 2 cabs it was fine. Not a good option if all you can use is one cab.
Ampeg B series: I just sold my B5R. I ran two 4 ohm cabs off this to get the full 500 watts and i felt it was over rated in the power dept.
Hartke: GO FOR IT! I own the LH500 running into an Ampeg single 15 4 ohm cab and it sounds great and no volume issues.
The great thing about the LH1000 is the speaker balance feature.
You can run a 15 on one side and a 2 or 4x10 on the other, then balance the the volume between them. You can also run four 4ohm cabs off this thing!
As for cabs you really need to listen to those because the Ampeg(mine was deep and full) is very different from the Hartke XL(mine were bright) which is very different than the Mesa(never owned one).

 

[dukeisdog]

I picked up a brand new Peavey Tour 700 and brand new Avatar 2x12 for about 1300 at the start of the year. I love my setup, but am looking into grabbing two Mesa PH115s or two Orange OBC115s now.

I'd recommend the Tour 700 if you like a good clean tone,
But you won't get any overdrive from the preamp. Grab the Tour 700 and the Mesa PH115 or PH210 and I don't think you'll be disappointed.

 

[Monotheist]

Peavey Head: Had issues using 1 cab. The DDT would ALWAYS stay on at high volume, but when i used 2 cabs it was fine. Not a good option if all you can use is one cab.
Ampeg B series: I just sold my B5R. I ran two 4 ohm cabs off this to get the full 500 watts and i felt it was over rated in the power dept.
Hartke: GO FOR IT! I own the LH500 running into an Ampeg single 15 4 ohm cab and it sounds great and no volume issues.
The great thing about the LH1000 is the speaker balance feature.
You can run a 15 on one side and a 2 or 4x10 on the other, then balance the the volume between them. You can also run four 4ohm cabs off this thing!
As for cabs you really need to listen to those because the Ampeg(mine was deep and full) is very different from the Hartke XL(mine were bright) which is very different than the Mesa(never owned one).

So you wouldn't recommend the Hatke cabs if I'm looking for very good sounding low end?

 

[FunkyJazzMan]

All I use now for gigging is my Mesa Walkabout scout 12. Never needed any more. That is why I don't need my shuttle 6.0 with the 2x10 and 1x15. The less gear I bring to a gig the better plus I have never had to play a gig without a full PA system.