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Since I Can't Hear Any Avatars Before I Buy Them....
- Thread starter BassNGuns
- Start date
I play Classic rock from Journey to AC/DC.
I'm ready to put out some cash, but I just want to make sure
when I do it that I'm happy for at least the next 5 years on my purchase.
Haven't made a decision on the head yet either.
I may go with a 9.0 Shuttle.
What do you use?
I'm using a Hartke LH500, but I have a P bass with flats. I find it easy to get a good sound with just about any amp and cab. It makes it hard to give a comparison because others are frequently playing in frequency ranges that I just don't use. It seems that the majority of the character that you would like or dislike is a product of roundwound strings and the midrange response of the amp and cab.
I can say that the B210 goes plenty deep and gets plenty loud, and I love the tone I'm getting. I bring a single cab to rehearsal, and when the guitar player switches from his 112 to his Victoria '59 Bassman model (410, 45W) and the drummer is giving me a headache, the Avatar takes it right in stride. The long-throw NEO woofers like to be ridden hard.
Advice and listening with your eyes for a purchase is 50/50 success at best.
You need to play/listen to everything available in your area. Don't get hung up on brand names - just play through the gear and decide.
You need to play/listen to everything available in your area. Don't get hung up on brand names - just play through the gear and decide.
I've got an Avatar 410 neo, I know its not 210's but same principles will apply, and I have to say, its the best cab for the cash. I've played through everything from Avatar to something with a "z". I play everything from Jazz to Rock (my rock band gigs 3-4 times a month) and it Handles it all very well.
Currently it is paired with a Carvin BX1200 and I get compliments on the sound no matter what style i'm playing.
If you do get one, consider getting the Line-x (extra $50 over the Tolex). I decided to go with the orange tolex, and after a year of gigging 3-4 times a month it has its share of battle scars. If you decide against the line-x and go with the Tolex, pay the extra $30 and get the cover. Its amazing how much less it gets scuffed etc with the cover.
Currently it is paired with a Carvin BX1200 and I get compliments on the sound no matter what style i'm playing.
If you do get one, consider getting the Line-x (extra $50 over the Tolex). I decided to go with the orange tolex, and after a year of gigging 3-4 times a month it has its share of battle scars. If you decide against the line-x and go with the Tolex, pay the extra $30 and get the cover. Its amazing how much less it gets scuffed etc with the cover.
I play through a Shuttle 9. Have a SVT410HLF. Too heavy and boomy any more for me. I just picked up a Berg AE210 and an Avatar B210 - just happened on them at the same time. Haven't gigged them yet, but I plan on running them together. Did a little AB'ing at lower volumes, and the Avatar was not shamed, by any means. A slight voicing difference between them (and the Avatar may change more as it breaks in), but def would not say the Avatar was worse. It rocks. Really looking forward to getting these guys turned up together. BTW - went with black tolex and silver/black grill on the B210. Looks cool...
I have the Avatar 4x10 Neo and the 2x12 neo. There good cabs for the money. I have a shuttle 9.0 and paired it once with an avatar 2x10 at a local university and I have to say it's almost to much head for that cab. The 6.0 or 12.0 with 8 ohm cabs might be better. Just a thought...
Since I asked about your sound, I should add that I would not hesitate to use my rig for Journey and AC/DC.
Thanks all! 
Sleepy, I'd deffinetly be going with the Line X, no question.
Does your Hartke sit pretty nice on top of a vertical B210 or does it hang over?
PDK,
I hear that Genz rolls off some of the bottom end on the 6.0's so they will match up to the small Genz combo cabs.
I'm just afraid they won't have the same bottom end as the 9.0's.
Sleepy, I'd deffinetly be going with the Line X, no question.
Does your Hartke sit pretty nice on top of a vertical B210 or does it hang over?
PDK,
I hear that Genz rolls off some of the bottom end on the 6.0's so they will match up to the small Genz combo cabs.
I'm just afraid they won't have the same bottom end as the 9.0's.
He speaks the truth, but it is tough, even in medium sized cities to find stuff like Avatar, Acme, Bergantino, and even the higher end Fender Pro stuff. Lots of GK and SWR everywhere, but I am just not interested in them. I have been down the SWR\GK\Acoustic\Ampeg road. Shops will buy this stuff because they get a super break with some vendors, and the lower end stuff does not cost them much.
I have been told by several store managers that the reason they do not order Mesa Boogie, Bergantino, Fender Pro, etc is because they state "there is no market for high end bass equipment ". I want to say "well, what am I with this cash in my hand? Go to Talkbass and tell me there is no market". Probably has a bit to do with the economy, but also the cheap stuff sells, mostly to kids just starting out. And if you have been a Guitar Center\Sam Ash lately, kids are all you see, (and unfortunately, hear), testing the gear.
Sorry, I am a bit frustrated myself going through cabinet angst as well.
I'm gigging two Avatar Neo 210 cabinets stacked as a vertical 410 powered by a GK MB2-500 head with a passive 4 string Jazz...absolutely love this set-up.
I went from high-dollar, brand name cabs to the Avatars and haven't regretted it at all!
The Berg's have a more expensive horn/crossover system than what comes in the Avatar and will give a slightly sweeter high end, (but IMHO, the sweeter highs isn't noticed once the live band kicks in.) Plus, to get those slightly better highs you'll have to pay roughfully 2-1/2 times what the Avatar 210 cabinets sell for!
The speakers in the Bergs are from Eminence, as are the ones in the Avatars.
The Avatar 2x10 is a solid cab and two of them pushed by a Shuttle 9.0 would be plenty for most situations. For the money you can't do much better IMO. There are certainly better cabs out there but unless you're looking for a very specific sound the Avatars are great. I will say I'm not a big fan of the tweeters they use but that was a few generations of cabs back.
The other 2x10's reasonably priced that come to mid are the GK Neo 2X10 and the Carvin BRXNeo2.10. I've played all 3 and gigged with the Avatar and Carvin but the Carvin was my favorite.
Don't think you could go wrong with the Avatar and Dave is a pretty good guy too.
The other 2x10's reasonably priced that come to mid are the GK Neo 2X10 and the Carvin BRXNeo2.10. I've played all 3 and gigged with the Avatar and Carvin but the Carvin was my favorite.
Don't think you could go wrong with the Avatar and Dave is a pretty good guy too.
Thanks all!
Sleepy, I'd deffinetly be going with the Line X, no question.
Does your Hartke sit pretty nice on top of a vertical B210 or does it hang over?
PDK,
I hear that Genz rolls off some of the bottom end on the 6.0's so they will match up to the small Genz combo cabs.
I'm just afraid they won't have the same bottom end as the 9.0's.
I tried the 6.0 with my avatar setup before the 9.0 and it had plenty of low end. There is a difference in power between the 2 but trust me the 6 would do great with dual 2x10 cabs. IMO I almost bought the 6 and then I saw a great deal on a 9.
