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So I have around 750euros to spend...

Spiffmeister

Spiffmeister

Meister of the Spiffs
Apr 26, 2012
203
7
Belgium
#1
Howdy!

I'm looking for a new amp and I have around 750euros to spend, preferably less (50à would be awesome). I'm willing to buy used, but here in Belgium good deals don't pop up that often...

I'm currently using my first real amp, an Ashdown MAG 300 evo II with an Ashdown 4x10 cab. It's basically a good amp, although a bit too warm sometimes, not growly enough... But it does just fine! I'm playing a Gibson Thunderbird, and usually play rock, although I dabble in new wave, funk and reggae a lot as well.

I'd love to use Markbass and GK, but they're out of my budget, especially Markbass.

I'd use the amp mostly as a véry decent practice and rehearsal amp, and as a backup for my Ashdown, unless I can get something better than the Ashdown, then it's vice-versa :-)

Currently I'm looking at the Laney RB7 (i like it a lot because of the tilt option), the GK MB 150 S-III, maybe Hartke...
I'm also considering paying more for a quality head, and buying a less pricy 4x10 cab...

Any ideas?
 
#3
I would go with a GK 1001/700 RB head. I have the 1001 and I love that head. A LOT. I will never get rid of it. I know you said its a little out of your price range but you can find them here on TB used most times for great prices. Shipping may get you though. What is 750 euro in USD? Hartke stuff is really good too and inexpensive. Check them out. Good luck! Hope you find a great deal.
 
#5
Yeah i'm checking a review on youtube now, on the Backline, looks pretty awesome... all i'll need is a 4x10 and I'm set. It's around 320euros.
750 euros is around 975 dollars, apparently. :-)

i'm gonna check on the 1001/700 RB as well
 
#6
So I'm almost definitely going with the GK backline 600.

Now I'm looking for a decent cab. I'm thinking of a 1x12, or a 2x10. Would that be doable? I think i háve to go with a 4ohm cab to get the most out of it, is that correct?

My price range is 400-450 dollars max.

Im looking at the fender rumble 112, but thats 8ohm, and the eden ED 112, which is 4ohm.

can anyone recommend a good 2x10 or 112?

Im checking out with my local music store this afternoon.
 
#8
Fast decision! I'll help you get back into doubts again :P

I've been playing Hartke for many years now and I'm really, really satisfied with it. Moneywise, you could have a nice set for 750 euros (a HA 2500 (€280) or 3500 (€380) top + one of their high end 115 or 410 XL cabs (€300 - 350)). Second hand: definetely, but of course you have to be lucky and find some of their gear, hopefully not to far, etc.

You already have a 410 cab so one possibility is going for an additional 410 so you can just combine them in the future when necessary.

Another option is going for a 210 which you can equally combine with your other cab, but it's a bit smaller and you'll be able to choose which setup you use at a gig, given the size of the stage / room ...
EDIT: although here impedance values of both cabs are very imporant (match/mismatch: tons of stuff to read about on the forums)

Another option is going for a 115 so you get the feeling of the increase speaker size, maybe you'll like it. combining with your 410 is again possible, but not always recommended (I'd say its a personal choice but I wont go to deep into details as your thread will be doomed otherwise! :hiding:)

Going for an impedance of 4 ohms is usefull if you don't plan on adding any cabs in the future unless your amp can deal with 2 Ohm loads!

Good luck! Greg
 
#10
Addionally, the Hartke amps I mentioned give you a choice of 2 separate (or a mix of both) preamps: both are solid state, but one emulates a warmer tube sound. Dialing in these two controls add some extra shape to your tone;
or if you want some over the top sounds you can increase one or the other while adjusting your output volume (and comp.) so you don't blow your speakers :bassist:
 
#13
Do you have to replace the speaker cab too?

I'd go for just the head alone right now. The Backlines' are nice, but it's more of a side step than a step forward from the MAG series. The GK 700-II is under 600 euros and the 1001 can be had for about 750 euros.

If it was my choice, I'd go for a more expensive head and see how I get on with that and the current speaker cabinet (heck, that's what I did and used my SVT with Peavey cabs for a while).

Used market is always worth checking out, I'm sure shipping is fairly simply across most of mainland europe?
 
#14
Well, I'm going along that line as well. I'm now thinking of getting a more expensive (and better) head, and going with an "ok" or decent cab, and then later on get a cab that'll last me for a long time.

I'm looking at the Little Mark II and III, the TC Electronics BH500 and the EBS Reidmar. I can get a used cab or a 200-300euro cab with it, and only slightly cross my budget :p

Gonna check reviews and specs on those today, and try them all out this weekend. They're having a 7% sale on all stock items, so they're all worth considering, as long as they suit my fancy.

I'm thinking the TC Electronics will be too clean for me, the EBS I know nothing about, and the Markbass is definitely my sound, but I hope it's powerful enough for gigging.

An other alternative is getting a 700-800 euro head, and saving for another cab or waiting untill I find a decent one used...

Choices choices!!! :-)
 
#15
Spiffmeister said:
Well, I'm going along that line as well. I'm now thinking of getting a more expensive (and better) head, and going with an "ok" or decent cab, and then later on get a cab that'll last me for a long time.

I'm looking at the Little Mark II and III, the TC Electronics BH500 and the EBS Reidmar. I can get a used cab or a 200-300euro cab with it, and only slightly cross my budget :p

Gonna check reviews and specs on those today, and try them all out this weekend. They're having a 7% sale on all stock items, so they're all worth considering, as long as they suit my fancy.

I'm thinking the TC Electronics will be too clean for me, the EBS I know nothing about, and the Markbass is definitely my sound, but I hope it's powerful enough for gigging.

An other alternative is getting a 700-800 euro head, and saving for another cab or waiting untill I find a decent one used...

Choices choices!!! :-)
Click to expand...

I still think you should go with either the 700 or 1001 RB. Judging from your posts, I think you'd really dig the tone and power they both provide. Just my opinion again. You can find these amps relatively inexpensive on the used market. If you're going to hold out on getting a really nice cab now and settle for a decent one for right now, I think I read that right in one of your posts, I'd totally get one of the 1001/700 RB heads. They rock fully.
 
#17
i_got_a_mohawk said:
I'm not sure what it's like on the mainland, but in the UK you don't see that many GK amps.

They wouldn't be a problem to buy new, but there aren't a huge number of them about, certainly not too many on the used market.
Click to expand...

Wouldnt he be able to find one online like here on TB and get it shipped to him with relative ease? I mean, I know he would have to pay some extra cash for the shipping but it would be worth it no? If Im wrong here I have to plead ignorance. I have never dealt with shipping outside of the US.
 
#19
The shipping won't be cheap on the amp, import tax, VAT and customs charges fairly add up.

The VAT in Belgium is 21%, going by their customs website the import tax will vary from 0% to 17% (typically, but is as high as almost 50% for some things).

You also need to deal with the difference in mains voltage.

It gets to the point where, even if cheaper, it's only slightly cheaper than new. So you're as well getting a new unit with warranty which is designed for the local mains.
 
#20
Buying outside EU is not good at all. Everything is a bit more expensive here but the total will be cheaper to buy localy or thomann/music productiv.

For good deals on used items check France, The Nederlands of Germany websites. I can show you very nice stuff for 750€!
 

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