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Spend My Money

tmvt

tmvt

Feb 9, 2022
491
623
#1
Looking for a amp to jam. After 10 years of not playing one of my buddies will be back in the area for business and would like to get us all back together when he is in town. So I thought I would just grab a SVT CL / Berg cab to replace the SVT VR I had before and sold due to not playing anymore. Now plans have changed and he will only be in the area every other month. Between that and the tube shortage I decided to scale down and was going to go with a Berg head and cab. But after thinking it over some more and with only playing every other month I want to scale it back a bit more.

Ive been out of the game for awhile so there is alot of new amps Ive never heard in person and prices have all recently jumped up making all my past info for great bangs for the buck out of date. I was looking at a GK MB212 and Im about to pull the trigger. What are some other set ups I might be over looking? Looking to buy preowned mostly to get the most for my money.

WHAT I NEED

LOUD. Im not sure yet if age has soften him but he was a loud drummer. I mean Loud. So I need something that cant really pump. I was using a SWR workingman 4004 when jamming with him prior but I was maxed out.

Smallish - I only have a tiny car now and my doors dont open very wide. I was a shop manager for a production company and had many people arrive at my shop to pick up a bunch of @*(^ with only a Mini Cooper and it was my job to make it happen so Im have plenty of experience in the limits of what is possible / reality when loading equipment. Im also getting older and dont really feel like wrestling a puzzle piece in even if it is possible if turned a certain way blah blah blah. Im burned out on that.

Lightweightish - Im aware great deals can be had on some 8x10s and lead sleds. My last cab was a SWR 8x10 I got for a steal for the reason that a lot of them go for that low, they are pain to haul and you need a bigger vehicle which I dont have. Also as I said Im getting older and over that.

Style / Genre - Dont know.

The kicker - Price Limit - AIMING for 800ish. I can go a bit more as I know shipping has gone up as well but I live in a area were any shop is 2 to 3 hours away and they dont have @*(^ especially used and the criagslist in my area has nothing as well. So shipping stuff to me is most likely what Ill have to go with.

So is there anything head cab / combo I might be over looking?
 
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#2
Forgot to mention. I recently made a trip into the big city (our only real city kinda) and stopped at the only music store they have when I was there, off course it was a Guitar Center. They had a Rumble 115 and a Rocket Bass 115 so I tried those as they seem to be the starting point that everyone suggest. I was impressed with the volume on both for the size but disliked the tone of the Rumble. The Rocket Bass was not that bad and sounded similar to one of the last rigs I was rocking before the SVT VR which was a Sansamp RPM into the effect loop of a SVT 4.
 
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#4
I have a GK MB500 for $250 that I pair with 2 Hartke Hydrive 112s. Seems like the MB212 is similar (500 watts through 2 12" speakers.) My rig is plenty loud and sounds great (which, of course it does because GK.) I think the MB212 is a good choice.

If you decide to go for separates, I'd suggest a class d head, like the GK MB series. Lots of legacy manufacturers other than GK make them as well. They're very small and light (the MB 500 is 9"x11"x2", about 4 pounds.) And for a cab - something with 12s. I think Ampeg has a 2x12 for about $600, and Thomann has a Markbass 2x12 for between $500-600. I think you should be able to come in at your price point if you buy used.
 
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#8
Mingo Sanders said:
For what you are trying to achieve, $900 on the used market will be something of a challenge. Craigslist is your friend if Talkbass classified does not pan out.
Click to expand...

Well Im not trying to get anything crazy mostly limited by the size of my car I could do something on the heavier side just not monstrous. And I can go a bit more if it was worth it. Ive seen some old berg cabs in the 550 range and that would leave me room for a decent class d head used but again Id really have to go out and measure my car openings, not sure the depth would fit and I would probably end up playing the puzzle game.
 
#11
I'd shoot for a used ampeg pf series head. Especially if you're already diggin the ampeg tone. Then I'd score some used peavey 2 10 headliner cabs, or a rumble 4 10 cab (not too heavy for a 4 10). Anyways good luck because some used gear is almost as pricey as new. However those ampeg pf heads I recommended are damn near a dime a dozen so getting a deal on one of those would be a good place to start.
 
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#12
If you want to go used, you'll need to see what is available in your market. You mention that you can go heavier, but nobody is going to ship something that is heavier and inexpensive. It really amounts to almost giving it away. 2-3 years ago you may have been able to squeeze in under budget, but you'll probably find it difficult now. Keep an eye on Craigslist and hone your negotiating skills.
 
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#13
tmvt said:
Looking for a amp to jam. After 10 years of not playing one of my buddies will be back in the area for business and would like to get us all back together when he is in town. So I thought I would just grab a SVT CL / Berg cab to replace the SVT VR I had before and sold due to not playing anymore. Now plans have changed and he will only be in the area every other month. Between that and the tube shortage I decided to scale down and was going to go with a Berg head and cab. But after thinking it over some more and with only playing every other month I want to scale it back a bit more.

Ive been out of the game for awhile so there is alot of new amps Ive never heard in person and prices have all recently jumped up making all my past info for great bangs for the buck out of date. I was looking at a GK MB212 and Im about to pull the trigger. What are some other set ups I might be over looking? Looking to buy preowned mostly to get the most for my money.

WHAT I NEED

LOUD. Im not sure yet if age has soften him but he was a loud drummer. I mean Loud. So I need something that cant really pump. I was using a SWR workingman 4004 when jamming with him prior but I was maxed out.

Smallish - I only have a tiny car now and my doors dont open very wide. I was a shop manager for a production company and had many people arrive at my shop to pick up a bunch of s h i t with only a Mini Cooper and it was my job to make it happen so Im have plenty of experience in the limits of what is possible / reality when loading equipment. Im also getting older and dont really feel like wrestling a puzzle piece in even if it is possible if turned a certain way blah blah blah. Im burned out on that.

Lightweightish - Im aware great deals can be had on some 8x10s and lead sleds. My last cab was a SWR 8x10 I got for a steal for the reason that a lot of them go for that low, they are pain to haul and you need a bigger vehicle which I dont have. Also as I said Im getting older and over that.

Style / Genre - Dont know.

The kicker - Price Limit - AIMING for 800ish. I can go a bit more as I know shipping has gone up as well but I live in a area were any shop is 2 to 3 hours away and they dont have s h i t especially used and the criagslist in my area has nothing as well. So shipping stuff to me is most likely what Ill have to go with.

So is there anything head cab / combo I might be over looking?
Click to expand...
 
#14
MultiScaleMale said:
If you want to go used, you'll need to see what is available in your market. You mention that you can go heavier, but nobody is going to ship something that is heavier and inexpensive. It really amounts to almost giving it away. 2-3 years ago you may have been able to squeeze in under budget, but you'll probably find it difficult now. Keep an eye on Craigslist and hone your negotiating skills.
Click to expand...
Im really good at negotiating so the price can be in the ball park and I probably can make it in my budget.
 
#15
Quite a dilemma. If you need loud, you need speakers more than you need wattage. This is a problem with a Mini Cooper. So it’s looking like you need your rig needs to be modular. I have two D series 210 Eden cabs, which dB wise would fit the bill, used it would fit your budget better than inside your car, and they aren’t the lightest cabs out there.

You could do a couple 112’s but when you get over 80% of it’s wattage rating the sound can get harsh.

or, sell the Cooper and buy a (sigh) Prius… LOL. Best wishes!
 
#18
How about used Sansamp BDDI and class A/B PA power amp, maybe 300e/usd. Or used class A/B bass amp that should be around 300-450e/usd.

Used 410 or 212 cab should be possible to fit in 3 door Civic/Polo/Fiesta type small hatchback when lowering the rear seats. They are not expensive either.
 
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