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what (budget) cab and head should i get

bassweedwizard

bassweedwizard

Jun 14, 2025
52
51
#1
so i’m in a band with some friends and i have realized that i need a WAY louder amp then my first one (a 15 watt fender rumble lol)
i play a lot of stoner rock and doom (kyuss, sleep, elder), and my band plays some other general rock stuff so it should be versatile-ish
i don’t have a set budget, i’m just hoping the facebook marketplace gods will smile upon me
been looking at some peavey stuff and i’ve been recommended some other stuff i have been meaning to check out
i’d prefer a separate cab and head, but if there’s a good combo i’ll check it out
 
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#3
I would look at used gear. There is a lot of stuff out there on the cheap right now if you are young with a good back. It can be loud but heavy, hence the need of a good back. 😊

The usual places, FB Marketplace, Craigslist, OfferUp, and NextDoor. A lot of it will work in the genre you are operating in 👍

Peavey is one of the usual suspects. Anything heavy like old SWR, old Mesa, some old oddball Ampeg stuff (isovent), Crate 2x15, Kustom 2x15-3x15, Carvin. All of those old cabinets. Old heavy heads like tube heads but they have to be odd since tube stuff is still king for a lot of folks. Heavy old solid-state stuff like Peavey, Hartke, some old Sunn solid-state stuff although there’s a new revived Sunn line that is overpriced (IMO) of what it is and was.

Anyway you get the idea 👍
 
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#6
bassweedwizard said:
so i’m in a band with some friends and i have realized that i need a WAY louder amp then my first one (a 15 watt fender rumble lol)
i play a lot of stoner rock and doom (kyuss, sleep, elder), and my band plays some other general rock stuff so it should be versatile-ish
i don’t have a set budget, i’m just hoping the facebook marketplace gods will smile upon me
been looking at some peavey stuff and i’ve been recommended some other stuff i have been meaning to check out
i’d prefer a separate cab and head, but if there’s a good combo i’ll check it out
Click to expand...

I'd suggest going used but not abused.

Do your research. Go to YouTube, there's hours and hours of reviews on bass heads/cabinets, go hear local groups around your area to hear what other bassplayers are using, do what you've already done, come to T.B. and other forums asking equipment questions.

Find 2 or 3 bass amp heads and 2 or 3 cabinets that you think will be pleasing "to your ears". Heads and cabs that will provide enough amp power/wattage and driver surface area to do what your looking to do. Don't concern yourself with brand name, cosmetics, ect., ect.

After you've decided which heads and cabinets sounds good to you start watching the T.B. classifieds, Craigslist, Facebook classifieds, local listings, ect. for the equipment you decided on.

With patience and alittle looking, you'll be amazed at how you can find high-end, pro-level, in great to mint condition, equipment at very reasonable prices.
 
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#7
DJ Bebop said:
I would look at used gear. There is a lot of stuff out there on the cheap right now if you are young with a good back. It can be loud but heavy, hence the need of a good back. 😊

The usual places, FB Marketplace, Craigslist, OfferUp, and NextDoor. A lot of it will work in the genre you are operating in 👍

Peavey is one of the usual suspects. Anything heavy like old SWR, old Mesa, some old oddball Ampeg stuff (isovent), Crate 2x15, Kustom 2x15-3x15, Carvin. All of those old cabinets. Old heavy heads like tube heads but they have to be odd since tube stuff is still king for a lot of folks. Heavy old solid-state stuff like Peavey, Hartke, some old Sunn solid-state stuff although there’s a new revived Sunn line that is overpriced (IMO) of what it is and was.

Anyway you get the idea 👍
Click to expand...
Go find a used 410 on Craigslist and whatever amplifier you like. They’re dirt cheap due to the weight!
 
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#10
bassweedwizard said:
so i’m in a band with some friends and i have realized that i need a WAY louder amp then my first one (a 15 watt fender rumble lol)
i play a lot of stoner rock and doom (kyuss, sleep, elder), and my band plays some other general rock stuff so it should be versatile-ish
i don’t have a set budget, i’m just hoping the facebook marketplace gods will smile upon me
been looking at some peavey stuff and i’ve been recommended some other stuff i have been meaning to check out
i’d prefer a separate cab and head, but if there’s a good combo i’ll check it out
Click to expand...
You can usually find some bargains on Carvin bass combos on eBay or Reverb. They’re pretty reliable and rugged. 300 to 500 watts. They made a BR510 combo that had 2-10” and could be tilted back like a monitor if needed.
 
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#11
John D Harris said:
Quilter BB-V803 + Gallien-Krueger NEO IV 212 (or if you have the money - Mesa/Boogie Subway 2x12-inch Ultra-Lite).
Click to expand...

New, we're looking at $1800 which is realistic and will put you in a quality, lightweight, gig-worthy rig. If the price tag is a little too sobering, we can make some concessions and get you closer to the $1000-1200 range (...used, of course). At 67, 4x10's are off the table.

Riis
 
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#14
There are many good deals on older used gear out there.
I like some of the GK and Peavey gear, but there are many brands that wound great.

A lot depends on your budget. If I were starting out, I’d find a decent 4x10 cab to start. Avatar cabs were inexpensive to start with and you might find a good deal on one.

Good luck with your search!
 
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#19
John D Harris said:
Budget-budget version - Bugera Veyron M BV1001M + a pair of Orange OBC112 cabs (hopefully the black ones).
Click to expand...
Actually, you can buy a new GK Neo IV 1x15 for less money than the OBC112 pair - it's under 38lbs.

Sweetwater has the Veyron M BV1001M for $300 and the GK 115 is $950, so $1250 for a very decent rig.

Another alternative for $1200 is the Two Notes Opus ($250 at Sweetwater at the moment) into the Electro-Voice PXM-12MP powered PA cab (30lbs and $950).

If you need it to provide house sound, put a amp wedge under the rear of the speaker cab to tilt it forward a bit more.

From Sweetwater's ad for the Opus (I have one and it sounds awesome):
The Two Notes Opus is an all-in-one rig replacement in the size of a standard stompbox, providing you with utterly authentic amplifier emulations and the immensely powerful DynIR engine. Inspired by Two Notes C.A.B. creations, the Opus adds fully featured preamp and power amp modeling sections, allowing you to craft your dream amplifier from the ground up. Next, the DynIR Engine covers the rest of your signal chain with a vast library of beautifully emulated guitar cabinets pulled from throughout 6-string history, all with the ability to choose your own mics and rooms for pristinely produced tone. You also get a myriad of must-have utility effects (reverb, EQ, noise gate, etc.), 99 preset slots, Dual Static IR loader, and MIDI functionality for superior control. Top it all off with an extraordinarily powerful editing app available via USB-C and Bluetooth, and Two Notes Opus is a gig-ready rig replacement that sits right on your pedalboard.
 
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#20
InhumanResource said:
Go find a used 410 on Craigslist and whatever amplifier you like. They’re dirt cheap due to the weight!
Click to expand...
Yup, I had a Peavey 410 TFX that was used for big and loud. The tone was a bit scooped but it took EQ well. I used different heads with it and it always worked. I bought it used cheap and when I was done, I sold it cheap. Everyone was happy 😊
 
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