When the music's over, buy a new amp

[Kaneesel]

Alright, here's the deal. My 15" combo amp has bitten the dust and I'm in the market for a new amp. I'm on a major budget so I can only spend around $600 (USD). I'm not sure if I want another combo or if i want to move on to a half stack.


The two choices I am looking at are

1)Ashdown Five Fifteen Combo
2)Behringer BX4500H and BA410 Half Stack Pack

I admit that I know very little about good amps, seeing as how I have only owned one in my 10 years of play. (kinda sad.) I would like to hear your input on the issue and what you would all recommand.

(To hear how I like my bass to sound, see link in sig)

 

[RickenBoogie]

Save some more money up, and try again. A combo limits your possibility to expand, and that other set up you're looking at is the bottom of the barrel. Or, you could look at used gear.

 

[Kaneesel]

What price range would i be looking at for just above the barrel?

 

[RickenBoogie]

Depends, new or used. I've seen folks get a decent rig used for around $600-750, but new, really at least $1000. And that'll also be dependent on what you want, sound and volume wise. More volume, or better tone, (subjective), but obviously, more = more.

 

[VisualShock]

avoid behringer. it brags quality it just can't back up with anything... ever.

 

[jjk2007]

Yeah, save up some and spend $600ish on a Little Mark II and find a good used cabinet to suit. Skip the Behringer for sure.

 

[johnnycat42]

I would go

Ashdown MAG combo or head/speaker

Acoustic B200 Combo or the head/speaker.

Both can be had for under $600 and will do the job. If you can save up more, than do it. The next range will get you into Markbass, GK, etc.....

 

[Kaneesel]

I would go

Ashdown MAG combo or head/speaker

Acoustic B200 Combo or the head/speaker.

Both can be had for under $600 and will do the job. If you can save up more, than do it. The next range will get you into Markbass, GK, etc.....

Now I'm thinking...

Ashdown MAG 410T Cab w/ GK Backline 600 head.

Anyone see any problems that might arrise from this combination?

 

[Crockettnj]

If you buy used and take your time about it, you can get a very decent rig by almost any standards for well under $1K.

used gk 600/700 easily approx $200 in the tb classifieds.
used aggie 112 , epi PS112, or similar cab EASILY under 400 shipped.
Second 112 for bigger gigs, perhaps a used avatar or the like EASILY under 300 shipped.
I have little doubt you could beat these prices by 10% if you wait, watch, and do your DD.

Lots of recent(ish) advances in tech, lots of GAS-heads, years of easy credit, followed by a tough economy means there's never been a better time to buy used bass gear IMO.

If you buy new, which I wouldnt, haggle for an awesome deal with cash in hand or simply walk.

 

[sfericean]

With all do respect, neither...I would say save some more money and get something else..or try the Ashdown Mag combo/head speaker or the used G/K...but the 515 doesn't have very good ratings and behringer??? Nope!!!

 

[vinxbass]

Check out Carvin's website, excellent bang for the buck and quality, super reliable. I've been using their stuff for over 2 yrs, countless gigs and have never, ever had a problem, plus sounds great. Current rig is BX500 head w/BRX10.4 Neo cab, but they've got neo combo's for around 6 bills - check em out.

 

[mrkreuzschlitz]

Go used.

Gallien Krueger head, Avatar 4x10/2x12. Get a Sansamp VT Bass if you want Ampeg tone.

 

[Trevorus]

Carvin stuff, I also second the GK suggestion. An Avatar 410 and a 500 watt GK head would rock your socks clean off.

 

[sfericean]

Check out Carvin's website, excellent bang for the buck and quality, super reliable. I've been using their stuff for over 2 yrs, countless gigs and have never, ever had a problem, plus sounds great. Current rig is BX500 head w/BRX10.4 Neo cab, but they've got neo combo's for around 6 bills - check em out.

Yeah use Carvin stuff...I used to have a Carvin rig and it worked great...I play US ampeg because its more in line with my meat and potatoes sound but Carvin has always been good to me..

 

[Projectile]

If you are on a budget, definitely buy used gear. Please stay away from Behringer. It's a waste of money. I would also avoid low end Hartke, Crate, and the other usual suspects. The only budget brand that I think makes decent amps and cabs is Peavey IMO. Seriously though, check Detroit's Craigslist every day. Good deals will pop up all of the time in a city that big. For $600 you could definitely score a nice rig used. I saw an Ampeg half stack go for less than that the other day here in Portland, and I just bought a Peavey 4x10 cab for $225 bucks two days ago. Look around. There are deals everywhere these days.

Here is some stuff I found just browsing:

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[Altitude]

Amps are so personal. But, since you asked. If I had $600 to spend, I would have to consider a used MarkBass LittleMark II (which go between $400 and $475 on the classifieds here) along with an Avatar cabinet. You can get one of their 210s for $299 new, or a 112 for $269 new - so, I imagine if you were to find one used it would put you pretty close to your overall cost goal.

If you were to go single cabinet, though, I would strongly recommend a 4-ohm cabinet, as the LMII for whatever reason sounds much less robust to my ears at 8 ohms than at 4. Or, you could get an 8-ohm 210 or 112 now, live with that for a while, and subsequently add whichever of them you did not buy at first.

I happen to have an LMII with an Avatar 210/112 stack. It's my backup rig, and stays at the studio, but certainly not for lack of tone or volume capability. It is a very nice sounding rig!

 

[sfericean]

If you are on a budget, definitely buy used gear. Please stay away from Behringer. It's a waste of money. I would also avoid low end Hartke, Crate, and the other usual suspects. The only budget brand that I think makes decent amps and cabs is Peavey IMO. Seriously though, check Detroit's Craigslist every day. Good deals will pop up all of the time in a city that big. For $600 you could definitely score a nice rig used. I saw an Ampeg half stack go for less than that the other day here in Portland, and I just bought a Peavey 4x10 cab for $225 bucks two days ago. Look around. There are deals everywhere these days.

Here is some stuff I found just browsing:

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Nice job...that stuff is much better...props!!!

 

[psycom]

for 410 bucks I picked up a Behringer Ultrabass 4500 head and a 210 cab and it friggin rocks! Cabinet is heavy though coming at 70 pounds. all i had to do to get it to sound right was engage the shape control and everything else is at noon. i pulled my GK Backline sound right out of it! and noon on the master... better be ready for that one.

The spkr cab I opened up and put some DENSE foam in and took off the funky gold plastic rings and name plates. My only grip is moving that cabinet. But the speakers are massive! 300 watt 4 ohm each. And the tweeter, don't use it. it just makes it hiss as it's in the 2-20khz range anyway. what it needs is an attenuator instaed of a on/off switch.

Everybody knocks Behringer. And I wasn't a fan either really but why? Why indeed! do stay away from their aluminum spkrs. But the rest of it, 230 bucks for a head is a deal! I really thought I'd have to use my GK or Sansamp as a pre-amp. That was the plan but don't need it. All I need is someone to carry the 210. thankfully it has wheels built in.

 

[aleighn]

If you are wiling to trek to Indy, my buddy I work with is selling the following:

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[sixway]

Man, the first link for Craigslist is the bomb for $675!
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Here's the description from the seller...

Avatar 4x10 cab and Ashdown MAG 600 Head - $675 (Port Huron)
Reply to: [email protected] [?]
Date: 2009-02-05, 9:20PM EST


Up for grabs is my Bass rig. The cab is an Avatar b410 neo. From Avatar's site...The new front ported B410 Neodymium features four custom AMERICAN made Eminence Deltalite ten inch bass speakers and a Foster Horn Tweeter. These custom designed Eminence Neodymium tens are made just for Avatar and have a Neodymium magnet for weight reduction, extended cone travel (Xmax) for improved low end and a lightweight die cast aluminum basket for extra rigidity. The cab is rated at 1000 watts rms, 4 ohms, and has no tears in the custom purple tolex. To buy this new would be $531 Price, you pay $425 for this one in new condition.

The head is Ashdown Mag600. Its is rated 600 watts rms and 1000 watts peak. It is a great match for the Avatar cab. I bought it on ebay and it got a little dinged in shipping but everything works great. The rack ears got bent and one of the knobs got chipped. They went for $500 new, I paid 300 used, you can have this one for $200.

The power conditioner is a Phonic PPC 8000 that I bought new. It handles 15 amps of current, has t light modules with a dimmer, 8 switched outlets in back, 1 unswitched in the front and protected by a circut breaker in the front. Excelent shape, 0 problems. I paid $120 new, you pay $75

The Rack case is Guitar Centers brand, Road Ready. This one has barely seen the road though and is in new condition. 4 spaces and front and rear rack rails. I have owned several brands of case and this has been the most solid. I paid $120 new, you pay $75.

Buy it all and save. $675 Takes all. You are welcome to try it at my house before you buy. Bring your bass or use one of mine. Have to sell this quick to make room for baby stuff. Call Ross @ 810.300.4784 or email me. Thanks for looking.

This an example of a great used buy. I would definitely go used with your limited funds. As you can see by the Craigslist links, there are many good deals in your area, and to buy some of those deals new, you would have to spend over $1000, and up to $2000.

Go used until you can one day afford to spend big bucks on exactly what you want. Although, I must admit, I've been buying top of the line hand-me-downs from my bass buddies for years, and except for my amp head, all of my cabs have come to me used. And they are first class cabs!

Good Luck,
Ian