What about preamp (SansAmp RBI or RPM for example) and poweramp combination? I have a SansAmp RBI paired with Peavey IPR 1600. Sound great, it's loud enough (for my purposes) and what's important it's light to lug around!
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Which amp for $1000?
- Thread starter James Copple
- Start date
I don't miss the native drive sound because it's not appropriate for everything I play and I like the clean headroom. And with the $400 price difference I got a B7K with all the metalesque drive I could need, plus more EQ (for those who say the LH1000 is lacking) and another DI - and money left over.
I like GK's and the 500 Fusion is on my 'backup and small gig' wishlist. I went with the LH1000 originally for the price difference, the clean sound, and the rackmount.
I did say it was _one_ rule - not _the_ rule. And the SVT gets back to the "tube watts" point, where you actually have way more than 300W on tap once you crank it. But generally "somewhere between 3x and 10x" seems a decent rule, all other things being equal which they rarely are, and considering how poorly watts convert to dB.
And I agree on the cab point. But power is cheap and there's no reason not to buy enough once and be done.
Whatever cab you get just make sure it can fit in your vehicle.
My guitards actually downsized their rigs to a 50W amp and 212 and a 30W amp with 412. Does not matter one bit. Still my ears would bleed if i used no protection. Guitar Watts are not to be compared to what we use. Guitar cabs are limited in their frequencies and only seem to reproduce the range that gets the ears ringing.
In one band that I play with, the guitards use a 30 watt and 50 watt amps both through marshall 412's. If they are really trying to push the volume most bassists couldnt hang. When that is the case, I use a very big amp, and capable cab.
I like to buy new amps/cabs myself, but I totally get the value proposition of buying used.
If you are committed to buying new, it's probably another chip in Carvin's pile, as it's probably one of the very few options that gets you a whole rig for <$1000.
I have lots of live experience, and I have owned boat loads of amps and cabs. And I have one personal observation to share. It's pretty easy for me to make a tone warmer and smoother. One can start with the tone knob of the bass. It's much more difficult to make a warm, organic amp cut and grind. I had challenges with the following: Ashdown ABM500, Markbass LM500, Alembic F1X. All sounded really good, but I was sometimes left wanting for more grind and hair on the top end.
For the set list you mention, I probably wouldn't want to focus on warm/tubey. And I wouldn't focus on wattage much. I was pushing 1600W behind the Alembic F1X, and I couldn't hear myself in the mix. My 500W Aguilar TH500 cut through the mix much, much better.
I would go for a large enough speaker system (I agree 4x10 is probably minimum) that is reasonably portable. Coming in under the $1000 budget narrows down the choices considerably, especially if you are buying new.
P.S. I have no stake in Carvin, although I think they are cool and they happen to be up the street.
P.P.S If you are willing to stretch the "new" budget to $1250, I concur that GK (Neo 4x10 + MB500) is a great choice.
Competing with *two* marshal stacks... ick.
1) HEARING PROTECTION - WEAR IT!!!
2) A common 4x10 will not do it. Higher end 4x10s might (Bert/Epifani) but an ampeg or SWR - nope. They just won't push enough air.
If your budget is $1K, you need to buy used. Not to worry - you can get a good, big setup for $1K - but it won't be small. A fellow was selling his GK1001 & SWR GIII 4x10 for $700 here last week; Add a 2nd GIII 4x10 and you would be set up. No matter what, do not let someone talk you into buying new. You will simply not get your money's worth and end up with an insufficient rig for this job.
I didn't buy new until I had tinkered around with various things and knew what I wanted. GK 1001RBii's are all over the place and are a great bang for your buck. I can find em used all day in the $500 price range.
I bought my LH1000 new because I wanted the warranty and shipping was included. Hartke was also one of the very few manufacturers _not_ excluded in the Musicians' Friend 15% coupon deal at the time so I got it for $425 net delivered.
Cabs, OTOH, are a b!tch to ship and I believe a big part of the 'new' cost is simply the 'free' shipping.
I tried for 6 months to unload a Hartke 410 locally for $125 and got no takers. I finally found a TB member who was willing to pay shipping (about $85) and I was glad to get it out of my house. The GK 412 Neo I got for $450 in great condition and it too was a no-shipping deal. I think there is probably less to go wrong with a cab, especially a high-power-capacity cab, so I expect there are deals to be had from people who simply do not want the hassle of packing and shipping. The 412 fits more-or-less easily sideways in my Subaru Outback's cargo area under the curtain and can (I was told and believe, although I haven't verified) fit across the back seat of a compact sedan as long as the doors open wide enough.
Cabs, OTOH, are a b!tch to ship and I believe a big part of the 'new' cost is simply the 'free' shipping.
I tried for 6 months to unload a Hartke 410 locally for $125 and got no takers. I finally found a TB member who was willing to pay shipping (about $85) and I was glad to get it out of my house. The GK 412 Neo I got for $450 in great condition and it too was a no-shipping deal. I think there is probably less to go wrong with a cab, especially a high-power-capacity cab, so I expect there are deals to be had from people who simply do not want the hassle of packing and shipping. The 412 fits more-or-less easily sideways in my Subaru Outback's cargo area under the curtain and can (I was told and believe, although I haven't verified) fit across the back seat of a compact sedan as long as the doors open wide enough.
Dudes,
You have been a fantastic help. I have decided to mortgage the cat after all, go new, and go big-ish. I am upping the budget. I am thinking of 2 x 212 cabs for ease of portability (and giving me more options e.g. for smaller rig in smaller venues), instead of a 4x12. What do you think of this quote from Sweetwater?
1001RBII - Gallien-Krueger 700+50W Compact Head
2 x Neo212II - Gallien-Krueger 2x12" 600W Neo Cab w/Horn
$1600
"Rock and roll" or "don't be daft"?
You have been a fantastic help. I have decided to mortgage the cat after all, go new, and go big-ish. I am upping the budget. I am thinking of 2 x 212 cabs for ease of portability (and giving me more options e.g. for smaller rig in smaller venues), instead of a 4x12. What do you think of this quote from Sweetwater?
1001RBII - Gallien-Krueger 700+50W Compact Head
2 x Neo212II - Gallien-Krueger 2x12" 600W Neo Cab w/Horn
$1600
"Rock and roll" or "don't be daft"?
Sounds like an awesome decision. The GK1001RBII is a lot of power that you'll probably never regret. Like I said, I got mine with the sole purpose of being able to overpower anyone I was jamming with. And I've never ever ever said "man, I can barely hear myself".
And going with 2X 4X12s is a good idea. A lot of people do that for ease of portability. I'm considering going to a 4X12 (from my 8X10) down the road as well.
GK all that way! BUT...me, I cut the bs and got an ampeg 8x10 and ran a sansamp di in front...crushing skills and didn't have to be TOO loud lol. Otherwise, a sealed ampeg 4x10 or an mesa diesel 4x10 and the gk RBX cabs as well. Live, rehearsal, killed in my thrash band and dio tribute. Definitely a bddi up front for added gain...though you will get a lot from a 1001 if you use the woofer as a vol and the actual vol knob as a gain. Check it out, my settings. For old school sabbath I turned the contour off, modern, maxed it. Major change just there. The di level control is a huge thing for di live
Attachments
Also, to cut through with a tone that's heard, cut the bass as in the pic. Too much bass, esp w metal guitars and all they'll hear is woof woof woof
Great choice! A single 2x12 will be very nice when you need it.
Two 2x12s will destroy a small moon.
Great choice!
I had the GK 1001RB-II paired with an Avatar 410 - 4 ohm.
It was a great set up.
I eventually upgraded the amp to a GK 2001RB and cab to a GK neo 412.
Couldn't be happier!
I would also get a quote from RMCAUDIO.com
Send them an email saying talkbass recommended them!
I would also suggest maybe holding off on the second 212 cab unless you feel it's not holding up.
Sigh. I think of what you could get used for $1600. So much gear. So very much.
Before you spend that money, take a look what that gear is going for *used* to see what kind of bath you will be taking. That might change your mind.
- Sep 3, 2006
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Great price and great looking setup. I would personally go with the MB800 as it is very close in price to the 1001RBII although the 1001RBII should certainly do the trick. And you may wish to get only one of the 212 cabs and just see how it blends before you order the 2nd one; IMO it would be borderline, it may or may not be enough but worth trying.
I will be able to give a quote on GK equipment inside of a week or so.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Etymotic plugs are great and reasonably priced.
In that price range:
For the money, Carvin heads are great. I have the BX-500 (also handles 2 ohms) but I would look at the 700 or the head from post #39.
I don't like their lower price line cabs. I would look at GK, get either the 2x12 or 4x10 neos, and look to add a second if necessary. Buying new, I think that is the best use of your $1000. A second cab would fall in your $1500.
In that price range:
For the money, Carvin heads are great. I have the BX-500 (also handles 2 ohms) but I would look at the 700 or the head from post #39.
I don't like their lower price line cabs. I would look at GK, get either the 2x12 or 4x10 neos, and look to add a second if necessary. Buying new, I think that is the best use of your $1000. A second cab would fall in your $1500.
Thanks, I emailed rmcaudio and await their reply. They will have to be quick, I'm about to pull the trigger on the Sweetwater deal.
