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which backup head?

NickFromNY

NickFromNY

Nov 2, 2010
1,903
2,244
Long Island, NY
#1
I have a Mesa D800 which I love... looking for a lower priced back up that will get me in the same ball park tonally as the Mesa. Budget is around $350. Used is fine.. 300/500 watts or so is fine. Would like an effects loop to possibly run different preamps too, but not a defining factor.


Carvin BX500
Genz Shuttle 6.0
Markbass LM3
Fender Rumble 500
Peavey MiniMega


had some GK stuff and didn't love it, so I am leaving the MB stuff out. Not a fan of the TC stuff either. Any other suggestions?
 
#2
I never owned any of the Genz stuff, but I've played on their heads and cabs. It's excellent quality gear and sounds good. I had everything covered with heavy Mesa gear at the time Genz showed up or I would have seriously considered it. Fender Rumble gets some great reviews and although I do not own that head, nothing with the Fender name on it ever let me down.
 
#6
mmbongo said:
Carvin BX500, trust me as it's the one I use as a backup to my Mesa.

The Fender Rumble is maybe the worst choice. No speakons, and not 2 ohm stable. Might be an okay amp by itself, but it's a poor backup for a Mesa if you want it to be a true backup that uses the same cabling and same cabinets.
Click to expand...

About $50 more would get the more evolved BX700.

BX700 Mono Block 700W Bass Amp Head

With the D800+ out, perhaps you can find a used D800. Maybe still over budget, but you can save more while waiting on a deal. I don't think they fail very often and in all liklihood the odds are very good for you to hold until you can get a matching backup.
 
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#9
If it's a backup. . . . anything.

When I bought my TH500 I bought a well priced, lightly used TH500 that came up locally. My thinking was, I want another if this one fails. Of course it hasn't skipped a beat!
 
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#10
mmbongo said:
Carvin BX500, trust me as it's the one I use as a backup to my Mesa.

The Fender Rumble is maybe the worst choice. No speakons, and not 2 ohm stable. Might be an okay amp by itself, but it's a poor backup for a Mesa if you want it to be a true backup that uses the same cabling and same cabinets.
Click to expand...
No speakons is not a big. If you're running the Mesas at 2 ohm, then it would not be a good choice. Otherwise, they are an excellent amp.
 
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#13
this will knock your socks off. 500 watts 4lbs 9x12x2.5"..built in Canada, like a tank

Traynor Amps

sb500h_lg.png
 
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#18
Gravedigger Dav said:
No speakons is not a big. If you're running the Mesas at 2 ohm, then it would not be a good choice. Otherwise, they are an excellent amp.
Click to expand...

The Rumble DOES NOT meet the OP's criteria of being in the same ballpark tone wise.
No speakon is also a big turnoff.
I have the D-800 and a Rumble. They could not be more different as far as tone is concerned.

Cant beat Carvin for the price, but not sure if the tome is close.
 
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#19
Not trying to be smart, but backup head for what reasons?
Is your band going on the road for the 1st time? Or are you playing local gigs?
Do you play shows with other bands or just your own band?

Just asking cause in 1000+ gigs over 20+ years and playing shows with many other bands, I never saw a bass amp fail except once and it was a guy who stopped at Guitar Center on the way to a wedding gig, bought a 1st gen Ampeg Class D amp, un-packed the amp at sound check and it didn't work. They happened to have rented my PA for the gig and I happened to have a Sansamp Bass DI in my bag which saved the bass player a long drive and very late start to the gig. We just ran bass through the PA and monitors. Not as good sounding as a D800, but none of the guests complained and everyone got paid.

As a bass player, on my 1st year as a full timer, I carried a spare head in the band van and never needed it. Just took up space in the van. Then I went through a phase of running 2 combo amps in stereo for 5 or so years. It was great, but I eventually got tired of hauling the extra rig. Still keep the spare amp,but it hasn't left the basement in years.

Odds are extremely good you'll never need a backup bass head for gigging especially if you play shows with other bands.
I still carry that old Sansamp Bass DI just in case...
 
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#20
NickFromNY said:
I have a Mesa D800 which I love... looking for a lower priced back up that will get me in the same ball park tonally as the Mesa. Budget is around $350. Used is fine.. 300/500 watts or so is fine. Would like an effects loop to possibly run different preamps too, but not a defining factor.


Carvin BX500
Genz Shuttle 6.0
Markbass LM3
Fender Rumble 500
Peavey MiniMega


had some GK stuff and didn't love it, so I am leaving the MB stuff out. Not a fan of the TC stuff either. Any other suggestions?
Click to expand...
GK 800 RB the older the better!
 

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