Which used cabs to look for?

[IceBlueBoogaloo]

I have a TC BG250 115 I’m looking to move on from to start my head and cab journey. My head of choice will likely be a used Warwick Gnome 200 for ~$200. Based on my cab research, I’ve found a few 1x12 and 2x10 Avatar cabs around $200-250 but are there any other cabs I should keep an eye out for in this range? This is primarily for home applications so I don’t need tons of headroom. My main goal is flexibility for future head and cab choices.

 

[eaglemachine]

You might be able to find a used GK or Hartke cab in that price range. Alot of people like the Fender Rumble cabs

Also if you are looking for expansion options, make sure the cab is 8 ohm (not 4) so you can add another cab later on.

Hit up facebook marketplace. Depending on your area you can find some good deals on there. Slightly older and heavier gear is selling really cheap these days.

 

[Pep]

Here are a few of the many amps to look for. I selected these brands because of their reliability. They are some if the best available and most manufacturers have some with less power.

Mesa Subway D800, D800+, WD800, or TT800
Aguilar AG700 or TH700
Bergantino Forte D, Forte HP1, HP2, HP2X or Ultra.
Genzler Magellan 800 or Kinetic 800

Here are some of many cabinets to look for:
Mesa Subway Cabinets
Bergantino Cabinets
Greenboy fEARful or fEARless Cabinets
Barefaced Cabinets
Acme Low B2 Cabinet

 

[eaglemachine]

Here are a few of the many amps to look for. I selected these brands because of their reliability. They are some if the best available and most manufacturers have some with less power.

Mesa Subway D800, D800+, WD800, or TT800
Aguilar AG700 or TH700
Bergantino Forte D, Forte HP1, HP2, HP2X or Ultra.
Genzler Magellan 800 or Kinetic 800

Here are some of many cabinets to look for:
Mesa Subway Cabinets
Bergantino Cabinets
Greenboy fEARful or fEARless Cabinets
Barefaced Cabinets
Acme Low B2 Cabinet

I think those are above his price range…

 

[IceBlueBoogaloo]

You might be able to find a used GK or Hartke cab in that price range. Alot of people like the Fender Rumble cabs

Also if you are looking for expansion options, make sure the cab is 8 ohm (not 4) so you can add another cab later on.

Hit up facebook marketplace. Depending on your area you can find some good deals on there. Slightly older and heavier gear is selling really cheap these days.

Something like this Hartke 2.5XL? I’ll definitely peek around FB as well.
https://reverb.com/item/87648174-hartke-2-5-xl-bass-cabinet-2005-black

And yes, those are definitely above my price range. My eventual end goal is to pair a Kinetix or Bass Block 803 with any one of the Barefaced 12XN but I’m a ways off and content to build up to it for now.

 

[Pep]

I think those are above his price range…

You may be correct. I was thinking “Buy Once” instead of upgrading 2-3 times.

 

[agedhorse]

Be sure that whatever you buy, everything works properly and undamaged.

 

[ShadowGroover]

Be sure that whatever you buy, everything works properly and undamaged.

While greatly appreciating your advice, I don't know everything to look for. What is your checklist?

 

[agedhorse]

While greatly appreciating your advice, I don't know everything to look for. What is your checklist?

Original factory drivers, no mechanical damage the the cone where it’s bonded to the surround. Tweeter is the original factory part and works.

 

[eaglemachine]

Something like this Hartke 2.5XL? I’ll definitely peek around FB as well.
https://reverb.com/item/87648174-hartke-2-5-xl-bass-cabinet-2005-black

And yes, those are definitely above my price range. My eventual end goal is to pair a Kinetix or Bass Block 803 with any one of the Barefaced 12XN but I’m a ways off and content to build up to it for now.

Yep that Hartke should work. The XL’s were their higher end line

 

[Pdaddy1978]

Peavey.

 

[lug]

For used, I can recommend a TC RS2x12 cab, been using them for years. They are limited a bit on power handeling (400w RMS) but sound great. Not that common to find one though.

 

[Ostie]

I bought an Avatar 210 and a Hartke 210 xl, both used, for $100 each. There’s deals out there on older, heavier cabs if you look around.

 

[Mike Caldwell]

While greatly appreciating your advice, I don't know everything to look for. What is your checklist?

Listen close for buzzes, rattles, look at the speaker cones to check for tears, creases, check that the speakers all appear to be the same, maybe compare
the speakers to a picture of a known complete legit cabinet, yes sometimes there could have been a manufacture speaker model change during the course of production, keep in mind some speakers can look very much the same from the front.

Take a look at the cone and surround position with the speaker cabinet disconnected, are they pushed forward or drawn back from the mid position, that could indicate a worn out spider and surround.
Look for worn screw heads or bolt heads, that could indicate the cabinet has seen some work for better or worse.

​

 

[Just go for it]

I can recommend a (or two) Glockenklang 2x10

 

[pepj]

Epifani. See them for way less than they should be. Not fashionable anymore but cheap as chips

 

[Sparky Mark]

The TC BG250 combos are pretty decent pieces of kit and deliver their full 250 watts to the excellent internal speakers. With the tuner and onboard effects it possibly outperforms many 200 watt heads which will only output 100 to 150 watts into an 8 ohm cab. I've gigged both 115 and 210 versions of your combo indoors and outdoors to good effect.
I'd recommend that you look at heads with more power than 250 watts into 8 ohms as you won't be any better off than with your combo; possibly even a backward step if you want to keep upgrading piece by piece.

 

[IceBlueBoogaloo]

The TC BG250 combos are pretty decent pieces of kit and deliver their full 250 watts to the excellent internal speakers. With the tuner and onboard effects it possibly outperforms many 200 watt heads which will only output 100 to 150 watts into an 8 ohm cab. I've gigged both 115 and 210 versions of your combo indoors and outdoors to good effect.
I'd recommend that you look at heads with more power than 250 watts into 8 ohms as you won't be any better off than with your combo; possibly even a backward step if you want to keep upgrading piece by piece.

In all honesty, the more I search the more I wonder about this. If my ultimate goal is something like a Barefaced cab + some nice amp, it seems like maybe I’m better off saving up.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

I bought an Avatar 210 and a Hartke 210 xl, both used, for $100 each. There’s deals out there on older, heavier cabs if you look around.

Yea on older heavy cabs. You can buy excellent boutique cabinets for low $$ look at Ephani cabs. There are some listed on TB classifieds

 

[shoot-r]

I’ve found a few 1x12 and 2x10 Avatar cabs

Don't be afraid of those used Avatar cabs, just make sure they're all original and haven't been abused.

I've been gigging the same two, Avatar B210 cabinets, loaded from the factory with Eminence USA 2510 Neodymium drivers for going on 18 years.

Their construction has stood the test of being constantly moved in working bands, (and to my ears), sound great.