Build a bass rig for under a grand...

chille01 · February 12, 2013, 10:46:26 PM

So, my bass player is not loving his current rig and is looking to sell it off and get something new. I don't really know much about bass rigs, so figured I'd check in here. Here is the criteria:

- It's a rock and roll band. Think classic bass tones ranging from clean and round to mildly dirty and growly. He plays with a pick.

- He's not a tech guy, so the less shit to hook up and rules about impedance etc. to remember the better. I saw some threads on here about using preamps and separate power amps etc., but not sure he'd have the patience for that

- He can't afford to retube an SVT every year, and because of this is leaning towards solid state or hybrid. I'm trying to convince him of the goodness of tube, but I can see his point. It isn't that big of a deal for me to retube a 2 x EL34 guitar head, but bass amps need more power and hence more tubes.

- Separate head and cab is fine, if not preferable. It is nice to be able to just take the head to a gig and share cabs with the other bands. He likes a 4x10 and 1x15 combo. Size matters as far as cabs, since we tour in a Grand Caravan.

Really, I told him to just go to the store and try a bunch of stuff out. But looking for maybe a head start on the sleeper, value for dollar, bass amps that may be lurking out there.

Thanks in advance!

themusketking · February 12, 2013, 11:20:02 PM

Sunn Coliseum Bass head and whatever cab. haha. loud as hell and usually quite cheap.

everdrone · February 12, 2013, 11:20:48 PM

if you are gonna mix a 1x15" and a 410, look up "phasing issues"

I dig my 410s from gallien, they only weigh 40 pounds!

liquidsmoke · February 13, 2013, 01:57:41 AM

Quote from: everdrone on February 12, 2013, 11:20:48 PM
I dig my 410s from gallien, they only weigh 40 pounds!

Whoa!

liquidsmoke · February 13, 2013, 02:29:20 AM

I don't play bass much but now I want this
http://www.guitarcenter.com/In-Store-Used-USED-HARTKE-LH1000-BASS-AMP-HEAD-108371408-i2829842.gc
1,000 watts for $350?

Mr. Foxen · February 13, 2013, 04:54:10 AM

If your valve amp isn't broken, and your tech isn't crooked, no way you should be revalving an amp every year.

Sansamp VT bass into a power amp is a pre and power amp, but only in a pedal and amp sort of way, set and forget, velcro it to the amp, its by far the most bang for your buck amp doable, with a s/h peavey power amp.

Cab is always going to be the major limiting factor in sound so most budget there, unless they are dead quiet and need a tiny rig, which I'd assume would mean not being even nearly associated with this site.

The Hartke LH heads are really good, especially for people who want to keep it simple, maybe go for the 500 because the 1000 is two power amps with bridging and balance so more complication and unlikely to have cabs that can do much with that sort of power.

moose23 · February 13, 2013, 05:03:43 AM

Sunn solidstate head and a Sunn or Peavey 2x15 would be my choice. Well under a grand for that. More like under 500 dollars I'd imagine.

James1214 · February 13, 2013, 07:21:37 AM

old acoustic bass heads can be found on the cheap and most I've heard sound tits. my 230 is my favorite amp I have ever played. it cost me $175 and my 810 was $350 (10ish years ago)

VOLVO))) · February 13, 2013, 10:50:19 AM

+1 for the Sansamp/poweramp combo, as it's EASILY sub-500$, so he can focus on getting a good efficient cab.

justinhedrick · February 13, 2013, 11:06:42 AM

Quote from: SunnO))) on February 13, 2013, 10:50:19 AM
+1 for the Sansamp/poweramp combo, as it's EASILY sub-500$, so he can focus on getting a good efficient cab.

yep, the bass player in my band uses this and loves it. has an older peavey TVX 4x10 and it sounds great. it's heavy, but great.

chille01 · February 13, 2013, 09:53:24 PM

Thanks all. He's gassing on the Orange Bass Terror 1000 now. Any hands on experience with that one? Most of the online reviews are pretty good, and the portability and simplicity is attractive, especially with 1000 watts.

VOLVO))) · February 13, 2013, 09:57:33 PM

My opinion: gross

chille01 · February 13, 2013, 10:01:48 PM

Is that a hands on opinion, or an "all new Orange is crap" opinion?

VOLVO))) · February 13, 2013, 10:48:30 PM

Both.

eddiefive10 · February 14, 2013, 12:30:14 AM

If I was looking for a head and an for $1000 or less, I would start with either a ampeg or peavey 8x10, the peavey is a sleeper and rugged as hell plus it has the advantage over the ampeg with its metal grill. I still like the GK stuff 800rb can be had fairly in expensive, my buddy has a markbass head and I've been pleasantly surprised by it. My still favorite head is the Mesa 400+ it would be stretching the budget by a few hundred more but totally worth the money

Lumpy · February 14, 2013, 01:01:46 AM

He's got a small van so I guess an 8x10 is out of the question, but you get the most bang for your buck with those cabs, IMO. If I was you guys, I would measure that van and all your equipment down to the inch (uh, leave some extra wiggle room I guess

)

400 dollars for a used 8x10, that fits comfortably into your budget. If you're planning on going with a 2x15 (a fine suggestion) then the 8x10 is only incrementally bigger, or something.

khoomeizhi · February 14, 2013, 09:04:33 AM

peavey firebass 700 and a 2x15 = about 4-500 used

Mr. Foxen · February 14, 2013, 09:31:00 AM

Quote from: chille01 on February 13, 2013, 09:53:24 PM
Thanks all. He's gassing on the Orange Bass Terror 1000 now. Any hands on experience with that one? Most of the online reviews are pretty good, and the portability and simplicity is attractive, especially with 1000 watts.

Good things about that are: It has Orange written on it. It is small. It says 1000w on it. Same can be achieved with a dymo labeller and a lunchbox. There is no way you'll get a cab that can do anything with 1000w, so might as well get the 500 if you wanted something, even then, stock the Terrors don't have an clean volume because the valve preamp has the wrong valves in it. If you get a new production one hopefully the DI is sorted and the power supply won't explode though, those are quite good amps for what they are, but no need to spend extra on the 1000.

everdrone · February 14, 2013, 11:34:28 AM

he is never gonna be happy touring if he doesnt have the 810? and it has to match the orange? then he is gonna need this 130 pound behemoth:

http://www.orangeamps.com/products/bass-guitar-speaker-enclosures/obc-series/obc810-8x10-bass-cabinet/

really, I dig my 212 ultralight Gallien combo. for bigger gigs or more stage presence I just stack up my 410s and a nonmusician would not know the difference between that and an 810, and they wont break my back!

chille01 · February 14, 2013, 04:39:49 PM

Thanks all... I don't think he's looking for an 810, or is overly concerned with it matching the Orange head looks wise. Foxen, I was concerned about the cab for 1000 watts too, and it looks like they exist for bass cabs. I've never really looking into bass gear, not being a bass player. But for instance the Avatar 410 claims to be rated for 1400 watts. I think the 1000 watter is supposed to be a little cleaner, from what I have read in the last 24 hours... but of course it is all just forum talk until he plugs into one, which is what I have advised.

Danny G · February 14, 2013, 07:12:59 PM

An Ampeg V-4 and old 2x15 cab could probably be had for a grand

Sent from a can on some string using Tapatalk

Mr. Foxen · February 14, 2013, 08:31:05 PM

Quote from: chille01 on February 14, 2013, 04:39:49 PM
Thanks all... I don't think he's looking for an 810, or is overly concerned with it matching the Orange head looks wise. Foxen, I was concerned about the cab for 1000 watts too, and it looks like they exist for bass cabs. I've never really looking into bass gear, not being a bass player. But for instance the Avatar 410 claims to be rated for 1400 watts. I think the 1000 watter is supposed to be a little cleaner, from what I have read in the last 24 hours... but of course it is all just forum talk until he plugs into one, which is what I have advised.

1400w melting rating, but farting out far enough to break is going to be about a quarter of that, and that is the important bit, farting out as far as sounding crap is even less. Both the terror bass amps have the same preamp and that is the bit that distorts loads so watt rating won't change that, you can change the valve to sort the pre, but then your warranty goes, and the blow up not uncommonly due to bad caps.

themusketking · February 16, 2013, 12:07:51 AM

Fuck the haters. I have the Orange Terror Bass head(500w) rolling with an Ampeg 6x10hlf cab and it's the best tone i've ever heard. I fucking love it. I have headroom for days, and it has all the tone I could ever ask for.

omie · February 26, 2013, 08:56:22 AM

If I'm not to late to the party I will also suggest GK gear and a nice Bass OD pedal... 1001RB 700watts at 4 ohms for less than $500, or and 800 or 700RB for less than $400. EQ is easy to deal with, reliable and flexible.

giantchris · February 27, 2013, 12:26:54 AM

I bought a Sunn Beta bass for $400 with footswitch and bought an Epifani PS115 from zzSounds for like $440 and it is pretty fucking loud. Nice and easy to carry too I can easily dwarf a guitarist's halfstack and it'll give a pretty good run again against a full stack. Honestly for gigs if you want to be able to hear a drummer its more then loud enough. That being said I also bought an old Tuck N Roll Kustom 3x15 (the one with the altec speakers) and that is stupid loud and I got it for $300. You can usually find a peavey 2x15D or an old Acoustic Control 406 (forget model number the 2x15) for 200-300 as well if you are patient.

But yeah I'd go Sunn or Acoustic solid state plus a 2x15 or a good 1x15.