Davy

Thanks for all of the replies and advice. In the end I bought the TC BG500/210 combo that I tried in Sounds Live. Not quite as lightweight as the RH450 + cabs but I got a good deal (£479 from Sounds Live) and I've decided that if the volume isn't enough then we can upgrade the band's PA with bigger powered bass bins. Picking it up tomorrow and gigging with it tomorrow night. Will report back with a review.

Will check them out, thanks for the heads up!

I know the RS cab range are better and nicer looking than the BC range but they are a bit out of my price range at £549 compared to £289 for the BC212 but I suppose you get what you pay for. I've just noticed that the BC212 is only 250w while the BC410 is rated at 500w at 4 ohms which will let the amp head kick out it's full power. I still think I'll go for the BC410 for now and perhaps upgrade to something like the RS212 in the future. I might push the boat out for the RH450 but I can't see the Spectracomp on the front panel. Does it have a compressor?

In an ideal world I'd have the RH450 but to be honest I'm pushing my funds to get this rig and one of the bands I'm in requires that I tune flat and I'm not sure that the built-in tuner does this. I didn't actually try the 4x10 cab but the 2x10 combo had loads of punch and the 4x10 will give me a bit more volume and spread. No 2x12 instore but I would wouldn't rule one of these out in the future, it'll depend on how I get on with the 4x10.

Well I've just been trying the TC BG500-115 and BG500-210 to give me an idea of what the Classic 450 might sound like and I have to say that I was impressed by both of the combos. I really liked what the spectracomp did to the sound and I have been thinking about a compressor pedal for a while so this is a great feature. Both combos sounded much better than my current setup (Ashdown MAG600 into a Peavey TVX210 cab) and had much better bottom end clarity, even with the volume on full, sorry Sounds Live! For me the pick of the two combos was the 210 which actually had better bottom end clarity than the 115. I picked up a TC BC410 cab while I was in and it was really light so that has made up my mind, I'm going to get the Classic 450 head with the BC410 cab. The real test will of course be at the fist couple of gigs and I'll report back once I've gigged them.

It's nearly lunchtime and Sounds Live is literally just over the road from my office so no prizes for guessing where I'm going in a few minutes! I don't think they've got a TC Classic 450 in stock but I might try the BH500 head and the combos to get an idea of the TC sound, although I appreciate that they won't be as good as the Classic 450. I'll probably try the 1x15 and 2x10 combos just to see what the difference speaker combinations do for the sound. They have the two combos side by side so I can do an A-B with the same eq settings. Will report back............................................

On my old MAG600 I tended to have the bass control at 12 o'clock and the mids cut right back with the top end about 9 o'clock which I think on the old Trace Elliot graphic would have been a V-shape od sorts. I don't like loads of top end zing and farty middle, I suppose I like a quite smooth bassy tone with a little bit of click on it, if that makes any sense! I'm also starting to question my need to have a 4x10 cab and possibly consider a 1x15, maybe with a 2x10 cab on top. I suppose I'd better look to see if there is another topic about that one.

I appreciate your offer but I'm quite far away from button moon!

I'm definitely leaning towards the TC Classic 450, probably with the BC410 cab with a view to upgrading to an RS410 cab at some point in the future when funds permit. I like the idea of the Ashdown but I had a Superfly which was brilliant(if a little under powered), when it worked! Which just leaves the Markbass and the Gallien MB500. I can demo the Markbass in my local music shop (Sounds Live) but they don't have a TC Classic 450 or a Gallien MB500 in store and they don't even stock any Genz Benz gear which is a bit of a pain. I'll try the Markbass in store but I think I like the sound of the reviews I've read about the TC. My major worry with all of the amps is that they will all probably sound great in store but get a drummer and guitarist behind them at a gig and will they be able to cut it...............................

I am selling [u]ALL[/u] of my old bass set up (guitars included) and starting over from scratch. I have identified these small lightweight but powerful amp heads and would welcome any recommendations/comments anyone has: TC Classic 450 Ashdown MiBass 550 Gallien Krueger MB500 Markbass Little Mark III In terms of my previous amps I have used mainly Trace Elliot GP12s and Ashdown MAGs, which I know realise were a backward step from the Trace Elliot stuff. I will use the new amp with a 4x10 cab, make yet to be decided but it doesn't have to be the same manufacturer as the amp head.