Soledad

Very fair question. I used the word uncoloured quite casually. I know what my P/J sounds like DI into good desk and back through studio monitors or good phones, so for me that's the reference. I also know how it sounds into my PJB Briefcase at low levels (the only levels you get with a Briefcase!) and I reckon that is very close to the actual bass's sound. But I accept that all amps are somewhat coloured, cabs are too. But I think some have a pronouned 'sound' and you either want that sound or not. I think I'll know it when I hear it, and it'll likely be one of those amps that a majority think of as 'neutral', quite clean maybe... pick a word!!

Excellent response @Hellzero - I think you have listed almost all the heads I was considering. The Vanderkleys are hard to find and serious money here in UK, tbh I was thinking up to a grand (£ of course) and I think the Vanderkleys are well above that and used ones are rare as... If they are as good as the cabs they will be supergood (love the 210s a lot!). I think I'm going to try a GROne; Agi AG 700 and an Eich 900 - for a start. Thanks for input👍

About that dead D-800 of yours - $50 do it? Maybe not 😀

Sorry Dan Dare, you did elaborate so ignore that. My experiences as a listener to MB heads has been punchy, cuts through very well, listener fatigue after 3 songs - loads of low mids make it cut very well, but tedious to listen to. But there are many other variables so it may not just be the head. And btw, the Warwick has been a quick fix after my GB Streamliner was nicked recently. But I will be keeping it as backup - way better than price or size suggest. If anyone has experience with Eich (T 900 maybe) I'd be keen to hear opinions.

Excellent responses, thanks everyone. Plenty of collective experience here so I'm paying close attention. @Dan Dare - about that Markbass 'party piece' - think I've heard it from out front but could you elaborate? Quite a few options here and I'm forming a list. I think the Aguilar AG needs a try-out (had a TH350 a while ago and we didn't get along, but I have changed cabs since then and clearly the AG is a different beast anyway). I'm drifting away from the PJB heads, maybe just a bit too clean (which makes me question my own brief); the GR One is on list (that's a lot of LEDs but...); no experience with EBS or Glockenklang so worth a try. And as Dan Dare says, time in a decent store is required, I'll try Bass Gallery first I think. Thanks for taking time to respond. I'll report back but it'll take a few weeks I expect.

Hi all - need some input regarding all the various head options out there. What I'm looking for - how my bass sounds, amplified. In audio fields it would be called 'uncoloured'. I like general simplicity but need decent eq, mainly to adjust sound to room. I certainly want either low & high mid, or parametric mids. I like a LOT of headroom and don't run a rig loud - mid volume with reasonable drummer is ample. What I'm using: mainly a P/J with EB Cobalt flats (the brightest flats I know, with the punch and fullness of flats); through head to a pair of Vanderkley 210MNT, I very often just take one. Current head - Warwick Gnome V2, which is alarmingly good*. The cabs are really efficient so a pair at 4ohm get plenty loud without needing loads of watts. But I'm thinking around 500 into 4 (headroom being the thing). I also use my Sandberg fretless, needing far more mid shaping but I get that through the p'board using Source Audio eq. I have a PJB briefcase at home and have owned PJB cabs before - I suspect a 400 or 800 head would suit me. Others I know less about may be the GR One 800; some older Edens have great front panel eq (3 band para mids for example) but I don't know the native sound of Edens. I rate Genz gear so maybe Genzler? Not familiar with Markbass but the yellow would clash with the red Vanderkleys 🤣. The Boss 500 seems well liked but I think it's way too complex for my tastes, could be wrong... but I try and keep signal path as clean as possible. [*About the Warwick V2 - can't honestly fault it much - the 3 band eq is a bit limited and the treble is centred at 10k which is way too high for my tastes. I believe the mid is 400, so I rely on my Source Audio to do mid shaping - the vital space from say 500 to about 1800. But through the Vanderkleys, set almost flat it sounds very bloody good.] Thoughts, advice please👍

Just bought a very fine pair of Vanderkley 210MNT cabs from Gary. The cabs are really brilliant, and Gary drove 1/3rd the way for a swapmeet, Sevenoaks to Leicester and back being a bit of a long trek for me. Excellent guy to deal with, takes good care of his gear and is very knowledgeable - Deal with confidence, another excellent Basschatter.

Jamie is a star member here - just bought his Warwick Gnome head - perfect nick, fast shipping, a real pleasure to deal with. Thanks Jamie.

Thanks all - once I discovered that Neutrik comes in 2 channel and one channel (4 or 2 pin) and that this input plate has 2 x 4s installed, it all makes sense. The 1+ and 1- are connected by the pc board to both Neutriks and my 2 x 16ohm spkrs are paralleled off 1+ & 1-. Tested and all is good - sounds pretty good just run off the amp of my PJB Briefcase. Will get it to the Ashdown 210 combo soon and give it a proper push - that'll basically be 4 x 10s, 4 ohm load to amp.

Thanks @Bill Fitzmaurice - been using speakon connectors for years without realising they have 4 pins for bi-amping. All clear now.👍

Hi all. I'm just finisheing a home-built 2 x 10 and got all the cab parts from Blue Aran. The Speakon input panel came fully assembled and wired. The 2 10s are 16ohm and wired in parallel. I assumed the 1+ and 2+ would be connected in the pcb, likewise the 1- and 2-. But I put a multimeter on and they are not connected. The cab will be an extension for an Ashdown Studio 210 so amp will be driving 2 2x10 8 ohm cabs in effect (in parallel so 4 ohm) - it's own internal pair and this extension cab. My QUESTION is: in order for either Speakon socket to work, do I need to loop from 1+ to 2+ on the panel board (same 1- to 2-)? I can't understand why this board is wired so each speakon is discreet from the other?? I won't be connecting any further cabs but I would expect either speakon to work. Any advice appreciated, thanks

Can anyone help - I'm 'knocking up' a 2 x 10 to use as ext cab for a newly acquired Ashdown Studio 210. I've got everything I need coming (from Blue Aran, vinyl covering from Amazon). Ive checked Blue Aran, Penn Elcom, eBay etc but I'm stuck. Ideally I'd really like to match the silver cloth on the Ashdown (see pic as a reminder). Don't want to spend silly money on this but it should look quite smart so I won't be too mean. So far I got 2 Eminence ferrite unused £50, sheet material from stock, about £24 on all the bits from Blue Aran, including a pre-wired speakon in/out plate - so that was incredibly reasonable. Any advice / help appreciated.