Jack

I think a lot of the tone-hate comes from the fact that they can be a little OTT when played by themselves. In a dense mix I haven found anything better, but I know many many people who disagree. Bloody good job there are lots of different basses out there.

Check the 'bay. An Ashdown MAG would be my first choice (used to have a full stack MAG rig, delicious). But look out for Trace Elliott Commandos, Peavey TNTs, bigger Laney combos and even the Hartke stuff. Try and up your budget to as much as physically possible, deals are out there but they get more frequent and more enticing the more money you have. I'm going to make a very sweeping and broad generalization here: look for a 15" speaker (2x10" is acceptable, 4x10" is perfect) and at least 100W. My opinion in this price range is if you try not to be too choosy about size, weight, features or badge, you can even buy a decent sounding amp. There's [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bass-Amp-Trace-Elliot-Series-6-GP12-200w-Head-With-Cab_W0QQitemZ330316312617QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_MusicalInstr_Amplifiers_RL?hash=item330316312617&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1688|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318"]this[/url], better be quick though! EDIT - Or [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ASHDOWN-MAG-200-BASS-HEAD-MAG-4X10T-BASS-CAB_W0QQitemZ170312960015QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_MusicalInstr_Amplifiers_RL?hash=item170312960015&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A4|65%3A1|39%3A1|240%3A1318"]this!![/url]

Everything you said in your first post makes perfect sense. Having said that, the volume difference between 4 ohms and 2, (assuming you amp will double its output power, which many don't) is a pretty negligible 3db. Might as well have an amp thats happy at 2 ohms because the volume loss when you run a 4 ohm stack wont be great and you'll have the ability to either have more rig or different cabinets later. Are you looking at any setups particularly?

What's your big rig, and are you looking for something that sounds similar?

All the bass stuff Ive lent out to people has been returned with no hassles. Of course, Ive never lent anyone any bass stuff, never will either. Backline sharing is a different matter though, sometimes it just makes sense, and if I'm there anyway I dont see why not. The exception is the people who EXPECT to use my rig. That's a no for you, sir.

I would look at ebay too. An Ashdown MAG would be my first choice (used to have a full stack MAG rig, delicious). But look out for Trace Elliott Commandos, Peavey TNTs, bigger Laney combos and even the Hartke stuff. I was looking a few days ago to find something for my brother, hes found a deal now so I'll share what else we were interested in. [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bass-Amp-Trace-Elliot-Series-6-GP12-200w-Head-With-Cab_W0QQitemZ330314416513QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_MusicalInstr_Amplifiers_RL?hash=item330314416513&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A4|65%3A1|39%3A1|240%3A1318"]Nice head, mediocre cabinet,[/url] [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Peavey-Databass-Bass-amplifier-Massive-450W-sound_W0QQitemZ280322844259QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_MusicalInstr_Amplifiers_RL?hash=item280322844259&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A4|65%3A1|39%3A1|240%3A1318"]wouldn't wanna carry this baby,[/url] [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Trace-Elliot-715-Bass-Combo_W0QQitemZ170311582401QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_MusicalInstr_Amplifiers_RL?hash=item170311582401&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A4|65%3A1|39%3A1|240%3A1318"]awesome and under budget[/url] [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TRACE-ELLIOT-GP12SMX-410-COMBO-300-Watt_W0QQitemZ300300995087QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_MusicalInstr_Amplifiers_RL?hash=item300300995087&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A4|65%3A1|39%3A1|240%3A1318"]and the one I'd choose.[/url]

Just remember that if you do actually get to uni, 40% is a pass mark. Make it through the A-Levels! I like Laney too, in fact I own a R1 practice amp becuase I had good experiences with the gear and sound, everything except the volume. I dont need the little amp to be loud but its small, light and it has a solid DI output. It doesnt see the light of day as much now that Ive got a little GK rig too, but it holds its own in the sound department no problem.

Cool, anywhere will have a better music scene than Newcastle. *Sigh* Good luck in your exams, hope they get you where you want to go. :-)

Im a year older than you. Thats not really relevant but the fact that I used to own the RB5 (older version of that amp) is. It was a cool amp, certainly sounded alrught but it severly lacked volume. It couldnt handle even the smallest of gigs by itself IME. Of course, if your bandmates play a harp and a flute you might be ok. A rock band? Forget it. I upgraded from that to an Ashdown rig, a 410 combo with 115 cab. Beutiful amp, loved it. That too, is relevant as I sold the (mint cond.) 4x10 combo over a bass forum (not this one mind you) for exactly £300. Within your budget an would easily handle anything you could throw at it volume-wise. Edit- where have you applied for uni?

[quote name='tombboy' post='144568' date='Feb 21 2008, 06:08 PM']IIRC it's not about the watts.... more about spl's. An crease of 3db is effectively double the volume and would require roughly double the wattage of your amp to achieve this if cranked. I'll try to put this another way... If your 300 watt amp is cranked and measuring 130db at 1 metre, to double the volume you would need a six hundred watt amp (and the speakers to match) to achieve 133db at 1 metre. I think thats correct.... correct ME if I'm wrong!! As for amp choice... good advice about going for the most expensive you can afford to your ears. My choice would be Markbass, obviously.[/quote] 10db is double the sound pressure. 'Volume' (whatever that is) is very subjective, and cant really be measured. Youre right that (all else being equal) it takes double the power to increase by 3db. And the other guy is right that 10x the power should increase the sound pressure by +10db. But 10db is double the sound pressure level, not 3. To the OP, Id find it very hard to recommend anything less that a pretty big cab (2x12" or a 4x10" or whatever) and at least 500W. BUT I gigged with a MAG410 combo (sometimes but rarely with a 1x15 MAG ext cab) for over a year and I never really ran out of steam on the pub scene. Im doing more varied (and usually bigger) things now and Im not sure the combo by itself would cope.

I didnt realise Ashdown had rejigged their lines! That 'Classic' range looks odd though, and all those features would go to waste for me. But hey, Im sure they know what theyre doing. There'll be plenty used, and there are quite a few 'vintagey' amps out these days so dont worry.

Yup. Youll be drawing about 180W from the head, and I bet the cab would be fine with double that easily.

Without meaning to get all anti-Behringer, Im sure there are MUCH better rigs for your money. The thing is, if you want something loud and cheap, its going to be big. If you reckon you can get by with just a 2x10, hows about the Ashdown MAG and 2x10? That shouldnt sound too different to your combo (depending on which Ashdown youve got I guess) and youd have a well-regarded, quality, name-brand rig.

Yup, head->cab 1->cab 2 is still parallel if thats what you mean. I think the reason Eden have series on some of their cheaper combos is so a beginner can plug in ANY cab and not have to worry about impedance.

I think Bill was more about 'ohmage' than 'resistance'. Hey, at least youre aware of 'it', more than a lot of people.

Thats just missing out on one of the best features of the amp IMO. What you want is enough gain to almost clip the input and then boost at at least 1o'clock. Then as much on the master as you need, usually not very much. Actually, thats what I want. Your loss.

[quote name='jono b' post='116544' date='Jan 8 2008, 09:03 PM']I need a thick, meaty bass sound,[/quote] If youd be ok with adding 'punchy' and maybe 'growly' then Id say youd be very happy. They arent vintage and old school like Ashdown though, think more modern. You really need to try one before laying THAT amount of money surely?

[quote name='paul, the' post='57552' date='Sep 8 2007, 09:13 PM']ICan you think of a brand that is humble, ethical, honest, reliable, creates an instrument with a quality tone, doesn't add ridiculous mark-up based on reputation and is affordable to the gigging bassist?[/quote] Basses: Musicman Amps: Hartke Both of those companies have ethical policies, products that don't cost an arm and a leg, and if you really really want to, you can talk to the head honcho (Sterling Ball and Larry Hartke respectively) to clear up any issues. I bet a lot of the smaller companies are similar, but wont fit into your 'affordable to the gigging bassist' category.

It would get louder with the 2x10, for definate. Thing is, its probably still not enough to get you through ANY gig, sorry. As with anything though, you can always cheat and use the Ashdown sound on a gig. (Why is beyond me, Im not a fan of the cheaper Ashdown combos but meh) Just take a standard 1/4" cable from the 'headphone' socket on the ashdown and into the 'effects return'/'power amp in' on the fender. Just remember that the gain and eq on the fender wont work, and neither will the speaker on the Ashdown. In other words, use the ashdown to change the sound, use the fender to change the volume, et voila.

In response to the OP, its about as important as "should i buy the 300W or 600W amp?" Because your amp would need twice the power with the 103db cab to sound as loud as using the 106db cab. As with anything, this only happens in the hypothetical magical pixie-world that sadly eludes us mere mortals. As has been discussed previously a lot of manufacturers inflate or downright lie about their sensitivity ratings. And even then, the standard (when its used fairly) is to measure cabs at 1kHz which is so utterly pointless for the majority of bass players that the sensitivity wouldnt make much difference even if it was truthfull. Props to people like Bill Fitzmaurice for actually publishing response graphs.

[url="http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2298551410056487155xfUBzn"][/url] GK 1001/II, Neo 112. Theres also a matching 212, not that it gets much use these days.

Dont see why you cant just use your big rig and make liberal counter-clockwise modifications to the volume knob. Some of the amps on your list are HUGE and heavy, certainly not portable. What is your big rig anyway? And what do you really want this new amp to do that your current amps dont?

I agree with mikeh, fantastic sound to begin with, coupled with huge volume and very very very light cabs is the way to go. GK 1001 (750W) along with one or both GK Neo 112 and 212. Its so easy to move Im taking the head/112 to gigs where I used to just use a DI box. Well, Id take any amp over none.

Hey, another TB'er.

A small rig with a top over a sub should work. No reason for it not too, but this requires a crossover to do which makes it a bit more complicated. A four space rack with a preamp, a xover and a 2 channel power amp would make a tidy little rig. Just make sure like the sound of bass through a PA. I'd miss a proper bass cab.