Amp recommendations

[bungle]

I won a bit of cash playing bingo* last week, and am contemplating splashing out on a new rig. I reckon I've got about £600-£700 to spend.
Current set up is:

Fender Jaguar bass -> Behringer DC9 compressor -> Digitech Bad Monkey for occassional extra grit -> Aphex Bass Exciter -> Ashdown MAG300 210 combo.

I play in an indie rock band. I tend to play with a pick and set the amp up with quite an aggressive sort of sound and a touch of grit. I find that while the Ashdown is along the right lines in terms of sound, it can lack a bit
in punch and sound a touch woolly, especially in some rooms. It's also bloody heavy, and quite awkward to carry up the steps to our practice room.

I would like separates I think. Cab wise, I'm pretty unsure what configuration to go for. The gigs we play aren't massive - the biggest rooms we play would probably hold 2-300 and I'd be DI'd anyway - but I want to buy something that'll do
me for a long time to come and will be plenty loud for whatever might come around. I can't see me ever needing 2 4x10s or a 4x10 and a 1x15, but I can see the attraction of a pair of 2x10s or a 2x10 and a 1x15.

Although I didn't mind an ABM I once played, I fancy something other than an Ashdown, for a change. I intend to buy s/h. Things that are on my radar currently are:

Heads:
Orange Bass Terror - I'm worried this is going to be [i]too[/i] drivey. Has the bonus of being light and looking cool as.
Hartke HA3500 - I played through one of these at a recent gig with shared backline and it was quite punchy and nice. It's only 240W at 8Ohms though. Plus it's got a gazillion buttons and sliders.
Hartke LH500 - The simplicity of this appeals, worried it'll be too clean.
Markbass stuff - Not sure if this stuff is too hifi for my needs.
TC Electronic stuff - This is probably out of my price range.

Cabwise, Hartke and Ashdown stuff seems reasonably priced. Ideally I'd like a Barefaced Compact but I doubt that would come in budget unless I scrimped on the head. Otherwise I have not much of an idea.

I guess I'm looking for recommendations and general advice/things to think about. I live in Leeds, so I can go to PMT to check some stuff out (with the intention of then trying to find it s/h), but they only have Orange, Ashdown and Trace stuff last time I looked. If there are any other music shops with in a short drive that I don't know about I'd welcome the tip off.

Cheers,
Andy

* Not a regular escapade of mine, it was a friend's birthday.

[Truckstop]

See if you can grab a second hand GK head.
They sound great flat, and the boost control can add a really nice subtle drive if you don't push it too far. I've had mine for 5 years and it's coped in a death metal band, motown covers and now an Atmospheri-core band. Surprisingly versatile!
I think I've seen a GK RB700 for £400 on here?

Truckstop

[Conan]

You may be right about the Hartke being too clean.... but your pedals can easily add the grit if required.

Sounds like my Trace Elliot 2x15 would suit you down to the ground. I'm not just saying that because I'm trying to sell it of course... but it really is a quality piece of kit for very sensible cash. Loud, clear, warm, solid, robust.... and you could probably sell it on in a while for more than what you are about to pay me for it!!

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=125690&hl=1528"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=125690&hl=1528[/url]

It's all good.

Edited May 24, 2011 by Conan

[Lozz196]

I had a Terror, hooked up to a Marshall VBC 412 cab. At regular pub sized gigs, in a punk band, I had both Gain and Volume on 2. I found that any more than 2 on Gain, and this would be too much grit for me, but there is a thread on replacing the valves, to lower gain ones. Plus, it`s not as if I was running out of headroom, with Volume on 2. It was amazingly loud.

TC gear is good, just sold a Classic 450 for £425, so that may be within your range, leaving approx £300 for a cab, if you can find a 2nd hand one.

Another amp worth looking at is the Ampeg PF-500. I`ve just bought one - £350 - and hooked up to my Eden Nemesis 410 cab - £390 - theres plenty of power available. Classic Ampeg sound, lightweight amp, into a fairly - 52lbs - lightweight cab.

[xgsjx]

Another option is the Markbass LMII (it's only as Hi-Fi as you want it to be, the Bad Monkey & the LMII filters will sort that out for you). They can be picked up from as little as £300- £350.
You should be able to pick up an excellent cab for £3-400.

[bungle]

What sort of cabs should I be looking at then? As I said, a barefaced appeals as they are light and seem well designed. What else is out there that is worth looking at? I have no idea when it comes to cabs really.

[xgsjx]

Any decent 2xwhatevers you like (I'd go with 2x10"s). Markbass, Gallien Krueger, Genz Benz are but a few that make some excellent 2x10's (or 2x12s).
Other option is to go for single configuration cabs (such as 1x12 or 1x15).
Avoid mixing speaker sizes & cabs with horizontal & vertical configurations (such as standard 4x10s) & you can't go too wrong.

[JTUK]

There was an Aguilar GS410 going for around £400 the other day.

A couple of SWR cabs totalling £350, IIRC..a 210 and 115
I think I saw a SWR Goliath 410 for around £200..which is a LOT of cab for that money if in good nick.

The 410's I mentioned will be pretty clean sounding cabs and may high-light your technique.
It may force you to play cleaner ..which may or may not be a good thing.

IME..12" and 15" are more...err ..forgiving

[Conan]

[quote name='bungle' post='1243021' date='May 24 2011, 03:10 PM']What sort of cabs should I be looking at then?[/quote]

How long is a piece of string? My advice would be to trawl the used section here and buy stuff! Most of the prices are so good that if you don't get on with a certain cab you can probably sell it on again at pretty much the price you paid for it. Maybe even more if the market eventually picks up!

Alex at BareFaced also does a month's trial on his cabs if you buy one new. If you don't like it you can return it for just the cost of shipping. Could be a good way to try one out?

[indiegrungesound]

Headwise, You won't go wrong with new Ampeg Portaflex heads (which PMT should now have in stock)or either of the Hartke heads!

Edited May 24, 2011 by indiegrungesound

[dave_bass5]

I found my Ashdown ABM to sound a bit woolly and under powered, even compared to the MAG 307 it was replacing.

I sold the head and got a Markbass SA450 and until very recently never looked back ( other than a failed brief spell with a GK head).
IME you can get a really nice, warm rock tone or a nice bright clanky tone, the options are there.

There are some sound clips in my sig if your interested, especially the Wellah link.

Oh yeah, my SA450 is up for sale on here ;-)

[secretsquirrel]

IMHO you could do no worse than taking a look @ the BH500/210 rig from TC Electronics and it also will fit your budget easily even brand new. you could always add another cab later for the full oomph.

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrtVa0oQk1Q"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrtVa0oQk1Q[/url]

I've just picked one up as a back up to my Staccato and it's absolutely awesome! Not as lightweight as the RH stuff but half the price and not at all heavy really in fact its definately sooooo much lighter than the Ashdown stuff you mentioned earlier. Don't forget with all the extras like spectracomp and tubetune and you probably won't need to use the other pedals either so less to carry!

Mark @ Bass Direct also says it's the best bang for the buck too [url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/BH500+Cabinets.html"]http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_sp...0+Cabinets.html[/url]

Hope this helps

Edited May 24, 2011 by secretsquirrel

[bungle]

[quote name='secretsquirrel' post='1243424' date='May 24 2011, 08:43 PM']IMHO you could do no worse than taking a look @ the BH500/210 rig from TC Electronics and it also will fit your budget easily even brand new. you could always add another cab later for the full oomph.

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrtVa0oQk1Q"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrtVa0oQk1Q[/url]

I've just picked one up as a back up to my Staccato and it's absolutely awesome! Not as lightweight as the RH stuff but half the price and not at all heavy really in fact its definately sooooo much lighter than the Ashdown stuff you mentioned earlier. Don't forget with all the extras like spectracomp and tubetune and you probably won't need to use the other pedals either so less to carry!

Mark @ Bass Direct also says it's the best bang for the buck too [url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/BH500+Cabinets.html"]http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_sp...0+Cabinets.html[/url]

Hope this helps[/quote]


That youtube video is one of the best run throughs of a bit of gear I've seen online, and the tone of the thing is totally in the ball park I'm looking for. It's not super light but looks like it'll be a ton easier to cart around than my Ashdown. Looks like gear4music in York have some so I might have a jaunt up and give it a try.

I take it BH500 + 1 2x10 will be plenty loud? I can't see on the specs what it puts out at 8 Ohms.

[Delberthot]

Most people will recommend what they use so have a look at what's in my sig- you could but both head and cab brand new with the money you've got.

I too like a gritty sound but just use the boost on the amp for that.

I use my setup for every gig I do. It'll comfortably do a pub gig up to around 100 people with no PA support and anything bigger than that I'd be DI'd into the PA anyway. The cab weighs 21kg so its pretty light

[chaypup]

There's a tc 450 head and a 2x10 in the for sale section for £700.

[stoker]

I've got a 300 watt Trace Elliot head thats not doing anything if you're interested.

[LiamPodmore]

[quote name='secretsquirrel' post='1243424' date='May 24 2011, 08:43 PM']IMHO you could do no worse than taking a look @ the BH500/210 rig from TC Electronics and it also will fit your budget easily even brand new. you could always add another cab later for the full oomph.

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrtVa0oQk1Q"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrtVa0oQk1Q[/url]

I've just picked one up as a back up to my Staccato and it's absolutely awesome! Not as lightweight as the RH stuff but half the price and not at all heavy really in fact its definately sooooo much lighter than the Ashdown stuff you mentioned earlier. Don't forget with all the extras like spectracomp and tubetune and you probably won't need to use the other pedals either so less to carry!

Mark @ Bass Direct also says it's the best bang for the buck too [url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/BH500+Cabinets.html"]http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_sp...0+Cabinets.html[/url]

Hope this helps[/quote]

I'd also reccomend one of these, i used one when my band played at Live and Unsigned and it sounded really nice set flat, plenty loud against 2 60w 1x12 Blackstar all valve combos on a big stage.

Liam

[Bassmurf]

[quote name='secretsquirrel' post='1243424' date='May 24 2011, 08:43 PM']IMHO you could do no worse than taking a look @ the BH500/210 rig from TC Electronics and it also will fit your budget easily even brand new. you could always add another cab later for the full oomph.

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrtVa0oQk1Q"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrtVa0oQk1Q[/url]

I've just picked one up as a back up to my Staccato and it's absolutely awesome! Not as lightweight as the RH stuff but half the price and not at all heavy really in fact its definately sooooo much lighter than the Ashdown stuff you mentioned earlier. Don't forget with all the extras like spectracomp and tubetune and you probably won't need to use the other pedals either so less to carry!

Mark @ Bass Direct also says it's the best bang for the buck too [url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/BH500+Cabinets.html"]http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_sp...0+Cabinets.html[/url]

Hope this helps[/quote]

Thumbs up for the BH500, great amp and a great price - though I plumped for the 2x12 cab instead of the 2x10!