help needed with cab/head choice

[christhammer666]

evening one and all..... ive recently joined a new metal band in the vein of pantera/lamb of god et ,they have been gigging for ages where as im in the market for my first cab/head. I just don't know how much power ill need its only a pub club band, Camden underworld at most.i have been looking at a few 4x10 cabs and heads the laney rb410 cab and the laney rb9 head (for budget reasons) just wondered if this would be enough........any advice is as always greatly appreciated....ta

[Salt on your Bass?]

A 410 will likely be more than plenty for anything with pa support and will cover non pa pubs comfortably I expect. There are lighter and more transportable options if that's a consideration (and budgets useful)- 212s are popular currently.

Rule of thumb power (albeit watts don't equal dbs) is 300 watts(solid state/hybrid) for gigging, which seems to be creeping to 500 more recent years.

If you like the tone and features of that set up, go for it. I'd recommend shopping around though to see what you like and then buy second hand to maximise your bang per buck.

[christhammer666]

^thanks for that......im leaning towards the rb9 because the reviews say its 300 watts and plenty loud. plus on gak at the mo the head head a 4x10 cab and ext lead all for 449 quid I don't think that's to bad

[Salt on your Bass?]

That's 300 at 4 ohms and the cab is 8 ohms so you'll get around 175 out the head. For that money I think you could get a 410 And better rated Amp on here. Hartke ashdown orange etc. First rig so learn what you do and don't like then move it on at little or no loss.

My opinion and ymmv of course as that rig may last you a life time.

[Salt on your Bass?]

Something like this:
[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/214656-price-drop-ashdown-british-built-evo-500-cab-for-sale/"]http://basschat.co.u...0-cab-for-sale/[/url]

or these 410:
[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/214030-ashdown-abm-410h-600w-cab/"]http://basschat.co.u...-410h-600w-cab/[/url]
[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/212769-eden-410-xlt-700w-4-ohm-cab/"]http://basschat.co.u...700w-4-ohm-cab/[/url]
[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/211265-gallien-krueger-backline-cabs-price-drop/"]http://basschat.co.u...abs-price-drop/[/url]

This amp:
[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/212872-hartke-lh1000-for-sale-l220/"]http://basschat.co.u...-for-sale-l220/[/url]

Sorry, thought I'd do a bit of looking and see if anything floated your boat!!

[spaners]

Go n try a lot of gear. But take your own bass. The TC. BH500 head n cab deals are worth a look. For metal you should look forsomthing that can handle drop tuning and that needs lots of extra power.

[xgsjx]

A decent 2x10 would probably be more than adequate & you can add another 2x10 at a later date if you should need more. This might be worth a look?

http://www.genzbenz.com/?fa=detail&mid=2862&sid=705&cid=95

Bass Direct have them for £319

However, if your budget can stretch, get one of these & then get a decent 2nd hand amp...

http://basschat.co.uk/topic/214462-barefaced-midgetcompact-cabs-for-sale/

[JTUK]

Make sure you know all you need to know about Laney.

Hear it a loud volume if you can as there are certainly better cabs out there.
I'd say the same about Ashdown as well as a few others.

Try them all that you'll consider at volume, is what I'm trying to say

[christhammer666]

thanks for the replies guys have enquired on a few of your reccomendations....thanks again

[peteb]

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1377112853' post='2183594']
Make sure you know all you need to know about Laney.

Hear it a loud volume if you can as there are certainly better cabs out there.
I'd say the same about Ashdown as well as a few others.

Try them all that you'll consider at volume, is what I'm trying to say
[/quote]
Wise words – if I were you I would certainly go down the second hand Hartke route rather than Laney!

If you find that you can get a GK or an old Eden cab within your budget then so much the better…

[stingrayPete1977]

I had the laney head you mention as my spare for function band duties as my ashdown had an intermittent fault, the laney was ok actually but maybe a bit lacking in oomph for metal with crazy drummers. It was a very sturdy amp, I can't remember what I did with it, either sold on here or ebay for less than £100. I'd look for something a bit beefier just because of the volume thing on the other hand I'd recommend it for sound and build quality for the money.

[Lozz196]

I`d agree with Salt on Your Bass, whatever you get look for minimum power of 300 watts. From there, a 410 or 212 will be plenty enough. A good 210 would be as well, but as with anything good, it will cost. Used on here would be a good way to go.

[dudewheresmybass]

The Hartke hydrive lh500 is well worth a look.
Frank bello from anthrax and save ellefson from megadeth are both using the uprated 1000w model, but the sound is not different enough in the 500w model to make any significant difference in the situation you refer to.
Second hand around £200.
Cab bargains are always to be found either here or eBay.

[indiegrungesound]

+1 For the Hartke. Great amplifier!

To be fair though, The Laney Richter amps will do a job for you too. Therefore, I'd make a couple of suggestions:

(1) Get a Laney RB7 2x10" combo 2nd hand, then look for the newer Richter 4x10" cab, which has a new badge & a higher power handling rating(Some of which have already turned up on eBay.).

This way, you have a decent rehearsal combo & a pretty decent live 6x10" stack.

(2) Get the Hartke LH500 with ANY decent 2nd hand 8 ohm cab that can handle 400 watts.

[xgsjx]

[quote name='indiegrungesound' timestamp='1377208965' post='2184952']
+1 For the Hartke. Great amplifier!

To be fair though, The Laney Richter amps will do a job for you too. Therefore, I'd make a couple of suggestions:

(1) Get a Laney RB7 2x10" combo 2nd hand, then look for the newer Richter 4x10" cab, which has a new badge & a higher power handling rating(Some of which have already turned up on eBay.).

This way, you have a decent rehearsal combo & a pretty decent live 6x10" stack.

(2) Get the Hartke LH500 with ANY decent 2nd hand 8 ohm cab that can handle 400 watts.
[/quote]
The problem with having a 2x10 & a 4x10 together is that the 2x10 is gonna be getting the same juice from the amp as the 4x10.

If looking at cabs, look for the sensitivity of the thing. Watts mean very little on their own.

[badboy1984]

TC is doing buy one get one free on cabs right? The BH500 and 2x cabs would certainly be enough for 99% of the things .....

[indiegrungesound]

[quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1377238852' post='2185083']

The problem with having a 2x10 & a 4x10 together is that the 2x10 is gonna be getting the same juice from the amp as the 4x10.

If looking at cabs, look for the sensitivity of the thing. Watts mean very little on their own.
[/quote]

I was working on the principal-commonly mentioned on this site-that having more speakers of the same size gives you more of the sound you want in terms of tone & speaker response times.
I take your point about the lack of power. This is certainly true if you just used the Laney combo on it's own(I'm sure it was mentioned above that this would only put out 175 watts or thereabouts @ 8 ohms.). However, having 300 watts @ 4 ohms ,through a 6x10" would surely be pretty of poke.

[stingrayPete1977]

A 2x10 and a 4x10 is not a 6x10. If someone with a 4x10 is told to add more of the same I'd take it as adding another 4x10. Getting the extra power from your amp won't help if you can only turn up until the smaller cab starts farting.

[xgsjx]

[quote name='indiegrungesound' timestamp='1377261317' post='2185464']
I was working on the principal-commonly mentioned on this site-that having more speakers of the same size gives you more of the sound you want in terms of tone & speaker response times.
I take your point about the lack of power. This is certainly true if you just used the Laney combo on it's own(I'm sure it was mentioned above that this would only put out 175 watts or thereabouts @ 8 ohms.). However, having 300 watts @ 4 ohms ,through a 6x10" would surely be pretty of poke.
[/quote]
The idea behind your thinking is fine. But the 2x10 is gonna get 150 watts spread over 2 drivers & the 4x10 is gonna get 150w spread across all 4. So if the cab sensitivity specs are the same, then the 2x10 is gonna be a bit louder than the 4x10.

I plugged a 4x10 into my 2x10 combo a couple of nights ago & you couldn't tell if it was on or not. I unplugged the 2x10 to check & yes it was there & plenty loud enough on it's own, but sounded nowhere near as loud or good as the 2x10. The 4x10 is SWR, the combo is Markbass. The B&C drivers in the combo have a far greater xmax than those in the SWR.

[indiegrungesound]

[quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1377268251' post='2185635']
The idea behind your thinking is fine. But the 2x10 is gonna get 150 watts spread over 2 drivers & the 4x10 is gonna get 150w spread across all 4. So if the cab sensitivity specs are the same, then the 2x10 is gonna be a bit louder than the 4x10.

I plugged a 4x10 into my 2x10 combo a couple of nights ago & you couldn't tell if it was on or not. I unplugged the 2x10 to check & yes it was there & plenty loud enough on it's own, but sounded nowhere near as loud or good as the 2x10. The 4x10 is SWR, the combo is Markbass. The B&C drivers in the combo have a far greater xmax than those in the SWR.
[/quote]

I see what you mean now. A bit obvious now. I was thinking along the lines of link
[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1377262841' post='2185510']
A 2x10 and a 4x10 is not a 6x10. If someone with a 4x10 is told to add more of the same I'd take it as adding another 4x10. Getting the extra power from your amp won't help if you can only turn up until the smaller cab starts farting.
[/quote]

I get what you mean now gentlemen! I was mistakenly thinking along the lines of if, for instance, you linked an 8 ohm 2x10" cab to an 8 ohn 4x10" to get a bigger 4 ohm cab. But it's not the same principle at all(Perhaps you can tell I own a stack and not a combo! )!

[grunge666]

Regarding the head - Orange Terror Bass 500 - 8 & 4 Ohm switchable - light, loud and will do you proud.

[gsgbass]

I'm liking my Markbass Mini CMD121P Combo, with a Markbass NY121 cab. 2X12's At 500 watts. The Combo weighs in at 29 pounds, the cab at 28 pounds. Great sounds too!

Edited August 27, 2013 by gsgbass