Jump to content
Why become a member? ×

Help choosing Head / Cab


Guest BassAdder27

Recommended Posts

There’s a GK MB800 and Barefaced big one in the classifieds at the moment. Combined price of £675, that would be more than adequate, power wise. I had the 500w MB Fusion, playing in a fairly loud band with two guitars, and never found it a struggle volume wise 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would keep an eye on the Amps & Cabs For Sale section and look for a 410 cab and a hybrid amp (at least 400-500W). 

There's an old SWR SM900 on sale here for £325 (brilliant amp) and a couple of MB LM3s for £250 / £300. I'm not a bit fan of Ashdown, but you can't go far wrong with an ABM1000 and matching 410 cab for £500. 

If you can stretch your budget a bit, there is a Mesa Boogie Big Block for £500 and you could probably pick up a decent 410 for £300. 

If you're not too bothered about really lightweight gear, there is plenty of choice of great amps around for not a lot of money. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'd give the 1x15 cab a miss and go for a 2x12 for the best of solid low end, with plenty of mid punch and some treble sparkle if you need it. There's a fantastic Genz Benz 2x12 in the for sale section that is probably the loudest/lightest/best value for money 2x12 out there.

Add a head of your choice to that and you'll be laughing....

Edited by cetera
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, cetera said:

I'd give the 1x15 cab a miss and go for a 2x12 for the best of solid low end, with plenty of mid punch and some treble sparkle if you need it. There's a fantastic Genz Benz 2x12 in the for sale section that is probably the loudest/lightest/best value for money 2x12 out there.

Add a head of your choice to that and you'll be laughing....

Personally I would recommend a 4x10 for the type of music the OP wants to use it for, but I would agree that a 1x15 is going to struggle

Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 minutes ago, machinehead said:

The perceived wisdom is that you'd be better to have two cabs the same.  Try a search on the forum.

Frank.

Certainly having two cabs with the same speakers eliminates phase issues as all the speakers are doing the same thing at the same time. A few years ago I had a set of SWR cabs with a 4x10 and a 1x18. I replaced the 1x18 with an identical 4x10 and the difference was very noticeable. 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, BassAdder27 said:

The plan is start with 115 cab 8 ohm and add a 210 8 ohm cab later 

A secondhand barefaced compact, is capable of going very loud. I've gigged mine with a 500w head, with some shed builder drummers and it was more than loud enough on it's own.

It was advertised as being as loud as a 4x10.

If you bought one, you probably won't need another cab.

Edited by gjones
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I owned two One10s from Barefaced and they were very good, I loved them. I needed to sell to raise some cash at the time. When I had some money again, I went with the Trace Elf 1x10 cab and I have to say, it doesn’t sound much different to my ears. Lightweight, loud, sounds great and built like a tank.

https://peavey.com/trace-elliot-1x10-speaker-cabinet/p/03616930

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ok guys I’m still looking but I think it’s between the following two amps

LM3 Markbass

Ashdown Rootmaster 500 Evo 2 head 

For good punchy full sounds which one ?

bear in mind I had an LM3 before and only an older ABM 300 head some years earlier 

Decided to get this very soon 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Ashdown RM500 is a great amp, it’s fuller sounding than the Markbass, has better eq points - imo of course - and with both drive and compression as well it is much more versatile. Having had both amps, you could get the Ashdown to do what the Markbass does, you couldn’t get the Markbass to do what the Ashdown does. Also, due to the pre-shape feature on the RM500 it can get into ABM territory.

They're both good amps though, get a good deal turn up on either and I don’t think you’d be disappointed.
 

Edited by Lozz196
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

My history is Ashdown and Markbass.  I love the MB sound (it is distinctive if you play with the EQ enough), and entirely reliable and robust.  Or was until I dropped my Little Mark 2 from table height to a concrete floor.  Then you discover that no one will fix a class D head except for a sum equal to the national debt. OTOH, Ashdown are bigger and heavier (but entirely manageable), can be dirt cheap for older ones, have great sound, are reliable and robust, and if you do drop it on a concrete floor Ashdown elves will fix it for you for an old sock and a tin of biscuits. 

For cabs I use Phil Jones, 4x7 + 2x7, but they're  bit niche and perhaps not everyone's cup of tea.

And I live in Suffolk too.  

Edited by lownote12
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 minutes ago, BassAdder27 said:

Can I ask why you are selling ??

They are more expensive than the RM500 heads I think ? £459 new 

 

Yeah I have the CTM300 that is my gigging amp and the Helix should it all fail at a gig! The ABM600 is amazing, I love it but its done 1 gig since I got it. Its on the for sale section if you want pics/info

Link to comment
Share on other sites

if you are under 40, buy an old heavy rig for cheap.

otherwise, go small and light.

 

Brands don't matter much.

 

Smallest is an Elf 200w head into their 10" cab that weighs 8kg. Add a second cab. Small, light, LOUD. has a seriously good DI out as well.

 

Markbass Vintage 500w head is killer, has a working tube in the preamp.Gets that old school tube warmth.

 

GK, Ampeg, make heads at many price levels as do Peavey and Hartke. All are good working amps.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

19 hours ago, BassAdder27 said:

Ok guys I’m still looking but I think it’s between the following two amps

LM3 Markbass

Ashdown Rootmaster 500 Evo 2 head 

For good punchy full sounds which one ?

bear in mind I had an LM3 before and only an older ABM 300 head some years earlier 

Decided to get this very soon 

In my search for a lightweight head, I had an LM3 for a while. It was OK but I prefer my current Ashdown RM500. It's certainly punchier.

On the matter of cabs, a half-decent 15" will be fine for "small to medium pubs and clubs". A used one is normally a very good buy at the moment because they're not flavour of the month.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I’ve just gone through this myself and ended up with Ashdown ABM head and Barefaced cab. Well happy with my rig.

Of all the class D heads I tried, I thought the Aguilar th was the best, but the ashdown rm was good, as was markbass lm3. 
if weight is not an issue, obviously I’d recommend ashdown Abm evo iv, the other head that caught my attention was the Handbox R400. Unless you could try one you’d be going off YouTube and bc reviews, as I’m not sure anyone stocks in uk. There is an extensive thread on here.

Good luck

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Decision was made over the weekend

Gone for the Ampeg PF800 and initially a single PF115LF cab 

I think I can keep levels down using single cab and add second PF115LF when I want more from the rig 

For rock / blues etc I think this will be good paired with a PBass 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...