Dan Dare

Unless it's a crappy bass you don't care about, I'd sell it as is and get a purpose built headless. Removing the head from anything often ends in tears:

Unless it was a valve amp, probably just means they brushed the dust out of the vents and sprayed the contacts and sockets with switch cleaner.

You might get away with a 4 ohm cab (which will give a combined impedance of 3 ohms), but I wouldn't push the volume too hard. And keep an eye on how hot the amp gets.

Pickups are not microphones

Could be a Pearl River instrument (they do exist).

I used to borrow an old Acoustic rig from a friend. It was enormous, with a large horn loaded cab that contained the power amp and a box with the preamp in it that sat on top. I had a Ford Transit at the time, so I could cart it around. Massive sound -and the throw from it was impressive. Standing next to it, it sounded reasonably loud but not excessive, while people in the front rows were shouting at me to turn down. It had 'Led Zeppelin' stencilled on the side of the cab, which was worth brownie points. Wouldn't like to try to carry about it now, at my advanced age. Not tried the new stuff. Didn't know it was available. I assume someone has bought the rights to the name. I'd be interested to try it.

Go to somewhere like Bass Direct or the Bass Gallery and try 'em all.

A friend who used to edit quite a major national magazine (not music related, but the principle is the same) told me why you rarely if ever see reviews slagging off products. They receive many more products for review than they can ever fit in every week or month. So they don't even consider reviewing those that aren't at least competent. If something is basically sound, but has minor flaws, they may review it and point the flaws out. However, there's no point in wasting scarce column inches on something that is no good. It won't benefit the reader, who would be better being told about things that are worthy of consideration. Makes sense to me. True, but the RCFs will survive an upgrade and likely won't need to be sold. Add a sub or subs and they will be excellent for mid and top duty.

Your call. It's your money. I think they will be too limited, especially once you push them. Resale on them will be nix, too. You can only go so cheap before quality is too compromised. If you're looking at Anderton's, these - RCF ART 312A Mk4 12" Active Speaker - EACH - Andertons Music Co. - will be a much better bet and will survive upgrading (easily good enough to add a sub to at a later date). Don't be put off those HHs discussed earlier. The Sound on Sound review was very positive and I've found their reviews to be truthful and not hyped (I discovered the PA I own - Fohhn Linea system - via their reviews and I'm very happy with it).

The problem with bundles is that you are stuck with whatever the retailer chooses. If you get good speakers at a bargain price, the mixer is likely to be compromised to fit the budget. Mixers at modest price points tend to have limited features. For vocal only use, you only need a small number of channels, but decent, flexible eq and onboard reverb (not dozens of effects - a few usable ones are all you need) to save having to add an additional fx unit. I'd be looking for a used small Soundcraft, Allen & Heath or similar. For reasons stated previously, I'd opt for new speakers, but buying used mixers and stands is pretty safe, provided you can satisfy yourself that they have not been abused.

I agree that 300w is about the upper limit for a 12, Phil. However, even if the power ratings are massively over-stated, it has to have 300 real watts on board. I've not tried it, but SoS reviewed it very favourably (see the link in the eBay listing) and at more than twice the price it is on offer at currently. I'm pretty confident in their reviews. Over the years, I've found them reliable. I'm thinking seriously of ordering a pair for small gigs.

Given that OP is attempting to set up a first PA on a limited budget, that's probably not feasible. We are trying to suggest options which give him an upgrade route without his needing to throw it all away and start again if he needs to improve it.

They look very good indeed for £400 a pair. Impressive when SoS reviewed them favourably at more than twice that price. Were I in BassAdder27's shoes, I'd think very seriously about getting them.

Bill Fitzmaurice Designed Simplexx 2x12 Bass Cab with Beyma SM212 12” Drivers | eBay Looks nicely put together - one of Bill's designs, with everyone's favourite Beyma drivers. I was tempted (only a few miles from me), but really don't need any more kit.

As is your right, but we are being asked for advice by someone else who may not be in the position that we are - financially secure, etc. I can spend, within reason, what I like on toys, but not everyone is as fortunate.

I'd suggest you are in an ideal position in that you do not have a load of instruments, but appear, if the things you are considering buying are anything to go by, to be able to afford.one that you really like. Many claim to "need" dozens of instruments to "cover different styles". In reality, unless you are doing a really eclectic mix of stuff (which few are), a couple of well chosen instruments will cover all the bases - no pun intended. A P/J is a standard versatile choice and Sandbergs are very fine. I've found the ones I've played (full fat, not economy Sandbergs) preferable to any modern US Fenders I've tried. For what they are, they're not that expensive (and cheaper than Fender custom shop models). The important thing is to try a lot of instruments out, ignore brand names/labels, take your time and choose what you, not anyone else, like.

And a forklift truck to move it.

Any chance you could save a bit more? That isn't going to get you much. No matter how good the band, vocals are what most listeners focus on and a poor sound isn't going to do you any favours. Alto, etc are generic, budget Chinese boxes and won't sound good when you push them, even if the sound at showroom levels is OK. Buying used is always an option and that's fine for mixers and stands. However, smaller, less expensive PA speakers will likely have been hammered (people try to get them to do more than they are capable of before eventually deciding to upgrade), so new is the safe route. You'll get little to nothing for them when you wish to upgrade (as you inevitably will), so it's money gone. Also, better speakers will survive an upgrade - you can add subs as suggested above to increase the power. - so you don't have to start again when you want to improve the PA. £800 or so will get you reasonable 12" speakers (something like this - RCF ART 312A Mk4 12" Active Speaker - EACH - Andertons Music Co.) and a used mixer. That's only an additional £50 per band member - assuming a 4 piece - to add to your budget. If you are looking at budget models, don't get 10s for a rock band if you are not using a sub, even for vocals only. I have heard fabulous results on vocals from a single pair of Nexo 10s, but they are £2.5k a pair, not including amplification... From experience, I would advise not buying the PA jointly if possible. It's better for band members to own items individually (people own a speaker each, the mixer and so on). That way, if anyone leaves, there won't be issues/arguments over arriving at a price to buy their share out (been there).

We had our first proper (non-Jamulus) get together yesterday. Once we had got past the feeling of being let out of a cage and giving it too large, it was great. Finished the day with our first pint at the pub, sitting outside in the freezing cold. Happy days.

Phil's advice is sound (pardon the pun). You can't really go wrong with RCF for the money. You can always add active subs at a later date if you need them. I would suggest you look at mixers with at least 3 (4 even better) band eq with sweepable mid(s) if possible. Will make a big difference to vocals. If you're thinking of a digital mixer, that won't be an issue as the eq will be extensive on virtually any model,, but at the starter stage, you're more likely to be looking at analogue.

I always liked that track and the bass sound. Some live footage at - Bert Kaempfert - Medley 1978 - YouTube. Bassist is using a rather fine stack knob Jazz and playing with a pick, Sounds like he's using flats to me.

Or a similarly sized Ashdown.

I wouldn't worry about "noisy" fans. The drums will drown it out.

Swapping that for a Rumble 100 won't be a good deal for you. The Rumble will be feeble by comparison. It may solve the weight issue, but not much else. Do you have to carry the TE up stairs? If not, would a good trolley enable you to hang on to it? If you do decide to get rid of it, I'd sell it as is. Do you need a combo? Going modular - getting a separate amp and cabs - will reduce the weight you have to carry in one go. You can make several trips from the car carrying smaller, lighter boxes.

A little puzzling that ultimate lightness is the goal. If you were looking for a less weighty alternative to an Ampeg fridge, it would be understandable, but a BF One10 (even tweetered) is already less than a one-handed carry. Your money, ofc, but that GR isn't going to be cheap.