Head and cab for a new bass player

[Gottastopbuyinggear]

[color=#141414][font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=3]Hi all, first post here (also posted on Talk Bass, so sorry if you've already read this), and it's a "what rig should I buy", though I've been lurking on this and similar sites for long enough to know that I'll get lots of "you've got to try for yourself and see what you like" responses, which I totally understand.

However... practicalities mean that I'm not going to be able to find anywhere where I can compare the stuff in which I'm interested, so here goes.

I'm a recent starter on bass, although I played bass in some bands at school about 30 odd years ago, and I've played guitar ever since.

I'm expecting to mostly play blues, blues rock, classic rock, etc., but I'm open to plenty of different stuff. I doubt I'll ever play slap, but will stick to fingerstyle with a bit of pick occasionally. So I think I'm looking for something relatively mellow, certainly not too bright, with a reasonable low end.

I'm not likely to be gigging (not for a while, anyway) but I've been playing with a fairly hard hitting drummer and quite loud guitarist, in a fairly small rehearsal space. Let's just say that after the first practice I bought some earplugs pretty swiftly...

I'm not getting any younger so light weight is important.

My head says Ampeg PF350 with PF115HE cab, and cost wise I'm not looking to go much more expensive.

However the Mark Bass Traveler 151P, or even better the 102P are very attractive from a weight point of view. Similarly the GK NEO 115 or 112. I'd be worried about the 102P and the NEO 112 not having enough low end, though they certainly tick the right size and weight boxes.

Also attractive is the GK MB200 head, from a price and form factor perspective, and because it seems to be universally loved on all the forums.

My concerns about the MB200 are whether it would be too "modern" sounding, and also whether it would be loud enough (into a single 8 ohm cab) to keep up with a loud drummer - I know what I can get from a guitar through a 15W or 30W valve amp, but the only reference I have for solid state bass amps is the 165W (I think) Laney provided by the rehearsal rooms.

Apart from that, any comments or experiences with any combination of those amps and cabs would be well received![/size][/font][/color]

Edited May 20, 2014 by Gottastopbuyinggear

[Mudpup]

I reckon you'll need at least 300 (modern) watts to keep up with a noisy drummer. A single 12 speaker wont be enough - you may get away with a 15 though.
Buy 2nd hand from this site if you can - plenty of bargains about and you can pass it on if you find it doesn't suit you after a few plays with minimal devaluation - consider it a rental fee. Those Markbass amps get a lot of love on here and would be easier to move on if required. I would also look at a Hartke LH500 head.

Heres a few to get you started in no particular order -

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/235245-hartke-lh500-hartke-hydrive-410/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/235245-hartke-lh500-hartke-hydrive-410/[/url]

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/237130-genz-benz-focus-4x10/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/237130-genz-benz-focus-4x10/[/url]

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/236819-ashdown-abm500h-rig-l325/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/236819-ashdown-abm500h-rig-l325/[/url]

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/233754-markbass-cmd-102p-price-drop-possible-trade/page__fromsearch__1"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/233754-markbass-cmd-102p-price-drop-possible-trade/page__fromsearch__1[/url]

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/237155-hartke-lh1000-as-new-with-warwick-rackbag-now-l275/page__fromsearch__1"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/237155-hartke-lh1000-as-new-with-warwick-rackbag-now-l275/page__fromsearch__1[/url]

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/231695-tecamp-puma-212-500-combo-for-sale-can-ship-if-required/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/231695-tecamp-puma-212-500-combo-for-sale-can-ship-if-required/[/url]

Edited May 20, 2014 by Mudpup

[Lozz196]

In terms of volume and performance, a Markbass 210 combo would be a great buy. Markbass sits - in my opinion - in roughly the same space in the mix as Ampeg, and those little combos are loud. I ended up with Markbass simply due to liking how it sounded when hearing other bassists use it. The weight being a big factor as well.

I agree with Mudpup re power, ideally 300 for playing with/competing with a loud drummer. You may not need it all, but I prefer to have not needed power, than to push an amp to its limits all the time.

[Gottastopbuyinggear]

Thanks for the replies.

I said I wanted to keep up with a loud drummer, and Mudpup mentioned the [color="#000000"]Hartke LH500. At the other end of the scale, am I going to be able to get a 500W head quiet enough for practice at home or if I'm playing with a less strident bunch of people - for example with a drummer with an electronic kit? I guess into an 8 ohm load I'll only be getting about 350W anyway. Again, my reference here is a 30W tube guitar amp, which went from nothing to "turn that damn thing down!" before you got to 1 out of 10. I assume with solid state, where [/color][color=#000000]there's no issues about needing to get valves cooking before you get any tone, [/color][color=#000000]it should sound pretty much the same at any volume (not taking into account the impact of volume on the speaker)?[/color]

[Conan]

[quote name='Gottastopbuyinggear' timestamp='1400672774' post='2455955']
Mudpup mentioned the [color=#000000]Hartke LH500. At the other end of the scale, am I going to be able to get a 500W head quiet enough for practice at home or if I'm playing with a less strident bunch of people - for example with a drummer with an electronic kit?[/color][/quote]

The volume is a bit strange on the LH500, possibly made all the stranger by the lack of "gain" control.

Between 0 and about 5 it has a nice, linear increase, giving plenty of control for low-volume work. Then, suddenly, between 5 and 6 the volume seems to increase exponentially! Not a problem for home use as you will be nowhere near 5 (even with an 8 ohm cab)... but be very careful if you are rehearsing at "proper" volume or playing a gig. A seemingly small tweak on the volume control can give a massive increase in output!!

Edited May 21, 2014 by Conan

[Mudpup]

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1400673327' post='2455960']


The volume is a bit strange on the LH500, possibly made all the stranger by the lack of "gain" control.

Between 0 and about 5 it has a nice, linear increase, giving plenty of control for low-volume work. Then, suddenly, between 5 and 6 the volume seems to increase exponentially! Not a problem for home use as you will be nowhere near 5 (even with an 8 ohm cab)... but be very careful if you are rehearsing at "proper" volume or playing a gig. A seemingly small tweak on the volume control can give a massive increase in output!!
[/quote]

And flattish response is with the mid right up with bass and treble on about 2. It'll seem quiet if you do the "everything at midday" thing - the mids give it the poke. Theres an LH1000 on the classifieds at the moment - you can always turn it down. You dont need to cook the valves to get the sound going.

Edited May 21, 2014 by Mudpup

[xgsjx]

First... Ignore the you need X amount of watts to get volume. Volume is decibels, watts is heat. Watts play a factor in it, but it's a small one. TCE heads prove this in the respect that their amps are as loud as most others & yet rated at much lower watts.
I use a Markbass 2x10 combo. I use it in my 1st floor flat & it'll go low enough that even the Mrs can watch TV in the same room. I also used to use it with a shed building drummer & 2 guitarists & had no issues at gig volume (I'm now in an electronic band, so volumes are defined by a dial on the PA & not someone's ego).
I'd put it on your list, but the best advice I can give is to go & try/listen to as many bits of gear as you can, both in shop & at gigs/rehearsals.

[Japhet]

I'd see what Genz Benz stuff is still available from Bass Direct. A Streamliner 600 and a Focus cab of some configuration would fit your requirements (warm sound with plentyof clout) I'd say. You might find 2nd hand on here too.