insinkerator Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 Okay so i have been playing bass for 2 years now. I like to think of myself as fairly competent at what i do. I'm looking to buy a new amp setup that will hold me for the next four to five years at least........ Ive gone through many a combo amp and ive had borrowed posession of heads and cabs but im still not entirely sure as to what i should get..... Here's a few details about me... -I play in alternative/garage/postpunk/indie rock band alongside a drummer and two guitarists. The drummer is quite heavy handed using a pearl forum series shell kit with a nice smattering of Zildjian cymbals. The lead guitarist is currently playing from a VERY deceptive 30w orange crush amp. sounds more like a 60-70watt realistically. He is however very close to purchasing a 50w tube Rockabilly orange head and 2x12 inch cab. The rhythm guitarist is playing through a 70w line 6 amp, but has just recently purchased some sort of 300w(ish) amp. Im not too sure on the precise details.... We are also in the market for something around 250w for vocals. So i need to be heard along with all of that - In the band i play fingerstyle only with the very odd slapline here and there - At home i play a liitle bit of funk also - I have a slight ego so would like a big amp:P altho it isnt entirely necessary - I DONT want a Behringer - My budget is up as far as 1000euro, about 1400 dollars(US) - Im not too sure what i will be running it through. odds are either a 4x10 or a 1x15 with a 2x10. Altho if i have the cash 4x10 with a 1x15 is a possibility - Im kinda hung up on having a band equalizer. Altho its not entirely essential. I would love to have one. These are what i have been looking at so far.... [url="http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Ampeg-SVT450H-450W-Classic-Series-Head?sku=481756"]Ampeg SVT 450 H[/url] - this is the amp that i was considering buying for quite a while. I saw a couple of good reviews, liked the look of it..... [url="http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Trace-Elliot-AH5007-500W-Bass-Amplifier-Head?sku=480095"]Trace Elliot AH500-7[/url] -I played this for about 10 mins in a guitar centre while on holidays in San Francisco and i loved it!. It sounded beautiful. It looked amazing. But the equalizer heads looks kinda fragile.... [url="http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Peavey-Tour-450-Bass-Head-?sku=480314"]Peavey Tour 450[/url] -Its the price tag that caught my eye here. Seems almos too good to be true.... am i right? These are the three that i am looking at... if anyone here has any experience with them could they please give me a run down. Also any other suggestions are welcome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stylon Pilson Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 [quote name='insinkerator' post='244362' date='Jul 21 2008, 12:19 PM'][url="http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Peavey-Tour-450-Bass-Head-?sku=480314"]Peavey Tour 450[/url] -Its the price tag that caught my eye here. Seems almos too good to be true.... am i right?[/quote] I can't speak for the other two that you listed, but I can vouch that Peavey gear is good and very robust. Obviously don't buy it without playing through it to see how you feel about the tone, but as far as build quality is concerned, don't let the price tag fool you. S.P. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayfan Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 [quote name='insinkerator' post='244362' date='Jul 21 2008, 12:19 PM'][url="http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Trace-Elliot-AH5007-500W-Bass-Amplifier-Head?sku=480095"]Trace Elliot AH500-7[/url] -I played this for about 10 mins in a guitar centre while on holidays in San Francisco and i loved it!. [b]It sounded beautiful[/b]. It looked amazing. But the equalizer heads looks kinda fragile....[/quote] It's the sound you'll be left with when you've forgotten the price. And if you like the way it sounded - go for it. I'd be tempted to take it out of its sleeve and put it in a rack anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 (edited) [quote name='stingrayfan' post='244459' date='Jul 21 2008, 02:46 PM']It's the sound you'll be left with when you've forgotten the price.[/quote] +1 Edited July 21, 2008 by Merton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 [quote name='stingrayfan' post='244459' date='Jul 21 2008, 02:46 PM']It's the sound you'll be left with when you've forgotten the price. And if you like the way it sounded - go for it. I'd be tempted to take it out of its sleeve and put it in a rack anyway.[/quote] I don't wish to hijack this thread, but which of the cheaper, less powerful Trace Elliot heads (including the old ones) would you recommend? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bass_ferret Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 [quote name='insinkerator' post='244362' date='Jul 21 2008, 12:19 PM']- My budget is up as far as 1000euro, about 1400 dollars(US)[/quote] Where you at? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
insinkerator Posted July 22, 2008 Author Share Posted July 22, 2008 (edited) Im in Ireland..... the homtown of overpriced gear:( Edited July 22, 2008 by insinkerator Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowhand_mike Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 might be worth you having a look for some second hand trace gear, you'd get a lovely rig for your money Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJTee Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 Check out Gallien Krueger; maybe the 700RB-II (480w), or 1001RB-II (700w). Powerful lightweight amps, and not too expensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 [quote name='stevie' post='244843' date='Jul 21 2008, 09:39 PM']I don't wish to hijack this thread, but which of the cheaper, less powerful Trace Elliot heads (including the old ones) would you recommend?[/quote] Anything up to the early SMX ranges. Preferably Series 6 and either 7- or 12-band Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 the Trace and Peavey stuff is fairly coloured. Whether you like that is a question of taste but often what sounds good on the stage is different to what sounds good in a shop. Have a look in the Basschat Marketplace for alternatives that are in your price range perhaps? [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=23521"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=23521[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=23277"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=23277[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=23971"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=23971[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=23487"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=23487[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 [quote name='Merton' post='245359' date='Jul 22 2008, 01:51 PM']Anything up to the early SMX ranges. Preferably Series 6 and either 7- or 12-band [/quote] Thanks, Merton. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funkypenguin Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 see what mesa boogie gear you can find for the money. for any sort of rock music, mesa rules the roost IMO goood luck putting your rig together! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bass_ferret Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 I love it when somebody revives a 3 month old thread out of the blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rumour6 Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 Hi there, i'm currently using an iAMP setup but prior to that have used lots... I'm with Merton.. get an old Mk lV or MkV trace head.. an old AH250 is still quite a beast... they tend to work best with Trace cabs.. like most 'systems' . Peavey gear is generally very, very reliable and usually a lot cheaper but they tend not to have quite the headroom... suppose it's down to how loud you want to be. Might be worth mailing Thonybank as he usually has a fair selection of goodies around the place and he's used to setting up courier deliveries so Ireland wouldn't be an issue. Good luck... Oh.... the bad news..... enjoy whatever you get 'til you have a GAS attack and it goes.... but on the other hand don't worry 'cause like most of us you'll buy it all back again .... and again... and again.. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iommi1423 Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 [quote name='insinkerator' post='245227' date='Jul 22 2008, 11:34 AM']Im in Ireland..... the homtown of overpriced gear:([/quote] god man im in the exact same situation as you. But if you want any sort of cheap gear (in ireland) heres a good idea [url="http://www.thomann.de/ie/index.html?sid=5af916f5b7db68dbc7aca586f4f636f2"]http://www.thomann.de/ie/index.html?sid=5a...7aca586f4f636f2[/url] go into X-MUSIC and show them the prices from this site and they will give you a discount when i was buying a fender jazz bass i saved 150 euro from doing this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 (edited) Edited October 24, 2010 by ahpook Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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