karlbbb Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 Hey guys. I'm off to Uni in Sept, doing a course in Sound Engineering, and hoping to meet a few new musicians and get a band together. One problem....I don't have an amp! So I need to get one sorted....and I'm looking to spend, at the [b]very most[/b] £900 - £1k. Ideal set up would be a rack with tuner, pre-amp & power amp, plus two cabs, I imagine 1x15 + 2x10 or 4x10. I've got my eye on a DHA VT2 Rackmount pre-amp...I play a lot of punk etc and valve gritiness is really what I'd be after. Although I'd need quite a clean tone sometimes for other applications (covering a wide range of genres on the course), so perhaps I'd have to ask Dave to see if he'd be able to exhange one of the valves for a lower gain one? Also with regard to cabs, I'm happy to go second hand (providing I can get a good deal etc) So, the basic question...can it be done? I'm open to all suggestions! Cheers guys, Karl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 If you can't get a decent set up for that kind of money, you aren't trying.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlbbb Posted July 28, 2008 Author Share Posted July 28, 2008 I guess I should also mention that Im starting from scratch, so I'll need a 4u/6u rack, all the cables etc included! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 Going new, if it were me in your situation, I'd be heading straight for 2 Aguilar 1x12 cabs (either of the 2 kinds that they do - probably go for the DB112 cabs in tweed and get a matching 2unit case for the amp) and a chrome rack mount Evo III Ashdown ABM 500. Maybe a bit more than your budget, but not by too much. Otherwise there's an Ampeg BSP preamp, saoundtech 802 poweramp and tech soundsystems 4x10 in the for sale section. That'd be mighty rig! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlbbb Posted July 28, 2008 Author Share Posted July 28, 2008 Thanks for the suggestions! As I say, I'm happy to buy second hand, but it'll be around the end of September/October when I'll be looking at buying, so I can't really look too much into s/h just yet. If I were to get a 410 + 115 rig, would it be worth getting a crossover for use with a stereo power amp? Split the lows to the 115 and the rest through the 410? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sk8 Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 does it have to be 410, 115? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexclaber Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 I'd recommend either two smaller cabs (1x12" or 2x10" size) or one larger one (4x10" or 2x12" size). I wouldn't recommend going for the traditional full 4x10" plus 1x15" stack - its overkill SPL-wise, a pain to move and not the most efficient way of getting that SPL. Having owned a rack tuner for years, I concluded they're fairly pointlessly large if you're moving the gear yourself, as are larger rackcases which people often just get for The Look. Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlbbb Posted July 28, 2008 Author Share Posted July 28, 2008 (edited) Thanks again for the smaller cab recommendations. I guess it'd be slightly easier on the pocket too! With regards to weight/size, I'm honestly not to fussed, as at only 19 years old, I still have plenty of lifting in me. The idea of having two 2x10" seems a good idea, as I can use one or both then, depending on how I need it! Edited July 28, 2008 by karlbbb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bass_ferret Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 Yes I would definitely go along with the 2 small cabs recommendation. Its all very well going for the rig of doom but it seems to me you are not going to know where you can keep if and how much you are going to move it. And the first thing you are goona learn on the course is you dont need all that SPL! Rack tuners are overkill - just get a TU2 or DT10 or the strobo equivalent if you are feeling flush. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlbbb Posted July 28, 2008 Author Share Posted July 28, 2008 Ive only just realised that I keep mentioning the tuner...I have one on my Zoom pedal! Any recommendations on 210 cabs? Preferably ones where I could get 2 for around £300/£400, or may even go for a 410, again, same price (or cheaper)! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bass_ferret Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 Well ian keeps on tying to sell his EBS rig HD350 and 4x10 but I doubt he will ship - he cant even be bothered to put any effort into selling it. You should be able to pick up something quite tidy second hand for that budget. Keep your eyes peeled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Funk Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 You can get a new Hartke 4.5XL from GAK for £250. They sound pretty damn good to my ears but are obscenely heavy. A secondhand Ampeg or Warwick valve preamp would be a good choice, as would a secondhand QSC power amp. A new Gator rack 4U case would not cost more than about £65. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlbbb Posted July 28, 2008 Author Share Posted July 28, 2008 Like the look of the 4.5XL! So far idea is DHA VT2 > Behringer Power amp > Hartke 4.5XL + 4U case and cables etc. Seems to come in under budget! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stan_da_man Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 Gallien-Krueger 700RB-II and 2 GK Neo 112's. Sorted. Why do you need seperate power amps and preamps? Just more stuff to lug around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pixel Pirate Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 PM'd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bass_ferret Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 [quote name='Stan_da_man' post='249802' date='Jul 28 2008, 05:19 PM']Why do you need seperate power amps and preamps? Just more stuff to lug around.[/quote] Agreed. And blowing all your budget on a preamp and connecting it to the cheapest power amp and cabs you can get is not a sound plan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlbbb Posted July 28, 2008 Author Share Posted July 28, 2008 [quote name='Stan_da_man' post='249802' date='Jul 28 2008, 05:19 PM']Gallien-Krueger 700RB-II and 2 GK Neo 112's. Sorted. Why do you need seperate power amps and preamps? Just more stuff to lug around.[/quote] Typically theres just this very rig (with only one cab) in the FS section, and I can't buy it yet! Argh. Looks like a good suggestion, after a quick search it seems the GK's are good bump for the money. Would probably have to go second hand for at least the cabs, as buying it all new comes over budget! Damn timing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Master blaster Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 [quote name='Stan_da_man' post='249802' date='Jul 28 2008, 05:19 PM']Gallien-Krueger 700RB-II and 2 GK Neo 112's. Sorted.[/quote] The 700RB-II is an amazing amp. I love mine. Ive never needed to turn the volume up more than a like a quarter so it is a loud mother******. Its definatly worth looking into/trying out. I run it with a GK 410RBX. wish i got a neo now though cos the RBX cabs are bloody heavy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlbbb Posted July 28, 2008 Author Share Posted July 28, 2008 How would a GK head with Hartke cabs sound? Perhaps the 700RB-II through a 4.5XL? I could get both new for around £600. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Funk Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 GK and Hartke go very well together IMHO. I used to run a GK 400RB into a Hartke 2.5XL. Very nice tone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stan_da_man Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 You could always check the Peavey Tour heads out. I love mine and they're underrated IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Funk Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 The DI outs on the GK heads are pretty good too, btw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlbbb Posted July 28, 2008 Author Share Posted July 28, 2008 [quote name='The Funk' post='249859' date='Jul 28 2008, 06:39 PM']The DI outs on the GK heads are pretty good too, btw.[/quote] Good, as I imagine it'll get used a lot! Would using the GK through Hartke cabs be detrimental or could it work quite well (I'm well aware you can't use the HMS, and that the amp runs in 'full range' mode)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexclaber Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 [quote name='karlbbb' post='249866' date='Jul 28 2008, 06:55 PM']Would using the GK through Hartke cabs be detrimental or could it work quite well (I'm well aware you can't use the HMS, and that the amp runs in 'full range' mode)?[/quote] It'll work just fine. GK head on Hartke cab was one of the 'classic' rigs through the 80s and 90s. Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Funk Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 (edited) It should work fairly well. The Hartke is an 8 ohm cab (rated at 400W) and the GK puts out 320W @ 8 ohms. It should be fine. Edited July 28, 2008 by The Funk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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