dirtylittleherbert Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 Ok so I have a budget of around £300 for an amp. I'm fairly flexible, I will consider either a combo or a separate head and cab. Can anyone recommend me some to look out for either on here or the bay as I'm not that clued up in all honesty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 (edited) How long is a piece of string? Do you play in a band? If so, how loud are they? Will you be gigging with the amp? If so, will you have PA support? What kind of sound are you looking for? How big/strong are you?! There are plenty of options available in the "amps and cabs for sale" section on here, as, to be honest, £300 ain't gonna get you much if you buy new! [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=75123"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=75123[/url] ?? [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=69315"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=69315[/url] ?? Edited March 31, 2010 by Conan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirtylittleherbert Posted March 31, 2010 Author Share Posted March 31, 2010 Weight is not really a problem, I play in a band currently practice only but will be hoping to gig in the future. They're reasonably loud. We do stuff like arctic monkeys, muse, foo fighters etc. Im open to buying second hand or buying a head now and saving up for a good cab. Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 (edited) For £300 there's not a great deal to choose from new, but used you have greater scope. The Ashdown ABM 1x15 combo here [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=73168"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=73168[/url] would be my first choice @ £300. I love my ABMs, other people hate them. As pointed out already - The Nemisis combo here: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=75123&st=20"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=75123&st=20[/url] is also a good bet for your money. Also consider the Trace Elliot combo here [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=81813"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=81813[/url] - I'm not a fan of Trace Elliot but many are. Edited March 31, 2010 by Bigwan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
essexbasscat Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 Not on the radar much these days, but worth a look, is the Peavey mark111 or iv series. A bit on the heavy side, but flexible on tone. Usually not too expensive either. T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebassman Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 [quote name='essexbasscat' post='791787' date='Mar 31 2010, 12:43 PM']Not on the radar much these days, but worth a look, is the Peavey mark111 or iv series. A bit on the heavy side, but flexible on tone. Usually not too expensive either. T[/quote] +1 on the Peavey and Eden suggestions. I played through the Ashdown and Trace combo models mentioned above recently at gigs and although both were loud enough the tone was not nice. I play in an originals and covers band doing Muse, Foo's and QOTSA and the amps were not able to get the right tone at all. I don't think a single 15" can produce the right mids and highs. I would look out for a 2x10 or 2x12 option. Make sure you try before you buy, preferably in a band situation. good luck thebassman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatgoogle Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 Ashdown, hartke, peavey, eden, and others all make amps that might suit you. Best to go try them all out as soon as possible. Everyone can recommend amps they like and that are good and say stay away from certain ones that they dont like, but we;re not you. Go try them out and see whats in your budget and whether you nedd to spend a bit more. And keep a look out here and see if anything comes up that you like the look of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanbass1 Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 As weight is not an issue you should be able to pick up some good gear second hand - Eden and Peavey would be where I would look to start with Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirtylittleherbert Posted March 31, 2010 Author Share Posted March 31, 2010 Cheers folks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
throwoff Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 A dirty great old trace elliot would more than likely survive nuclear winter. Thats where I would put my money, I personally love the sound but can understand why others dont . A very rough rule of thumb given to me when I started playing in bands is take your most powerful guitarists amp and times it by 3 So if your guitarist has 100W combo aim for 300W and so on. This is a very general rule but tends to work out [url="http://www.gak.co.uk/en/laney-rb7/3804"]http://www.gak.co.uk/en/laney-rb7/3804[/url] Laney RB7 is a good choice plus the option to add a 4x10 eventually Personally I would hunt around for used Ashdown or Trace head and 410, will be a tad difficult but they are tough Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
throwoff Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 holy crap [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Laney-Bass-Amp-Stack-RBH800-RBC210L8-RBC215L8_W0QQitemZ280485507748QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item414e3d32a4"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Laney-Bass-Amp-Stack...=item414e3d32a4[/url] this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 Never used one of these, but if you want quality at a great price with an element of future-proofing (in other words, you're unlikely to ever need a more powerful amp head!)... [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=82027&hl="]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=82027&hl=[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirtylittleherbert Posted March 31, 2010 Author Share Posted March 31, 2010 [quote name='throwoff' post='791954' date='Mar 31 2010, 02:29 PM']holy crap [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Laney-Bass-Amp-Stack-RBH800-RBC210L8-RBC215L8_W0QQitemZ280485507748QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item414e3d32a4"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Laney-Bass-Amp-Stack...=item414e3d32a4[/url] this![/quote] Looks like something I could use it doesn't have to be top spec just loud enough to keep up with the guitars. Unfortunately I live miles away and couldn't get down that end of the country. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
throwoff Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 the superfly is a good choice, you could easily pick up a 210 new with the money left over Sounds live do a gallien kreuger 210 for like 169ish not sure on wattage though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirtylittleherbert Posted March 31, 2010 Author Share Posted March 31, 2010 Thoughts on this? Hull is reasonably close [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Hartke-VX3500-Amplifier-Bass-Guitar_W0QQitemZ230455255707QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_MusicalInstr_Amplifiers_RL?hash=item35a834229b"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Hartke-VX3500-Amplif...=item35a834229b[/url] Or am I best off getting separate head/cab. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muddythespark Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 [quote name='Bigwan' post='791779' date='Mar 31 2010, 12:33 PM']For £300 there's not a great deal to choose from new, but used you have greater scope. The Ashdown ABM 1x15 combo here [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=73168"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=73168[/url] would be my first choice @ £300. I love my ABMs, other people hate them. As pointed out already - The Nemisis combo here: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=75123&st=20"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=75123&st=20[/url] is also a good bet for your money. Also consider the Trace Elliot combo here [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=81813"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=81813[/url] - I'm not a fan of Trace Elliot but many are.[/quote] ABM all the way! Ive got an early ABM 2x10 combo (1992)...sounds the nuts, made in England and recently took it to Ashdown for a quick once over, the guy change 2 pots and its like new.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah5string Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 I currently use a Laney RBW300 165w combo which has served me well for a number of years. Gorgeous sound and has survived living in a house with 2 kids so it must be bomb proof... Would recommend Laney anytime. They're cheap too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirtylittleherbert Posted April 1, 2010 Author Share Posted April 1, 2010 Right so will anyone explain how to match heads and watts and ohms with cabs? An idiots guide if you will as I don't know much and want to make sure I but something that fits so to speak. Think I have definitely decided on a separate head/cab rather than the combo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted April 1, 2010 Share Posted April 1, 2010 (edited) The amp itself will have information on it (usually on the back, but sometimes on the front as well) stating how much power it will give into speaker cabs. My Ampeg for example gives 200 watts into 8 ohms or 350 watts into 4 ohms. Some amps will run safely at 2 ohms combined load (I am not sure that there are any 2 ohm cabs, but two 4 ohm cabs connected into the same amp will allow the amp to run at 2 ohms...). Most of the cabs currently available (there are a few exceptions) will have an impedance of either 4 or 8 ohms - so if I run my amp head through one 4 ohm cab I will get the "full" 350w. However, my cabs are 8 ohms each! If I only connect one of them to the amp I will only get 200 watts, but if I connect BOTH, the total impedance falls to 4 ohms and magically I get 350 watts!! Great innit!? Each cab has a power handling ability of 450 watts. As the amp puts 350 watts into the pair of them, each cab is in effect getting 175 watts - so that is well withing the range that they are designed or rated to cope with. Remember though that the power output of an amp, and the power handling ability of a cab, do not give a reliable indication of how loud they will be!! That's when all that techno stuff about efficiency etc come in and make my head spin! Hope this is helpful! I'm no expert mind... Some people will say that you should try to get an amp and cab made by the same manufacturer, but I'm not sure this makes any real difference. If you are buying second-hand it is much easier to mix-and-match anyway! Edited April 1, 2010 by Conan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirtylittleherbert Posted April 1, 2010 Author Share Posted April 1, 2010 [quote name='Conan' post='793523' date='Apr 1 2010, 05:25 PM']The amp itself will have information on it (usually on the back, but sometimes on the front as well) stating how much power it will give into speaker cabs. My Ampeg for example gives 200 watts into 8 ohms or 350 watts into 4 ohms. Some amps will run safely at 2 ohms combined load (I am not sure that there are any 2 ohm cabs, but two 4 ohm cabs connected into the same amp will allow the amp to run at 2 ohms...). Most of the cabs currently available (there are a few exceptions) will have an impedance of either 4 or 8 ohms - so if I run my amp head through one 4 ohm cab I will get the "full" 350w. However, my cabs are 8 ohms each! If I only connect one of them to the amp I will only get 200 watts, but if I connect BOTH, the total impedance falls to 4 ohms and magically I get 350 watts!! Great innit!? Each cab has a power handling ability of 450 watts. As the amp puts 350 watts into the pair of them, each cab is in effect getting 175 watts - so that is well withing the range that they are designed or rated to cope with. Remember though that the power output of an amp, and the power handling ability of a cab, do not give a reliable indication of how loud they will be!! That's when all that techno stuff about efficiency etc come in and make my head spin! Hope this is helpful! I'm no expert mind... Some people will say that you should try to get an amp and cab made by the same manufacturer, but I'm not sure this makes any real difference. If you are buying second-hand it is much easier to mix-and-match anyway![/quote] Cheers mate I think that makes sense, ha no doubt when I do buy the head I will end up back on here asking for more advice. Any thoughts on the Ashdown LG 1000? There's one for sale on here thats all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted April 1, 2010 Share Posted April 1, 2010 [quote name='dirtylittleherbert' post='793529' date='Apr 1 2010, 05:31 PM']Any thoughts on the Ashdown LG 1000? There's one for sale on here thats all.[/quote] Looks like a good price! Never used one myself, but in my experience you can't go far wrong with Ashdown gear. I personally don't much care for these new-fangled "mini-amps"... but each to their own! I think they look silly perched on the top of a full sized cab, but that's just me! On the other hand, my amp weighs nearly as much as the cabs do!! Horses for courses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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