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Need also a new bass amp

Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 10:36 am
by Viljami
The situation is:
1. I have a Fender Rumble 100 (yes, the one with the red light)
2. Since it's only a puny 100-watter, 'tis too small. If I'm ever playing live, I'll need a bigger one to cut through the mix.
3. I'm short on cash, so a cheap max. 500€ amp is required. Needs to be at least 300w. No luck trying to find them used here, so I'm going for a new one.

This is what I've had on my mind:
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It's a Marshall MB4210 bass amp. 300w, 400w with extension, and the price is well in my price range.
or it's bigger brother which has 4 10" speakers and cranks out that 400 watts.

Opinions? From what I've gathered, the quality can be from excellent to bad, but what mass-produced amp doesn't have that?

Other candidates are more than welcome, of course.

Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 10:40 am
by Sublimedo
That actually sounds good. Rochelle uses a 350w SWR that, with the right cab, can definitely cut against my twin reverb. If you going to get an extention, try to get something with bigger speaker for more LOWSS

Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 10:47 am
by kim
ashdown mag 300 affordable and good

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no experience with these but mag 410 cab is affordable

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peavy tvx series ?

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eden nemesis is the budget line of eden, they make some cheap cabs too, gallien kreuger's backline line is also cheap, but i've never tried them so i don't know how they compare

Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 10:52 am
by kim

Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 1:35 pm
by robert(original)
the 100 watter isn't loud enough?
i used to let the bass player of sirens use my 80 watt behringer amp and it always cut thru, and that was with three guitarists, i was using my cyber twin, one guy had a princeton chorus delx and another guy actually used a fucking half stack(way too loud)

Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 6:47 pm
by the isaac eaton
Bugera makes one that looks too good to be true.

link

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as far as cabs go, we got out bass player an ampeg 410 for $100 on craigslist. It works amazingly. He runs a gallien kruger 800RB. But man these bugera amps look damn good.

Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 6:51 pm
by Viljami
I just suppose it's easier to tone down, than try to get "that little extra" out of it. Top suggestions from Kim, btw! I've been looking at Ashdowns for some time, but something turned me away. Also my bandmate has a Vox AC30, and that just seems SO loud compared to my little amp. And I like to hear what I'm playing. He only suggests that I invest in some Ampeg, which is out of question for the time being. Besides, I have decided that WHEN and IF I want to seriously invest in an amp, it's gonna be Sunn all the way.

Bugera also a option, good price/power ratio.

Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 8:35 pm
by mickie08
I am pretty sure that the bugera is a knockoff of the ampeg svt 3 or 4 pro. killer deal.

Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 8:37 pm
by Bacchus
I've only heard good things about Ashdowns, but I think I'd miss having a bit more control of the mids with that head. It's odd, on guitar, I tend to leave my tone pretty much at whatever setting it's at, but with bass I like being able to tweak away at things.

Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 9:16 pm
by gaybear
that bugera head looks ace.

Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:25 am
by kim
mag is defo not lacking in mids, and this comes from a bass player who is mids mad lol


also good to keep in mind that the amount of speakers/size of cab can make a difference in being able to hear yourself well.

for instance a 300watt combo with 2 10"s or a 15" or whatever compared to the same 300watts but through 4 10" speakers is gonna make a big difference in how well it will cut through (i'd go with a separate head/cab config personally)
10"s have more punch too, 15"s is more wooly, 12" inbetween

Re: Need also a new bass amp

Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 12:10 pm
by Doog
colabonham wrote: 2. Since it's only a puny 100-watter, 'tis too small. If I'm ever playing live, I'll need a bigger one to cut through the mix.
I've used one live about 4 times, 100w is fine.

I'd recommend buying a bigger amp when you actually need it- a band practise isn't that much quieter than a gig if your drummer is playing full pelt.

Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 5:35 pm
by Bacchus
kim wrote:mag is defo not lacking in mids, and this comes from a bass player who is mids mad lol


also good to keep in mind that the amount of speakers/size of cab can make a difference in being able to hear yourself well.

for instance a 300watt combo with 2 10"s or a 15" or whatever compared to the same 300watts but through 4 10" speakers is gonna make a big difference in how well it will cut through (i'd go with a separate head/cab config personally)
10"s have more punch too, 15"s is more wooly, 12" inbetween
I mean it doesn't look like you can move the mids around as much as on other amps. The Peavey I use has a bass cut/boost, treble cut/boost and the mid you can cut/boost it, you can chose the frequency to cut/boost, and you can set the Q of the cut/boost. It doesn't need a big graphic EQ, but it works very well, if you're playing and you decide that you want it a little more scooped, but just at the bottom mids, or that you want it boosted but only in a certain point of the lower mids, or whatever.

I'm not sure you'd have the same amount of control with just a "lo mid" and "hi mid" control, but I suppose I wouldn't know, I've never played the amp.

Versatility ftw

That amo

Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2009 7:50 pm
by roachello
Sublimedo wrote:That actually sounds good. Rochelle uses a 350w SWR that, with the right cab, can definitely cut against my twin reverb. If you going to get an extention, try to get something with bigger speaker for more LOWSS
The Fender Rumble sucks. I started off with one my bass decided it didn't like it so it got blown up. Try searching your local Craigslist for an affordable tube head. Sometimes a confusing interface with too many controls is the cause of a higher price, but in my opinion, basic controls can get you to your choice sound, even without an equalizer. Gain, Bass, Treble, Freq, Mids, Master Volume... I'm playing through 4 10xs also, and the separate head is good because you can upgrade your cab and change it if you decide you'd like to get 15"s for more bass than mids, or if you're like me and just accidentally happen to blow speakers all the time and don't have the time or money to repair it- just borrow a cab and play the show!

I haven't tried a Marshall yet, but in my opinion, Fender makes lousy bass amps, SWR is good, Ampeg is good but can get pricey, GK is good for the rocktones, Hartke is cheaper but sounds better with RnB/Jazz styles. But if it's 300W, I wouldn't go combo, but try and save up money for that Sunn! It's nice to get that sound you want from the amp you want instead of always striving to get that Sunn sound out of something lesser.

Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2009 8:03 pm
by analogsystem
Get an old Acoustic solid state head.....or a Sunn beta / concert / or a GK

all can be found super cheap used and sound killer!

Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2009 8:39 pm
by Justin J
analogsystem wrote:Get an old Acoustic solid state head.....or a Sunn beta / concert / or a GK

all can be found super cheap used and sound killer!
maybe not in finland.

Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2009 10:22 am
by Viljami
Justin J wrote:
analogsystem wrote:Get an old Acoustic solid state head.....or a Sunn beta / concert / or a GK

all can be found super cheap used and sound killer!
maybe not in finland.
sad but true. everything here that's old and beaten up is considered VINTAGE, so it's super expensive. Or nonexistant.