Suggestions for a good bass head & cabinet under $1000 ?

DGKarehere · 06-28-2012, 07:19 PM

Okay, I have a band and we'll start playing at some small gigs in our town next month and my bassist is the only one in the band that absolutely needs to upgrade his gear.

Since he knows nothing at all about bass amplifiers and me neither, I need help from some of you to find a good deal for a cabinet and a head for under 1000$ (it can be new or used). You just need to tell me what could be a great deal or what could be something to absolutely not buy, you know what I mean ?

Thanks in advance !

HeHasTheJazzHands · 06-28-2012, 09:05 PM

Either a new Ampeg Portaflex 500 (new or used) or a Hartke 5500 (used), and a Carvin BR410 for a 4x10 or a BR810 if you want an 8x10. If you have extra cash, spend it on a bass dirt pedal.

MaxOfMetal · 06-28-2012, 10:28 PM

Beat old Ampeg 810 and a GK 700RB III.

DGKarehere · 06-30-2012, 08:38 AM

ok thanks for the suggestions i'll check that out !

DGKarehere · 06-30-2012, 10:31 AM

I found a GK 700RB I for 400$ used CAN and a Eden 410T for 300$ used
Would it delivers a good sound ?
I also found an ampeg 810 for 650$

MaxOfMetal · 06-30-2012, 10:34 AM

That would be good rig for sure. Every GK head I've played has been stellar in sound, even the super cheap Backline series stuff. Also, Eden makes some great cabs. For $700 I doubt you'll find a significantly better rig.

That's a rather high price for a used Ampeg unless it's recent and in almost new condition. Though, perhaps they are a little pricier in Canada. I bought both of my old 810s for under $500. They weren't very pretty, but they were in perfect working order.

carcass · 06-30-2012, 11:16 AM

just a suggestion, but if you wat some pedal, look at Behringer V-TONE BASS BDI21. I saw a comparation of BDI21 with Sansamp BDDI and to be honest, it was impossible to tell them apart. Cheap and it can deliver really nice tone.

DGKarehere · 06-30-2012, 12:54 PM

Yea, I think it's pricier in Canada . thanks for your help !

@Carcass : definitely a good suggestion. my bassist is going to like this little thing!

carcass · 07-01-2012, 09:51 AM

just for fun, I found one comparasion video on youtube, hope it will be useful somehow:

SansAmp Bass Driver DI vs Behringer V-tone BDI 21 - YouTube

Spinedriver · 07-01-2012, 12:53 PM

The 8x10 might be a bit of overkill unless the band is playing some pretty big venues. It's not the easiest to transport (it won't fit in most cars) not to mention it weighs a ton. Whereas with a 4x10, it can be carried by 1 person and will fit in the back seat of most 4 door cars.

The rig I have is a Peavey TVX 4x10 (which you can probably get for around $350 CDN used) and for a head, I have a Markbass Little MarkII (it's pretty much the same as a the LMIII and F1) and they run around $500 or so new. As for a pedal, I'd recommend a Tech 21 VT Bass because it's hands down one of the best 'tone shaping' pedals available for bass. It does everything the Bass Driver does and more (except for a DI out but the LMII has one on it).

For less than $1,000 it's probably one of the best sounding rigs I've ever played through.

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06-28-2012, 07:19 PM	#1
DGKarehere french dude, Brian Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Arthabaska, QC, Canada Posts: 63 Thanked: 0 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Suggestions for a good bass head & cabinet under $1000 ? Okay, I have a band and we'll start playing at some small gigs in our town next month and my bassist is the only one in the band that absolutely needs to upgrade his gear. Since he knows nothing at all about bass amplifiers and me neither, I need help from some of you to find a good deal for a cabinet and a head for under 1000$ (it can be new or used). You just need to tell me what could be a great deal or what could be something to absolutely not buy, you know what I mean ? Thanks in advance !

06-28-2012, 10:28 PM	#3
MaxOfMetal Likes trem wankery. • Super Moderator • Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 21,179 Thanked: 89 Feedback Score: 5 reviews	Beat old Ampeg 810 and a GK 700RB III. Need help with setting up a trem? Need info on your Ibby? Live in Milwaukee? Please feel free to message me. New Rules. Read Them.

06-30-2012, 10:34 AM	#6
MaxOfMetal Likes trem wankery. • Super Moderator • Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 21,179 Thanked: 89 Feedback Score: 5 reviews	That would be good rig for sure. Every GK head I've played has been stellar in sound, even the super cheap Backline series stuff. Also, Eden makes some great cabs. For $700 I doubt you'll find a significantly better rig. That's a rather high price for a used Ampeg unless it's recent and in almost new condition. Though, perhaps they are a little pricier in Canada. I bought both of my old 810s for under $500. They weren't very pretty, but they were in perfect working order. Need help with setting up a trem? Need info on your Ibby? Live in Milwaukee? Please feel free to message me. New Rules. Read Them.

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06-28-2012, 09:05 PM	#2
HeHasTheJazzHands Eck! Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Louisiana Posts: 6,798 Thanked: 47 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Either a new Ampeg Portaflex 500 (new or used) or a Hartke 5500 (used), and a Carvin BR410 for a 4x10 or a BR810 if you want an 8x10. If you have extra cash, spend it on a bass dirt pedal.

06-30-2012, 08:38 AM	#4
DGKarehere french dude, Brian Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Arthabaska, QC, Canada Posts: 63 Thanked: 0 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	ok thanks for the suggestions i'll check that out !

06-30-2012, 10:31 AM	#5
DGKarehere french dude, Brian Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Arthabaska, QC, Canada Posts: 63 Thanked: 0 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I found a GK 700RB I for 400$ used CAN and a Eden 410T for 300$ used Would it delivers a good sound ? I also found an ampeg 810 for 650$

06-30-2012, 11:16 AM	#7
carcass SS.org Regular Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Dolny Kubin, Slovakia Posts: 228 Thanked: 12 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	just a suggestion, but if you wat some pedal, look at Behringer V-TONE BASS BDI21. I saw a comparation of BDI21 with Sansamp BDDI and to be honest, it was impossible to tell them apart. Cheap and it can deliver really nice tone.

06-30-2012, 12:54 PM	#8
DGKarehere french dude, Brian Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Arthabaska, QC, Canada Posts: 63 Thanked: 0 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Yea, I think it's pricier in Canada . thanks for your help ! @Carcass : definitely a good suggestion. my bassist is going to like this little thing!

07-01-2012, 09:51 AM	#9
carcass SS.org Regular Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Dolny Kubin, Slovakia Posts: 228 Thanked: 12 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	just for fun, I found one comparasion video on youtube, hope it will be useful somehow: SansAmp Bass Driver DI vs Behringer V-tone BDI 21 - YouTube

07-01-2012, 12:53 PM	#10
Spinedriver Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Moncton,Canuckistan Posts: 826 Thanked: 12 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	The 8x10 might be a bit of overkill unless the band is playing some pretty big venues. It's not the easiest to transport (it won't fit in most cars) not to mention it weighs a ton. Whereas with a 4x10, it can be carried by 1 person and will fit in the back seat of most 4 door cars. The rig I have is a Peavey TVX 4x10 (which you can probably get for around $350 CDN used) and for a head, I have a Markbass Little MarkII (it's pretty much the same as a the LMIII and F1) and they run around $500 or so new. As for a pedal, I'd recommend a Tech 21 VT Bass because it's hands down one of the best 'tone shaping' pedals available for bass. It does everything the Bass Driver does and more (except for a DI out but the LMII has one on it). For less than $1,000 it's probably one of the best sounding rigs I've ever played through.