About amps and setups

[MusicMan4Life38]

As most of you know I am going to be buying my very first Music Man Stingray 4H from a friend of mine on Wednesday. Starting next month I am saving for an amp and cab(s) to play it through. What would all of you suggest? I need something that I can grow into and use for any size gig. It also has to be versatile enough to be able for just about every style of music out there. Keep in mind I want to buy something that will last, and not break down 5 minutes after I get it. I am done with cheaply made gear.

Thank you very much for your help.

 

[drTStingray]

If you're working to a tight budget, then an Ashdown MAG 300 with a 4 x 10 cabinet will cover, with your bass, most styles of music and give you good volume and tone. An alternative is Hartke.

They both work well with a StingRay (but remember the StingRay is a very responsive instrument - harder playing style/softer playing style/different plucking positions for the strings all = different versions of the StingRay sound)

If you have more money to spend a Markbass 450/500 watt combo with an extension cabinet will give you all the tone and volume you could ever want.

Anyway enjoy your new bass - I'm sure you'll love it.

 

[ZiggyDude]

Since you want something to grow with - go with a seperate amp and cab. The problem with combos is that it is harder to mix and match stuff. Plus - the cab on a combo is usually not as large or well designed as a seperate cab. So, seperate components let you go modular later.

Just my 2 cents....

 

[MusicMan4Life38]

Since you want something to grow with - go with a seperate amp and cab. The problem with combos is that it is harder to mix and match stuff. Plus - the cab on a combo is usually not as large or well designed as a seperate cab. So, seperate components let you go modular later.

Just my 2 cents....

That is actually what I was planning to do since I want to grow into it. I just don't know what to get with their being so many choices. There some brand that I avoid such as Ampeg and Fender as I am not a fan at all, but there are other brands that I have never heard before.

 

[five7]

Markbass and Musicman work very well together.

 

[Powman]

Since you want something to grow with - go with a seperate amp and cab. The problem with combos is that it is harder to mix and match stuff. Plus - the cab on a combo is usually not as large or well designed as a seperate cab. So, seperate components let you go modular later.

Just my 2 cents....

Generally I would agree. However, the Markbass combos have the Little Mark III in them. So it is the same quality and features and as separate head.

I do use a Markbass combo for smaller gigs. It is plenty loud at 300W (8 ohms). For larger gigs, I add the extension cab bringing up to 500 watts at 4 Ohms. Each piece is easy to carry as they weigh about 30 lbs each. It uses Neodymium magnets, hence the lighter weight

Having said that, there are tons of good choices and this thread will go on for days with folks talking about how much they love their rigs. They are all correct too...

But in general, I would say try the newer Neodymium stuff if you want to save your back. But if you want to save money, then look for used. Whoever bought my very nice, but heavy Ashdown gear got a great deal. Finally, I prefer amps that don't colour the sound of the bass too much as Music Man basses have so much character. Markbass does well in this regard as well.

 

[sitonmybass]

If you're working to a tight budget, then an Ashdown MAG 300 with a 4 x 10 cabinet will cover, with your bass, most styles of music and give you good volume and tone. An alternative is Hartke.

Earlier today I bought a "back-up" (duplicate) Hartke head. I'm a dedicated Hartke player/owner (I own heads/cabs/combos.) Hartke has reasonable prices with good quality.

My Hartke:
Two (2) Hartke HA2500 heads (250 watts @ 4 ohms; 180 watts @ 8 ohms)
Two (2) Hartke 410 TP cabs
Two (2) Hartke 210 XL cabs
Two (2) Hartke 1410 combos (140 watts; 2-10" speakers)

The reason I own Hartke is that I'm not a big fan of tweeters/horns and the original Hartke all aluminum cone drivers have just the right amount of top end.

 

[jlepre]

1.) Light
2.) Cheap
3.) Loud

Pick 2
Genz Benz Shuttle series has MY vote. Mix and match cabs.

 

[CFA]

Currently I run my basses into a Gallien-Krueger 112 combo, but am in the process of moving up to a GK 410/115 stack with a GK head. I love the midrange growl of the amp mixed with the Mid range growl of the Stingrays

 

[MusicMan4Life38]

1.) Light
2.) Cheap
3.) Loud

Pick 2
Genz Benz Shuttle series has MY vote. Mix and match cabs.

Genz-Benz is one of the brands I know that are awesome, as the friend I am buying the Stingray from is endorsed by Genz-Benz for their amps so I know good they sound through them. He uses the GBE1200 and I love that one but I would not mind the Shuttle 9 either.

 

[DaddyFlip]

If u already like Genz the shuttle max is way more versatile than the 9. I have the 12.0 and if you are "growing into" it has two 600 watt amp channels that can run any combination of 8 n 4 ohm cabs. It also has tube n solid state preamps. Its a lightweight GBE with all its features and the amp split to 2 channels. Multiple effect loops too. My 25th makes it sound awesome! I have Aguilar DB cabs. Good luck

 

[mixmastered]

I'm looking at getting a head and cab too.

I really like the GBE and the shuttle max features. And the sound too. I'm torn between the MarkBass heads and the GBE heads.

Another i'm lost at is, the watts and ohms. If I get the GBE 1200. And a 2x10 cab first, is that overkill? Cause i plan to add another 4x10 or replace the 2x10 at another time.
Hope to hear from you guys!

 

[DaddyFlip]

I'm looking at getting a head and cab too.

I really like the GBE and the shuttle max features. And the sound too. I'm torn between the MarkBass heads and the GBE heads.

Another i'm lost at is, the watts and ohms. If I get the GBE 1200. And a 2x10 cab first, is that overkill? Cause i plan to add another 4x10 or replace the 2x10 at another time.
Hope to hear from you guys!

It is potentially overkill. If u go GBE n small cabs u should get 8 ohm. Into that 2x10 its 550 watts- just have to be carefull. Add another 8 ohm cab n its 1000 watts- 500 each cab still overkill for most 2x10s. Add 3rd 8 ohm cab now its 1200 total into 2 ohms n 400 watts each. Now manageable for good quality 2x10 but larger cabs in this setup will barely sweat. IMO the GBE is for 1 or 2 BIG 4 ohm cabs. Someone building up with small cabs is much better off with the ShuttleMAX 12.0 using one to four 8-ohm cabs, one to two 4- ohm cabs or one 4-ohm and one to two 8-ohm cabs. The beauty of the Shuttle 12.0 is the mix n match possibilities are real world useful for any size cab n ohm rating. This is because there are two independent amp channels that are 375 watt 8-ohm and 600 watt 4-ohm. So if u had two 8-ohm cabs on one of the channels, each one would get 300 watts; a good match for most 2x10 n 1x15. If u just have one of these its 375 watts still a good match. I could go on and on... GET THE SHUTTLEMAX!

 

[Powman]

With PA support, I question whether I even need 500W. I probably could get away with 300W...

 

[Greg75]

Another vote for MarkBass. I use the Little Mark III. It's an awesome sounding amp with any good cabinet. Reasonably priced and light as a feather. Mine's driving my favorite--Mesa Boogie Vintage Powerhouse 212 (4 ohm). Not super light but beautiful build and sound.

 

[shakinbacon]

With PA support, I question whether I even need 500W. I probably could get away with 300W...

With PA support I NEVER push my Shuttle 6.0 past 9:00 on the volume. I suspect I'm at 100-150W max at that point. The amp can go to 350W max with 8 ohms and 600W at 4 ohms.

So yes, you can get away with 300W with a decent cabinet.

 

[jlepre]

Remember, better to have too much than not ENOUGH head room.

 

[shakinbacon]

Remember, better to have too much than not ENOUGH head room.

excellent point.

With good pa support, my amp is basically a personal monitor

 

[sitonmybass]

excellent point.

With good pa support, my amp is basically a personal monitor

That's the thing...you can spend thousands of dollars on a rig which either becomes a personal monitor for yourself and your bandmates or it must be able to "fill the room" if you don't have P.A. support.

 

[shakinbacon]

That's the thing...you can spend thousands of dollars on a rig which either becomes a personal monitor for yourself and your bandmates or it must be able to "fill the room" if you don't have P.A. support.

True, but as I'm sure you're aware your personal monitor with (in your case a nice Hartke setup) is likely much better than the bass through PA monitors which are voiced for vocals.

I find if I can't get a good monitor sound I'm so distracted I can't focus on making music. Having my rig next to me gives me that control. And yes, if need be I could get by without PA support, but it wouldn't sound as good imho (massive power + subwoofers are hard to beat).