Hey all. I just got my first MMSR. 30th anniversary. I love it and want it to sound the best it can. Right now I'm playing out of a 100 watt 15" crate cab. Old and used. I am trying to play a little funk, blues etc and I'm wondering if anyone had any preferences on an amp upgrade. 1 speaker or 2. Or 4. Or 1 15" and 2 8"s. Any information would be great. This will be used to practice and possibly play small gigs when I get a little better. Thanks.
Figjam
Well-known member
My favorite speaker configs for rigs would be either one 4x10 or 3x10 cab, or two 1x12 cabs. 3x10 is rare but it is also my favorite, my cab is an Epifani UL310 and it is the best cab I have ever played through. Best combination of size and sound. Two 112's is nice for a modular rig, because I think one 1x12 makes a nice practice amp.
I would get a 1x12. 8 ohm, so you can add another one later if you need it.
I would get a 1x12. 8 ohm, so you can add another one later if you need it.
thanks for the advice. have you ever heard on and Eden D115xlt. The bass player who played at my wedding is selling his. he has been playing bass for about 40 yrs and says that this was his favorite. Do you think the 1 15" would give me enough "highs" for some slap/pop, funk? I'm by no means an expert but should you mix a 15 or 12 with a 10 or some 8's to get more of a range in sound. Or Do I not know what I'm talking about. As far as the Eden, it retails for 700 new and I could get this for 250, and I know its been taken care of. But I would have to get a head.
Figjam
Well-known member
A 15 is often mixed with a 2x10
nashman
Well-known member
Is the D115XLT 4 ohm or 8 ohm? Make sure you pair it properly. I have an Eden WT550 amp and D212XLT and D210XST, both cabs 4 ohm, so the amp is running at 2 ohm (which this amp happily does) @750W. With a D115XLT, I do not think you would be disappointed with a D210XST ... 4 or 8 ohm to match the 115. The WT550 has a tube front end and plenty of power for your needs. The two cabs would give you a nice modular set-up. You could play through one, or the other, or both depending in the situation.
bass&cookies
Well-known member
my 212 has a good overall sound, great lows, and can get good highs. i suggest trying one of those. a 210/115 combination sounds pretty good if you have money for all of it
oddjob
Well-known member
I run 2 2x12's and love it. Slid a 1x15 under the 1 2x12 and didn't notice that much of a difference (the 4x12 setup was actually tighter)... I would love to put a 1x18 under it (I had a SWR Big Ben back in the day 
and it was great under 12s but you had to have lots of power to push it and a good x-over). But all of this is my opinion AND everyone here has one.
I think a lot of it is what you are comfortable with and what you can afford. Different quality cabs and different types of cabs (ported, sealed, etc) can make as much, if not more difference than the number and size speakers you have (that will always play into it but look at the GK line for an example... SBX 1x15 (sealed) - clean lows, even dispersal, but not a "thumpin'" type of cab and a bit slow. RBH 1x15 (ported) not as even, a bit grittier, definately thumpin but not as defined. NEO 1x15 (neo speakers, ported) fast response, defined and thumpin'... not as earth shattering as the RBH, but not as clean as the SBX) IMO I love the RBH and NEO cabs but find the SBX cabs lacking - my friend in Columbus LOVES his SBXs and wouldn't sell them for the world... has gone as far as to say I am smoking crack because I have 2 NEO cabs.
So my best advice is no advice. Go try 'em all. Make the sales people earn their commision. Eventually you'll latch on to what YOU define as a good sound (size, number, type of cab) and you can move on from there.
Best of luck in the hunting and keep us informed with what you find.
and it was great under 12s but you had to have lots of power to push it and a good x-over). But all of this is my opinion AND everyone here has one.I think a lot of it is what you are comfortable with and what you can afford. Different quality cabs and different types of cabs (ported, sealed, etc) can make as much, if not more difference than the number and size speakers you have (that will always play into it but look at the GK line for an example... SBX 1x15 (sealed) - clean lows, even dispersal, but not a "thumpin'" type of cab and a bit slow. RBH 1x15 (ported) not as even, a bit grittier, definately thumpin but not as defined. NEO 1x15 (neo speakers, ported) fast response, defined and thumpin'... not as earth shattering as the RBH, but not as clean as the SBX) IMO I love the RBH and NEO cabs but find the SBX cabs lacking - my friend in Columbus LOVES his SBXs and wouldn't sell them for the world... has gone as far as to say I am smoking crack because I have 2 NEO cabs.
So my best advice is no advice. Go try 'em all. Make the sales people earn their commision. Eventually you'll latch on to what YOU define as a good sound (size, number, type of cab) and you can move on from there.
Best of luck in the hunting and keep us informed with what you find.
I also have an Eden WT550 & a D210XST (4 ohm)....no D212XLT yet. I have to say I played Ampeg for years and never could get the tone I had in my head. Eden is it for me.
PS...the 210XST fits in the back of my VW Golf very easily. You might also want to check out 1 or 2 112XLT's.
Aussie Mark
Well-known member
Depends on your budget, and the size of venues you play.
shamus63
Well-known member
Gallien-Krueger 210BLX-II for home use.
Mesa/Boogie Road Ready 1x15 that I keep at rehearsal and also as half of my gigging rig, paired up with either the above-mentioned GK 2x10 or my Mesa/Boogie Road Ready 1x12/4x8...any one or two of these cabs run by my Gallien-Krueger 700RB-II.
Any of these cabs by themselves will do the job you're looking for, with somewhat different results.
Mesa/Boogie Road Ready 1x15 that I keep at rehearsal and also as half of my gigging rig, paired up with either the above-mentioned GK 2x10 or my Mesa/Boogie Road Ready 1x12/4x8...any one or two of these cabs run by my Gallien-Krueger 700RB-II.
Any of these cabs by themselves will do the job you're looking for, with somewhat different results.
adouglas
Well-known member
The trouble with questions like this is that you're going to get all kinds of different answers and little consensus. What matters most is whether or not a given amp makes the sound in your head.
Rules of thumb that should apply across the board:
-More, smaller drivers will give you a tighter, punchier, more focused sound than fewer, larger drivers. I no longer use a conventional amp, but when I did I liked my 2x12 w/horn. (Avatar, great bang/buck.)
- Buy as much power as you can. 300 watts minimum for gigging, and the more the better (my current rig is 1000 watts). This is not about volume...it's about headroom. You cannot have too much headroom. If you go with a component setup (separate pre/power amps, separate cabinet) you gain flexibility...power is cheap, you CAN spend a fortune on a power amp, but it's better to spend your money on a good preamp and a good cabinet.
- Don't skimp. You own a superb bass, and it'd be a crime to shortchange it with a mediocre amp.
- Tubes are good. The most important place for one is in the preamp. (It does not make economic sense to run a solid-state preamp into a tube power amp.) Emulators can do a pretty darned good job, but if you're a purist there's nothing like real tubes.
- The flavor of the month is Markbass. Never heard one, but everybody's swooning. If you're new to this whole gear thing, be aware that the same blasted thing happens EVERY time something new comes along. It also happens to golfers, fishermen, hunters, cyclists, skiers...pretty much any hobby that's gear-intensive. The hype doesn't mean they aren't fine amps...just that you should beware of any hint that "there can never be anything better than this."
- Before you fall in love with a piece of gear, pick it up. Decide if you really want to carry it around (this is of little concern to the young...but trust me, as you get older it matters a whole lot).
Good brands based on rep...I don't have direct experience with most of these:
Eden
Pre-Fender SWR (early 90s...my fave, some don't like SWR for some reason)
Aguilar (Before I took the plunge with my Bose gear I was lusting for a DB680 preamp...$2000....ouch)
Ampeg (The estimable Mr. Levin uses Ampeg)
GK (based on popularity around here)
Markbass (based on buzz)
Mesa Boogie
"Eh" brands:
Crate
Fender
Carvin
Hartke
Peavey
Rules of thumb that should apply across the board:
-More, smaller drivers will give you a tighter, punchier, more focused sound than fewer, larger drivers. I no longer use a conventional amp, but when I did I liked my 2x12 w/horn. (Avatar, great bang/buck.)
- Buy as much power as you can. 300 watts minimum for gigging, and the more the better (my current rig is 1000 watts). This is not about volume...it's about headroom. You cannot have too much headroom. If you go with a component setup (separate pre/power amps, separate cabinet) you gain flexibility...power is cheap, you CAN spend a fortune on a power amp, but it's better to spend your money on a good preamp and a good cabinet.
- Don't skimp. You own a superb bass, and it'd be a crime to shortchange it with a mediocre amp.
- Tubes are good. The most important place for one is in the preamp. (It does not make economic sense to run a solid-state preamp into a tube power amp.) Emulators can do a pretty darned good job, but if you're a purist there's nothing like real tubes.
- The flavor of the month is Markbass. Never heard one, but everybody's swooning. If you're new to this whole gear thing, be aware that the same blasted thing happens EVERY time something new comes along. It also happens to golfers, fishermen, hunters, cyclists, skiers...pretty much any hobby that's gear-intensive. The hype doesn't mean they aren't fine amps...just that you should beware of any hint that "there can never be anything better than this."
- Before you fall in love with a piece of gear, pick it up. Decide if you really want to carry it around (this is of little concern to the young...but trust me, as you get older it matters a whole lot).
Good brands based on rep...I don't have direct experience with most of these:
Eden
Pre-Fender SWR (early 90s...my fave, some don't like SWR for some reason)
Aguilar (Before I took the plunge with my Bose gear I was lusting for a DB680 preamp...$2000....ouch)
Ampeg (The estimable Mr. Levin uses Ampeg)
GK (based on popularity around here)
Markbass (based on buzz)
Mesa Boogie
"Eh" brands:
Crate
Fender
Carvin
Hartke
Peavey
roballanson
Well-known member
man you missed out Ashdown and Trace.....both good reps, played with both before settling with Ashdown.....
adouglas
Well-known member
man you missed out Ashdown and Trace.....both good reps, played with both before settling with Ashdown.....
True, true...I just put down what percolated up to the top of my so-called mind. Never said it was a complete list.
Ask enough people and you'll get just about every possible answer. I'm waiting for some Hartke fan to take offense.
AnthonyD
Well-known member
Been very happy with my "Eh brand" amp...
I am a 4x10 fan... Goes back to my first experience with a 4x10 Music Man cabinet back in the early eighties.
Bass that punches you square in the chest!
I am a 4x10 fan... Goes back to my first experience with a 4x10 Music Man cabinet back in the early eighties.
Bass that punches you square in the chest!
adouglas
Well-known member
Been very happy with my "Eh brand" amp...
Having got the living er...stuff beat out of me when I was a noob here for daring to mention that I was happy at the time with my "eh" brand bass, I know the feeling.
No offense, I was basing that list strictly on general perception of reputation.
Like I said, what's important is that it makes the sound in your head. Reputation and the opinions of others are entirely secondary. Use WHATEVER works.
My own choice of amp is, AFAIK, unique around here and just as likely to result in derision as anything else. But I don't care...I'm VERY happy with it.
mackanbass
Well-known member
I use the Eden Nemesis NC410 4x10" 320W bass combo.
It´t been great with my stingray5 allways! If it´s too big try the 2x10" They really sound good and are light weight!
It´t been great with my stingray5 allways! If it´s too big try the 2x10" They really sound good and are light weight!
AnthonyD
Well-known member
No offense taken...
I mean, if eight aluminum-cone 10's were good enough for Jaco...
I mean, if eight aluminum-cone 10's were good enough for Jaco...
If you can't find a sound you like with Peavey or Trace then it should be Ampeg.
All of those sound good with any brand bass I ever played.
I have left a lot of good amps out.
It just isn't safe to ask for opinions around here really.
imho
tk
All of those sound good with any brand bass I ever played.
I have left a lot of good amps out.
It just isn't safe to ask for opinions around here really.
imho
tk
