Gigging....what to buy?

[Psychicpet]

Yeah i was thinking of getting a head and then a 4x10 cab firs t and then a 1x15 when im doing larger venues and have room to move it!although we will be using a van to get to all our gigs my bedroom isnt too large....

excellent idea, and if you can, always get a little of yourself thrown back at ya in your monitor..er...i mean.... fall back
as for brands...... go and try a few , keep budget in mind but more than anything kep your band/style/personal pref. in mind!!! Ampeg is a great place to start but who knows, maybe the new Trace stuff is good and if your band does have intrest from a Major, then maybe a new re-emerging brand like Trace and an up and coming bass guru can come to some amicable terms that help you both out.

 

[Psychicpet]

ps. don't forget to give the Mrak Bass stuff a try

 

[dlloyd]

I am a meh bass player. My Laney will get me any sound I can think of and is plenty loud. It's all good and thanks for answering me dlloyd.

The ones I've played have been pretty beat... I probably haven't given them a fair appraisal.

 

[LeftyLB]

Perspective of the 35+ player

OK, I am gonna express an opinion that might get shot down here, also, I might not have wanted to hear this at 17, but........

What sort of PA are your band using?

I am asking, because if you have a PA that uses bass bins and is big enough to handle the bass within the PA, then I do not see the point on buying the biggest, loudest piece of kit on the market, so that you can cope in big venue's - I say let the PA do that. Go for reliability from quality kit with the emphasis on monitoring.

(Again Opinion Only) it is a case of educating all the band, perhaps with the exception of the drummer, that loud out front, does not need to equate to loud on stage. Our keyboard player now has tinitus from having his monitor stand-mounted at ear level for years.

I have a 300watt head into a 2x10 cab, which I never need to have at more than 50-60% volume and the band can hear it and I can also hear everyone else. Both my brother and I (our guitarist) are currently setting up new Line6 POD xt Live units which will connect straight into the PA and therefore the backline will purely be monitoring at sensible levels.

I stood in with a band a couple of weeks ago that usually have no backline at all, only quality in ear monitors. Therefore there is no sound on stage at all, as the drummer uses a Roland electronic kit.

Anyway, I have been rattling on like an old man, but youth is all about rock n roll and you can worry about your hearing and stage volume when you are in your thirties.

Enjoy playing and good luck with the search for gear.

 

[Psycho Ward]

I have tinnitus too and I totally agree, let the PA do the “real” work. I’d use my Ashdown ABM500 C210 for most anything, it’s a combo amp, powerful and sounds good, not gawd awful heavy and if I really need more I plug in a 410 cab. Get something that inspires you.







I’m not preaching but I’d be careful with my hearing now.

 

[AnthonyD]

+1 (+2?) on the PA...

For a long time I used a Hartke VXL Attacke DI box through the PA to dial-in my sound.

Presently using a HA5500 through a 4x10XL, but that's just for me - there's still a direct-out to the PA for the overall mix.

My 2¢...

 

[BradBassMan]

WOOOOAH....thanks a lot guys for all the input. I do have a Laney combo myself but wen i cranked it up a bit with my SR4 it blew it to pieces, so i was a bit wary about buying another, after research ampeg just seemed a bit too pricey although gorgeous, swr are sexy just a lil pricey again, orange(well need we say more about price??)
i personally found Hartke didnt deliver enough punch for my liking as i use them now and again and the practice studios. Gallien were ok but dnt quite deliver the tone im after and then there mesa which are still too pricey....


SOOOOOO...what does this mean?? It means i went to Denmark street today and brought myself a Ashdown Mag300 head with a 4x10 Cab for £500 brand spanking new...seemed quite a good deal to me and has the exact tone im after. So im chuffed but im waiting for you guys to tell me iv just been done over...lol.

Brad



P.S Lefty still living in ruislip man???? im in ickenham....

 

[bassplayer7770]

I was going to recommend Eden, but it may have been too costly for you anyway. Enjoy the Ashdown. I know very little about their equipment as I've only tried one of their Electric Blue combos.

 

[BradBassMan]

Oh and sorry, using the PA was an option but seeing as we tour quite a bit to various venues across London using different PA's i feel would not give me a consistent sound that i could rely on as the quality and size of the PA's vary faaaaaar too much for my liking lol...and wen i have my two guitarist playing through vintage all valve marshall heads silly amounts of cabs i would feel a bit stupid....just my teenage ego i spose....

 

[tkarter]

I have never had a Laney combo just the heads.

The ashdown sounds like a winner to me. I wouldn't pass on one myself.


IMHO

tk

 

[BradBassMan]

Oh right, id steer well clear of the combos but i have heard the heads are pretty good.

Yeah it was great deal as i believe the girl behind the counter was mildy hungover and my good mate and lead singer in the band turned on the charm and slowly got her to lower the price.....cheeky yes....worth it?...well yeah!

 

[AnthonyD]

...seemed quite a good deal to me and has the exact tone im after...

That's what it's all about!