Opinions asked !

[mike not fat]

Hi everyone.

I'm planing on buying a head and a cab and would appreciate your comments, experience or advices on what i plan to buy.

Cab : considering the fact that i live on the third floor without lift, that I often have to bring my gear home and that I really have no muscles, I plan to buy a GK Neo 2x12. Lighter than any 4x10 and style enough power for what I need.

Head : that's where it's harder to decide. Of course, i'll try to test the heads i'm comparing, but if you have good or bad expirience with one of the followings, or advices, I would appreciate the share. All the heads are more or less in the same power range (don't care about the price, i can afford one of them). The heads are :
ampeg SVT 3 pro
ashdown ABM 500 Evo II
GK 700 RB II
SWR 550 x

I play on a bongo 4 HH, mainly with fingers and pick, sometimes I slap but not often. I use some effects (overdrive, bass balls sometimes chorus) and i'm looking for something versatile.

Thanks for your posts !

MNF

 

[mike not fat]

...and style enough power for what I need.

Oups... still enough...

 

[JohnElevator]

I'd go for the Ashdown, its got a really nice sound and the sub bass and tube distortion are footswitchable, which could really come in handy.

J

 

[skabassist13]

Id say ampeg, just because thats what I use and my stuff is like rocks. Ive only had one very small problem (i had more of a problem with the repair guy, but thats another story. with both of my pieces of equipment in a total of three years. Not bad, eh?

 

[tkarter]

IMHO Ashdown or the GK.

tk

 

[Father Gino]

Instead of a 2x12, you might consider two 1x12s. Get 8 ohm cabs and you can use just one @ 8 ohms or both @ 4 ohms. Then with a stereo amp, you can even hook up two more 1x12s. Makes for a very versatile set up that's easy to pick up.

 

[Dees]

In my opinion, and with the heads options you have, I'd go for the Ashdown (although I haven't played the GK).
But may I advice you to check EBS? I absolutely love these amps and cabs

 

[cgworkman]

Well, this probably isn't the lightest setup, but I would reccomend a couple SWR GIII cabs and one of their pro amps.

Plus, they're just sexy as hell!!

 

[TSanders]

Shock, shock. Id say GK. The neo 2x12 is a great light cab, and its LOUD. The 700Rb is a good match for it, and if you want to upgrade you can add a Neo 112,212, or 115. I also like the bi-amp feature of running my 1001RB-II and Neo212/Neo115 rig.

I really think that GK amps are great, but I like them even more with Ernie Ball MusicMan basses. Both my previous Bongos (4 string HH and 5 string Single H) sounded great through the rig.

Good luck, and let me know if you need any help.

Heres a couple pics to entice you.

 

[phatduckk]

ive seen the dude from metallica run an SVT 3 PRO thru Hi Watt cabs and and SR5 ... and he gets a monster sound.

i personally think ampeg amps/cabs and EBMM basses are a great team ... so that's the route id go ... tho i really dig Agguilar's stuff too. i use a Aguilar GS410 cab w/ an SVT Classic head and its pretty sweet but definately not within your weight restrictions.

 

[Aussie Mark]

I'm a pre/power amp guy these days, but if I were buying a head I'd look at Eden.

As for cabs, I'd suggest looking at a 2x10 rather than 2x12. IMO, the SWR Goliath Jr is the best 2x10 on the market.

 

[MCBTunes]

i would go with the ampeg, w/o playing the ashdown... gk and swr are on my crap list though.

 

[oddjob]

Mark makes a great point... the Eden gear has a great sound with the Bongo and is light... the SWR is nice - solid, fairly transparent sound, but I hate the CS now that Fender bought them out (and I currently have a SWR rig, love it but would never get any more until their CS gets their act together - maybe I am just spoiled by the CS here). The Ashdown stuff is killer but for the cash Eden is a nice substitute. I just tried the GK stuff yesterday... WOW! BUT too many knobs for me. Try it all and find your sound (each one has its +'s and -'s). Good luck and let us know what you get.

 

[Aussie Mark]

the SWR is nice - solid, fairly transparent sound, but I hate the CS now that Fender bought them out

Good point. I'm not sure I would buy newly manufactured SWR gear now either. However, both Bass NW and Bass Central have used Goliath Jrs in stock right now for $399. Great price for a great cab.

 

[mike not fat]

Thanks for all your suggestions !

Concerning aguilar and EBS, I sorrily have no dealer in my area (first one is 8 hours go/back). I could let it get send to me, but buying a head without having tested it in the same conditions than the others...
I didn't considere Eden heads because the T 550 is really pricy (more than the ampeg which is the priciest of the 4 heads I'm considering) and the 405 (which is here also pricier than the ampeg) is a bit short.

I'll also test the SWR 2x10 cab to be sure. Having only 1x12 will be a bit problematic, because the amp has to be stereo if I need to use more than 2 1x12. With a 2x12 i can add 1 more 2x12 or 2x10. And carrying a 2x12 hoppefully is in my ability ( maybe I should try getting some muscles befor I buy a cab...)

One question about the sound of these amps. Ampeg, ashdown and SWR have all a gain run with tubes ; the GK doesn't (wich make it also more affordable) ; does it make a big difference in the sound ? Do the tubes have to be replaced and is it pricy ?

Ebmuscmanlver83, i know you endorse GK stuff : what kind of music are you playing ?
MCBtune, what makes you considere SWR and GK like crap ?

MNF

 

[Aussie Mark]

One question about the sound of these amps. Ampeg, ashdown and SWR have all a gain run with tubes ; the GK doesn't (wich make it also more affordable) ; does it make a big difference in the sound ? Do the tubes have to be replaced and is it pricy ?

A tube preamp gives a warmer, fatter tone, as well as the ability to have a nice natural sounding overdrive. In most heads that have a tube preamp, there is one 12AX7 tube (some have two), and they can last several years without needing replacement (you only need to replce the tube when it starts sounding microphonic). With preamp tubes, you get what you pay for, and prices start around $10 for Sovtek, EH, Ruby etc, up to $60-$100 for NOS vintage Telefunkens and Mullards. Tube GAS is a whole new ballgame if you get into it. But, having said that, any of the brand name heads that have tube preamps will sound perfectly good with stock standard tubes. Tube snobs often do a lot of studio work, but in a live rock gig situation nobody can hear the difference.

 

[MingusBASS]

I purchased 2 SWR goliath jr's from MUSIC123.com and both of them were faulty. So I can't help but say, stay away from new SWR products. If both of them got so damaged in shipping(bad cones, bad tweeter) they have no biz being in my rig as I need stuff that will hold up. Plus, if I would of gotten a working cab, and it later went down, I'd be screwed as Fender CS sucks. But ya know what? I'm very happy that I went through the hassle with those SWR cabs or I wouldn't of checked out Bergantino Audio Systems. Now I play a 2x10/1x12 stack that is only 11 1/2" deep and each cab weighs 55 and 45 lbs respectivly and its the best sound I've ever had. I happen to play an Ampeg SVT 4 PRO head through them and it sounds great. Gets me that classic Ampeg sound w/o the muddiness or bulk of those Ampeg cabs. I'm also looking into the Little Mark II by Markbass because I want a smaller amp for when I don't need all the power of the Ampeg. The Little Mark is 7lbs and 500W at 4 ohms!

I've heard great things about Ashdown but I have not had a chance to check them out.

Andrew

 

[Joshua]

An approximate price range would be helpful, but the GK neo 212/700rbII would be an excellent rig.

I've used the SVTIII and found it sounds great, but is lacking some horsepower.

And the Berg cabs are top of the line for sure. The HT/EX 12s stack gets very high praise both sonically and gravitationally.

 

[TSanders]

Ebmuscmanlver83, i know you endorse GK stuff : what kind of music are you playing ?
MNF

My main band is just a plain out Rock and Roll band, but I play in a Contmporary Worship band too. I also have done recordings for a handful of styles, from, folkish rock, to some cheesy teen pop (whatever pays the bills guys). Theres even been a fill in puck rock session or two. My ususal method is a direct line from the bass, and I mic or both of my GK Neo cabs. To be honest, Ive yet to be put in a situation where thae GK rig didnt impress me.

i would go with the ampeg, w/o playing the ashdown... gk and swr are on my crap list though.

This is a pretty bold statement, and I disagree with it stongly.
#1) If SWR were crap, guys like Jeff Amment (Pearll Jam), Jimmy Haslip (Yellowjackets, solo), Adam Nitti (Steven Curtis Chapman), and Michael Manrig (solo) wouldnt play them. If GK were crap Tim Foreman (Switchfoot), Woodchuck (El Pus), and Norm Stockton (solo) wouldnt play them.

So with that being said, if you dont like something, and can state some valid reasons why you dont like it, you opinion holds little wieght IMO. Reffering to gear that many bassists use for a living as crap, just doesnt make sense.

 

[cgworkman]

Well said about GK and SWR.