Well my choice would be just getting a GK head seconding waltdogg here. like an RB400, had that running on just 8 ohms, so around 200W and I sucessfully played with the loudest band I know in our small country I'm talking like dimed tube fenders type band. On 4 ohms (ampeg 115+410) and full 240 or so watts, I sucessfully played a bigger stage with a dimed fender and vintage Marshall Plexi going against me
ps: seeing as you got the 2x15 - I used to play it in our old studio with an old Kustom 2x15 cab and it was the shit. Best sound I ever got out of it
It's quite loud, but it's mainly really effective with its EQ and can really cut through while still get you nice, punchy and beefy tone.
DarkAxel wrote:Well my choice would be just getting a GK head seconding waltdogg here. like an RB400, had that running on just 8 ohms, so around 200W and I sucessfully played with the loudest band I know in our small country I'm talking like dimed tube fenders type band. On 4 ohms (ampeg 115+410) and full 240 or so watts, I sucessfully played a bigger stage with a dimed fender and vintage Marshall Plexi going against me
ps: seeing as you got the 2x15 - I used to play it in our old studio with an old Kustom 2x15 cab and it was the shit. Best sound I ever got out of it
It's quite loud, but it's mainly really effective with its EQ and can really cut through while still get you nice, punchy and beefy tone.
And it stayed clean? I've got dirt pedals I like and on a lot of parts any amp clipping would sound pretty bad but yeah the Mesa won't be due til mid-October and I'd rather get a more immediate replacement, also looking at the GK MB800, should be plenty at 8 and especially 4 ohms.
I don't personally have a 2x15, just a friend in a different band, I've got a 1x15 with an Eminence Kappa in it though, super loud and sensitive but I mainly use the 4x10 live.
Maybe a bit of grind, but not like... nasty and ugly clipping. The trick is to set input gain, master and the "boost" knob right. Can get plenty loud and still be clean
But I do admit I don't think I played a lot of clean that show I do remember we had a couple clean moments and yes, it was clean. Also takes pedals REALLY well.
Dude, I played a 115 with Eminence Kappa with it in our new studio and live great choice, sounds absolutely badass with that amp. Punch for days. Switched to Trace Elliot 115 combo after but really enjoyed that rig...
DarkAxel wrote:Maybe a bit of grind, but not like... nasty and ugly clipping. The trick is to set input gain, master and the "boost" knob right. Can get plenty loud and still be clean
But I do admit I don't think I played a lot of clean that show I do remember we had a couple clean moments and yes, it was clean. Also takes pedals REALLY well.
Dude, I played a 115 with Eminence Kappa with it in our new studio and live great choice, sounds absolutely badass with that amp. Punch for days. Switched to trace Elliot Combo after but really enjoyed that amp
A little grind is fine with me and yeah I definitely prefer the Sorado with pedals to the Ashdown, taking pedals is obviously a very big component in what I'm looking for.
Can't argue with the Mesa, honestly... it does look awesome and does have much more wattage, is more compact etc. If price is not an issue, you can definitely go for it and be safe wattage-wise, but the RB400 is much cheaper and works well. Should be easy to find used and re-sell as well if you find it's not right for you while the mesa is a bigger commitment. I bought my RB400 for about 200 bucks. And I live in EU, so everything is usually more expensive here
I'd find a used RB400 and if it's not right I'd go Mesa. Wouldn't go immediatelly new Mesa as it's quite expensive and if you find it's not what you're looking for or is an overkill, you might be stuck with a bigger loss while re-selling. In general Mesa makes awesome stuff, but why shell out that cash when you can get a head that's known to be awesome and can be had cheap
daseb wrote:that Mesa subway looks awesome. And with a 2x15 you're going to be pushing air, awesome!
^this. ive heard a lot of good murmurings about that Mesa over on a couple bass forums so it seems to be the next big thing, although I have personally looked at the specs closely.
I'm trying to unload my 400RB actually but it's an older one that does 200 watts max at 4 ohms. The III and IV have a little more oomph. But with the right settings I can get mine thumpin' and still be clean. It's just really easy to get GK heads to overdrive between the volume-boost-master controls
D.o.S. wrote:Why do people eat steak that shit is gross
behndy wrote:
lol. she thinks Brazil is wayyyy too unsafe. but i got PLANS.
MechaGodzilla wrote:man, fuck those big neutrik plugs
Oh I should say I use (and prefer) an active bass so I'll be slamming any input I'm using pretty hard. Right now my choices are between the Mesa Subway, the GK MB800 and a Peavey IPR3000 PA power amp.
Sent JHS an email regarding the output voltage on the Colour Box and hoping they get back to me this week. The Peavey is the cheapest and most powerful so I'm really leaning towards it but also thinking an actual bass amp would be more flexible down the road and might be easier to sell if I have to. All options are super light and portable though.
daseb wrote:wouldn't consider any other sort of preamp into a power amp, ie rusty box?
Maybe, but that would end up bringing the prices to be about the same and I might be more inclined to just take an amp. Maybe would sell the Colour Box and look at options though. A Meatsmoke Pre would be awesome but a little too pricey at this point.
seconding waltdogg here. like an RB400, had that running on just 8 ohms, so around 200W and I sucessfully played with the loudest band I know in our small country 
I'm talking like dimed tube fenders type band. On 4 ohms (ampeg 115+410) and full 240 or so watts, I sucessfully played a bigger stage with a dimed fender and vintage Marshall Plexi going against me
I do remember we had a couple clean moments and yes, it was clean. Also takes pedals REALLY well.
