Bass Rigs

[Faldoe]

Thinking of getting a Bass and forming a decent rig - head, cabs. My question is: What speaker combinations do you like/would you recommend? I'd probably end up getting a SS head. Maybe a 2x10 and 1x15, or 2x15? I'm looking for something that would be punchy.

[daseb]

If you want punchy and aren't so worried about throwing lots of low end go a 4x10 or 6x10. 2x15s can be made to sound pretty rad though, and will be tight with a solid state head, and are my personal favourite. Kinda feel like 10s and 15s sort of fight each other a little when you're running them off the same head (depends entirely on the cabs though, some work great together). I've had better results with mixing 12s and 15s before.

If you're going to use distortion 12s sound amazing.

[psychic vampire.]

Honestly, Solid State is the way to go (for me) with bass. I've probably done more putzing around with bass amps than i have with pedals. My biggest recommendation would be that if you plan on using bass fuzz, avoid fucking tweeters like the god damn plague. Actually, just avoid them no matter what. I know many cabs allow you to turn them off, or disconnect them, but fuck that shit, tweeters are gross and they sound like shit on a bass cab. If you're not afraid of size, a sealed 8x10 or 6x10 is a thing to behold. 2x15s are also great and can sound punchy and brilliant in their own right, but are a lot more fickle in my experience. I would love to play around with a 4x12 bass cab.

W/r/t heads, many people will suggest Gallien Krueger, or old Acoustic or Sunn. I would agree. I would also say, don't be afraid to fuck with Peavey. Also, do not be afraid to fuck with a preamp pedal and a light weight power amp. Those solutions have worked well for me in the past and present.

[Faldoe]

I'd basically be looking for all those gear gems/best kept secrets (whats left of them) to scrap up something together on the cheap. So I'd be down for any SS head that is good. My friend had an old Peavey SS head, I forget what it was (has built it chorus) it was ok, but his cabs weren't the best. I've played some GK stuff and liked it.

I'd be using a 5 string bass, so I want the lows to be articulate and not just flubby mud. Not sure what I'd tune to, probably Eb (Bb on the 5th string)

[ancientbones]

Find an old Gallien-Krueger 400rb or 800rb. They go for pretty cheap and are supposed to be great workhorse amps. Old Traynor ts series amps are always sick. If you want that Traynor grind but can't find one tronographic's rusty box + power amp is instant shellac bass tone. Old Peavey stuff is great, too. 200, 300, 400 series stuff is all good. Had a Peavey Vulcan for a while that made a nice bass amp. I mostly used it for guitar though. Actually thinking of finding an old Peavey Century 200 for guitar (and bass now and then probably) again just cus I love weird ss overdrive.

[psychic vampire.]

As a Tronographic Rusty Box user, I really have to back it. Rusty Box + Power Amp + 810 is great for me. 5 string is an interesting dilemma. Look into 6x10s, i'd say. or 4x12s. Both would have a lot more surface area of speakers than a 2x15 or a 4x10, which may or may not mean you'd get better articulation of that low Bb. Individual cab makes vary greatly, and this is an area to really test stuff out in person and see how it feels to you, I'd say. Some people get super bent out of shape over the science of this shit. There are a million used bass cabs and heads out there. Most of the good heads will do fine with a 5 stringer, so get one you like, and then just test it with different cabs, i'd say. I dream of just putting two 6x10s or two 2x15s on top of each other and dooming out with them, personally.

Heads Bassists love, in my personal or secondhand experience
GK400RB or 800RB, or even the 700 or 1000
Acoustic 370 or 320 (Tho, to be frank, i tried using an Acoustic 320 that belonged to another band once and it was so quiet, i couldn't be heard over the drummer while dimed)
Literally anything Traynor, holy crap (okay not anything, but jesus)
Peavey's older stuff
Class D Amps bc we all have bad backs
Stupid Tube Amps that weigh more than my old drummer.

[ancientbones]

As far as cabs go it seems like every bassist uses an ampeg 8x10. There are plenty of other interesting cabs out there though.

If you're interested in a 4x12 for bass look for a Peavey TVX. They usually go for pretty cheap. Pairing one with a 4x10 of some sort may be interesting.

[theshoegazer]

For a 5 string you'll probably want a 10" speaker configuration 2x10" to 8x10". Punch and clarity is definitely what decent 10" speakers do best. Usually more speaker cone area = more perceived volume. 15" and 18" speakers however get super flubby on the low B string in my limited experience with 5 strings. Never tried 12" bass cabs but it might be fun to try. Best kept secrets in a bass world are probably the old Peavey 400 series bass heads, Gallien-Krueger 400B, 400RB, 800RB, solid-state Sunn and 70s Acoustic stuff is really nice depending on the sound you are going for. I used to run a SWR 350 head (solid state and super cheap used) with a 4x10 Ampeg cab and it was a pretty great sounding and cheapish rig.

As far as cabs go, you can't go wrong with Ampeg stuff (even though it's kind of boring and samey). 6x10 and 8x10s can be had surprisingly cheap on your local Craigslist because aging rockers can't handle hauling the beasts around (they are heavy as fuck). Peavey cabs that have the silver strips down the sides of the grill (late 70s and 80s I think) are pretty solid as well. Avatar makes super solid bass cabs if you want to go the new route. Atlas is another cab company that makes beautiful cabs for pretty affordable prices from what I've heard when you consider the fancy-pants quality.

[theshoegazer]

Hit submit twice, but while we're on the subject, look at this beautiful old bastard:

https://reverb.com/item/1428712-vintage ... -bass-head

[frigid midget]

For me personally:

ss head (GK 400 RBIII) and either a good 6x10, or a great 4x10 cab. I prefer the latter, cus 6x10 cabs are an even bigger pita to haul around. My Ampeg SVT410Hlf is good enough for me, but I wouldnt call it a 'great' cab. I used someone's Orange 4x10 cab at a show once, sounded fucking amazing imo.

[Strange Tales]

I use a GK400RB right now with a 2x15, and that thing still delivers quite a bit of punch in a 2x15 if you set the EQ right. I've actually fallen in love with using it more than my 370 right now. (My 370 is also broken right now as well though)

I vote for old GK and Acoustic stuff if you want a head. All bass cabs are a pain in the ass to move, but I love my 2x15 to death so fuck it all.

[psychic vampire.]

My only complaint about the Acoustic stuff is that they were surprisingly less loud than i'd been lead to believe from many reports. Just played with a GK 400RBII for the first time today, like less than an hour ago, and my only complaint was that i couldn't make it NOT have that growly tone, it sounded like i was using a pick even though i was playing with fingers. But it was some one else's head and i was tryna not fuck with their EQ. Thing was LOUD though. Like, holy fucking shit, i didn't know 240 watts could do that much. I was at like 8 or 9 o'clock and my band members asked me to turn down. I've used and enjoyed other GK models before, but this was my first time being utterly blown away. Would love to fuck with the EQ settings and see what it does.

[waltdogg]

I used to use a 400RB with my 8x10. I could get it clean but it always had a bit of an edge to it. Like a tube amp would. And damn was that amp scary powerful for 200ish watts, it made my speakers MOVE more than any amp before or after it.

[psychic vampire.]

I would maybe say it was less a growl and more a "honk". It was some srsly busted EQing, like, finger style with a loaner P-Bass, tone all the way down sounded like some J-Bass Pop Punk tone. As said, it was some punk band's and i was just borrowing it for practice. Despite the Busted ass-EQ style, i really am like, do i sell the Rusty Box and go with an 400RB/800RB? It was fucking loud and small(er) and sounded decent.

[waltdogg]

Yeah that's it, GK has a very distinct midrange. LOL. That's great.

If you like an Ampeg-esq tone with more gain on tap Id totally go with the old GK. If I had a need for it I wouldn't have sold my 400RB.