Help me pick choice my amp future

[ChetMagongalo]

I just got my MusicMan HD 130 head in the mail. I bought it off a dude on ebay, he said he tested the amp just before shipping and everything was okey dokey.
But now there is a problem, from using google the problem is most like this as listed on a page about debugging amp problems
http://www.geofex.com/ampdbug/lowpower.htm
"Amp cuts out or "goes dead" when the volume control is turned up higher than "X" or when you hit a specific note
You have a parasitic oscillation above hearing range. This can overheat an output transformer, and really needs to get fixed fast. It can often be fixed by tube swapping, but you often need an oscilloscope to see what's happening in the electronics. "
Any ideas? I'm gonna send the dude an email to see if he has anything to try

I had the standby control confused

[rustywire]

No experience with your gear.
Combo amps are more prone to being problematic...plus they're v.cumbersome and top-heavy.
You've likely heard of them being referred to as "back-breakers" before.
I'd save, and double the 4-500 budget...and get a head that can do both, and do it well...like a Bassman or Selmer TNB.

And then a 2x1_ cab w/greenbacks. 2x10 works, but the vast majority of drummers will struggle to overpower a 2x12.
Way more versatile, IMO.

Whatever you choose, I also recommend investing in a collapsable handtruck from The Container Store.
Such an underrated addition to any gear bro's inventory.

[backwardsvoyager]

I would advise against combos too. Seems like a lighter/more portable solution but if you're getting anything bigger than a 1x12/2x10 then 'back-breaker' is the appropriate term.
You could get a used Marshall DSL head in that price range, which IMO is just about the best thing for that money provided you don't get a lemon.
+1 on greenbacks too.
I run a DSL50 into a quad with greenbacks and have never felt the need to upgrade.

[ChetMagongalo]

How do you guys like the Roland Jazz Chorus series?

[skullservant]

I had a Sunn Sceptre for a while and the only thing that sucked was it seemed like it HAD to be used with more than one speaker otherwise it wasn't loud enough so that's why I sold it.

I would personally try to stay away from combos as well, cause you can always make another trip out to the car to grab stuff if you don't have enough hands. Have you looked into getting neo speakers in a 2x10 or 2x12? Might solve some of the weight issues

[ChetMagongalo]

As far as guitar stuff I'm open to anything! I mostly need something guitar wise to jam/practice on. I don't have any current plans to play shows or anything, and if I did it's pretty likely I'd be playing bass, in which case I wouldn't mind taking the GK cab because it'd be for a performance.

If you're talking about the GK having a weight issue I think it's because the cab is so big itself. the box is huge and has giant ports. It's easy for two people to move but inconvenient otherwise.

[skullservant]

Maybe you could get one of those mini Ampeg 1x10 cabs that have like a 200w handling and are super light weight that you could use for the Sunn? Depending on the right ohm rating and all

[ChetMagongalo]

I feel like I might overpower that though. The Sunn puts out 1200w @ 2 ohms

[skullservant]

Ah shit I forgot it was the fender hybrid one. I'd definitely look into high powered neo drivers for the 2x10 then! That'd be rad

[ChetMagongalo]

that might be an option!
right now I'm leaning towards the idea that I can probably get a better sound selling the Sunn and buying an actual guitar amp.
I need to play some more guitar amps

[skullservant]

Yeah dude. Look into the Jet City amps, they're crazy awesome for the price

[ChetMagongalo]

I'll check that out! There's a guy selling a Bugera 333xl head for $200 locally. I remember playing one a long time ago and I was pretty impressed.

[D.o.S.]

Bugera is a Behringer brand.

Not trying to piss all over that, of course--I have a Behringer bass combo I use for laptop loops/a monitor and I love it. But some people don't get super stoked on them.

I'd offer you my amp, but you said you're trying to go lighter.

Jazz Choruses sound phenomenal.

[ChetMagongalo]

I don't care too much about brand identity. I can't think of one off the top of my head that I don't agree with completely, but I've played the Bugera before so at I know it at least doesn't suck.

My $0.02:

• Keep the Mark combo thingy for jamming / practice.
• Keep the SUNN as your gigging bass amp.
• Sell the GK cab and get a smaller, more efficient bass cab for gigging.
• Save up for a little tube guitar combo for jamming / practice.

Suggestions are marginally informed. Might be better options for what you want to do.

Roland Jazz Chorus is awesome and might be a great fit for you if you can get a good deal. Colin Marston used two of 'em for his warr guitar in Behold... the Artkopus when I saw those dudes with Dysrhythmia and Psyopus. Super clean and definite full range potential.

The Mark is actually loud enough (500W @ 4ohms) and sounds better than the Sunn in my opinion. So it would do fine for gigging, not that gigging is something I do a lot anyway.
The GK is actually not mine to sell. My sister bought it awhile ago but doesn't use it. I think I'd be wrong for me to sell it since she's nice enough to let me use it.

[ChetMagongalo]

Haha right? I lucked out, my sister is a synth nerd. She's good friends with a guy who builds modular synths and video synths. so cool