workhorse SS bass amp recommendations

[neonblack]

So I hate to be that guy with the "pick my gear for me" thread, but here goes.

I've been playing bass with a couple guys in the last month, and I've been using their amp, an old Peavey Bass with a 2x15. The amp is plenty loud, but doesn't really clean up all that well, and it doesn't handle my fuzz very well either.

My home rig is a Hartke 2500 pushing an Ashdown 4x10. The Hartke is 250w at 4ohms and 125w at 8. Unfortunately, although the Hartke cab can handle 600w, it is 8ohms, so the head is only pushing 125w. The rig is fine for home use, maybe even overkill. I never turn it up past 3 or 4, but I worry that it won't be enough with the band. I'm playing with a guitar player running a stereo setup with like 4 amps, and a fairly loud drummer. We play heavy instrumental mathy post-whatever stuff.

So, I'm looking for a solid state bass amp (too broke for tubes), maybe 300-400w, reasonably priced (under $300 used would be fucking fantastic), that can stay clean at high volumes and handle pedals well.

I'm hoping my Hartke will work, but I need to be prepared in case it doesn't. I also wonder if running both rigs at once might do the trick. 2x15+4x10 might sound pretty awesome.

Any opinions/suggestions?

[ChetMagongalo]

you should look at musicman HD130s or something similiar because I have one and i love it. It's very loud. perhaps getting another cab might be enough volume but it just depends on how loud everyone else in your band is

[GardenoftheDead]

Try out the Hartke with the band before shopping around. Take from someone who's used one running at 125w in bands before, you'd be surprised how loud those fuckers can be.

[Deltaphoenix]

More cabs equals a lot more volume than more watts. Going from 150 watts to 300watts will only give you 3dbs more of volume. Double the cabs equal double loud.

[TweedBassman]

used GK 400rb.

[BoatRich]

used GK 400rb.

This or a 700RB

[Muff_Diver]

I think an 810 will satisfy your desires better than a new head.

[neonblack]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. Im definitely taking the hartke down before I do anything.

The other issue besides not staying clean at high volumes, is that basically, my A string is the sweet spot. Everything I play on the A sounds great, but the D and G are too sharp and unpleasant sounding, and the E is barely audible, especially with the full mix. However, I dont know if this is a problem with the amp or the cab, or if i just need new strings.

[skullservant]

Might be a string issue, or you might need to play with your pickup heights

[neonblack]

It doesn't seem to be an issue at home, but then again, I'm not playing with a drummer and guitarist at home. I do need new strings, I know that. I'll try raising the pickup a bit on the E side and lowering it on the G side.

[skullservant]

Yeah! See how that works. That plus strings might be golden.

Also, I'm glad you started this thread cause I almost made one yesterday about the same thing hahaha

[neonblack]

Haha nice! Great minds think alike.

That delay will be there tomorrow, BTW.

My Mini really shined last night, though. Whenever I couldnt hear myself, Id kick it on and the growly mids/highs cut through like magic. It wasn't very bassy, but it did that Jesus Lizard/Young Widows grindy bass really well.

[skullservant]

I've been thinking of something like a cheap GK for a little bit, just for the EQ options. I mean I love the simplicity of my Verellen's single tone knob, but sometimes I'd like a little bit more. It would also be nice to have a head per cab again after selling the Spaldo

[neonblack]

I've been thinking of running the Peavey's dirty channel all the time to have a base grindy OD tone, and then all my pedals into the Hartke. But then I would need a splitter, preferably one that could mute the Peavey when needed.

That might be more trouble than its worth though.

[Moustache_Bash]

used GK 400rb.

This or a 700RB

This. 150w @ 8 ohms doesn't sound like much, but with a bigger cab 400RBs fuckin pound.