Need advice on a bass rig

[anotherfreak]

I am going to be subbing(potentially replacing) a Bass player, which is funny 'cause I sold my last bass a month ago They had a big request, it's a cover band that does a lot of "modern rock" and they want me to play a five string. Now, I'll admit, I have never used a 5'er live. in the studio for lessons, yes, but never throwing out this find of volume. They have a cabinet I can use, but I need to pick up a amp head. What should I be looking at in a bass head that can push for a 5-string bass? If this panns out, I'll be looking for a cab myself, and prolly a good 5'er for myself.

any advice would be appreciated

bill

[mc2]

I've had no trouble using the same bass/amp head for a five that I use for a four-string.

If anything, it is usually the speaker cab that might need a different speaker in it to handle the low B.

[anotherfreak]

ok, I think that won't matter until I "need" to buy a cab Should I look to a cab with a 15 for the low end of the 5'er?

I just don't know if I needed more power to push the low end harder, or if I'd be ok with something simple.

[MCChris]

There's no compromise in bass with 10s vs. a 15. They'll just respond faster, which probably is what you want for modern rock anyway.

It's never a bad idea to get the most wattage you can afford when selecting a bass amp.

[Tres Aardvarks]

There's no compromise in bass with 10s vs. a 15. They'll just respond faster, which probably is what you want for modern rock anyway.

It's never a bad idea to get the most wattage you can afford when selecting a bass amp.

+1 all around. For now, just get a decent amp with plenty of headroom. I had a great little SWR Electric Blue head which was way too underpowered for a live rock setting. IS the audience going to only hear your bass from your rig, or through the PA? If no pa or DI, then you will want plenty of watts!!! As for speakers, depends on what kind of sound. Low and boomy, 15 or 18" will handle a B-string all day long. A more modern faster response? Stick with 10s. Or mix 'em both! I used a 2x10" cab + 1x15" cab with the last band. Handled 4-string, 5-string, and 12-string.

[anotherfreak]

It'll be from the amp, I was really hopin to put a rig together with 2x10's and a 15, I like the 10's but i wasn't sure they'd keep up with the lows. The problem is I haven't been able to get out and try anything this week, and I am getting together with them on Sat. There's supposed to be a cab there, but they were unsure about the head. So I was starting my thoughts around the head

[MCChris]

The 10s will give you plenty of bass, especially in a ported enclosure. What you want to be careful about is running an underpowered amp, especially with no PA support. If it starts to clip, that's how you'll fry voice coils. I'd say you need a minimum of 500 watts to be safe. Mainly for headroom, not volume.

[dragan]

+1 more watts the better ( impedance is frequency dependant ) @ 100 hz a16 ohm load looks like a 160 ohm load to the amp. ( impedance is a sum of dc resistance , inductance & capasative reactance the last two change with frequency ) if that clears anything up . thats why you need more power for low end ( usually the more power the better the damping factor which stops the speaker from traveling too far ) its all interactive

[Bobby Marshall]

Our former bassist used one of these. It is great solid state head. Lightweight, small and powerful.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MB500/

[anotherfreak]

that looks tempting, good price as well

[carfish7]

That Gibson GA ought to be fine.................just stick a mic in front of it!

[anotherfreak]

That Gibson GA ought to be fine.................just stick a mic in front of it!

'fraid that guys gonna hit the curb if this gig comes through,

sad, but practical

I do have a line on a Genze benz Shuttle 9.2 locally, and I might be able to score a Neo fusion 410 box to sit it on.

[tomteriffic]

Yup, with a decent cab, the power will be more important. An eventual 2x10/1x15 rig would be good, especially with the material. most folks don't realize that most of what you hear in a bass is actually lower mids. Unless you have a giant rig and a PA to match.

[crunchee]

most folks don't realize that most of what you hear in a bass is actually lower mids. Unless you have a giant rig and a PA to match.

^This.^

[stobro]

I set up my rig with portability in mind. I use two 2-10 cabinets stacked on their sides so all of the drivers are aligned in a vertical array. It gets the upper drivers closer to my ears where I can actually hear myself over the drummer bashing away next to me. It also allows for broader horizontal distribution so the guitarist standing on the other side of the drummer can hear me too. But the big benefit is I can lug the cabinets around by myself through doorways and up or down flights of stairs. And packing the car with several small boxes is easier for me than fitting all of my other stuff around one big box. I just have to make more trips.

[Thundersteel]

An eventual 2x10/1x15 rig

This is what I use, along with a G-K 700RB-II head. I call it my "Rig of Doom!"

[killerteddybear]

Are you playing clubs or big halls? Either way, don't supersize your rig unless you absolutely must do so.

Get enough amp to hear yourself over the guitars(!), and send a line to the PA for the heavy lifting.

Ditch the 2x10 / 1x15 plan, it's kinda early 90's (no offense intended).

There have been major improvements in speaker and cabinet design in the last 10-15 years, and a small package can really kick it out these days.

Invest in either a 2x12 cab or two 1x12 cabs, with a tweeter (you can always turn it off).

Seriously, IMHO 12's have more girth than 10's and better 'snap' than 15's. I've played bass for ~40 years and my best cabs all used 12's.

Speaking of girth, get as much power as you can afford. 500 watts bare minimum; 1000 watts is preferred. Those low notes really perk up when a lot of headroom is available.

Here's what I have:

Cabinets

Two Bergantino HT112 - 1x12's each with a tweeter;

Bergantino HT322 - 1x12, 2x10 and a tweeter;

SWR Goliath I 4x10 (really good cabs - old and cheap!);

and ancient Gallien-Krueger 4412 - 4x12" folded and 2x10" front firing.

Amps

Carvin B500 micro amp - 500 watts. Not my favorite amp, it's very lacking in low end.

Eden WT300 - 300 watts. Best tone ever, but a little underpowered.

Peavey VB-2 - 200 watts all tube. What they say about tube watts has some merit, but it's heavy.

Eden WP100 preamp with QSC RMX1450 power amp - 1400 watts. Eden tone on steroids!

A small/medium bar would see the two Berg cabinets and either the Carvin or Eden amp.

Larger gigs get the big Berg cabinet and the big power amp.

Right now the SWR sits in the rehearsal space (at 80+ pounds it can stay there!).

[marcnorth]

Get one of these. Even the import Acoustic stuff GC sells is pretty good for the money. I've got a 200 watt head that's plenty loud enough to do clubs.

http://acousticbassusa.com/index.html

[anotherfreak]

Just clubs, I can't imagine these guys playing big halls

I really appreciate all the input, I'm hoping this jam goes well this weekend. The little lady OK'd some funding(woohoo), and I am hopimg to go check plug in some toys this weekend!

[stonge]

I use a Markbass Little Mark Tube 800 - 6lbs, 800 watts max at 4 ohms. It fits in a backpack with my cables, and I dial in a little grit using the tube preamp. I use it with a Markbass New York 15 cab (15" speaker with piezo tweeter, 37 lbs) for 4 string, although the bassist in my country band uses the head but prefers his Mesa 4-10 cab for his 5 string Schecter (he plays loud, and usually rattles everything in my house lol). When I load in for a gig, I make one trip with everything and the heaviest item is the double gig bag with a pair of Cruise or P-Basses. I've never taken the Little Mark past 4 with any cab (that was plenty loud lol).

I will confess that I have a hankering for an SVT 810 cab, but the irony of a lightweight amp head on top of the heaviest speaker cab is pretty funny. But I still don't want to move an 810 in and out of my basement.

[Ethan]

Try the aforementioned GK stuff, honestly though there's lots of cool small stuff out there that is powerful if that is what you are looking for-Aguilar, Markbass, SWR. They all of course sound different from eachother, so trying stuff is key. For speakers I always feel like a 4x10 can cover most situations really well, get ported if you want more low end. I usually use a 6x10, which to me is easier to get around by way of sliding in and out of car/trailer/etc instead of picking up like my 4x10, but for cover gigs and the like I usually bring the 4x10. I did use a 4x12 Bergantino once late last year though and for how I like to sound it was killer!!

[killerteddybear]

Have you looked on Talkbass? Enormous amount of information there!

[polara]

My bassist has a Genz-Benz that's 600 watts i think. He carries with cables in a knapsack. Sounds very fine. Hook it to a 2-12 with some o' them newfangled neodymium speakers and you're there.

[anotherfreak]

Have you looked on Talkbass? Enormous amount of information there!

Yes! I found it the other night! some awesome info, and some funny opinions as well!

[anotherfreak]

ok, after all the discussion I ended up getting an Ampeg portafles head, 500w class D and I am using a "left behind" peavey 410 cab. I found a Korean G&L Tribute 5string. and it has ROCKED! found it all used, and since I didn't have to buy a cab(yet) I am invested @$650 and it is a truely stage worthy rig that sounds fantastic!

thanks so much for the input and advice!

now where are all the fretless Cruise basses?

[JohnnyB]

ok, after all the discussion I ended up getting an Ampeg portafles head, 500w class D and I am using a "left behind" peavey 410 cab. I found a Korean G&L Tribute 5string. and it has ROCKED! found it all used, and since I didn't have to buy a cab(yet) I am invested @$650 and it is a truely stage worthy rig that sounds fantastic!

thanks so much for the input and advice!

now where are all the fretless Cruise basses?

Yes, that is a rocking rig at a shoestring price.

Fretless at USA Cruise Bass quality? Try for a Guild Pilot Fretless. I have one and it's my go-to fretless. Comfortable, stable, balanced, with great sound and dynamics. And is this one still for sale on the HFC?