Looking for ideas for bass half stack for son.

Amcrebelfan

Amcrebelfan

Super Member
My Son is saving his money and he got some gift cards for Christmas for Guitar Center. He plays bass in a post hardcore band, we want to stay around 500 bucks so he doesn't have to save forever. Any ideas? We looked at behringer stuff on GC and it will run about 620 but they have a coupon for 100 off 600 which they run a lot. He likes the ampeg stuff but that is approaching 800 bucks. He is hopefully getting his first job this weekend, my sis's best friend is hiring him for KFC. He is just 16 but they are gigging at decent size halls and outdoors. Any help would be great.
So far between gift cards and his own money he has 150 saved.
 
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I bought my son the Ampeg BA115HP bass combo amp about seven months ago. I think it was $518 out the door. The thing puts out some serious sound. He gigs with it every once in a while and it has held up beautifully.
 
I'm a bit biased. I love Ampeg gear but I have friends that have gigged quite steady with Behringer gear. If I could get models and such that would help.
 
Check CL in your area? I know in my area you can get some nice top end stacks for half the money you could in the store..

With that said, I'm a big Mesa Boogie fan.. I also really like Orange amps, but sadly unless you find them used, they won't be in your price range, and that's the reason I asked if you've tried CL.

I like some Behringer pro gear, but as a whole knowing Behringer, I don't think I'd get one of their stacks.

Oh, have you looked at Kustom at all? I think I'd trust them better than Behringer...
 
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I have a Behringer bass head similar to the one you posted - I think it is great price/value...I just leave it at my vacation house so people have a rig to play through. If you are not a snob, I think it will work well for your son. Musicians Friend is selling the head for $210 with free shipping - that is about as cheap as you can get for a giggable head, IMO...and I think it is a decent rig.

For the cab, Musicians Friend is selling the Acoustic B410 cab for $299...which, combined with the Behringer head, should give him a decent rig for around $500. The Behringer cab says it handles 1200w, but I would be a little skeptical of that rating...and its not like his amp is gonna get to those levels anyway.

I think the Behringer head and Acoustic cab at Musicians Friend might be your best deal (new, at least) for $500.

Good luck!
 
Rex Everything said:
Three words

AMPEG AMPEG AMPEG!
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Ya got that right. My bass player runs an Ampeg SVT with a 4-10 and a 1-18, and it thunders. As bass amps go, most everything from them is pretty darned good, but the old SVTs are the best. A bit pricey, but worth the $$$.

You could do much worse than Ampeg easily.

rooster.
 
I'd go with the Ampeg. There's no reason Guitar Center can't come down at least 15% for you. They have a lot of playing room in the price. Just haggle a little. I've never ever had to pay marked price at GC.
 
hi,
Does it have to be new? Could you possibly build a speaker cabinet? I ask because I see some older tube amps, and especially some nice heads go for what you have to spend.
We have a saying, friends don't let friends buy Behringer. Their stuff seems priced right and does work, but it isn't of the best quality. As many have said Ampeg builds nice stuff but it isn't cheap. Peavey builds some nice bass combo amps in the 150 watt range with a single 15" speaker. I used one that was called a something 150. Can't remember the exact name since I just used it for one job and it wasn't mine. But, the amp was well made, had enough power and sounded nice. Many times you can find a used Peavey of this size for well under $500 used. A single 15" combo with a 150 watt power amp section is generally good enough for small bar sized gigs. Actually some new Peavey amps are around $500 and are plenty powerful enough for most gigs. When the areas get larger, you normally have a sound reinforcement system anyway and you can just mic up the amp. A rig I used for many years consisted of a used Peavey 200 watt per channel power amp driving a single 15" cabinet in each channel driven by a used Peavey bass preamp. I think I had about $600 in the whole rig and that rig was more then loud enough to play in my band which had a drummer, and a guitar player playing through a Marshall 50 watt half stack.
 
I'd go with ampeg as well unless you can find a vintage Acoustic,wish I was closer to you,got too much bass stuff and it needs a home.If space is an issue I would consider a Genz Benz head,the one I have weighs about 8lbs and gigs easily.I guess one of us should have asked what PA is being used,if you have a good one you can get by with less power and go for tone pleasure! Yes,the above quoted saying is gospel in these parts as well.{Re: "Beh" }I'm not a "snob"!
 
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seta1 said:
hi,
Does it have to be new? Could you possibly build a speaker cabinet? I ask because I see some older tube amps, and especially some nice heads go for what you have to spend.
We have a saying, friends don't let friends buy Behringer. Their stuff seems priced right and does work, but it isn't of the best quality. As many have said Ampeg builds nice stuff but it isn't cheap. Peavey builds some nice bass combo amps in the 150 watt range with a single 15" speaker. I used one that was called a something 150. Can't remember the exact name since I just used it for one job and it wasn't mine. But, the amp was well made, had enough power and sounded nice. Many times you can find a used Peavey of this size for well under $500 used. A single 15" combo with a 150 watt power amp section is generally good enough for small bar sized gigs. Actually some new Peavey amps are around $500 and are plenty powerful enough for most gigs. When the areas get larger, you normally have a sound reinforcement system anyway and you can just mic up the amp. A rig I used for many years consisted of a used Peavey 200 watt per channel power amp driving a single 15" cabinet in each channel driven by a used Peavey bass preamp. I think I had about $600 in the whole rig and that rig was more then loud enough to play in my band which had a drummer, and a guitar player playing through a Marshall 50 watt half stack.
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Thanks for the ideas, unfortunately I am disabled with my back so I am unable to build a cabinet. We have looked at the peavey gear and it looks nice lots on CL.


phatster said:
I'd go with ampeg as well unless you can find a vintage Acoustic,wish I was closer to you,got too much bass stuff and it needs a home.If space is an issue I would consider a Genz Benz head,the one I have weighs about 8lbs and gigs easily.I guess one of us should have asked what PA is being used,if you have a good one you can get by with less power and go for tone pleasure! Yes,the above quoted saying is gospel in these parts as well.{Re: "Beh" }I'm not a "snob"!
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Old acoustic better than the new? PA so far is either the venues or a sound guy they pay. Their goal is to get their own soon, all still in high school so funds are limited but they are getting there. It would be nice to be close I bet you have some great stuff.

One more question we keep looking at 350 w and above heads can he get by with the smaller ones if they aren't going through mics like you did seta? I got a gk backline? 250 last night from a friend but not sure it works as it looks like someone has monkeyed with it. Didn't look at it in depth today as back is not cooperating. A ex-tenant left it behind with some dbx gear and a turntable.
 
Buy some wood, and drivers from Parts Express, and make your own. You'll save a ton of money (which you can put toward a better amp), and your son can say "I made that".

Lee.
 
I have lots of friends that have been gigging with GK gear for years. In most clubs I run my bass through my rig and a DI box through the mains. I have an old Ampeg SVT that is still using the 6146 output tubes. For laughs at home I'll hook up two 8x10 Ampeg cabinets. They'll make your pants flap if you stand in front:lmao:
Your son will be doing lots buying and selling gear over time. I sometimes think music gear can be as addictive as audio gear.:D
 
Burhoe said:
I have lots of friends that have been gigging with GK gear for years. In most clubs I run my bass through my rig and a DI box through the mains. I have an old Ampeg SVT that is still using the 6146 output tubes. For laughs at home I'll hook up two 8x10 Ampeg cabinets. They'll make your pants flap if you stand in front:lmao:
Your son will be doing lots buying and selling gear over time. I sometimes think music gear can be as addictive as audio gear.:D
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Totally true..I just played a gig in St. Louis at Off Broadway, and I used my "small" gig rig. It's an Ampeg B1RE (discontinued), Ampeg PR-15H (this is their baddest single 15 with 9 ply birch plywood), Tech21 RBI bass preamp, dbx 120A subharmonic synthesizer, Samson Concert wireless and Chinese Fender Squier bass ($250 list). If you can't afford good instruments, go for the amp. No awesome bass will save you from having a shitty rig, no matter how nice.:yes:
 
He has 2 ibanez basses right now has his eyes on a ESP or G and L. I also got a dbx 120 with that gk 125 watt bass head didn't know and still not sure what's its for. :-) also received dbx 3bx and a dbx noise reduction unit they are all dirty not sure if any work yet. Back isn't liking this wet weather so movement is minimal. Would all those be used together with a cab? Thanks to all of you for your help I amazd at how good he already is. He has played piano since he was 4 and trombone for 5 years, he just picked up the bass this spring and started playing that day. I wish I had that ability, music is his passion it is all he thinks about.
 
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Sounds like he has some native ability!{probably got it from his old man!}Yes, Acoustic Control amps from yesteryear were very good quality.I have an Acoustic 136 bass combo that is awesome,unfortunately combo with a 15" speaker get very cumbersome to carry in most cases.This why I prefer a "head" and a speaker cab of your choosing.Makes transport more user friendly.If I want to pull out the 4-10" or 18" cab no problem,but I can get by with a single twelve in most cases.Older GK gear is well thought of,it keeps on ticking....You mentioned they are ultimately getting a PA....it would be important to buy carefully keeping in mind he could go through it and not need a separate amp...I just sold a Ampeg pr 410 to friend......he is already complaining about lugging around the 100 lb. cab.The merits of being the singer...........no heavy equip to lug!
 
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