Help me pick my next amp?

Which amp should I buy?

  • Phil Jones Bass BG-400

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • TC Electronic BH250

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Mesa Subway 800 w some brand of 12" cab

    Votes: 19 82.6%

  • Other

    Votes: 4 17.4%
  • Total voters
    23
bigjames

bigjames

Player of Smooth Lines
Jan 25, 2005
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Metro Vancouver, Canada
www.imdb.com
#1
Hey all,

I have not owned a lot of amps, but I have owned enough to know what I am looking for in an amp (I think). My two most recent amps were a GK MB150E and a Markbass 102P (2x10) and those have informed what I am looking for next. My current criteria:
  • Portable / Light. Ideally able to fit it in a VW golf without laying down the seats and 40lbs or less.
  • 12" speaker. I am flexible on this point, but after having the GK (12") and the Markbass (2x10") I prefer the sound of the 12". Again, flexible as you will read below.
  • Expandable. I don't plan to need to fill a big room, but it sure would be nice if I could without renting more than an extension cab.
What I am considering right now:

  1. Phil Jones Bass BG-400: 4x5" driver, but intriguing, portable, and expandable.
  2. TC Electronic BH250: The tone print is an added plus, but I am actually having a hard time finding these anywhere.
  3. Mesa Subway 800 w random 12" cabinet: This is the most expensive option, but also the most flexible as I can source any cab I want and the Mesa head is like 5lbs.
Anyone have any opinions on this? Am I overlooking something I should add to my list?
 
#2
There are lots of options, I cannot make a recommendation, but 2 remarks:

1. You can't extrapolate the sound of 10 or 12 inch cabs from these 2 examples you know. Other 12 inch models might sound closer to your 2x10 MB cab, and other 10 inch cabs could sound close to your GK 12 inch cab…

2. While the Mesa is certainly a great head, don't sacrifice the cab for the head (exept if you plan to replace the cab later). The quality of the cab is at least as important as that of the amp.

What is your budget? What are your tonal goals?

Regarding your criteria:

Portable / Light: The lightest cabs today are the GR Bass carbon cabinets but they are pricey, then the Barefaced Audio cabs

Expandable: A good 8 Ohm cab should be sufficient for normal gigs, then you can add a second one for bigger shows. The problem is that it's highly recommended to add a second cab identical to the first one, so you'd better look for a model that's easy to rent. Maybe Mesa or Markbass, depending on where you live?
 
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#3
gtirard said:
There are lots of options, I cannot make a recommendation, but 2 remarks:

1. You can't extrapolate the sound of 10 or 12 inch cabs from these 2 examples you know. Other 12 inch models might sound closer to your 2x10 MB cab, and other 10 inch cabs could sound close to your GK 12 inch cab…

2. While the Mesa is certainly a great head, don't sacrifice the cab for the head (exept if you plan to replace the cab later). The quality of the cab is at least as important as that of the amp.

What is your budget? What are your tonal goals?

Regarding your criteria:

Portable / Light: The lightest cabs today are the GR Bass carbon cabinets but they are pricey, then the Barefaced Audio cabs

Expandable: A good 8 Ohm cab should be sufficient for normal gigs, then you can add a second one for bigger shows. The problem is that it's highly recommended to add a second cab identical to the first one, so you'd better look for a model that's easy to rent. Maybe Mesa or Markbass, depending on where you live?
Click to expand...

Thanks. This is valuable, and you make great point about my limited sample size. Not fair to draw conclusions based only on these two. Thanks for pointing that out. I think I may need to play a few option and see what I like.

To clarify on the Mesa option: I said "random 12" cab", but I did not mean to downplay quality. I would ultimately invest in a reputable cab (Mesa, Barefaced, etc.). My budget realistically is $2000 CAD (about $1500 USD).
 
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#4
bigjames said:
I would ultimately invest in a reputable cab (Mesa, Barefaced, etc.). My budget realistically is $2000 CAD (about $1500 USD).
Click to expand...

Now we are talking :) I'm sure you can setup a great rig for that budget. I would normaly have recommended a Barefaced cabs, because they sound so good and are so efficient, but it's hard to try them before buying or to rent a second identical cab for big shows. That said, you can ask advices to the community and to Alex, and you might never need a second cab, because they are so efficient.
 
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#5
gtirard said:
Now we are talking :) I'm sure you can setup a great rig for that budget. I would normaly have recommended a Barefaced cabs, because they sound so good and are so efficient, but it's hard to try them before buying or to rent a second identical cab for big shows. That said, you can ask advices to the community and to Alex, and you might never need a second cab, because they are so efficient.
Click to expand...

Just noticed you are in Paris!

Merci beaucoup pour votre conseil. Je l'apprecie! J'espere que tu as passe une bonne journee!
 
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#6
My 2cents. Just recently picked up a Mesa WD-800 and I'm loving it!! I've use it through Bergantino Ref 112, Berg HG410, old Berg 310, Genz Benz 410, Genz Benz 115, a Barefaced BB3 and a few other random cabs. It sounds great through ALL of them!! Depending on your power and speaker needs Id recommend those. Ive put a few together with varying results; but non of the ones Ive tested sound bad paired. (BB3 with GB 115, Ref 112 with BB3)
Another options to save $$ is finding an old Genz Benz Shuttle. I tried the WD, TT, and D800 at a friends house and settled on the WD. My friend just picked up a D-350s (less $$ and lighter lbs 4lbs) and is raving about the power and tone going through a Mesa lightweight 15. The same engineer who designed the Shuttle's and Streamliners did the Mesa's. So Besides the reliability of the old school Shuttles, you get super handy, upgraded, latest technology features. Onboard HPF, Quieter fan, better eq, DI, USB charging, damping for old school cabs and the list goes on...... I'm not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned, just an old bass head that loves good tone!!! Your budget is way enough to get a fantastic rig. I hope you can find a place to hear/test something out. BTW GR is also amazing. Another friend let me sit in on his total GR rig and it sounded fantastic but getting an amp and cab, may break your budget. Another consideration is being able to easily contact the companies, which for me implies US based. This may or may not be an issue for you being in Canada. Happy hunting and let us know what you find!!!

BTW!!

For Sale/Trade - Mesa Boogie Subway WD-800 w/bag - Excellent!!

TC Electronic BAM200 200-watt Compact Bass Head
 
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#7
daddymactx said:
My 2cents. Just recently picked up a Mesa WD-800 and I'm loving it!! I've use it through Bergantino Ref 112, Berg HG410, old Berg 310, Genz Benz 410, Genz Benz 115, a Barefaced BB3 and a few other random cabs. It sounds great through ALL of them!! Depending on your power and speaker needs Id recommend those. Ive put a few together with varying results; but non of the ones Ive tested sound bad paired. (BB3 with GB 115, Ref 112 with BB3)
Another options to save $$ is finding an old Genz Benz Shuttle. I tried the WD, TT, and D800 at a friends house and settled on the WD. My friend just picked up a D-350s (less $$ and lighter lbs 4lbs) and is raving about the power and tone going through a Mesa lightweight 15. The same engineer who designed the Shuttle's and Streamliners did the Mesa's. So Besides the reliability of the old school Shuttles, you get super handy, upgraded, latest technology features. Onboard HPF, Quieter fan, better eq, DI, USB charging, damping for old school cabs and the list goes on...... I'm not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned, just an old bass head that loves good tone!!! Your budget is way enough to get a fantastic rig. I hope you can find a place to hear/test something out. BTW GR is also amazing. Another friend let me sit in on his total GR rig and it sounded fantastic but getting an amp and cab, may break your budget. Another consideration is being able to easily contact the companies, which for me implies US based. This may or may not be an issue for you being in Canada. Happy hunting and let us know what you find!!!

BTW!!

For Sale/Trade - Mesa Boogie Subway WD-800 w/bag - Excellent!!

TC Electronic BAM200 200-watt Compact Bass Head
Click to expand...

So you're selling the WD-800 you're loving? :roflmao:
 
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#8
First of all, pretty much everything @gtirard said is spot on -- all good advice. My deux centimes (if you will :smug:): your first two picks are not exactly in the same league as the last one. With that sort of budget, I'm not sure why you'd even consider the TC, for instance. If you'll pardon the Tex-American analogy, comparing the first two to the Mesa is like comparing .22 cal. handguns to a 9MM weapon -- there's an order of magnitude difference.

That aside, it sounds like you've got the budget to get your 'forever' amp and an interim speaker cab, or perhaps the other way 'round -- a possibly interim amp and your 'forever' cab. The Mesa is a great amp -- I know I'd sure enjoy owning one. But the speaker is what you mostly hear -- a great speaker cab with a medium-grade amp is a better choice than a great amp with a middlin' speaker cab. IMO anyway. If I were trying to go your path, I'd probably get a Subway 12 and almost any 500-watt Class-D amp. Even a TC BQ-500 would probably be sufficient, although it's hardly a 500-watt amp.

Another thought is that you're not really looking for uber-light, but something more like 'not heavy'. Bonne chance!
 
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#10
If power is most important Mesa.
If size is most import Phil Jones.
Both brands have every faithful followers.

Personally later this year I'm either Getting a PJB or Genzler. Leaning towards Genzler based on what I know and love.
 
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#17
Be careful with a Mesa 800 series SW head and just any 112 cab...as agedhorse suggested the Mesa SW D-350 might be worth a look if you do not plan to pair that head with Mesa SW 112 cab. To be clear the Mesa heads all work great with other cabs, but some 112 cabs are not built to handle the kind of power the mesa 800 series heads can deliver.

The GK Neo 112 II cabs mentioned above are quite good and they pair well with all Mesa heads IME. They are excellent sounding and a pair is quite loud with the Mesa D-350 at least according to a local police department responding to a noise complaint at an outside gig I was playing a while back. :)
 
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