Help Me Pick a Rig

Gear
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Thread update (12/4/2024) - this thread now includes a few people asking for “next rig” advice, not just my own. So read on for good information for all things 100-500W.

I have a 3 week vacation back to my home in the US coming up at the end of November.

Problem, my current rig will be stuck in customs in China at that time, so I will be coming home to an empty house (you know, minus all the other furniture).

But doesn’t this sound like the perfect excuse to buy new stuff and do some upgrades in the process? You know, I shouldn’t go 3 weeks with NO practice!

Current equipment: Yamaha TRBX-304 (bought earlier in 2024). SWR Workingman’s 12 Bass Amp Combo (bought in 2001).

I’m looking for a setup that’s a step beefier than what I have. Amp/Pedal-preamp/bass. Ok if amp is combo or separate. Per Louisiana law I also have a full sized pickup truck so “fit in back seat” isn’t a constraint.

Noise potential: able to be noticeable in say, a room of 30-50 or so people with a drummer and other bandmates. Primary music styles rock/country/blues.

I have 1 year left in China just to screw around but when I get back to the US I’d like to be set up enough for some small gigs.

Total budget: $2,000-$3,000 or so wouldn’t kill me but I don’t want overpay for something that provides little value or has some fault that “every” bass player knows about and it just didn’t make it to my corner in China.

My preference is to have either stuff delivered on my first few days back, or know exactly what I’m interested in so that I don’t spend two of my three weeks back window shopping.

But, specifically for the electronics downstream the bass, this is my first time looking since boy bands roamed the earth and Amazon was a book store, so the talk of apps/software, etc… is a bit confusing to me.

So with full freedom to ask follow-on questions, what toys the bassbuzz community suggest?

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I love helping people spend their money on bass gears.

Amp and effect in one go is the Boss Katana 110 or 210. That would be my first choice. As we speak, I’m waiting for my 110. I’ve been wanting my Katana for a while and it punches way above the weight for the price.

The 110 is $40 off and 210 is $150 off at SweetWater right now, which is a killer deal especially for the 210 @ $450. Then get the Boss bluetooth dongle ($40) and the Pedal control GA-FC or GA-FC EX ($125/ $150) and you are in business for amp and effects. total $600

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Kata210Bass--boss-katana-210-bass-2-by-10-inch-160-watt-combo-amp

Bass, if you like Yammies then highly recommend the BB734A, what a bass for the price and I know for the fact that @howard will concur. :smile: that’s about $850.

Cables and knick knacks another $100 you are way under budget.

Another brand to consider is Sire. All models are good choices. If you are considering a 5 string their new F10 model is just too delicious and it’s a pretty shameless inspiration copy from 2 of the legendary “F” bass companies F bass and Fodera at a ridiculously low price for a neck through single cut bass.

Well that’s a start. If you want to up the Amp and want to go down the Pedals wormhole then I highly recommend the Genzler BA 10-2 combo. This little thing fills the room of 200-300 easy.

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I love this.
I was looking at this thread knowing “there are far better people than me poised to write something here…”
and Lo! @Al1885 doth bring the goods!

Love this forum!

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I’d recommend this amp, but you gotta build it yourself.

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:100:, IMO the best currently produced bass on the market for anywhere near the money. Maybe even up to double the money.

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Your advice is solid. You can go crazy looking at different instruments, but value for the buck hard to beat a BB734A

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What kind of music do you intend to play?

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Thank you this is exactly what I needed…now down the internet rabbit hole for a while…

For sweetwater how reliable are they with delivery times? I like the idea of using “not Amazon”, but “Oops, it’s on back-order but don’t worry we’ll deliver it in 4 weeks” would be a back-breaker.

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Sweetwater is one of the more reputable online retailers for instruments.

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If you are … well say when you are ready to pull the trigger, put things in the cart and give them a call. The way it works is Sweetwater will assign a rep to help you with your need.

They are not known for great prices but they are known for good service. When you are ready your rep can probably drop 5% or may be 10%. If you are lucky. Usually it’s much less with them even over the call.

If you are price sensitive and want the lowest possible price then Guitar center is a better choice but there’s no service there. I don’t need much of service so my rep and I usually have great relationships I have a standing 15% off if you want to go this route PM me and I’ll put you in contact with him.

As always, if there’s anything else you want my help on spending don’t hesitate. :joy:

Soon your room can be filled up like mine

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With that kind of budget I would recommend checking out Genzler gear. The Magellan and Kintex heads and Bass Array speakers are as good as it gets.

I have an MG350 Combo that I’ll be adding a second BA2-112-3 cab to soon. 350w would be more than sufficient for a room holding 50-100. The 800w Kinetix which uses three preamp tubes is their latest offering and it’s gaining quite a bit of popularity as well. I tend to favor a separate head/cab set up for more flexibility.

My MG350 head will separate from the speaker cab so I can use it with a 1x10 a 1x12 or with both cabs. The Bass Array cabs are quite unique in that they use an array of vertically mounted speakers to carry highs and mid highs leaving the main driver to handle just the low and mid lows. They have tremendous projection and are worth exploring. Genzler sells direct or through it’s dealers.

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Yep, have one. It’s a killer axe.

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So trying to look into it, the Boss Katana APP has some mixed reviews. Does the forum have any thoughts? Looks like early reviews were rough but some improvement/updates.

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They are not Apple’s app so stability is not at the same level. There’s a small learning curve when connecting the Bluetooth because you are not connecting one but 2 signals at once.

It’s a pretty remarkable feat really, both midi and audio Bluetooth signals at the same time at a very low latency. This is not their first rodeo, in fact I have nearly a dozen Boss/ Roland apps on my phones and tablets, from Waza Air, pocket GT, Katana Go, Dual cube, to the 4camera, etc. All of them works pretty well.

My only complaint is it’s only in portrait mode.

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I’m going to piggy-back off this thread and pick your brain a bit.

I’ve managed to pull together a band. Suspecting my Rumble 40 may not be quite up for the job. Thinking about if I should upgrade amp, and what to.

The Katana 210 on holiday sale seems really tempting.

Not sure if that’s the right choice, or if I should be looking for separate Amp/Cab setups and what sorts of wattage and size.

Edit: I am expecting to practice with a band weekly. We are not looking to gig “seriously”, but expect we’d probably hit an open mic night maybe every month or two, and do some wider neighborhood or house party gigging for friends/family/neighbors a couple times per year.

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Amp choice will depend on what you need it for. There’s a good video by Philip Conrad that gives some useful information:

The Katana is a modelling amp, so it only makes sense if you want the effects it comes with. Otherwise, you could go for something more straightforward.

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I agree with @Krescht here.

My reason for the attraction to Katana is the price and features package. Also the fact that one of the gig we do already have 110 and 210 on stage. I can use it as is or bring my switch and Bluetooth dongle and made that my setup in seconds.

If you are into effect pedals then this is a better way, well cheaper way to go about. The pedal boards that can house the effects available on the 210 would cost 2-3 times the amp itself and the pedals, well that’s another can of worm.

I take my Genzler BA 10-2 everywhere I can with only my preamp pedal or my Wampler Cory Wong compressor

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Very helpful video. Thanks.

This has me thinking that the right path for me is a used 300-700 watt head and then starting with a 2x10 or 1x12 cabinet for now. Then the option to add a second cab in the future if/when I truly need it.

For pedals and effects… I mostly want a comp for now. Maybe some chorus.

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My default position is to buy what you need now and worry about later, later. In general the 100w amp is loud it can easily absorb 200-300 audiences and still producing good listening tone. Going too big right off the bat usually more counter productive than one would think.

Plus once you are there and need to expand you’ll know what you’ll need. Over a year, my little Genzler combo has been showing up and showing off various sized venues without breaking a sweat. The bass whisperer, Ed Freidland, use a similar setup only twice my size to treat thousands with the low end pleasure.

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My buddy is in a rock cover band with a drummer who I’m pretty sure is working out some anger issues back there and a guitarist with turn-up syndrome, and his Rumble 200 has never seen noon. Definitely gave me a new take on wattage.

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