I need an amp and cab

[bchamorro]

Hey guys,
Im selling my cheap Peavey combo and its now time for me to buy an 8x10 cab and a new amp head.

Im looking for an amp that will sound great for stuff like Pink Floyd, Chevelle, TOOL, Alter Bridge, etc...

Im mostly interested in Mesa Boogie and Ampeg.

Recommend me an amp and 8x10 cab from those two brands

[Tarrant]

What's your budget, how often are you playing out? and are you willing to consider other amps other than Ampeg and Mesa?

8x10 is pretty much default to "the fridge" the Ampeg 8x10 is an industry standard, but there are so many heads that are great, I think you're really limiting yourself especially with the quality of stuff that ampeg has been turning out lately. Mesa is good just expensive, you can get some great quality rigs that would be great for that type of music from Mesa, Markbass, GK, and others are you wanting a head or are you open to preamp/poweramp DI solution. There are some amazing options out there.

[The Golden Boy]

Although I'm not a fan of "the fridge," I do like the taller cabs. If you've got a station wagon, it's just 'tilt and push' to load the thing. Is the 8x10 definitely the route you want to take? In other words- do you like the sound of the 8x10 vs 4x10+1x15 or something... I personally don't like 10s on their own. Just my thing.

Amp-wise...

Don't look at anything under 600w SS. I really liked the MPulse 600 head, and I'd really like to take a better look at the Big Block head as well as the Big Big Block head.

I'm not the biggest fan in the world of the Tube bass amps- some people dig them- only look at the 300w or so heads- especially pushing an 8x10.

[bchamorro]

when it comes to amps, ive been checking out the Ampeg SVT 4 Pro head and the Mesa Boogie Big Block 750 or M-Pulse 600, which one do you think I will like best?

bass cabs: im not sure now. I don't know if I will like the 4x10, 4x12, or 8x10 better.

[The Golden Boy]

Please don't take this the wrong way- I mean it as an honest question.

Do you actually know what you're looking for and why you're looking for it?

[The Golden Boy]

That seems harsh, and I really don't mean it that way.

Are you after an 8x10 because you see dudes in the bands you mentioned use them? Or have you used an 8x10 with a band and said "whoa- I've gotta have that!" Do you know what a good 4x10 sounds like? Do you know what a 4x12 bass cab sounds like? (I really don't) Do you know what a good 15 cab sounds like? By these questions I mean, actually know- have experienced. I hear people talk all the time about how boomy and non-responsive 15s are. I hear that in 18s, but not in 15s. But people repeat it because it makes sense- not because it's actually true. (while it may be true for some folks in the bass sounds they're looking for)

I've been in loud 3, 4, and 5 piece rock bands and 600w SS and a 4x10 is plenty of juice to compete with a loud drummer, 2 half stacks and a 100w 1x15keyboard amp. I prefer 600w SS and 2x15. The more power, the greater the headroom. That's always good for what I want to hear.

[lovelife]

You need to go try some stuff out. Do you want transparency or colour from the bass amp? What bass are you using?

I have a Mesa M-Pulse 600 into a 1000w Dr. Bass 2460 cab (2x12, 1x6.5). I use a Lakland 4-94 and it sounds huge and it's all under 85lbs. It's easy to move and easier on my back.