Upgrade from Peavey MAX 115

[Ratae Corieltauvorum]

I'm looking to move my trusty old Peavey MAX 115 on, and find somethihg that I can still use at home, but that will do for small medium gigs and was looking at the Peavey Tour TNT 115.

 

60W to 600W.....any other suggestions, budget is ~600USD, 450GBP.

[uncle smeg]

You seem to have answered your own question. Nothing wrong with your choice.

[DeepEnd]

The Tour TNT 115 is in excess of 80 lbs/37 kg. That's a lot of amp to carry. I'd recommend a separate head and cab if you want to go improve on your Max 115. Plus, all else being equal (which I know it isn't but it's close), doubling the power will only get you another 3 dB of volume, detectable but not significant. Not really sure why you want 600 Watts for "small medium gigs". Seems like your present (300 Watt) amp should be just fine. Oddly enough, the Max Series doesn't appear to have external speaker jacks so that's not an option. Keep an eye out for something used. You'll probably need to spend at least 600GBP to get something new, based on a quick check of Dawson's web site.

[Ratae Corieltauvorum]

The Tour TNT 115 is in excess of 80 lbs/37 kg. That's a lot of amp to carry. I'd recommend a separate head and cab if you want to go improve on your Max 115. Plus' date=' all else being equal (which I know it isn't but it's close), doubling the power will only get you another 3 dB of volume, detectable but not significant. Not really sure why you want 600 Watts for "small medium gigs". Seems like your present (300 Watt) amp should be just fine. Oddly enough, the Max Series doesn't appear to have external speaker jacks so that's not an option. Keep an eye out for something used. You'll probably need to spend at least 600GBP to get something new, based on a quick check of Dawson's web site.[/quote']

 

I've been looking long and hard at TC Electronics combos and their BH500 head.

 

One thing I can't understand having been around 6 strings for too long.

 

Guitarists ideal is a 12" speaker or multiples thereof.

 

I'd always though bassists were very much "dyed in the wool" 15" merchants, however there seems to be this group that lean towards 10" speakers and multiple 10" cabs.

 

Is this a so called modern sound development?

[Ratae Corieltauvorum]

. Seems like your present (300 Watt) amp should be just fine. Oddly enough' date=' the Max Series doesn't appear to have external speaker jacks so that's not an option. [/quote']

 

DE, my Peavey MAX is 60W....not 300?

[isaac42]

 

I've been looking long and hard at TC Electronics combos and their BH500 head.

 

One thing I can't understand having been around 6 strings for too long.

 

Guitarists ideal is a 12" speaker or multiples thereof.

 

I'd always though bassists were very much "dyed in the wool" 15" merchants, however there seems to be this group that lean towards 10" speakers and multiple 10" cabs.

 

Is this a so called modern sound development?

 

It's a relatively modern development. Multiple 10" drivers were in the Ampeg SVT cabinets in the late 60's and early 70's, but didn't catch on in a big way until much later. Still, it's been fifteen, maybe twenty years now.

[Mr Temporary]

I've been thinking about that TC BG250-210. Right now I'm using an Acoustic B600H with a 410 cab with a seven piece band, and I'm not even beginning to push it. We run a direct right off the back of the head, ahead of the EQ, so the 18's handle the lows. The 10's have a punch that the rest of the band likes, so I'm staying with them, but having a smaller and lighter rig would be awesome.

[DeepEnd]

 

DE, my Peavey MAX is 60W....not 300?

Peavey says otherwise:

300 watts into 8 ohms

http://peavey.com/products/index.cfm...B%26nbsp%3B115

Perhaps you have a different MAX 115? Okay, this appears to be your amp: http://www.zzounds.com/item--PEVMAX115

60 watts (RMS) into 4 ohms

Odd that Peavey would have two very different amps with the same model name or would have the wrong specs posted?

As for a replacement, further research shows that Dolphin Music will sell you a Laney RB9 head (300 Watts) and a RB410 4X10 cab for about 500GBP if you budget will stretch. A 2X10 cab will run 50GBP less if that helps or if weight is a consideration.

RB9 head: http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/guitars/bass/24899-laney-rb9-richter-bass-amplifier-head.

RB410 cab: http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/guitars/bass/24903-laney-rb410-richter-250w-bass-cabinet.

I suspect the combination of the RB9 and either a 4X10 or 2X10 cab will be more than adequate for a long time to come.

[Ratae Corieltauvorum]

Peavey says otherwise:

 

Okay, this appears to be your amp: http://www.zzounds.com/item--PEVMAX115

 

 

Yup thats mine, never seen the other one before

[WRGKMC]

I'm not a huge fan of Peavey stuff. My buddy has Peavey as a sponsor for his band and I get to hear

all their stuff. He's currently using one of their higher end Biamp bass amps. Cant remember the model off hand.

I did some service work on it about a year ago. He uses it live on a 1X18 & 2X10 cab and its a monster for loudness.

That head is well made, one of the better Peavey builds, but the tone is fairly generic in comparison to other amps.

Its got allot of range and works well if you play allot of different types of music and dial up different tones, but Its not

like its got a notable signature tone of its own like other manufacturers have.

 

I prefer Ampeg myself. They invented the electric bass after all and know how to get good tones.

I bought one of their 350W Portaflex heads recently and it gets a good deal of that incredible Ampeg

tube tone. The 500W version and match cab might be just what you want.

 

http://www.ampeg.com/products/portaflex/pf-500/

 

You can choose from a 2X10, 4X10 and 1X15 cab. A 1X15 and 2X10 cab stack would cover just about all basses (bases)

For practice all you'd need to do is use the 2X10 then add the 15" for gigs.

 

http://www.ampeg.com/products/portaflex/pf-410hlf/

 

 

There are so many options though, You really need to be the one who decides.

I have my preferences based on experience playing out.

Peavey, Crate and others just don't cut it in my book. Its not only that I've used

allot of their crummy gear that just didn't cut the mustard. Its because they've never

stuck to a signature tone like Fender, Sun, Ampeg, Marshall, Vox and others.

When you get one of those brands, you know what tones the amps generate from

their low end to high end stuff.

[isaac42]

I don't want a bass amp to have a signature sound. I want it to be transparent. Any signature sound I want to come from my bass and how I play it.

[razordave]

Sweetwater is having a nice 'closeout' of the Fender Rumble amps. The 150W 15" is $219 and the 300W 2x10" is $299. I realize you have a much bigger budget than these, but it seems like a good deal. You could always use the leftover $$$ on something else.

 

rd

[*BLEEP*]

Ratae:

 

If you're wanting to stay with a combo, look at some of the higher powered combos (200 ~ 300 watts) that have a small but light chassis with a single 10-inch speaker, balanced output for PA, and have SpeakON output jack(s) to power one or two 8 ohm cabinets. The combo amp by itself needs to be an easy lug around for practise, but just powerful enough for stage work (with a cabinet).

 

[DeepEnd]

Ratae:

 

If you're wanting to stay with a combo, look at some of the higher powered combos (200 ~ 300 watts) that have a small but light chassis with a single 10-inch speaker, balanced output for PA, and have SpeakON output jack(s) to power one or two 8 ohm cabinets. The combo amp by itself needs to be an easy lug around for practise, but just powerful enough for stage work (with a cabinet).

Yeah, this is the route I'd take if the OP is set on a combo. As I mentioned, the Tour TNT 115 is in excess of 80 lbs/37 kg, which doesn't spell "easy to lug around" to me. Revisiting Dolphin Music, the Ashdown RM MAG 210T looks like a possibility: http://http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/guitars/bass/96026-ashdown-rm-mag-210t-250w-bass-combo-amp. 250 Watts @ 8 Ohms, 2X10, 26kg/57 lbs., 229GBP, which should leave a healthy amount of money for an external cab if needed. Granted, it's not the Tour TNT 115 with its astounding 600 Watts but it looks like a decent amp for the OP's needs.

[Ratae Corieltauvorum]

Yeah, this is the route I'd take if the OP is set on a combo. As I mentioned, the Tour TNT 115 is in excess of 80 lbs/37 kg, which doesn't spell "easy to lug around" to me. Revisiting Dolphin Music, the Ashdown RM MAG 210T looks like a possibility: http://http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/guitars/bass/96026-ashdown-rm-mag-210t-250w-bass-combo-amp. 250 Watts @ 8 Ohms, 2X10, 26kg/57 lbs., 229GBP, which should leave a healthy amount of money for an external cab if needed. Granted, it's not the Tour TNT 115 with its astounding 600 Watts but it looks like a decent amp for the OP's needs.

 

Cheers DE, the Ashdown looks like it fits the bill perfectly, and having plugged into a few I find I no longer like the sound of a 115 I prefer the 2 x 10 or even better 2 x 12 vibe.....maybe I been around guitar amps too long

[Ratae Corieltauvorum]

Actually looks like Dolphin screwed up and that item at £229 is the 210 cab

[chunky-b]

I love my Peavey Tour TNT 115.. I don't move it weekly, but it packs a lot of punch and tone capabilities.

[WRGKMC]

I don't know. I've jammed with several bassists who used 2X10 cabs and they get lost in the mix

when I use my amps.

 

The bass cab has to at least match the drummers kick drum. Most kick drums are around 15" in size or larger.

 

Having a bass guitar produce enough kick with just 2X10's just doesn't cut it for me no matter how loud the amp is.

Its not about loudness it about the cab size. A 2X10 just sounds small, just as a small guitar combo with an 8 or 10" sounds small.

 

When I use my Marshall and 4X12 it just sounds bigger at any volume because the cab has more thump caused by the air in back of them.

A 4X10 on the other hand is about equal in bass response to a 1X15 and can create a big enough sound to match most drummers.

[Ratae Corieltauvorum]

I don't know. I've jammed with several bassists who used 2X10 cabs and they get lost in the mix

when I use my amps.

 

The bass cab has to at least match the drummers kick drum. Most kick drums are around 15" in size or larger.

 

Having a bass guitar produce enough kick with just 2X10's just doesn't cut it for me no matter how loud the amp is.

Its not about loudness it about the cab size. A 2X10 just sounds small, just as a small guitar combo with an 8 or 10" sounds small.

 

When I use my Marshall and 4X12 it just sounds bigger at any volume because the cab has more thump caused by the air in back of them.

A 4X10 on the other hand is about equal in bass response to a 1X15 and can create a big enough sound to match most drummers.

 

I've heard about an equal amount with the same and the opposite story, and I'm guessing it down to the drummer and the particular 10" speaker.

 

Randy Jackson swear that he'd never use anything other than 15" drivers, that it gives the response that's as close as possible to an upright, and then Roger Glover won't use anythng but 10" drivers in various configurations as he likes the tightness.

 

I believe the term is swings n roundabouts

[DeepEnd]

Actually looks like Dolphin screwed up and that item at £229 is the 210 cab

 

Yeah, apparently there are some straight cabs mixed in with the combo amps. Looks like the next best thing is the Laney RB7: 300 Watts, 2X10, 25kg/55 lbs. Unfortunately, it's a whopping 389GBP! http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/guitars/bass/30289-laney-rb7-richter-bass-amp-combo. For a bit more, there's the TC Electronic BG210: 250 Watts, 2X10, 20kg/44 lbs. But it's 415GBP. I realize you budgeted more than that but I'm fundamentally cheap and I hate making someone else spend more than he has to: http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/guitars/bass/87773-tc-electronic-bg250-210-2x10-bass-combo.

[Ratae Corieltauvorum]

 

Yeah, apparently there are some straight cabs mixed in with the combo amps. Looks like the next best thing is the Laney RB7: 300 Watts, 2X10, 25kg/55 lbs. Unfortunately, it's a whopping 389GBP! http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/guitars/bass/30289-laney-rb7-richter-bass-amp-combo. For a bit more, there's the TC Electronic BG210: 250 Watts, 2X10, 20kg/44 lbs. But it's 415GBP. I realize you budgeted more than that but I'm fundamentally cheap and I hate making someone else spend more than he has to: http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/guitars/bass/87773-tc-electronic-bg250-210-2x10-bass-combo.

 

The BG250-210 is top of my list:)

 

I just gotta s*ve:(

[Ratae Corieltauvorum]

This is also very interesting

 

http://www.andertons.co.uk/bass-combos/pid32554/cid687/ashdown-rmmagc112220-220w-1-x-12-rootmaster-mag-bass-combo.asp

 

[DeepEnd]

The Ashdown does look interesting although personally I'd prefer a 2X10 over a 1X12. I note that the Laney RB7 is "only" 358 GBP at Anderton's: http://www.andertons.co.uk/bass-combos/pid32869/cid687/laney-rb7-richter-bass-combo-kickback-wedge-cabinet-300w.asp. I also find it odd that Anderton's has a pic of a 1X15 amp for the TC BG250 210, even though the amp is actually a 2X10: http://www.andertons.co.uk/bass-combos/pid30801/cid687/tc-electronic-bg250-210-bass-combo.asp. Anyway, good luck. Maybe you can find something in good used condition so you won't have to save quite so long.