I'm a total cab n00b - please help me

[ratherdashing]

Okay, I'm going to pull the trigger on the $99 Power Block, because I need an amp for my POD and it's a deal that's pretty hard to pass up. Obviously I need a cab for it too.

I've never owned a head/cab setup before - it's always been combos. I need to know what to look for.

Basically, I need something small and portable for now. I'm mostly doing coffee house or small bar/pub things it would seem, and since I don't have a car I can't really see myself carrying around a huge cab. If I need a 4x12 for a larger gig, I can always rent one. So I guess I want a 1x12 or 2x10, or maybe a smallish 2x12.

It has to be very balanced EQ-wise, and must be able to handle the Power Block. Along with the portability factor, those are my requirements.

Oh, and it can't be too expensive. I'd love to get Ear Candy to make me one, but that's financially out of the question for now.

Thanks!

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: I'm a total cab n00b - please help me

Avatar seems to be the best bang for buck. I'd probably opt for a 2-12 cab, since they sound a little more 3D than a 1-12.

Search low to high in the amp section of Ebay Canada. Sometimes, there's a perfectly good cab that's going cheap. Even better if it can be a local pickup.

 

[McLaughysSN]

Re: I'm a total cab n00b - please help me

Avatar seems to be the best bang for buck. I'd probably opt for a 2-12 cab, since they sound a little more 3D than a 1-12.

Search low to high in the amp section of Ebay Canada. Sometimes, there's a perfectly good cab that's going cheap. Even better if it can be a local pickup.

Diddo

Owned an avatar cab for the longest time. 2x12 with a vintage 30 and g12h 30 build with open back and made of birch. Got it direct from factory off of ebay for cheap cause it was "damaged".. litterly only had a little hole in the grill the size of a pencil eraser. Called em up, and talked to dave (owner) directly as he was walking in the door. Nice people

Other than that i would suggest just checking out some used stores, a nice broken in cab will do you good

 

[baritone]

Re: I'm a total cab n00b - please help me

If you call the Avatar people on the phone, they will help you design a cab to match the specs of the Power Block, e.g., stereo, power handling, impedence, speakers, etc.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: I'm a total cab n00b - please help me

Okay, I checked out the Avatar G112 cab. I'm honestly very surprised by the price. At $263 shipped, it's not much more cash than the cheapo Crate 1x12 ($200 at MF) and it is clearly a much better cab. For $20 more, I can put a 150W Eminence in there (Tonker or Swamp Thang are 150W) that will handle the full load of the Power Block. AND I get to pick the tolex and grill cloth colours!!!

I think I'll call them tomorrow. Tonight I'll call around the local shops to see if anyone has a decent used 1x12.

Thanks, and please continue suggestions.

 

[34029324079]

Re: I'm a total cab n00b - please help me

I say 2x12 or 2x10...Vancouver? you should check the want/used ads - you should be able to get one that will suffice for $100. I bought a crate 4x10 in new condition for $100 a few years back; you can too!!

I say save and do it right though; buy something used with high resale value. I want an orange amp head, so I would buy a 2x12 cab from Orange through ebay if I had the dough and storage space etc

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: I'm a total cab n00b - please help me

I say 2x12 or 2x10...Vancouver? you should check the want/used ads - you should be able to get one that will suffice for $100. I bought a crate 4x10 in new condition for $100 a few years back; you can too!!

I say save and do it right though; buy something used with high resale value. I want an orange amp head, so I would buy a 2x12 cab from Orange through ebay if I had the dough and storage space etc

There isn't a single 1x12 or 2x10 used cab in the entire city. I've been looking. 2x12 is simply too big for me.

 

[34029324079]

Re: I'm a total cab n00b - please help me

oh, ok

ya, ebay would cost about the same as some other options...

I got my cab for $100 by putting wanted ads in the paper and in the local college rag too: "wanted: guitar cab in good cond. will pay cash"

 

[V!N]

Re: I'm a total cab n00b - please help me

Before buying the powerblock and a cab, you might want to explore the possibility to get both those things in one compact package. An active monitor is an amp and a cab in one and is meant to be the most balanced sounding thing on stage.
I recommended these to a lot of my friends and they all had great results with it. Everything EQ and cab-sim is in your pod already. It also helps a lot that the cab is tilted back so the sound blows into your face rather than your socks.

Some of the bigger musicstores should have a couple of used ones for you, I think with 250 / 300 C$ you should be done.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: I'm a total cab n00b - please help me

Before buying the powerblock and a cab, you might want to explore the possibility to get both those things in one compact package. An active monitor is an amp and a cab in one and is meant to be the most balanced sounding thing on stage.
I recommended these to a lot of my friends and they all had great results with it. Everything EQ and cab-sim is in your pod already. It also helps a lot that the cab is tilted back so the sound blows into your face rather than your socks.

Some of the bigger musicstores should have a couple of used ones for you, I think with 250 / 300 C$ you should be done.

I've done that before - I'm actually renting a keyboard amp right now to get through the round of rehearsals and gigs I have this month. The drawbacks are:

- The speakers aren't very good usually
- I'm stuck with the same size cab no matter what
- No possibility of going stereo if I ever want to do that

And believe it or not, I can get the PB + an Avatar G112 cab for less than a 100W keyboard amp.

 

[V!N]

Re: I'm a total cab n00b - please help me

I can get the PB + an Avatar G112 cab for less than a 100W keyboard amp.

Really ? Then go with that, it never hurts
to have an extra cab slinging around for
when you're poddy trained and up for
the real stuff. :smokin:

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: I'm a total cab n00b - please help me

:laugh2:

Lots of guys like the Swamp Thang and the Cannabis Rex.

Luke

 

[34029324079]

Re: I'm a total cab n00b - please help me

I like the JBL eon G2 15" powered monitor - also great for vocals and acoustic guitar and holds resale value reasonably well


every time I have done something half-fast I always have regretted it. I bought a solid state crate half stack and it sounded horrible to everyone and sold it. I bought an older PA with problems with the horns - I fixed the horns and later sold it.

the key is to do things right and do them once and then you will be happy. If you want a great sounding amp, save your $$; sounds like you do not need alot of volume so there is a myriad of choices available in terms of combos. The solid state sounds great to some but will never sound the same as tube. think it over so you dont end up selling it in a year or so - what a hassle and resale value really plunges...

good luck!

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: I'm a total cab n00b - please help me

Really ? Then go with that, it never hurts
to have an extra cab slinging around for
when you're poddy trained and up for
the real stuff. :smokin:

I like the JBL eon G2 15" powered monitor - also great for vocals and acoustic guitar and holds resale value reasonably well


every time I have done something half-fast I always have regretted it. I bought a solid state crate half stack and it sounded horrible to everyone and sold it. I bought an older PA with problems with the horns - I fixed the horns and later sold it.

the key is to do things right and do them once and then you will be happy. If you want a great sounding amp, save your $$; sounds like you do not need alot of volume so there is a myriad of choices available in terms of combos. The solid state sounds great to some but will never sound the same as tube. think it over so you dont end up selling it in a year or so - what a hassle and resale value really plunges...

good luck!

I know you guys are just trying to help, but I really didn't want to be lectured about tube vs. modelling, good guitar tone, and how I should spend my money. I just wanted cab recommendations.

Tube amps are out of the question, at least for what I'm doing now. I need something that can act as a power amp for a POD, an acoustic guitar preamp, and possibly vocals. Tube amps have to be turned up to get a usable tone, and that's really not an option for some of these smaller venues. They also cost more than I can afford right now, and I don't have the luxury of time to wait for the funds to become available.

Trust me, this is not a snap decision. I have done my homework. I have been trying amps for the past several months, exploring my options, and figuring out my budget. Unless some magical piece of gear comes along that changes everything, my decision is final.

Thank-you.

 

[V!N]

Re: I'm a total cab n00b - please help me

Sorry if you thought I was trying to give you a lecture, the "poddy trained" was intended as a harmless pun, but I agree, I could and should have put it better than "up for the real stuff". The noob pictures are just there because of the topic title, I've been waiting a while to whip those out.


I actually think its good that you're taking things one step at the time, a lot of the youngsters here could learn from that. If an active / powered monitor isn't working for you and a cab with a powerblock will, then that's a reasonable, economic and portable option. Now, let's find you the cab you need.

To my ears, a Celestion Vintage 30 is horrible in an open 1x12" setup. No higs, lots of mids and a flabby bass. It works great when it has one or three brothers helping out in a closed box to really build up some preasure.
I can't comment on the Hellatone speakers you can get for the G112, but the Celestion Classic Lead 80 is a speaker that really stands its ground in an open 1x12" cab. I have one in my scrapped-and-waiting-for-parts JCM 800 combo, an 1x12" open cab that I'll put on a 4x12" with Vintage 30's when I need more power. Also, of all the Celestions listed fro the G112, it's the "most neutral" sounding speaker.

However, if none of the speakers appeal to you, Mojotone has a realy nice empty extension cab for little money. You can customize it with piping and different tolex and what not if you like, but it'll cost you more.
http://www.mojomusicalsupply.com/cgi-bin/mojotone/MOJOEXT.html
You can stick any speaker in there you like, without spending too much more then you would on an Avatar cab.

No harm intended dash, I hope there are no hard feelings and that my advice was of any use. Good luck making the right decision. :beerchug:

 

[34029324079]

Re: I'm a total cab n00b - please help me

yikes! no lecture intended; only my 2 cents. Please don't read into it. others are in a better position for lecturing; I was only telling you what I like and do not like in regards to jbl eon g2s and cabs and amps since that is what you are buying as you said in your posts.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: I'm a total cab n00b - please help me

Sorry if you thought I was trying to give you a lecture, the "poddy trained" was intended as a harmless pun, but I agree, I could and should have put it better than "up for the real stuff". The noob pictures are just there because of the topic title, I've been waiting a while to whip those out.


I actually think its good that you're taking things one step at the time, a lot of the youngsters here could learn from that. If an active / powered monitor isn't working for you and a cab with a powerblock will, then that's a reasonable, economic and portable option. Now, let's find you the cab you need.

To my ears, a Celestion Vintage 30 is horrible in an open 1x12" setup. No higs, lots of mids and a flabby bass. It works great when it has one or three brothers helping out in a closed box to really build up some preasure.
I can't comment on the Hellatone speakers you can get for the G112, but the Celestion Classic Lead 80 is a speaker that really stands its ground in an open 1x12" cab. I have one in my scrapped-and-waiting-for-parts JCM 800 combo, an 1x12" open cab that I'll put on a 4x12" with Vintage 30's when I need more power. Also, of all the Celestions listed fro the G112, it's the "most neutral" sounding speaker.

However, if none of the speakers appeal to you, Mojotone has a realy nice empty extension cab for little money. You can customize it with piping and different tolex and what not if you like, but it'll cost you more.
http://www.mojomusicalsupply.com/cgi-bin/mojotone/MOJOEXT.html
You can stick any speaker in there you like, without spending too much more then you would on an Avatar cab.

No harm intended dash, I hope there are no hard feelings and that my advice was of any use. Good luck making the right decision. :beerchug:

It's cool ... I actually enjoyed the n00b pics . Thanks for the tips.

 

[baritone]

Re: I'm a total cab n00b - please help me

The only reason I would suggest a 2x12 would be to make full use of the Power Block's stereo capabilities.