"Big Ben" testimonials, please.

[the_8_string_king]

I saw a couple testimonials for the 18 inch Big Ben speaker on another thread.  I'd like to get some testimonials on it, as I'm considering getting one.
 
First, a confession.  I've always invested my $ in getting the best instruments... and conversely, I've traditionally had cheap amps.
 
For the past... I guess 15-20 years, I've used a Peavey TNT 130 combo bass amp (with a 17 inch speaker).
 
I always thought of it as cheap, although recently, I took my 8-string to (gag) Guitar Center and played several of their amps/combos/speakers... and was VERY disappointed just how woefully inadequate they were.  My old cheap Peavey TNT gave a pretty good account of itself -compared to pretty much everything I played there.  (And this was with my bass controls set on flat... when I rolled the bass controls to maximum... the amps I played sounded HORRIBLE.)
 
In particular, I found NONE of what I played cut it with the low B string, or came close to the performance of my Peavey.  In fact, even the low E sounded crappy.  I played through a GK combo first, and it sounded embarrassingly lame.
 
Now all the things I tried were combinations of 10 inch speakers, and I could not help conclude this was part of the problem, and that the large size of my Peavey speaker was part of why it sounds so good.
 
Anyway, what I want is something that is a LOT more powerful than my Peavey.  I've found the Peavey just isn't loud/powerful enough to, say, jam with a drummer.
 
I don't play with others as much as I should.  But, when I've got together a few times, especially with drummers, it just isn't loud enough.
 
I want something that's capable of double or triple the power/loudness of what my Peavey is capable of.
 
I got the impression the Big Ben would fit the bill.  I think it's 250 watts -nearly twice the power of my Peavey.
 
Ideally, I'd like a combo, like my Peavey; but my understanding is that I could get the Big Ben and link the Peavey to it, and use it as a head.
 
I know people seem to think that the Big Ben works best as part of a bi-amp setup.
 
Now my money is pretty limited at this point.  I'm not prepared to consider much beyond the approximately $600 that one can get a Big Ben for.  But I'd like to hear any comments -positive and/or negative- about the Big Ben.
 
I'd also be interested in any recommendations regarding any other option I might consider.
 
Again, what I'm looking for is something that is capable of double or triple the volume/power/loudness of my Peavey TNT 130 -and something which is relatively inexpensive (by which I mean, less than $1000).  I want something that I can play with a drummer, and which will come thru just fine with respects to volume.  My Peavey doesn't do that.
 
By the way, as a separate issue, I find the Guitar Center to be a joke in many respects.  I went there recently looking to see if maybe they had any medium scale 6-string bass strings... and was told they don't carry ANY 6-string bass strings (despite the fact that they SELL 6-string basses...!).  They had some decent guitar amps... but I found their bass amp offerings woefully inadequate... it's as if they're not aware of low B strings.
 
Anyway, I've found at least one place where I can get a Big Ben new for about $600, and am considering ordering one without actually hearing it bassed on the favorable comments I've heard here... but I'd like a little more info first.  I assume it would be roughly twice as loud/powerful as my Peavey.
 
But, I'd also be interested in any alternatives.
 
Remember, I need something that won't have any problem with a low B string... and something under a thousand dollars -the less the better.
 
Thanks in advance for your help/input gang!!!

[jazzyvee]

I'd be interested in the feedback on the big ben as I've been curious about them for a while.
Jazzyvee

[bigredbass]

The argument for 10s is roughly along the lines of the area of 2 10s (20?) is greater than 1-15, etc.
 
I swore by 15s for years . . . and could never hear myself.  I'm convinced the multiple 10s make some sort of filter arrangement, and I can hear myself MUCH better.  I play a 210 rig plus a single 15 extension cabinet (Eden METRO plus Eden D115XLT) as the METRO was just a bit light on the five's low C's.  It's not bi-amped.
 
A TNT (geez, I've had several over the years) would be sorely pressed to drive a BigBen as an extension cabinet.  Just not enough juice to begin with.  And using the TNT to drive the BigBen alone would gain nothing on the levels you reach now.  I'm a big Hartley Peavey fan, loved the old Combo 300's.  If you can find a clean Combo 210TX (discontinued) with the white face, jump on it, it would fit the bill.  You can always pick up a Peavey single 15 bin to put under it cheap!
 
I too went cheap on amps for years, and I can tell you it REALLY held me back.  If I had to do it over again, I'd have bought good basses (not fabulous ones) and bought as much and as good an amp as I possibly could have.  I'd rather have a half-assed bass and a great amp than the other way around, I found this out the hard way.  Too many nights with ALMOST enough amp to make the gig, farting out, so-so tone, I wasted a lot of time and who knows what gigs I lost because of it?  I play every day at home, and the tone makes me WANT to play.  Do NOT overlook this aspect:  You'll play better if you SOUND better.
 
The short recommendation?  Try everything you can, don't even think about anything less than 300-500 watts, and find the tone that suits you.
The $600 range may be a tough budget to stay under, you may have to upgrade in steps.  Keep the TNT for your favorite amp at home, and if you want a BigBen, I'd suggest putting a Super RedHead on top of it if you like SWR.
 
I'm a big Eden fan, you might want to check out their NEMESIS line, really great gear that's less than the Eden World Tour range.  Although it wasn't for me, Fender's Bassman 400 Combo with it's matching 15 cab is a good buy, and the least expensive of these kinds of rigs.  I'm crazy about my METRO/D115XLT stack.
 
I'd think with your extended range basses that a 210/horn combo atop a 15 extension cab would be the cat's ass.  A little time in stores or Harmony Central amazes me in just how many amps there are now.  I can't think of a better time in 30 years of the range of choices that are out there.
 
Oh, and don't feel bad:  GC Nashville has a room full of five-string basses and NO strings for them, either!
 
J o e y

[adriaan]

Multiple drivers in a straight line, close to one another, produce the line array effect - the sound gets focused. That's why you see arrays in noisy and reverberant areas, like churches or railways stations. A 2-10 has more focus than 2 single 10 boxes a couple of feet apart. So they're great to make yourself heard.
 
Now to make yourself felt, you add a big bad single 15 or 18 - but like Joey pointed out, your TNT probably can't handle that when you have to turn up the volume.

[dannobasso]

I blew mine up but at the time I was underpowering it. It was Loaded with a bagend 18. I replaced the speaker with a Carvin 4 ohm rated at 800 watts. It still really booms and produces a full powerful sound. If you would like it, Its yours for $200 plus shipping. I put wheels on the side for east moving.

[hodge]

sorry to butt in ,how about the phil jones stuff, the brief case, and the suitcase, with the extension cab, anybody got any views please.

[hodge]

sorry to butt in, how about the phill jones stuff. the briefcase. 100watts ,the suitcase with extension cab 300watts,anybody any views please.

[jazzyvee]

Hi Hodge, I bought one of the Phil Jones Briefcase amps last summer and I primarily use it as a practice amp at home. I have to say that I've been very impressed with the clarity, punch and the variety of tones I can get out of just the two 5inch speakers at home. I get good clarity on the bottom end with my low B string. Although it doesn't have a lot of weight behind the note. But then you wouldn't expect that from such a small speaker.
 
As a practice amp it is great and I would imagine a small jam session or a small restaurant gig would be fine. I did plug my mesa boogie 2x10 powerhouse cab into it a while ago and to be honest I wasn't impressed. It didn't seem to be able to deliver a good powerful sound.
 
I would imagine if you had one of PJBass extension cabs it would be a different story.
 
I have used it on one reggae gig last year as a guitar amp playing my Orion guitar clean through it and it was very good but since it's designed for bass the higher frequencies seemed were attenuated.
 
For bass practice amp I can highly recommend it.
Jazzyvee

[jags]

i would say that if you cant get a big ben then do the next best thing.  see if you can find a used triad.  thats what i have had forever, its great.  it has a 15,a 10 and a horn. as well it covers just about as high as frequency as the 4x10 goliath.  just a bit under in the Khz, but, it also covers the big low end your lookin for.  check out swr site for specs. and good luck in finding one, you will be pleased!

[the_8_string_king]

Thanks for the feedback guys.  Could still use more on the big ben.  Joey, a lot of what you said went over my head 'cause I'm so ignorant about this whole thing... but could you tell me more about the super redhead thing and the 210 horn combo above a 15 extension cab.  What are these things?  Don't assume I know anything.  Are they brands/styles/classes?
 
And how much would they run?
 
Any opinions on Carvin Amps?  I've always assumed they must be junky.

[jags]

hey mark i suggest call some stores that carry some used stuff,or things on consignment, and look for some swr stuff. you shouldnt go wrong with anyhting over 10 cabinets

[beelee]

Hey Mark,
 
 Peavey is some good stuff, my 2nd bass amp was a Mark IV head and a 2-15 Black Widow cabinet, then I got a Combo 300 and a 1-15 BW cabinet, they handled my 5 and 6 string basses as well as my 8 string (octaves) without a problem and never gave me ANY trouble were always reliable.
 
Then I switched to a GK 800 RB and 2 hartke 4-10's and a 1-15 cab ( figured I'd try something new) ran it in Biamp mode, but ended up running it full range ( sounded better that way) the Hartke 1-15 had no balls tho.
 
Then around 1998 I played through an SWR rig in a rehersal studio ( don't remember which model ) and I was sold, loved the sound, so the GK/Hartke rig went bye bye and got a SM-900 and 2 Goliath III 4-10's, then for a 2nd rig a SM-500 and 2 SOB 1-15's, then a Redhead which was sold and then a Super Redhead, a Triad and a Big Ben ( All pre Fnder) just got a Big Bertha 2-15, haven't gigged with it yet,,,,,,I mix and match components depending where I play, if the rig I use at a particular venue sounds good I'll use there again, if not I'll try something else.
I used my Super RH ontop of my Big Ben at a particular venue recently, and for almost the entire first set had forgot to turn the speaker on/off switch on the SRH to on and was only coming out of the BB it sounded friggin great !! I was playing my Conklin 7 string and Alembic 6 string through it, I realized and then I turned the 10's in time for The Real Me.......Whoa !!
 
As for finding strings for multi string extended range basses, I only use juststrings.com, good prices, fast shipping, many brands, I hardly ever go into SA or GC anymore, only maybe every other month to see if there is anything interesting. not much I need anymore
BeeLee
 
(Message edited by beelee on February 18, 2007)

[bigredbass]

For me, Carvin is a non-issue:  You trade retail markup (and a dealer and his support) for having to ship it back to the West Coast on YOUR nickel for warranty work.
 
The Big Ben will be no louder than the 15 onboard the TNT now.
 
I'm at a loss to begin to tell you where to learn about amps and cabinets and the basics involved in amplifying your instrument.  I can only tell you read everything you can, or go shopping with someone who really knows this stuff.
 
I can not stress to you that we play an instrument that is not the classic, one piece affair like a clarinet or grand piano or violin.
Our instrument consists of everything between your fingers and the grill of the speaker cabinet. So it's made up of your bass, cables, strings, amp, and cabinet.  Short change any part of this and you WILL hear it.  A $25k Alembic is USELESS unplugged.  So is a $150.00 Squire.
 
Anyone know where he should begin?  I'm dumbfounded.
 
J o e y

[lbpesq]

Mark:
 
FWIW, I've been using a Carvin power amp for my P.A. for years.  Works fine, no problems.
 
Bill, tgo

[the_8_string_king]

Thanks for all the feedback, guys!
 
Joey... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to dumbfound'ja!
 
Thanks for your thoughts!  No sense getting a big ben if it's not any louder than my TNT.