Heads & Cabs help needed !

[Random.bass.player.]

What are they, i thought they were just the control unit, and the speaker unit.
I need a new amp. I was going to get a Ashdown Five fifteen or Electric Blue.
But now i've seen heads and cabs, i want one..
so please explain to me what they are and what they do.
And some decent cheap[ish] head and cabs
Thanks

[Jabawanga]

a head drives the cab(s). a cab is just a speaker enclosure. when someone says they have a 2x10 cab, it just means they have a cabinet which contains two 10" speakers. most heads run @ 4 ohms or 8 ohms, although some can run safely @ 2 ohms. speakers (as far as i know) only come with 4 ohms or 8 ohms allowing you to either use one 4 ohm cab with your head or two 8 ohm cabs which would give you a 4 ohm load. if your head can safely run @ 2 ohms then you can use two 4 ohm cabs for a 2 ohm load. for decent cheapish cabs look into avatar or behringer. i think hartke also makes some nice cheapish cabs. for cheapish heads look into behringer/hartke/ashdown.

[Liebensaft]

Everything he said. In short, a cab is just the speakers. The head is the electronics. And Avatar has a lot of good cabs for awesome prices, but I don't know anything about how they sound.

[doodooking]

for suggestions, it all depends on a few things:

1. How much are you willing to spend
2. What kind of sound are you going for
3. Do you plan on buying something that will last you forever, or are you going to eventually sell this and buy something else

I think that hartke makes descent heads and cabs. used carvins are good heads, i have one, Gallien Kreuger is an awesome brand if you like that kind of sound. if you only want something for now that you dont plan on keeping forever, id go for the small GK stack on musicians friend, its only around 300, but its also only around 115 watts.

[Random.bass.player.]

I think i'll stick with a combo untill my band actually do more than play The Strokes every week.
My Choices are;
Ampeg BA 112 or 115
Ashdown Five Fifteen
Ashdown Electric Blue
Fender rumble 100

I love the sound of Nikolai fraitures bass [guy outta the strokes] and i think he plays ampegs.
But as the ampeg is only 50/100 watt, i wouldnt think it compare to the big cabs he uses.
So any opinions on those amps, or other suggestions would be apreciated.
Thanks

[Mr. Pickle]

My Choices are;
Ampeg BA 112 or 115
Ashdown Five Fifteen
Ashdown Electric Blue
Fender rumble 100

out of those, tone would have to go to the ampeg. However, i'd get the 12 not the 15. having a 15 is very, very nice IMO, but if i had to choose one or the other, i'd go with the 12.

now, overall best value from the list would probably be the rumble IMO, but i really like the ampegs tone.

[Random.bass.player.]

Any other suggestions/opinions?
thanks

[Pooh_Bear]

I probably wouldn't go with the Hartkes, I've played some in stores, their nothing special. Cheap out the Behringer's, thier entire design is based on the Ashdowns.

[Random.bass.player.]

Think i'll go with the Ampeg BA 112
I've seen these Behringer Power Packs.
Where you get like the cab and heads, but as many people have said 'there a hit and miss company' i think i'll go with the safe ampeg option.
unless you have any other amps for me to look at
thanks.

[Random.bass.player.]

anyoneee?

[Killer Fridge]

maybe some of the gallien krueger range?

[doodooking]

GK has a backline stack for 300 on musicians friend

[Scooch]

Anything but the Fender Rumble, I have the 200 and it sucks. More specifically the horn is unusable, I've brought it in twice and I've read other bad reviews as well, cold soldering a major issue.

[Random.bass.player.]

Just bought a ashdown Five Fifteen,tried loads in my local music store it was either this or the fender, but i chose the ashdown , i love it.