Bass Amp Thread
- Thread starter crguti
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Re: Bass Amp Thread
For me, reliability is as important, if not more, than tone. With a decent bass head starting at $500 U.S., most people cant afford a replacement every three years or constant repairs. With that being said, Ampeg is a signature sound. Trace Elliot another (at least the older ones, I haven't tried the newer ones since Gibson runs them). Markbass is another. It really depends on what you want. I have a Markbass Little Mark II for 3 years now. I like the tone and hasn't failed so far.
For me, reliability is as important, if not more, than tone. With a decent bass head starting at $500 U.S., most people cant afford a replacement every three years or constant repairs. With that being said, Ampeg is a signature sound. Trace Elliot another (at least the older ones, I haven't tried the newer ones since Gibson runs them). Markbass is another. It really depends on what you want. I have a Markbass Little Mark II for 3 years now. I like the tone and hasn't failed so far.
Binnerscot
Well-known member
Re: Bass Amp Thread
Anyone who asks me about a bass amp gets this response
Absolute best out there right now, I like it much more than Mark Bass, Ampeg, SWR, Trace (though the AH-1200? is a close second for tone).
~$1200
900 watts into 2 & 4 ohms
Plug it into a Mesa bass cab with a good bass and nothing else needs to be said.
If I didn't already have an SWR Bass 750 and Mesa Bass 400+, I would be running the M9.
Anyone who asks me about a bass amp gets this response
Absolute best out there right now, I like it much more than Mark Bass, Ampeg, SWR, Trace (though the AH-1200? is a close second for tone).
~$1200
900 watts into 2 & 4 ohms
Plug it into a Mesa bass cab with a good bass and nothing else needs to be said.
If I didn't already have an SWR Bass 750 and Mesa Bass 400+, I would be running the M9.
John E Rokker
New member
Re: Bass Amp Thread
Carvin
Carvin
F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: Bass Amp Thread
I use a Marshall Dynamic Bass System (DBS) stacklet. 7400 head, 7210 and 7115 cabinets. IMO, the design owed a fair bit to Trace Eliot models of the late Eighties. It is, essentially, solid state with one ECC83 in the pre-amp stage and monsterous transformers to deliver a claimed peak power output into four figures.
I was about to say that these can be picked up fairly inexpensively but, with a DBS rig, picking it up is a contentious issue. They are seriously heavy - especially the 7410 cabinet.
I use a Marshall Dynamic Bass System (DBS) stacklet. 7400 head, 7210 and 7115 cabinets. IMO, the design owed a fair bit to Trace Eliot models of the late Eighties. It is, essentially, solid state with one ECC83 in the pre-amp stage and monsterous transformers to deliver a claimed peak power output into four figures.
I was about to say that these can be picked up fairly inexpensively but, with a DBS rig, picking it up is a contentious issue. They are seriously heavy - especially the 7410 cabinet.
Binnerscot
Well-known member
Re: Bass Amp Thread
In short, depending on the maker and model, yes.
Most are solid state these days, some with a 12AX7 or two in the preamp. I think Ampeg may be one of the last big names to do an all tube (if they still do). Many builders have gotten good enough with the power sections to obtain the same goals they did back in the day with tubes, but they are now more reliable (no tubes), more powerful, sometimes lighter, and smaller.
The solid state Mesas sound every bit as good at their older tubes heads, but they don't heat my basement as well in the winter.
In short, depending on the maker and model, yes.
Most are solid state these days, some with a 12AX7 or two in the preamp. I think Ampeg may be one of the last big names to do an all tube (if they still do). Many builders have gotten good enough with the power sections to obtain the same goals they did back in the day with tubes, but they are now more reliable (no tubes), more powerful, sometimes lighter, and smaller.
The solid state Mesas sound every bit as good at their older tubes heads, but they don't heat my basement as well in the winter.
astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
Re: Bass Amp Thread
Im not sure, but I'll say this: I've heard some pretty good SS amps.
Im not sure, but I'll say this: I've heard some pretty good SS amps.
F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: Bass Amp Thread
Not as such. Ask one hundred bassists, you will get one hundred different answers.
Some crude rules of thumb.
1) If the loudspeaker cabinet is made from particle board, it is gonna get farty at high sound pressure levels.
2) If the guitarists in your band use 100w valve amps, the bassist requires at least 400w. (Bass needs clean headroom.)
3) Some amp brands are strongly associated with particular music genres ... and with good reason.
4) Some bass guitar and amp combinations just seem to have been made for each other. e.g. Gibson EB-3 and Marshall 100w Super Bass stack. (Jack Bruce, Andy Fraser.)
Not as such. Ask one hundred bassists, you will get one hundred different answers.
Some crude rules of thumb.
1) If the loudspeaker cabinet is made from particle board, it is gonna get farty at high sound pressure levels.
2) If the guitarists in your band use 100w valve amps, the bassist requires at least 400w. (Bass needs clean headroom.)
3) Some amp brands are strongly associated with particular music genres ... and with good reason.
4) Some bass guitar and amp combinations just seem to have been made for each other. e.g. Gibson EB-3 and Marshall 100w Super Bass stack. (Jack Bruce, Andy Fraser.)
woemoejack
New member
Re: Bass Amp Thread
i have an older SWR 350, I can get good tones for any genre out of this thing and a 4x10.
i have an older SWR 350, I can get good tones for any genre out of this thing and a 4x10.
Tom Huff
New member
Re: Bass Amp Thread
I've been through a few bass amps in my day. Yes SS is good for the bass.
Genz Benz makes great SS bass heads. You have to be careful imo to pair them with the right cabs/speakers to get the most out of them.
If you go Mesa then the 400+ is the holy grail of tube bass heads. (I have one for sale btw... sneaky spammy) That amp is considered by many to be the best bass head ever. However, it is for sale because my Electric VU180 replaced it as my all time favorite bass amp.
The Electric gave me the tones I heard in my head...
I've been through a few bass amps in my day. Yes SS is good for the bass.
Genz Benz makes great SS bass heads. You have to be careful imo to pair them with the right cabs/speakers to get the most out of them.
If you go Mesa then the 400+ is the holy grail of tube bass heads. (I have one for sale btw... sneaky spammy) That amp is considered by many to be the best bass head ever. However, it is for sale because my Electric VU180 replaced it as my all time favorite bass amp.
The Electric gave me the tones I heard in my head...
guitfiddle
firstlessonologist
Re: Bass Amp Thread
Go Ampeg.
They started by making a microphone peg to go into the bottom of a doghouse bass, and an accompanying amplifier. The very name of the company derives from mixing the words amplified and peg...Ampeg.
They made the SVT, by golly no matter how namy poeple like the 400 watt Mesa, Music Man tube amps, or any SS amp on the market, the SVT still sits at the top of the heap.
If ya gotta go SS, go Peavey.
Go Ampeg.
They started by making a microphone peg to go into the bottom of a doghouse bass, and an accompanying amplifier. The very name of the company derives from mixing the words amplified and peg...Ampeg.
They made the SVT, by golly no matter how namy poeple like the 400 watt Mesa, Music Man tube amps, or any SS amp on the market, the SVT still sits at the top of the heap.
If ya gotta go SS, go Peavey.
Binnerscot
Well-known member
Re: Bass Amp Thread
Yeah, the older SWR Bass 350, 550, and 750 are great sounding amps.
Yeah, the older SWR Bass 350, 550, and 750 are great sounding amps.
Binnerscot
Well-known member
Re: Bass Amp Thread
That is a mean thing to do. Peavey makes some great products, but they in no way compare to spending just a few bucks more for a Mesa.
...and an SVT seems to get knocked off other's when I plug them into the a Bass 400+ in my little studio....and seems to be prefered over Mark Bass, Trace, Fender, SWR, and Ampeg. Not my opinion, but theirs respectively. Not only the live tone, but how well it records.
That is a mean thing to do. Peavey makes some great products, but they in no way compare to spending just a few bucks more for a Mesa.
...and an SVT seems to get knocked off other's when I plug them into the a Bass 400+ in my little studio....and seems to be prefered over Mark Bass, Trace, Fender, SWR, and Ampeg. Not my opinion, but theirs respectively. Not only the live tone, but how well it records.
Binnerscot
Well-known member
Re: Bass Amp Thread
They aren't bad...they sure are built well. You can do a lot worse than Peavey (I have soft spot them and still have a couple of Peavey guitar amps).
They aren't bad...they sure are built well. You can do a lot worse than Peavey (I have soft spot them and still have a couple of Peavey guitar amps).
