Bass amps people using?

miniroar

I was a trace elliot man for years then Ashdown, currently have ABM EVO III head and ABM 4 x 10t cab, think I might try something differant what you folks using or recommend? Have a lot of people moved away from Ampeg? Was watching Jules holland last week and every band had Ampeg! will prob go for something small for gigging like a head and 2 x 10 cab

unclebill98

Jools Holland has them on every show as standard, unless a band bring their own.

I've gone through the same amp makers that you have. Using Ampeg now. I use a USA head and Nampeg cab for most of my gigs, no issues with them.

I would avoid their BA300/600 amps, utter crap.

Alot of users hear say good things about Marks Bass but I've been less than impressed with them.

I've never head a quiet GK amp, used a head and 4x10 and it had plenty of head room.

Hartke have some nice stuff, but those silver cones just churn my stomach.

Rigsby

I use the "Phil Jones Six Pack" http://www.philjonespuresound.com/products/?id=12 (bought it on "adverts") with a GK 2x12 cab. According to the manual, those six drivers can move the same amount of air as a 12" speaker.

I also have an Ashdown 500W 2x10 combo.

I've never tried Markbass gear, but they seem to get good reviews.

zafo

I use a Peavey Mace head and a DIY 1x15 cab that I got off adverts. Have two more 15s bought for when I get around to building myself a 2x15 cab. Back up is Sansamp Oxford pre into a 250 Watt Trace Elliot power amp.

ham_n_mustard

over the years i've had everything from trace to ampeg to a mesa/boogie, but im currently using a TC electronics BH500 head, 2 x BC212 cabs. the cabs are light enough to lift with one hand, if its a small room i just bring one cab, if its a bigger room hook up the second cab for added thump.
i also have an abm evoII 2x10 combo that sometimes gets a turn, just so it doesnt get jealous.
i never tried any of the markbass stuff but have only heard good stuff up to now.

reniwren

Another vote for TC electronic, I have a RH450 and a classic 450 as backup, been happy with my Thunderfunk 550b for years also, as for cabs I use an Accugroove El Whappo or a Schroeder 1212L which are both sadly out of production.

slavetothegrind

sadly down to a di box at the moment

grand for rehearsals but i was looking at the tc electronics bg250, light but powerful enough for the gigs i'd be doing.

i had been staring at hamnmustards rig longingly on adverts but funds are not there at the moment.:P

miniroar

ham_n_mustard wrote: »

over the years i've had everything from trace to ampeg to a mesa/boogie, but im currently using a TC electronics BH500 head, 2 x BC212 cabs. the cabs are light enough to lift with one hand, if its a small room i just bring one cab, if its a bigger room hook up the second cab for added thump.
i also have an abm evoII 2x10 combo that sometimes gets a turn, just so it doesnt get jealous.
i never tried any of the markbass stuff but have only heard good stuff up to now.

See them on adverts tasty, something like that setup be prefect as I play in two bands on acoustic and the other rock covers so I'm looking for a small easy to transport light head and cab for the smaller gigs but be able to add the second cab to bring the heavy artillary for big venues. the 4 x 10s are breakin my back but i do love the Ashdown sound! T.C,Ampeg and Markbass will be getting a look. Whats the Aguliar and Edens like anyone use them?

unclebill98

Aguliar and Edens

Expensive but very well built. Sound nice but I can't justify their prices.

SouthTippBass

4x10 Ampeg cab, and an SVT-4 head. Very happy with both, head is a bit heavy to horse around otherwise 10/10 for both.

unclebill98

SouthTippBass wrote: »

4x10 Ampeg cab, and an SVT-4 head. Very happy with both, head is a bit heavy to horse around otherwise 10/10 for both.

Snap.

It's a fantastic versatile amp head. I use the hlf 4x10 mono bridged and the head room is huge.

Heavy but worth every kg for the tone.

bassey

Using A Trace Elliot AH150-7 head at the moment and it's perfect for practice and gigging, nicest amp I ever used was playing a festival in Blackpool using an Ampeg SVT-2 Pro Head through an Ampeg 8x10, unreal sound out of it.

ham_n_mustard

miniroar wrote: »

See them on adverts tasty, something like that setup be prefect as I play in two bands on acoustic and the other rock covers so I'm looking for a small easy to transport light head and cab for the smaller gigs but be able to add the second cab to bring the heavy artillary for big venues. the 4 x 10s are breakin my back but i do love the Ashdown sound! T.C,Ampeg and Markbass will be getting a look. Whats the Aguliar and Edens like anyone use them?

I had exactly the same problem, i had a very early ashdown rig, 500w head, 4x10 and 1x15, it weighed an absolute ton but sounded brilliant and it was the closest thing to bulletproof i had ever played. but years of trying to wedge a massive rig into a not-massive car has almost broken my back, so i decided to get something more portable but that, to me at least, seems to move roughly as much air as the ashdown stack. sounds good too, which always helps.

trust me, get smaller gear or a roadie, your back will thank you when you're older

SouthTippBass

unclebill98 wrote: »

Snap.

It's a fantastic versatile amp head. I use the hlf 4x10 mono bridged and the head room is huge.

Heavy but worth every kg for the tone.

Yep, thats the same as myself then. The 410hlf with the head mono bridged. I'v got an American Fender Jazz with flatwounds to play through it, heaven

One thing I love about that cab, the towel rack!

unclebill98

SouthTippBass wrote: »

Yep, thats the same as myself then. The 410hlf with the head mono bridged. I'v got an American Fender Jazz with flatwounds to play through it, heaven

One thing I love about that cab, the towel rack!

Haha, that's my "make sure the leads don't get pulled put rack".

Its by far the best rig I've ever played, well after my 8x10. I raise mine off the ground and use a extended Bass Hanger to hold my bass....

Never have an issue with not enough stage volume.

Yeah, 3000 posts!

Mark_ii

I use a Genz Benz Shuttle 12.2, you get 1200 watts and you can carry it in a laptop bag, weighs just 6 lbs (3Kgs).
The cabs I use are made by a sound engineer in the UK. They go under the name Barefaced and they are reputed to be some of the best cabs out there. They are extremely light weight but they really throw out some raw bass sound. I can't reccommend them highly enough, they come up for sale second hand on rare occasions on Basschat.co.uk but you gotta move quick as they generally just remain there for a few minutes before being sold.

I use a 1 x 15" Barefaced Compact and a 2 x 12 Barefaced Super 12T. Best rig I've ever played through, Trace and Ampeg don't even come close.

TroutMask

Using a 1 x 15" MarkBass and love it. Can sound a little huffy standing next to it, but whenever I hear back tapes from the gigs, it is producing exactly the sound I'm looking for.

novarock

unclebill98 wrote: »

Aguliar and Edens

Expensive but very well built. Sound nice but I can't justify their prices.

You could buy a 500watt eden for 885 new! They often come up online too. Definitely the top of the range in terms of tone.

At the moment im running a 300 and a 500 watt traveler. The 300 is into an older american 4x10 ampeg, and the 500 is powering an ABM 1x15..

unclebill98

How are Edens for service?

Actually how are many bass amps for servicing? For example with PA, dynacord/EV parts are pleny! Maybe its generic parts.

I've only had to change tubes on my head and twas simple enough.

Getting a speaker for a blown Ashdown amp on the other hand was near impossible!

ham_n_mustard

i had to order a replacement transformer for a hartke HA7000 years ago, that was bloody expensive!

novarock

unclebill98 wrote: »

How are Edens for service?

Actually how are many bass amps for servicing? For example with PA, dynacord/EV parts are pleny! Maybe its generic parts.

I've only had to change tubes on my head and twas simple enough.

Getting a speaker for a blown Ashdown amp on the other hand was near impossible!

Ive blown the 300 watt eden once, required a new output module, not transformer. Martin Nolan was able to contact Eden, acquire circuit diagrams and a replacement module in about 4 weeks. That was a specific part from them.

Incidentally - he said the bias was supposed to be at 13mA or something. The Eden ran perfectly at 500mA or similar drastic number without dying for god knows how long. Seriously tough machine.

unclebill98

Its good to know that when you make such a purchase its easy to service. Main reason I left Ashdown.

I once need to replace a RCF part, nightmare....

ham_n_mustard

i used the same ashdown abm rig for years, only bother i ever had was the fuse in the head needed replacing after about 5 years. i think it was an odd fuse but i got a pack of 10 in maplin for less than a fiver iirc. just before i stopped using it, the light on the vu meter stopped working and the tube needed to be replaced, but that was after a lot of use, ages in the back of a freezing cold van, and an unhealthy fall down a flight of stairs in thurles.... all in all i couldnt complain.

unclebill98

Better than i got.

Had the ABM 575w head, 2*10, 1*15. Head needed replacement electronics, inputs busted on one of the cabs. I found they did not travel well at all.

roast

Recorded through this rig a few months ago. The Hartke is what I use regularly for gigs, and the Trace belongs to the studio. (Lakeland Studios, if you're wondering.
Top is a Hartke HA3500 with a 410XL 4x10 cabinet.
Bottom is a Trace Elliot 715 combo with a 15" speaker, to add a bit more low-end whoompf!



Gonna move away from the Hartke soon though, have my eyes on an Ampeg SVT 4-PRO.
Either that, or I'll get a nice bass pre, and a separate class D power amp of some sort.
Wouldn't mind having something which can run at 2Ohms, so I can pick and choose between two 4 ohm cabs, depending on the venue I'm playing. Ideally a 4ohm 4x10 for regular gigs, and add in a 4ohm 1x15 for the bigger places.

miniroar

Anyone recommend someone to service my Ashdown evo head? heard good reports about Martin Nolan would he be handy on Ashdowns

ham_n_mustard

roast wrote: »

Recorded through this rig a few months ago. The Hartke is what I use regularly for gigs, and the Trace belongs to the studio. (Lakeland Studios, if you're wondering.
Top is a Hartke HA3500 with a 410XL 4x10 cabinet.
Bottom is a Trace Elliot 715 combo with a 15" speaker, to add a bit more low-end whoompf!



Gonna move away from the Hartke soon though, have my eyes on an Ampeg SVT 4-PRO.
Either that, or I'll get a nice bass pre, and a separate class D power amp of some sort.
Wouldn't mind having something which can run at 2Ohms, so I can pick and choose between two 4 ohm cabs, depending on the venue I'm playing. Ideally a 4ohm 4x10 for regular gigs, and add in a 4ohm 1x15 for the bigger places.

fair play, you cant beat pics of bass gear!! the "post your pics" thread is looking like a "guitars only" zone. we should start a bass-only version

Dord

I've been using a Genz-Benz Shuttle 6 with a larger sized 2x10 cab for about the last 4 or 5 years. Quite happy with it.

roast

ham_n_mustard wrote: »

fair play, you cant beat pics of bass gear!! the "post your pics" thread is looking like a "guitars only" zone. we should start a bass-only version

Hell yes, moar bass please!
Sure throw up a couple pics of your own rig.

novarock

Few pics:

ham_n_mustard

lots of "black" going on there Novarock, but them basses seem to be pointing the wrong way

that jazz is tasty!!

ham_n_mustard

my rig and my stingray 5 is in the centre of this pic, TC electronics put this together and stuck it up on their website





old ashdown rig and a warwick thumb 5


my bass tech stringing up a musicman

novarock

ham_n_mustard wrote: »

lots of "black" going on there Novarock, but them basses seem to be pointing the wrong way

that jazz is tasty!!

That jazz is the balls. 500 from ishibashi, the album I got it a year ago, and the album i just recorded its on 8 of 11 tracks!

Cant go wrong with a black on black bass!

roast

C'mon lads, where's all the Bass chat?

Just gonna leave this here....
http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/bass_guitars_detail.asp?stock=13020410594316


And a lovely Purple Heart version too....

http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/musikmesse-2013-ibanez-stand-highlights-in-pictures-573658/2

unclebill98

Is that Musicmesse 2013???? I played that sweet 7er for ages when I was there. Headed to Musicstore afterwards and played it for hours again..... savage bass.

roast

unclebill98 wrote: »

Is that Musicmesse 2013???? I played that sweet 7er for ages when I was there. Headed to Musicstore afterwards and played it for hours again..... savage bass.

Yep, that was Musicmesse.

Lucky sod! :pac:
Really tempted to get one of these, they're a lot less expensive than I anticipated. But the chances of finding one to mess around on beforehand are slim to none.

unclebill98

I can not believe the price, of course there was no price on it at the show. There was a 7er beside it coming in a 3k(Some custom job, must dig out the pic) but this one played just as nice TBH. I was stuck at the stand while the drummer drooled over drums.

Finally got to play some of the Human basses. They are unreal for tone. Massive bodies on some of the models but by far one of the best basses I've played.

Also had a go of a few small scale basses from scaled down to ones made with rubber strings with a 1500euro prive tag!

roast

unclebill98 wrote: »

I can not believe the price, of course there was no price on it at the show. There was a 7er beside it coming in a 3k(Some custom job, must dig out the pic) but this one played just as nice TBH. I was stuck at the stand while the drummer drooled over drums.

Finally got to play some of the Human basses. They are unreal for tone. Massive bodies on some of the models but by far one of the best basses I've played.

Also had a go of a few small scale basses from scaled down to ones made with rubber strings with a 1500euro prive tag!

Throw up the pic if you can find it. I'm obsessed with Ibanez bass gear recently.

Just looked up Human basses. The ClassX is pretty tasty, despite my aversion to singlecuts in that style.

Considering getting a custom Dingwall Z3 at some stage too, similar to the pic below. Anyone have any experience of them? I've only played a combustion, loved the multi-scale design. Super nice to play.


http://www.dingwallguitars.com/basses/z-series/z3/

unclebill98

There is a pic of the 7er to give scale of it. Neck while massive was thin enough for my small hands.

The other pic is those small basses with the rubbery strings. I was surprised at the sound from them and they come in many versions, fretted, fretless, 4-6ers etc. They are called Kala U Bass.

I'll dig out some more when I can have a bag full of flyers.

On the amp side of things there was not much.

Got these cool fret wraps at the show. Was very impressed by them. There by Gruvgear.

reniwren

If your liking to get into ERB's I'll always recommend Conklin either the gt-7 or the gtbd-7 I have the latter I posted over the odds for mine at the time but I don't regret it, unfortunately prices for them have rocketed

Bass mods in California make a cheap ish 7 that has good parts in it also
http://www.bassmods.com/K7-7-String-Bass--White-Gloss--USA-HANDWOUND-Plekd-_p_252.html

Ibenez used to make a short scale SRVIISC as well