Algae

Ah ha ! For 1K we don't need to talk budget amps here. For the type of music you are doing I would highly recommend my set up - an Ashdown JJ-500 JJ Burnel signature head and you should still have enough left over for a good cabinet. Check out my review in the Reviews section.

View the spec on the Ashdown website here [url="http://www.ashdownmusic.com/bass/detail.asp?section=ss&ID=238"]Ashdown JJ500[/url] This is a fairly new product , not many people have them yet and there are not many reviews out there on the internet at the moment. So I thought I would change that and put one up here. I have had this head for a couple of weeks now and it has been well put through it's paces having been gigged , rehearsed with and also a lot of home use so it has been used both quietely and loudly , on it's own and with a full band. Mine is one of the first batch of ten JJ-500 heads to be made and so has a plain front panel. The later ones come with a JJ Burnel signature logo and a rat logo on the front. First impressions are that it looks very similar to Ashdown's Mark King signature head except being black (of course!). It has the exact same controls and inputs/outputs as the MK500 and since my head didn't come with an instruction manual I downloaded the Mark King manual from the Ashdown website and it has everything on it. However the difference is that that the tone of this amp has been voiced to JJ Burnel's preference. This is not the distorted sound that you would immediately associate with him , JJB was keen to have an amp that produces the purest cleanest sound possible to exactly reproduce the tone coming from his bass. The main part of "that sound" is due to a precision played hard with a pick near the bridge and this amp was designed to reproduce that faithfully without additional colouration. With the graphic eq switched off the flat level response of the amp gives a very pleasing warm sound similar to other Ashdown amps I have used (ABM , MAG). This amp would work quite happily in various situations not just for people doing JJ Burnel impressions. Switching in the graphic gives you lots of flexibility with your sound and adjusting the sliders into various shapes will sculpt your tone however you want it. I like to have the sliders set in a seagul shape with a boost in the lower mids and upper mids keeping the lowest , highest and middle sliders around neutral. This setup with my Fender P gives it an incredible tone - very full , rich and if I play hard very aggresive and punchy. The first time I tried it with my band everyone immediately commented on how good it sounded and not just once but almost after every song throughout the whole rehearsal! The sound is really full and even when the guitarist switches from chords to doing single note instrumental parts the overall band sound did not drop at all and kept it's momentum with the full fat sound of this amp. I wouldn't expect anything else really as a Fender P played hard is exactly what this amp was designed for. I also play in a blues band so need a quite different sound there , no aggresion but plenty of clarity for bass solos and stuff. The head's first gig outing was with this band so I was dying to hear what it sounded like live. I use a five string Musicman Stingray and the amp was plugged into and Ashdown ABM 410 cab. It really brought the character of the stingray out and the sound was very very good even down to low B. A very versatile head and certainly no "one trick poney" as I read someone say on a forum somewhere. The stingray sounded warm and rich with that lovely characteristic nasal quack that they do but with very full solid lows. Nice. There is a control on the front panel labelled "harmonic emphasis" which Ashdown says synthesises harmonics in a way that sounds similar to using a new set of strings. I found this worked really well with my Fender P in the rock band giving just that little bit extra growl and presence. I leave it on all the time with this band. However , it does not sound so good with the stingray so I prefer to leave it off in the blues band. Overall then I have found this a really good amp. It can do anything an ABM can do but with the graphic equaliser there is more scope for sculpting your tone. It sounds good at home at low volume and amazing at a gig when cranked up. The tone I get from my Fender P through it is undoubtedly the best tone I have ever had! I am in love ! It is also versatile enough that I can use it with my blues band and I expect any other projects that come my way too so my old gear will be appearing on Ebay soon Anyone out there looking for a head for a rock band or punk band would be well advised to try one of these. It seriously kicks ass ! Ampeg Shmampeg !

Forget about effects. You just want a solid reliable amp that will amplify the tone of your bass. Most of those bands you mentioned the sound is all about which bass and how it's played (hard with a pick). A precision bass of some sort and a good budget amp like an Ashdwon MAG300 or Marshall MB series will do it well and be affordable. I would get a separate head and cab to split the weight into two easier to carry packages rather than a combo. A 210 or 410 cab would sound cool.

Ibanez Soundgear 5 strings have a lovely slim neck very easy to play. Make sure you get one of the "made in Japan" ones as they are much better quality than the Korean / Indonesian ones. You could get a good second hand bargain on Ebay for around £200-£300 (cost new £500-600)

[quote name='Sawtooth' post='1142695' date='Feb 26 2011, 07:22 PM']meet 'The Mistress' - a '98 Ibanez Soundgear 800, made in Japan ... [attachment=73319:Ibanez.jpg][/quote] Nice. I've got one of those myself in Jewel Blue. It's for sale if anyone is interested (shameless plug!)

[quote name='Lozz196' post='1140561' date='Feb 24 2011, 10:17 PM']When I join my next band and learn a 40 song set-list, my band broke up a couple of weeks ago I did like the look of the 2x12 & 2x10 together, but wanted one item to carry about, instead of two, so 4x10 it was.[/quote] Oh that's shame. I'll let you know what mine is like at a gig if I buy one. Hope you get a new band sorted soon. Yeah 212 and 210 together could cover all my requirements. It all depends who has what in stock and how quick they can send it out. My old Ashdown 410 is going on Monday and I'll need the new cab for a gig next Saturday.

It sounds really good. I am very tempted with one of these or a 212 , maybe a 210 as well - Eden say the 210 has more bottom end which would suit my five string well and the 410 or 212 would be great with my Fender P for the JJ sound , esepcially with my JJ-500 head. Sorely tempted here. Trying to decide between two Nemesis cabs or one Aguilar DB212 which would cost about the same....... but I do like the look of a stack ........hmmmmm........ I look forward to hearing what you think after you have gigged it , when is your next one ?

[quote name='Lozz196' post='1139052' date='Feb 23 2011, 07:40 PM']I`ve not used any TC cabs. A couple of the guys on here have, and am sure they`ll be along later with their opinions, which from what I`ve read, are very favourable. The TC cabs were described to me as more modern sounding than what I was after (respect to The Bass Merchant, they went through the ins & outs of both cabs I was looking at, and they couldn`t have been more helpful) so in the end went with my other choice, an Eden Nemesis 410.[/quote] Lozz what do you think of your Eden Nemesis cab ? How does it sound compared to your Marshall 412 ? I am still trying to decide on a new cab and like the idea of a lightweight 410.

I have an MB series 30w practice combo which was pretty cheap to buy but has a really nice tone and sounded much better than any other practice amp in the shop even the more expensive ones. My Fender P sounds really nice through it - nicer than through my current gig amp (Ashdown MAG 300 though I am getting rid of that soon ).

Thanks for your advice everyone , I think I'lll be going for the DB. Yeah classic black looks good but Monster Green with the black cloth on the front looks even cooler !

Anyone know if the GS212 and DB212 are the same cab but with different styling? From what I can see the spec is identical but the DB212 is about £100 more with a classic (fender style) look whereas the GS212 has a black grill. Are they the same just with a different appearance? I am looking to buy a 212 and am not sure if the DB is worth the extra £100. Cheers all.

[quote name='lojo' post='1130804' date='Feb 17 2011, 11:55 AM']I posted this yesterday on another thread, its from the era of "that sound" Obviously there is the mime issue, but is this a bass he was getting that sound from too? Anyone know the story here, of have I got something wrong? [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6yTRq_rJg4...feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6yTRq_rJg4...feature=related[/url][/quote] That's interesting - Hiwatt head and a Marshall 412 , hmmmmmmmmmm

[quote name='Higgie' post='1131370' date='Feb 17 2011, 06:19 PM']Has it in spades mate. Where abouts are you from? I'll be playing it Saturday night in Colchester! P Bass, DB750, and a 212 [/quote] Great! I think I may get myself one. It's good to hear a review from a rocker - so often I read about a cab and it gets praised only for the guy to turn out to be a slap player after a totally different sound. Gonna get one to go with my Ashdown head - should be awesome ! BTW I'm nowhere near Colchester mate - I'm Newcastle area. Way aye !

[quote name='Higgie' post='1131341' date='Feb 17 2011, 06:01 PM']Just as an aside, that's what I did. I had a tweeter'd 12 and one without. The tone was incredible, but I just didn't have the volume. That's what made me go for a couple of 212's, as the 12's gave me the exact tone I wanted, I just needed more volume. Using 1 2x12 therefore gave me the same sound as the 2 single 12's just louder and a bit deeper, and then I can add another 212 if I really need to push some air. As I say, YMMV depending on the size of gig/PA support situation, but all the Aguilar cabs I've tried have been incredible. PS. I should note I didn't need THAT much more volume. It could have been solved by the guitarist turning down a bit. But you know what they're like...[/quote] Hi Higgie how to the 212s sound with your p-bass ? I play a USA Fender P aggresively with a pick and need a cab that gives me plenty of growl and bottom end. Is the DB212 up to the job?

[quote name='PaulWarning' post='1129859' date='Feb 16 2011, 04:36 PM']if you could JJ would still sound like he did on the the first 3 Stranglers albums and he doesn't, IMO of course[/quote] Yeah but that is my point , JJ can't get the exact sound now because he insists on using British made gear only and will not try other. My thoughts are that maybe with different gear that sound could be acheived hence asking about Ampeg or maybe some other ? A modern Hiwatt perhaps ? Any ideas ?

[quote name='Lozz196' post='1129365' date='Feb 16 2011, 11:01 AM']I changed to Ampegs, as Fender/Ampeg is, for me, the Holy Grail. Unfortunately, am having to sell those as well, as my band has split, and my back is making me go lightweight. In terms of sound, the Ampegs have a slightly "warmer" sound than the Marshall. I`m sure that the JJ sound can be coaxed out of Ampeg cabs. Just need to up the mids that bit more. But I think its the Celestion drivers that have that "hardness" to them that make it so easy through the Marshall (Ampegs use Eminence cones). Plus, 12s seem to have that "lower mids" thing going that also help for this sound. Maybe a 2x12 would be the way forward. Depending on budget, Matamp would be able to do this, and with them you can specify which speakers you want in your cab. Matamp gets good reviews on Basschat.[/quote] Thanks Lozz , some very useful info there. Lots to think about. Also it's amazing how many bass players end up with bad backs ! They say size is not important but it is when you play bass

[quote name='alexclaber' post='1128339' date='Feb 15 2011, 01:45 PM']. Alternatively, I see Lozz is selling that VBC412 which does the JJ sound so well - no more unwieldy than many Ampeg cabs and a bargain to boot![/quote] It's tempting but a more lightweight option would be good if I can find one. Lozz which cab have you changed to and how does it sound compared to your Marshall ?

[quote name='Lozz196' post='1127413' date='Feb 14 2011, 06:32 PM']My Marshall VBC412. Its an absolute monster, its heavy, unwieldy, but looks awesome, and sounds amazing - real solid lows, bags of low-mid presence, and good high-mids & highs even though there are no tweeters. I think its the Celestion speakers Marshall put in there (no idea which) they just have that "hard" sound which JJ was famed for. Also does a great Bruce Foxton (who also used to use two of these).[/quote] Sounds good. Shame they don't do it in a 212 to make it easier to lug around.

[quote name='Lozz196' post='1127120' date='Feb 14 2011, 02:46 PM']Best JJ sound I`ve ever been able to muster was with my Marshall 412 cab.[/quote] Really? Which model 412 was it ?

I am wanting to emulate the 1970s JJ Burnel bass sound with my Fender P (a tone like on the first three Stranglers albums). I am not keen on the Ashdown gear that JJB uses nowadays (JJ-500 signature amp and ABM 4x10 cabs) as it is not the same sound as those early Stanglers recordings. His signature sound in the late seventies was using Hiwatt gear. After the demise of that piece of kit he has never really been able to recapture that original sound IMO. That is the challenge ! JJB would not entertain Ampeg gear nowadays as he is a fiercely dedicated to only buying british. Not so myself. I know Ampeg SVT can give a good old school sound so if any of you SVT owners out there can comment that would be great thanks. I am trying to avoid buying a fully valve amp due to the weight so was thinking of a hybrid like the SVT-7 PRO maybe? If anyone out there can get the sound I am looking for on your gear then please tell ! Thanks.

[quote name='JTUK' post='1124003' date='Feb 11 2011, 04:25 PM']Sorry my mistake..didn't take too much notice...I think it was an EVO 500/600. It was supposed to be 600watts [url="http://www.ashdownmusic.com/bass/detail.asp?ID=6"]http://www.ashdownmusic.com/bass/detail.asp?ID=6[/url] This looks like it...but not sure on the models generally, and this likes what I am often given.... I'll take note of the MAG/ABM config next time. Thanks[/quote] Yeah that's the one. Maybe I need a new head as well then

[quote name='JTUK' post='1123653' date='Feb 11 2011, 10:55 AM']My beef with Ashdowns, generally, are that the amps need work to get a sound. I played one of their better amps..a Mag 500 thingey..? and it was a bugger through pretty clean cabs. I hated it...as I knew what the cabs could sound like. That graphic slider thing was a PITA and I never got a clean sound from it.[/quote] The Ashdown MAG are the cheaper range solid state heads. Mine is an ABM which is higher spec with a valve preamp so may justify the neo cab , a MAG certainly doesn't.

Mmmm lots to think about there. Thanks folks. So if my Ashdown is not in the premiership should I be thinking about upgrading my head too to go with the neo cab ?

I am looking for a light weight 4x10 bass cab and am trying to decide between the Bergantino and the Ampeg neodymium cabs. I use an Ashdown ABM500 Head and am currently playing through Ashdown 410 and 115 cabs but would like to get rid of those and get something easier on the old back. Anyone got any comments as to which would sound better with my Ashdown head ? I play a Musicman Stingray 5 and a Fender P mainly for rock and blues , not into slap style stuff. I need to be able to hear the Stingray's full range especially the low B well and would like to get a good growl with plenty bottom end from my Fender P like JJ Burnel. If anyone has either of these cabs and can let me know what they think of them that would be great thanks.