Merton's bass amps, a potted history:
First amp: Vox Bass Escort. Sounded nice now I look back on those early days of playing, but very underpowered. Left to rust outside my parents house for a year or two back in about 1996.
Second amp: Laney somethingy. Very punchy, very underpowered.
Third amp (still got): Trace Elliot Commando 15 100W. Underpowered for rock gigs but a bloody good sound for jazz.
First real rig: Trace AH300-12 into an Ashdown MAG410T. Loved that rig, it sounded really really good. Trouble is, then I discovered bassworld and GAS kicked in. Have since sold the MAG, bought a TE 1x15 and 2x10 and got the "real" TE sound. Bought a V-Type combo and found tonal nirvana. Then sold the 12-band head as I was getitng fed up with the EQ section, bought an Eden Nemesis which was fantastic but way too underpowered for my rock band. Sold the Nemesis and 2x10 cab and bought a 2nd V-Type combo and 4x8 extension cab.
I have also used the following:
Ampeg SVT somethingy through an 8x10
Ashdown ABM 500 EVO II through my old MAG410T
Hartke HA3500 through Hartke 4x10 cabs
Hartke HA3500 through Ashdown ABM 8x10 cab
Onto the winnners:
[b]Best live sound:[/b] Trace V-Type 1x15 combo and 1x15 cab (haven't used the 8x8 rig in anger yet so can't really compare)
[b]Best looking rig:[/b] Trace V-Type 4x8 combo and 4x8 cab
[b]Best for small gigs:[/b] Trace Commando 15 combo
[b]Loudest:[/b] Trace AH300-12 into MAG410T, very closely followed by the 2x15 V-Type thing I have going at the mo.
And the losers:
Everyhting i've used that isn't mine...:
Ampeg SVT somethingy through 8x10 - I found it ill defined, muddy and I hated it
Ashdown ABM 500 EVO II - tied with the Ampeg for the same reason
Hartke HA3500 through Ashdown ABM 8x10 cab - er, also tied with the Ampeg and EVO II, the ABM cab sucked all life and brightness from the Hartke.
This may win loudest rig when i eventually get to use it all tho: