What amp should I get?

[Clarky72]

So here's my dilmena. I have two bands, a rock/indie band and an 80s pop band. Both need a very different sound.

Currently I'm using my Ampeg BA500 combo for most gigs, which is fine for the balls out rock material, but not so good for the pop. I'm going to sell it to get something more suitable.

I'm getting a Barefaced S12T, but I need a good head to go with it. I'm not so bothered about the size/weight issue as thats now going to be eased with the new cab.

I've been looking at the regular amps and micro amps, there's so many to choose from. What can replace the monstrous Ampeg and still work for some 80s pop??

[Raggy]

How about the Genz Shuttle 9.2 Max?

Tube/FET switchable preamps. Would work a treat with the Barefaced S12T.

Edited January 5, 2012 by Raggy

[chris_b]

[size=4][font=Arial][color="#000000"]I'd ask why you think you need 2 amps? [/color][/font][/size][font=Arial][size=2] [/size][/font]
[size=4][font=Arial] [/font][/size][font=Arial][size=2][/size][/font]
[size=4][font=Arial][color="#000000"]My approach is that as I'm not in a tribute band I'll get the sound [b][i]I[/i][/b] like and alter it slightly via the EQ for different bands. That way I’ll sound like me in all playing situations.[/color][/font][/size][font=Arial][size=2] [/size][/font]
[size=4][font=Arial] [/font][/size][font=Arial][size=2][/size][/font]
[size=4][color=#222222][font=Arial]The Genz is a good amp. [/font][/color][/size][color=#222222][font=Arial][size=2][/size][/font][/color]
[size=4][color=#222222][font=Arial] [/font][/color][/size][color=#222222][font=Arial][size=2][/size][/font][/color]

[Clarky72]

Sorry, I dont need 2 amps, that's my point. I'm after one that will service both bands

[shizznit]

The Markbass LM Rocker 500 is a sweet little amp. I got a really nice warm, crunchy Ampeg'esq tone when I tested one and the overdrive/distortion channel is very sweet. You can still dial in a typical hi-fi Markbass tone when the mood suits you, so you can get many uses out of it. The Genz Benz Shuttle Max amp that Raggy mentioned is also very nice. I found that one to be closer to a Mesa tone.

[Moos3h]

Budget?

[Clarky72]

Good point... I'm looking around £600-ish I suppose.

[Lozz196]

Well knowing your 80s project, mids are going to be the key thing there, so I`d suggest either Markbass, or TC Electronic, as both have that middy voicing that should work very well.

The TC Electronic Classic 450 is very versatile, I used mine in The Daves, and had a very Ampeg-like scooped sound, with a bit of valvelike breakup, great for punk and rock. But, switch off the Tubetone, add some Spectracomp, and increase those mids, instant JT!

[Moos3h]

I maybe don't have a very advanced ear for these things, but ANY amp should be able to get a good Rock and Pop sound out of it, shouldn't it? Certainly no-one has done the 'has someone farted?' face when I've played rock and pop in the covers bands I'm in and I've used Trace, Ashdown, Hartke, Peavey, GK and TC Electronic stuff in the past - I don't even fiddle from song to song!

I think the adage 'try some and see' is gonna work best, as always!

[brensabre79]

I got a Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 for my Super12. Alex informed me this is what he uses to test them with and having tried it in anger I can say it is an excellent combination. You can drive the tube pre for Rock and back it off a bit for cleaner pop sounds. I play everything from Sade to Buzzcocks through mine and Its a really clear, transparent sound but with tube warmth and growl when you need it.
I'm not sure if they have any left but bassdirect were doing these at about £400 for BC'ers. You will not need any more power than this with a Super12. Mine hurts past 9 o'clock on the volume! So you'd have £200 spare to spend on a decent tube driver if you need even more dirt

[Clarky72]

Alex recomended the Shuttle 6 to me too. In my head I already had that and the TC Classic 450 in mind and they seem to be the ones mostly recomended...

I'm a bit put off the TC by the single speakon output though, anyone else had any experience of this?

[51m0n]

S12T works great with MB heads, the Hartke LH heads and the Shuttles too IME.

As for something that can do everything, well a MB Little Mark 3 and a Sansamp VT Bass would have everything you need in terms of clean verses growly.

[chris_b]

[quote name='Clarky72' timestamp='1325778928' post='1487547']
....I'm a bit put off the TC by the single speakon output though, anyone else had any experience of this?....
[/quote]
[size=4]These are multi-million pound companies and they know their stuff. As long as you can daisy chain the cabs, 1 speakon is not a problem.[/size]

[Happy Jack]

The S12T is a 4-Ohm cab and ridiculously loud with it ... not sure what you'd need a second Speakon socket for.

I like having two, but that's just me. It's not like I actually [i][b]need [/b][/i]two.

[brensabre79]

[quote name='Clarky72' timestamp='1325778928' post='1487547']
Alex recomended the Shuttle 6 to me too. In my head I already had that and the TC Classic 450 in mind and they seem to be the ones mostly recomended...

I'm a bit put off the TC by the single speakon output though, anyone else had any experience of this?
[/quote]
Yeah thats roughly where I was before I went for the GB. One of their product designers is on the 'American bass players who like to talk to each other' forum (can I say it?) and seems a pretty cool and knowledgeable dude. Having spoken with various people who know more than me, I decided the GB was the one for me, plus it was seriously reduced at bassdirect. I have not been disappointed.

From what I discovered about the TC stuff, the TC amps work best with the TC cabs (which in turn work best with the TC amps). I think it goes along the lines of, the amps are nowhere near as powerful as their counterparts, but they are compressed and their speakers are very sensitive so the end result is a loudness equivalent to a more powerful amp driving a less sensitive speaker or something like that. Maybe a TC owner can enlighten me on that one! but I guess that means if you put a TC amp into ANOther speaker it won't be so loud and if you put ANOther amp into a TC speaker you're likely to overload it...?

[brensabre79]

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1325783038' post='1487639']
The S12T is a 4-Ohm cab and ridiculously loud with it ... not sure what you'd need a second Speakon socket for.

I like having two, but that's just me. It's not like I actually [i][b]need [/b][/i]two.
[/quote]
+1 if you [i][b]need[/b][/i] two S12s you should probably book an appointment with a hearing specialist. You'll need one after you fire that rig up anyway

[Clarky72]

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1325783038' post='1487639']
I like having two, but that's just me. It's not like I actually [i][b]need [/b][/i]two.
[/quote]

Haha... that might actually be all it is! doh!

[Clarky72]

Starting to edge more to the Shuttle now...

Alex said a pretty similar thing to me about TC's quoted power and actual power when hooked up to anything else, only 236 watts out of the TC in reality.

Edited January 5, 2012 by Clarky72

[Lozz196]

[quote name='Clarky72' timestamp='1325778928' post='1487547']
Alex recomended the Shuttle 6 to me too. In my head I already had that and the TC Classic 450 in mind and they seem to be the ones mostly recomended...

I'm a bit put off the TC by the single speakon output though, anyone else had any experience of this?
[/quote]

I daisy-chained my Classic 450 into an Ampeg SVT210 & SVT410. Worked a treat, and at gigs, didn`t need volume on any more than 4, so also no worries re the underpowering that TC amps are getting labelled with, especially considering the dB rating of Ampeg cabs isn`t particularly high either.

Edited January 5, 2012 by Lozz196

[Merton]

I use my S12 with a GK MB Fusion, playing pop and rock covers. Sounds great and very versatile, plus more mids than you can shake a stick at.

[chris_b]

[quote name='Clarky72' timestamp='1325784705' post='1487691']
....Alex said a pretty similar thing to me about TC's quoted power and actual power when hooked up to anything else, only 236 watts out of the TC in reality....
[/quote]

[size=4]Sorry guys but this is total bollocks!!!!![/size]

[size=4]The 236 watts is processed and boosted to 450 watts or 750 watts. These amps are putting out their stated levels of volume. TC are some of the loudest amps into [i]any[/i] cabs. [/size]

[LawrenceH]

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1325789652' post='1487836']
[size=4]Sorry guys but this is total bollocks!!!!![/size]

[size=4]The 236 watts is processed and boosted to 450 watts or 750 watts. These amps are putting out their stated levels of volume. TC are some of the loudest amps into [i]any[/i] cabs. [/size]
[/quote]

The 236 watts are not 'processed and boosted'. The preamp signal is processed to ensure maximum perceived volume from the full 236 watts RMS the amp is capable of outputting. This may well make it louder than a 500w amp without such processing, but it will also sound different. I don't like the tone of these amps, but whether that's the compression algorithm or the low-mid emphasis I can't say for sure...I suspect a bit of both. Anyone who does like it, I'm not knocking that.

But with a 'real' 450 watt PA amp, parametric EQ and a studio multiband compressor I could get a 'louder' sound still.

[chris_b]

[quote name='LawrenceH' timestamp='1325797824' post='1488051']
....This may well make it louder than a 500w amp....
[/quote]
[size=4]Yes it does and yes it is.[/size]
[size=4][quote name='LawrenceH' timestamp='1325797824' post='1488051']
....But with a 'real' 450 watt PA amp, parametric EQ and a studio multiband compressor I could get a 'louder' sound still....
[/quote][/size]
[size=4]Of course you could. You'd be starting with an amp that is twice as powerful.[/size]

[Merton]

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1325789652' post='1487836']
[size=4]Sorry guys but this is total bollocks!!!!![/size]

[size=4]The 236 watts is processed and boosted to 450 watts or 750 watts. These amps are putting out their stated levels of volume. TC are some of the loudest amps into [i]any[/i] cabs. [/size]
[/quote]

Watts aren't a stated volume level

[LawrenceH]

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1325799633' post='1488115']
[size=4]Yes it does and yes it is.[/size]
[/quote]

You cunningly cut off the key part of what I said. About changing the sound. For the OP looking to buy, they should consider whether they like the sound of peak limiting in general, and the TC implementation in particular.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1325799633' post='1488115']
[size=4]Of course you could. You'd be starting with an amp that is twice as powerful.[/size]
[/quote]

Exactly, but you said it's [size=4]'236 watts...processed and boosted to 450 watts[/size]'. Which it isn't, because that statement makes no sense. It's 236 watts with a form of peak limiting on the pre-amp to reduce peak-average signal ratio. I'm not trying to have a go or be pedantic, there just seemed to be a fundamental misunderstanding of what is going on which obscures the fact that tonal changes will occur. A TC 450 will not sound the same as an equivalent pre-amp without compression, boosted through a more powerful amp to the same perceived average loudness level. Whether you think this is a tonal compromise or an enhancement is down to personal preference, of course. Some people may not even hear the difference, that's fine, though I'd be surprised if a bassist couldn't if they A/Bed them. A lot of people say it sounds like a valve amp...but there are many different flavours of valve amp and to me it sounds like the 'bad' kind! The OP may love it, and shouldn't rule it out on spec, but IMO it's worth knowing what it does and that you could do something very similar with a different more powerful amp using outboard units if so desired but not be stuck with it.