Doctor J Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 Against my better judgement it looks like I might be getting back into a regular rehearsal/gigging situation again and I'm thinking about picking up a small amp head to take some of the lug out of lugging. Amps have never been a big deal to me so I'm not entirely learned as regards what's out there. I'm looking for something small and light, the kind of thing you might fit in a gig bag, doesn't need to be more than 500W, I reckon. I'd need two speaker outs, not a combined speakon/jack however, two seperate outputs. Tonally, if it could do a bit of dirt, that would be nice. A decent DI output would be good too. If I can keep it under about £600/€700 that would be just tickety boo. I don't need anything outrageuous, tonally, or onboard effects or other gimmicks, the simpler the better as far as I'm concerned. This is a rock band, so I need a bit of ooomph but I don't see myself needing 1.21 gigawatts, if you know what I mean. The Aguilar Tone Hammer 500 looks decent but my knowledge and experience of them doesn't go beyond their preamps. So, good people of basschat, if you have any experience of this kind of thing I'd appreciate hearing your experience and opinions. Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 Sounds an awful lot like my MB210 combo ([url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/177375-gallien-krueger-mb210-115mbe/"]currently for sale on the forum with matching 15" 500w cab[/url]) which is based on the MB500 in combo form Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamfist Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 GK MB500 is well worth a look. Or the Orange Bass Terror. Both well within your budget. However, if you could push the budget then the Genz Benz STreamliners (600 and 900) and the Ampeg SVT 7Pro are all in a league above. To be honest I'd recommend a good pedal for dirt with virtually any amp. Just IME and IMO of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 Markbass. And as said above, a pedal for dirt. Then you don't have to play at 130db to get your sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longtimefred Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 personally i dont like these little car stereo sized amps. i have tried a few now and yes they seem loud enough, but compare to a big ol iron lady SS amp or a valve amp they seem (to me) to lack guts. I know gozillions of people on here swear by them but they aint for me. I have never seen a touring band or have been on tour with anyone using these. They are always big industrial sized amps. i wouldnt listen to me though! im probably wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 For an amp that can fit in a gig bag, I`d look at the GK MB500, or the GK MB Fusion 500. Both are smaller than a laptop, and about the same weight. Very powerful amps, have exactly what you`ve put in the requirements. Difference between the two - the Fusion is "thicker" sounding, due to the pre-amp valves. Plus, GK are great for rock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor J Posted May 29, 2012 Author Share Posted May 29, 2012 Thanks, I'll have a look at them. Has anyone tried the Genz Benz Shuttle 6.2? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismuzz Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 (edited) When i first got my Markbass F1 I was in a death metal band, I used this with no pedals and it was never lacking. It's super super clean and quick with a tiny high mid bump. Sounds more aggressive than most dirty amps I've tried! dood was selling one for £300 earlier, don't know if its still available but I highly recommend it! EDIT: Just remembered being at rehearsal last night with the amp on about 10 o clock, and I had to turn the Bass knob down because i had SO much beef my feet were vibrating and I couldnt stand up properly Edited May 29, 2012 by chrismuzz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike257 Posted May 30, 2012 Share Posted May 30, 2012 [quote name='Doctor J' timestamp='1338333070' post='1673056'] Thanks, I'll have a look at them. Has anyone tried the Genz Benz Shuttle 6.2? [/quote] Haven't tried the 6.2 but I do own the original 6.0 model and its a great little amp. I've always found it to show the sound of your basses well, and often leave the EQ and tone shaping completely flat. Haven't used it in anger with any of the lightweight cabs that are around, but it certainly loves my 6x10 and I've had many compliments on the tone of it (and many shocked guitarists when they realise that tiny box is my 600w amp!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamfist Posted May 30, 2012 Share Posted May 30, 2012 (edited) [quote name='Doctor J' timestamp='1338333070' post='1673056'] Thanks, I'll have a look at them. Has anyone tried the Genz Benz Shuttle 6.2? [/quote] If you try the shuttle and then a streamliner back to back (and if you are wanting to play rock of any genre) you will never want to play the shuttle again. The Shuttles are great amps but are relatively hi-fi, modern and "thin". Of course, you can thicken them up a bit with EQing but their basic tonal signature is as I described, which is what a lot of non-rock players are looking for. In contrast, the Streamliner signiture sound is thick, utterly full and powerful. Much more "Ampegy", much more "tubey". They are very, very different amps. I cannot recommend the Streamliner enough for anyone looking for a rock bass amp. Edited May 30, 2012 by hamfist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted May 30, 2012 Share Posted May 30, 2012 Decide what you gig can take. It may well be that some gigs would fall about laughing if you turned up with some lightweight/small stuff as image and look can account for quite a lot. If carry and size is an issue overriding everything, then that points you in one direction. I don't see the point of lightwieght amps unless you want/need to wak into the gig after schlepping down from the train station so anything upto around 10-12 kgs brings lot of decent amps into the equation and that weight does not concern me. Cabs at around 40 lb aren't a problem either...but that's me. I might have a TH500 which I've demo'd, and I like the pedal, but don't see the need atm. I've tried a few Markbass but my worry is that the sound of them at low volume is lost at higher volumes. I tend not to like class D and NEO on the basis of my experience so far.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Savage Posted May 30, 2012 Share Posted May 30, 2012 I'm in very much the same boat and currently mooching around the new Ampeg Portaflex heads (PF350 and PF500) which look like solid, if basic amps - anyone have any experience of those at all? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted May 30, 2012 Share Posted May 30, 2012 I had the PF500, Ian, and it was great. Unfortunately the sound wasn`t right for one of my bands, just a bit too warm, so I sold it, but I`d recommend them in an instant. There have apparently been some problems however, with some of them, but I never encountered any, either on 2hr gigs, 4hr rehearsals, or day-long recording sessions. If you like the Ampeg sound, you`ll like the PF amps. I reviewed mine on here, and our very own Truckstop is the current owner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost_Bass Posted May 30, 2012 Share Posted May 30, 2012 If i was in a rock band at the present moment i would go for either a EBS Reidmar or a Ibanez Promethean and use a pedal for girth (SansAmp VT Bass would be one of the choices). I'm currently using a Genz Benz Shuttle 9.0 (just about identical to the Aguilar TH500) because i need a cleaner tone without that big bottom muddying my sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Savage Posted May 30, 2012 Share Posted May 30, 2012 [quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1338378593' post='1673486'] I had the PF500, Ian, and it was great. Unfortunately the sound wasn`t right for one of my bands, just a bit too warm, so I sold it, but I`d recommend them in an instant. There have apparently been some problems however, with some of them, but I never encountered any, either on 2hr gigs, 4hr rehearsals, or day-long recording sessions. If you like the Ampeg sound, you`ll like the PF amps. I reviewed mine on here, and our very own Truckstop is the current owner. [/quote] Cheers Loz, that's reassuring (warm is exactly what I want, to be honest; gonna be putting a Precision and/or a SUB through it for old-school rock-type stuff) - I notice the feet on them are quite high, are there cooling grilles on the bottom or something? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crez5150 Posted May 30, 2012 Share Posted May 30, 2012 Another +1 for the GK MB500..... I cannot fault it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted May 30, 2012 Share Posted May 30, 2012 (edited) [quote name='Ian Savage' timestamp='1338382739' post='1673596'] Cheers Loz, that's reassuring (warm is exactly what I want, to be honest; gonna be putting a Precision and/or a SUB through it for old-school rock-type stuff) - I notice the feet on them are quite high, are there cooling grilles on the bottom or something? [/quote] I didn`t notice any, though have to admit, wasn`t looking. I think it`s more down to the Portaflex cabs having a handle on top, so the feet need to be high enough to place the amp over this. With a Precision these amps sound great, ideal for old-school rock - really miss mine, but no point having an amp that`s wrong for the band Edited May 30, 2012 by Lozz196 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Savage Posted May 30, 2012 Share Posted May 30, 2012 [quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1338388113' post='1673719'] I didn`t notice any, though have to admit, wasn`t looking. I think it`s more down to the Portaflex cabs having a handle on top, so the feet need to be high enough to place the amp over this. With a Precision these amps sound great, ideal for old-school rock - really miss mine, but no point having an amp that`s wrong for the band [/quote] Magic, thanks man; think I might be treating myself to a 350 in the near future then! Anyone wanna buy a Hartke HA5000 (in need of a bit of TLC) or a 3U rack case? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted May 30, 2012 Share Posted May 30, 2012 If the band won't let you play using a 900watt Streamliner head sat aloft a pair of 4x10's because of their image find another band Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor J Posted May 30, 2012 Author Share Posted May 30, 2012 I'll keep that in mind, Pete Thanks, everyone. Lots to digest there, lots for me to start checking out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4 Strings Posted May 30, 2012 Share Posted May 30, 2012 [quote name='longtimefred' timestamp='1338325212' post='1672899'] personally i dont like these little car stereo sized amps. i have tried a few now and yes they seem loud enough, but compare to a big ol iron lady SS amp or a valve amp they seem (to me) to lack guts. I know gozillions of people on here swear by them but they aint for me. I have never seen a touring band or have been on tour with anyone using these. They are always big industrial sized amps. i wouldnt listen to me though! im probably wrong. [/quote] I think you make fair points. However, touring bands probably don't benefit from tiny size like us plebs who have to lug gear around ourselves. I think you have to check them out yourself to see if they lack anything. In the end, its the power section which has been mostly reduced in size as opposed to the tone creating parts. I'm happy with my Streamliner, bit difficult to say if I've lost any guts from the HA5000, both are very powerful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor J Posted May 30, 2012 Author Share Posted May 30, 2012 Indeed. My principal interest here is because I have a pain in my hole lugging stuff around for gigs. If I can get something which sounds decent and fits in a gig bag pocket then I'm a truly happy camper. It doesn't have to be the best sounding amp in the history of the world ever, though obviously it's got to sound good. I will be somewhat forgiving tonally if the size and weight is right. The Streamliner looks about right but there seem to be lots of people out there changing the eq valve to make it something a bit more useable, which is a concern. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismuzz Posted May 30, 2012 Share Posted May 30, 2012 [quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1338369454' post='1673278'] I've tried a few Markbass but my worry is that the sound of them at low volume is lost at higher volumes. [/quote] Actually I've found that my Markbass rig sounds a lot different at higher volumes. You really get the full benefit of those earth shaking lows when you crank it, but you don't lose any of that clarity! The settings I normally have tend to sound a bit thin at low levels.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted May 30, 2012 Share Posted May 30, 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebuckets Posted May 30, 2012 Share Posted May 30, 2012 +1 on the Orange terror bass its not tiny but by no means big very compact and full of valvey goodness also in your price range (i got mine from dv247 cheapest around + a 4yr warranty) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.gif.9ad672bb8b84505709f76b39c8c256ec.gif)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.