fretmeister Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 My rig is a Hartke LH500 and a pair of Mark Bass Club 121 cabs. I love it. However I'm going to be helping out the music dept at my kids' school so I want to get a ligher amp for this purpose. Totally happy to take a single cab with me, and for the ultimate in tiny set ups I'll be taking my Status Streamline. But I'm going to have to move rooms and carry everything everywhere. The Hartke isn't really heavy but it is heavy enough for me to not want to move it every 40 minutes. So I'm looking for a small amp head... and this is the question... which of the current tiny winners sounds the most like my Hartke?? I'm tempted by Dood's F1 - but I also know it won't sound like the LH500. What about the Reidmar? Or the MB500? (I tried a Fusion - didn't like it at all) Until Larry makes a Class D version of the LH500 I'll have to look at something else. All suggestions welcome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted June 1, 2012 Author Share Posted June 1, 2012 Forgot to say - I'll be playing Big Band / Swing sort of stuff. The old classics like Bandstand Boogie, Walking Home with Brother Bill etc etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 The LM3 would work well with that cab, doesn't weigh much and will sound good with your styles of music. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 [quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1338558895' post='1676350'] My rig is a Hartke LH500 and a pair of Mark Bass Club 121 cabs. I love it. However I'm going to be helping out the music dept at my kids' school so I want to get a ligher amp for this purpose. Totally happy to take a single cab with me, and for the ultimate in tiny set ups I'll be taking my Status Streamline. But I'm going to have to move rooms and carry everything everywhere. The Hartke isn't really heavy but it is heavy enough for me to not want to move it every 40 minutes. So I'm looking for a small amp head... and this is the question... which of the current tiny winners sounds the most like my Hartke?? I'm tempted by Dood's F1 - but I also know it won't sound like the LH500. What about the Reidmar? Or the MB500? (I tried a Fusion - didn't like it at all) Until Larry makes a Class D version of the LH500 I'll have to look at something else. All suggestions welcome! [/quote] Indeed mate! The Hartke Kilo isn't a 'gig bag' amp by any means either and for the same reason I had to look elsewhere until such times as there's a baby-amp in the Harke range. I've just gotten the MB800 because i really liked the all FET preamp (as well as the 800w amp lol), which sounds warmer and smoother, but is able to do the typical GK bite n grunge if you want it too. I guess i'd suggest anything with a preamp valve, then i guess you have the option of doing a bit of 'tube rolling' to fine tune the amp of choice? Or, you could use an amp such as the F1 or similar and drop a preamp type pedal in to the mix? LM Tube maybe? Some great suggestions already. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 Check out Markbass & Genz Benz. Both get very good reviews on here & Talkbass. I`m yet to hear a bassist using Markbass where I didn`t like the tone and depth of sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted June 1, 2012 Author Share Posted June 1, 2012 I've had an LM2 and F1 before and I quite liked them, but there is something about the clarity of the LH500 I can't get with a MB head. I'll have a loook at a Genz though - I've got a couple of Doug Johns CDs and I quite like that sound too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phatbass787 Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 Checkout the Ashdown MiBass too, great bit of kit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4 Strings Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 For a budget model I'd need to look at the Harley Benton. For limitless budget - Genz Streamliner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismuzz Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 If you're moving around a lot maybe a good sounding budget combo would be a better choice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted June 2, 2012 Author Share Posted June 2, 2012 What are the Genz Shuttles like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 Don't know if you are anywher near BassGear but I popped in and tried their Carvin head, AB'd it against an Aguilar and far preferred it. Then Vic told me it cost £369!! Not a super light mini amp but much lighter than the Hartke. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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