Amps - Can't gig without them.... Awards !!

[steve-soar]

Amps I've owned,
Sansui amp into Wharfdale Laser 60's, blew them up,
First proper amp, McGregor Bassman 200 with a HH 2x15 cab,
Ampeg SVT cab, didn't realise what it was but got it for £150. Sold it to Hessey's music.
Peavey Combo 300,
Not sure about the order around this time,
Marshall Jubilee 300,
Marshall Jubilee 4x10,
Peavey 1820 cab,
Settled on Peavey Mark 6 head and 2x15" Blackwidow cab.
Ampeg SVT II, then bought back the SVT cab from our rehearsal studio, who had bought it from Hessey's,
Big gap
Ashdown EVO ABM Combo 500 C115,
Ashdown ABM Mini 48 cab,
Hartke 4.5 XL
Hartke HA7000,
Ampeg SVP Pro,
Crown XTi 1000,
2xAccuGgroove Tri 112L's,
Avalon U5 preamp/D.I. *
Bergantino IP 310, *
Ampeg SVT IIP preamp. *

*=My current rig.

Best looking- SVT stack
Best sounding-Bergantino and SVT IIP pre, by a million miles
Loudest, SVT II with the 8x10 and the Peavey 2x15, insane
Best studio sound, SVT II head going into a Marshall 4x12 guitar cab
Most commented on, non of them because the punters always wanted to shag the singer, Combo 300, always use to get praise
Most frustrating, they all had something, weight, lack of power, lack of definition/punch, too fiddley to set up but my Berg, Ampeg and Avalon don't suffer any of these problems, except I wish I had two Bergs
Worst the McGregor, absolutely terrible. I see them on ebay and think just take a lump hammer to them
Overall winner, whoever can make an SVT that weighs 25 lbs will be a rich man, having said that, my Berg is the best sounding cab I have EVER heared and the Avalon is a great pre and D.I. (brilliant into my mixer, then into my PC) but using the Ampeg SVT IIP, which is the three valve eq section of the SVT II head, as the Bergs preamp, gives me the closest I can get to my old rigs sound, plus it doesn't weigh over 300 lbs.

Stuff I would like to try Trace Elliot (I know, I just never fancied it), Acoustic and one of those Fender PB 400 heads with 3x4 ohm cabs.

Edited August 25, 2008 by steve-soar

[Delberthot]

My bass gear to date:

Peavey TNT160 combo - lasted one gig before being traded in for

Trace 7210 combo and then added

Trace 1048H to give me a 6x10" set up. Band got a PA so I downsized and got:

Gallien Krueger 800RB and a Trace 1153 and swapped out the 200w 8ohm speaker for a 300w 4ohm one.

Used that setup for years then after a particlularly bad gig sold the lot and bought:

Hartke HA5500 and a Behringer BA410 cab. Amp was good but really heavy. All 4 aluminium cones in the Behringer cab blew. Kind of reminicent of the scene at the beginning of Back to the Future when Marty plays a chord through that 10' speaker with the little guitar. They sent me a replacement and I immediately sold it.

Then bought an Ashdown RC Evo 500 blah blah blah with 2 15" cabs. Sounded wooly, blew one of the speakers.

Decided that small, light and good quality was the answer so bought a GK700RB II and Schroeder 1212L.

Best looking set up was the Trace in all its 6x10" glory.

Worst sounding was the Ashdown stuff.

Shoddiest was the Behringer - you pay peanuts you get monkeys.

Lightest, Best sounding, best quality, easiest to set up and easiest to adjust would have to go to my current setup.


I'm also with Born 2B Mild as most of the controls on the GK are set flat. In fact my setup is so good for what I want that I don't need any controls on my bass and if GK did an amp with just gain, output volume, a tuner mute, active bass pad button, boost, an input from the bass, a speakon output and a DI out then I'd have it.

Easily the dirtiest, punchiest and best all-round sound that I have ever had. Can't wait to get my Warmoth '56 P bass up and running when it's ready.

Edited August 25, 2008 by Delberthot

[woodster]

From the beginning...

Carlsbro Stingray 300 with Tim Gentle (old Essex music shop) 2x15

Trace Elliot AH500 w/ 4x10 and 1x15

Hartke 7000 w/ two 4.5XL's

Ampeg SVT w/ 810

SWR Super Redhead

Eden WT800 w/ two 410 XL's

Eden Metro w/ 210T

Now with MB LMKII and 104HF


[b]Best Looking[/b] - The Tracey without a doubt. UV baby!!

[b]Best Sound[/b] - Any of the Edens. Great tone, even with flat eq

[b]Most Disappointing[/b] - the Ampeg - Never understood what the fuss was all about

[b]Loudest Rig[/b] - The Eden WT800

[b]The 'Save my back' award[/b] - The MB, will prolong my life by several days!!

Edited August 26, 2008 by woodster

[mr_russ]

AMPS OWNED

Peavey TNT 100 combo
Hartke HA200/115 combo
Hartke HA200/115 combo + traveller 4x10
SWR sm400 + peavey 410
SWR sm400 + SWR Henry the 8x8
SWR sm400 + Markbass std102h
SWR sm400 + Markbass std102h + mb 115HR
Markbass littlemark 1 + Markbass std102h + mb 115HR
Markbass littlemark 1 + Markbass std102h X2
Markbass littlemark 1 + Markbass std102h + EA 1x10
Markbass littlemark 1 + Markbass std102h
GK 1001RBII + Markbass std102h
GK 1001RBII + Markbass 152HR
GK 1001RBII + Markbass std102h + alex claber built neo 17kg 1x15
Markbass LMII + Markbass std102h and/or alex claber built neo 17kg 1x15

BEST SOUND
EASIEST TO MOVE
LOUDEST = all go to the LMII + std102H with optional 1x15

AMPS GIGGED but not owned

Ampeg SVTCL + 8x10
Orange AD200B + 410 & 115
Peavey Firebass + 8x10
Marshall dbs something or other +410 &115
Trace something or other with 410 & 115 + various stuff over a few gigs here and there
Ashdown mag400 + 410 + other various ashdown kit over the years

The orange stack was stunning, Trace and Ashdown stuff always make me cringe, the SVT was great but I preferred the AD200B.

[alexclaber]

In chronological order:

Traynor YBA-2B combo (25W all-tube sealed 1x15")
Peavey Sessionbass/112MB (200W s/s head with 1x12" whizzer ported tiltback cab, occasionally used with big 1x15" cab)
SWR Grand Prix / Mackie M1400 / Two Acme Low-B2s (1000W into ported 3-way cabs)
SWR Grand Prix / QSC PLX 3002 / Two Acme Low-B2s (2000W)
Avalon U5 / QSC PLX 3002 / Two Acme Low-B2s (Class A s/s preamp replacing hybrid preamp)
Avalon U5 / QSC PLX 3002 / barefacedBass Compact (550W into ported 1x15")

Best Looking Amp - probably the current rig, or maybe the '70s Traynor combo

Loudest Amp - PLX 3002 and the Acmes, but The Big One will be louder!

Best Live Sound - U5/PLX/The Compact

Best Studio Sound - U5, easily!

Most Commented Upon Live Sound - SWR/Mackie/Acme but that's because it did the most gigs!

Most Frustrating Set Up to get a sound out of - I used to blow the bulbs too often with the Mackie/Acmes but never had a problem with sounds.

Overall Winner - The current rig but I should hope so after this much work!

Alex

[Machines]

Amps owned (see if you can sport a pattern):

Ashdown Five Fifteen 65w
Ashdown Electric Blue 180-12
Ashdown ABM300 Evo II

Amps Gigged:
Ashdown Electric Blue 180-12
Ashdown ABM300 Evo II
Ashton BA150
Laney R4H + 410 +115

I am considering progressing from Ashdown at some point - but have no idea which path to take.. for now.

[Protium]

[b]What I've owned:[/b]

No-name 20W combo (5 string bass blew this "beast" up)
Ashdown MAG 300 head + MAG 410 + MAG 115 (Decent head, poor cabs. Made from chipboard...)
Ashdown MAG 600 head (DOA, all the ones soundslive had in stock were broke too, got the ABM 300 instead)
Ashdown ABM EVO II 300 head + ABM 410 (current gig setup)
Custom built 210 cab (currently use for practice so I dont have to lug the 410 around)
Orange Crush 35B (current practice amp)



[b]What I've played:[/b]

Trace Elliot 115 combo
Some ancient Kustom amp that seemingly only had a bass control?
50W Laney 112 combo
MAG 250 head + MAG 410 cab (@ Surface unsigned - "You will be using industry standard equipment: Ashdown ABM 900 head + ABM 810 cabinet will be supplied" haha bollocks, and they don't even make the MAG 250 any more)



[b]Awards:[/b]

[u]Best Looking Amp[/u] Everyone loves them orange amps
[u]Loudest Amp[/u] ABM 300 + MAG 410 + MAG 115
[u]Best Live Sound[/u] ABM 300 + ABM 410
[u]Most Commented Upon Live Sound[/u] MAG 300 + custom 210 cab + 5 string bass = "The loudest noise I've ever heard, the seats were visibly vibrating"
[u]Most Frustrating Set Up to get a sound out of[/u] Using the MAG 115 on its own sounded sh*t, I dont think it had a tweeter so all you got was boom boom boom. The trace combo wasn't too hot either, 15" speakers anyone?
[u]Overall Winner[/u] Current rig: ABM gear.
[u]Overall Loser[/u] Got to be the MAG 600, Chinese quality control eh?

[Jase]

Fave Pre Amp for screaming feedback distortion: Pearce BC1 (Regret selling)

The only Ampeg gear I got on with: SVT . Valve preamp. (Regret selling)

Various reliable heads:

Marshall 200watt Intergrated System
Trace Elliot GP7SM 300
Peavey Centurion Mark 4 (lasted for years and years)

Reliable Cabs
Marshall 300 4x12 Bass
Marshall 300 4x10
Hartke TP 4X10
Homemade 8x10 (Loudest thing in the world ever!) (Regret selling)

Current Set Up......and would prefer to gig with!
Hartke HA3500 or HA4000
Hartke VX810

[joegarcia]

[quote name='drthirkenstein' post='294114' date='Sep 28 2008, 07:54 PM']do you play in rose kemps band?
if so the bass sounded mint in leeds the other day!

amps owned
ashdown mag 300
wariwck pro tube IV
warwick tube path 10.1
ampeg svt classic

cabs bought and sold over the past 5 years in order

hartke 1/15
warwick 410
warwick 411 pro
matamp 410
fender 115
ampeg 610
ampeg 215


[b]best looking/sound/everything
ampeg svt classic into an 810[/b]

although the warwick tubepath into two warwick 411 pro's was awesome and stupidly loud. lots of sub frequency! very versitile amp too. i just prefer valve amps these days, i feel like you can really hear the instrument, it just sounds a lot more organic.

at the mo i'm using an svt classic into an ampeg 6x10 and an old ampeg 2x15, sounds mint but i'm selling the ampeg now tho to get a matamp. can't wait! i got one of the new ampegs and although it sounds awesome i dont think the build quality is anything like it was when they were still made in america.

i live in poverty for amps.

in terms of pedals i think the less connections and circuits between your bass and your speakers the better, so no thanks! tuner + overdrive + delay/looper is all ya need![/quote]


Yea, thats me, thanks very much, added the JCM800 since that post.
You in These Monsters then? You guys were amazing, really bloody good.

[ped]

Best sound I have ever had? Well it had to beat a hartke 3500 with 410xl and 210xl cabs, a Mesa 400+ with 1516BE cabinet, a trace V4 combo and a few others I could mention such as a SVT CL and 810...

IEMs!! Never been able to hear myself better. Kind of obvious when you think about it. Often I turned around to look at the massive behemoth behind me which took ages to struggle into the venue and I though - 'what's the point'

ped

[alexclaber]

[quote name='ped' post='294437' date='Sep 29 2008, 11:57 AM']IEMs!![/quote]

I thought IEMs might be nice solution for me as a singing bassist. Then I had to put my bass through a poxy PA at a recent rehearsal because the bass amp there was broken and I found it much harder to groove whilst singing without being able to feel the bass. When not singing it wasn't a problem but the rest of the time it was almost if my head was totally concentrating on the vocals and my body on the bass playing, right down to splitting the 'hearing' function. Weird...

Alex

[Kiwi]

Amps/cabs owned:

Jansen 1x15" combo (size of a fridge and only 50w)
Trace Elliot AH250 + Peavey 410TX
Trace Elliot AH250 + SWR Triad 1
SWR Basic 350 + SWR Triad 1
SWR Basic 350 + Hartke 4.5XL
SWR Basic 350 + Loud 2x10 (x2)
Eden WT800 + Loud 2x10 (x2) / Burman Pro4000HD + Loud 2x10" (x2)
Eden WT800 + Loud 2x10 (x2) / Burman Pro4000HD + Loud 2x10" (x2) / Mesa Boogie Bass400+ + Loud 2x10 (x2)
Eden WT800 + Loud 2x10 (x2) / Burman Pro4000HD (x2) + Loud 2x10" (x2) / Mesa Boogie Bass400+ + Loud 2x10 (x2) / Trace Elliot MP-11 + Lexicon MPXG2 + Mesa Boogie Strategy 400 + Loud 2x10" (x2)
Eden WT800 + Loud 2x10 (x2) / Burman Pro4000HD (x2) + Loud 2x10" (x2) / Trace Elliot MP-11 + Lexicon MPXG2 + Mesa Boogie Strategy 400 + Loud 2x10" (x2)
Eden WT800 + Loud 2x10 (x2) / Burman Pro4000HD (x2) + Loud 2x10" (x2) / (Mesa Boogie Strategy 400 was tranferred to my home hi fi)
Gallien Krueger RB700 1x15 combo (x2) / Burman Pro4000HD (x2) + Acme B2 (x2) / Trace Elliot V8 + Acme B2 (x2)
Gallien Krueger RB700 1x15 combo + Gallien Krueger RBH210 / Burman Pro4000HD (x2) + nothing / Trace Elliot V8 + nothing
Gallien Krueger RB700 1x15 combo + Gallien Krueger RBH210 / Burman Pro4000HD (x2) + EBS Neo212 / Trace Elliot V8 + EBS Neo212
Burman Pro4000HD (x2) + EBS Neo212 / Trace Elliot V8 + EBS Neo212 / Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 + EBS Neo212

(Phew)

[b]Awards:[/b]

[b]Best Looking Amp:[/b] Trace Elliot V8 and Acme B2

[b]Loudest Amp:[/b] Gallien Krueger RB700 1x15 combo + Gallien Krueger RBH210

[b]Best Live Sound:[/b] Gallien Krueger RB700 1x15 combo (I miss the wedge shaped cab)

[b]Most Commented Upon Live Sound:[/b] Trace Elliot V8 + EBS Neo212

[b]Most Frustrating Set Up to get a sound out of:[/b] Trace Elliot V8 + Acme B2 (x2) (by a whisker ahead of the Trace Elliot MP11 + Mesa Boogie Strategy 400 + Loud 2x10" cabs)

[b]Most Portable:[/b] Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 + EBS Neo212

[b]Most Usable:[/b] Eden WT800 + Loud 2x10 (x2) (the Eden semi para eq was invaluable for dodgy stage acoustics plus the Eden was like a swiss army knife, it could run mono, stereo, biamped and feed up to 4 8ohm cabinets plus it had a stereo effects loop AND a mono effects loop, DI, line out, pre out/power in etc. etc..)

[b]Overall Winner:[/b] Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 + EBS Neo212 (factoring in the portability factor and the sheer level of articulation on offer)

[b]Overall Loser:[/b] Trace Elliot V8 + Acme B2

[stingrayfan]

Best sound: Trace Elliot vintage stuff
Bad back award: Trace combos - esp the 4x10s. Ouch!
Appliance of Science Award: Mark Bass and the rest of the light brigade
Deafen the drummer award: Ampeg 8x10