Topic: best amps (Read 6534 times)

MikeGee · « **Reply #20 on:** October 14, 2009, 03:29:18 PM »

Quote from: FenderJazzGuy on October 14, 2009, 09:23:15 AM

I like it but it is not as bright as I like. It makes my 10's sound like 12's. It's still a good back up. I mostly use mine for rehearsals and small to medium sized gigs.

Ok so that maeans I might not want it. I'll go listen to it. and see what happens.

MikeGee · « **Reply #21 on:** October 15, 2009, 03:47:00 PM »

Behringer is for beginners. But for the price of some of the Behringer stuff you can get a low wattage hartke or something used.

Have you mentioned you price range?

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Peavey-Tour-450-Bass-Amp-Head-480314-i1171842.gc

here's a ok head for ya. not too pricey. Take my advice stay away from Behringer. If you do stick with bass you will regret owning it. I am trying to get rid of mine now. I have about $1300 tied up in cheapo garbage. I wish I had that back to start over. Never again, I have been playing for about 6 years and will always play bass. I will not buy junk anymore. After researching which I did not do before I spent $1300. I have come to learn that you can get good stuff with out spending an arm and a leg.

I could have gotten a nice head and an efficient 4x10 (like avatar) for less than what I paid and most likely be louder and a better tone than I now.

I basically have to start over and hope I have nothing comes up.

craigory · « **Reply #22 on:** October 15, 2009, 04:09:42 PM »

Hey man, For me I gotta go w/SWR. But don't play around. Go for the 750x. Not just for the stupid power but for the features, especially all the rear inputs/outputs & the direct XLR output to your soundman which also has choices as to how your sound is delivered along with an actual volume conrol!

scbassboi92 · « **Reply #23 on:** October 15, 2009, 04:47:14 PM »

anything from 500-100(head and cabinet) combined

Musicman_00 · « **Reply #24 on:** October 16, 2009, 12:23:10 AM »

Look at the carvin amps. Hear nothing bad about them.

MikeGee · « **Reply #25 on:** October 16, 2009, 06:59:55 AM »

Quote from: scbassboi92 on October 15, 2009, 04:47:14 PM

anything from 500-100(head and cabinet) combined

whats this now?

ronrector · « **Reply #26 on:** October 17, 2009, 10:34:24 PM »

I started playing bass again over a year ago after 20 years and started off slow with first a no name bass that was brutal. I soon realized no matter how hard I tried I would never be able to acheive the level I wanted because the bass was crap but I was starting out and did not want to invest a lot until I was sure I was in it. Well I am still in it and making great music again especially because of Jesus. One thing I know is that a good amp will make all the difference in the world. I played on a small 100 watt 8 amp at church for over a year and just bought my first amp. I looked and tested most of the amps and combos mentioned and settled for a Mesa/Boogie M6 carbine 212 combo. 600 watts tube preamp. It has enough pants flapping sound and I play with a lot less effort allowing for a sweeter touch. It's big and its heavy but that's par for the course. Ohh, I did step up to an Ibanex sound gear 200 and maybe adding a second bass in the near future.

BassbyGrace · « **Reply #27 on:** October 19, 2009, 11:06:03 AM »

Yeah that M6 carbine is nooooo punk. I played one in the GC and it was very impressive.

SavnBass · « **Reply #28 on:** October 27, 2009, 10:23:35 AM »

Quote from: ronrector on October 17, 2009, 10:34:24 PM

I started playing bass again over a year ago after 20 years and started off slow with first a no name bass that was brutal.

Yeah I did basically the same thing in '01.. it had been @15 years for me.. Only I still had my Jazz.. but I had an old Fender MusicMaster practice amp.. I really didnt have much cash so I bought a SWR La-15.. it is a decent practice amp but it is limited. At the time it was all I could afford though.. I am now in the market for a new amp myself.. I had been playing through my church's Ampeg Ba-115 going through the board.. We have since dropped all the amps because it just got to be too much for the sound guy.. so now we all go through avioms.. I hate it.. but what can I say.. it is what it is.. I play with another band though.. and we do gigs at churches, prison, senior citizen homes, or where ever we can.. I use my La-15 for those (I dont want to get into borrowing the church's amp since there are other bassists in the music ministry that might need it.. )

I am debating whether I should go with a 2x10 combo with a look towards adding a 15 cab later.. or just get a 15 combo now and add another cab later. I have been looking at the Fender 250/210 and the Backline 210 combo with the idea of maybe getting a 15" cab later on down the road.. I am saving my pennies for a better amp but I want to get something that is good, that will last and that I can add onto in the future.

funkStrat_97 · « **Reply #29 on:** October 27, 2009, 11:37:59 AM »

Quote from: SavnBass on October 27, 2009, 10:23:35 AM

so now we all go through avioms.. I hate it..

Preach brotha'!

SavnBass · « **Reply #30 on:** October 27, 2009, 06:33:52 PM »

Hey!! How are you man? Hope the fam is hanging in there... Did you get my VM on your answering machine.. ?

sbyrd1978 · « **Reply #31 on:** October 28, 2009, 12:24:13 AM »

EBS, Eden, SWR. EBS is my favorite right now.

funkStrat_97 · « **Reply #32 on:** October 29, 2009, 09:12:15 AM »

Quote from: SavnBass on October 27, 2009, 06:33:52 PM

Hey!! How are you man? Hope the fam is hanging in there... Did you get my VM on your answering machine.. ?

Things are going ok. It's a huge adjustment, but we have much to be thankful for. I did get your VM; thanks for the encouragement.

ptidwell · « **Reply #33 on:** October 29, 2009, 04:26:18 PM »

The OP asked about the best amps, which is a matter of personal opinion.
The choices are vast these days, from lead sleds to micro mini. As others have
already posted here. Your tone is in your head, your hands, your rig and instrument.
There are all kinds of terms used, classic tone, modern, scooped mids, sparkly highs.
So, what is best is subjective. Perhaps we can tell you what is good, but best is hard to do.
I'm a boutique guy, and haven't bought commercially for some years now, maybe with the exception
of an Augilar DB750. But Markbass, Genz Benz, Mesa M6 & M9, EA iAMP 800, Epifani 502 & 902, Walter Woods,
ThunderFunk, and then there's preamp/power amp rigs, the list goes on and all these amps are quality.
But you really need to test with your ears and not by suggestion, not just in a store but on the gig.
I know that may be difficult, but most of the brands I mentioned give you a trial period, (that why buy boutique)
Find something that is going to fit you needs and satisfy your tone. I have and it keeps me from jumping on the
latest band wagon.

ronrector · « **Reply #34 on:** October 29, 2009, 10:55:08 PM »

Yo ptidwell,

Before I bought my m6 carbine combo I did a lot of testing of various amps and I have alot of experience in sound reinforcement and I asked a few bass players in stores what they thought about bying an amp like you have and getting a good preamp and they all said that they wouldn't do it. I see your rig, so I am curious how do you compare it to standard bass amps? (I work and love QSC PLX series and Crowns and know the punch they can bring)

ptidwell · « **Reply #35 on:** October 29, 2009, 11:38:53 PM »

Quote from: ronrector on October 29, 2009, 10:55:08 PM

Yo ptidwell,

Before I bought my m6 carbine combo I did a lot of testing of various amps and I have alot of experience in sound reinforcement and I asked a few bass players in stores what they thought about bying an amp like you have and getting a good preamp and they all said that they wouldn't do it. I see your rig, so I am curious how do you compare it to standard bass amps? (I work and love QSC PLX series and Crowns and know the punch they can bring)

Interesting, that there would be a consensus on not going with a preamp/amp setup. I love my ThunderFunk and actually sold my DB750 because of back surgery, opting for lighter rig, but having a preamp/amp setup gives you many more options. For one there are not a whole lot of heads that can run @ 2 ohms and give you the kind of headroom you can get from a power amp. I can bi-amp and split the channels, I can bridge with my QSC 2402 into 2 4 ohm 4x10's for 2400 watts very clean power. Also, you can always swap between other preamps and still maintain you headroom. I recently had a short take out my power section on my TF 550B, so the whole head goes to the shop. Now I may not always need that much power especially when I have PA support, but it does depend on the venue. There is a difference in play for a church that seats 6000 vs one that seats 300. I will always keep a preamp/amp setup the one I posted weighs about 25 lbs, and although it's not the weight of the Markbass LMIII, the tone can not compare either, same with my TFunk, those little 5 pound heads are ok for rehearsals and small venue stuff, technology has made some big strides in that regard, however at this stage of the game you're not going to get classic tube type sound and thunderous lows without headroom. But let me go on record by saying that in my humble opinion, and my old school view, I've been doing this over 4 decades now, some would say I stuck in my ways, I call it experience.
BTW, the M6 is awesome head good choice on your part. I've played the M9 and was impressed.

MikeGee · « **Reply #36 on:** October 30, 2009, 07:55:14 AM »

On the topic of pre amp power amp. That's what I have now waiting to upgrade my head (for small places. I like this set up cuz I built it over time waiting for the funds to come in to get another component. I like having the option of running 2 separate 4ohm loads and still not running the power amp at full power. My power amp has a bi amp mode which is nice. Even though I am not professional by any means. I get a professional sound out of a $300 power section with 1000watts a $350 pre amp.

rick1906 · « **Reply #37 on:** November 01, 2009, 08:58:34 PM »

Until now, I've always been a preamp/poweramp guy because of the flexibility. I've owned a ton of preamps (Ampeg SVP Pro, BBE BMax-T, Demeter HBP1, Alembic F1X, Avalon U5, etc., etc.) and QSC power amps along with a Crest CA-6. If you want to go that route, it's hard to beat Crest. The only problem is that the CA6 and CA9 weigh a ton. I got tired of carrying my 50-60 pound rack to church every Sunday, but mand did it sound good.

Based on ptidwell's posts here and research on talkbass.com, I picked up a Thunderfunk a year ago. I have now sold every preamp I had. I'm really digging the Thunderfunk and don't need anything else. I wouldn't mind checking out a Mike Pope or a Walter Woods preamp at some point, but I think the Thunderfunk is a keeper. Being boutique, it's not commonly known, but check it out if you can find one. You won't be disappointed.

SavnBass · « **Reply #38 on:** November 06, 2009, 04:35:02 PM »

Quote from: FenderJazzGuy on October 13, 2009, 12:26:29 PM

My lineup consists of
HEADS:
Kustom 1200 watt head.
Carvin 800 watt head.
GK MB 2 500 watt mini.
I have owned a few SWR's also

CABS:
Avatar 4-10 Neo cab
SWR Triad
Ampeg 1-12 combo
I have also owned an SWR JR. Goliath (which TORCH7 now owns), an Ampeg 4-8 cab, A Peavey 2-10 cab and 2 custom cabs that I made myself.

First off, get what you can afford. I have owned cheap equipment and expensive too. It all amounts to what you like. It's not hard to walk into a church and see a nice shiny SWR rig waiting for you to plug in to, and wish you owned one yourself. I personally am not into name brands. I just like what sounds good. There is alot to consider. Like speaker configuration, weight, type of speakers, size, and power handling. Get what fits your situation. The type of music you play also plays a factor in your decision.

How do you like that Kustom? I was considering the 600.. but decided against it..

Settled for an SWR WP 400 instead..

Quote from: Basspicker26 on October 14, 2009, 01:44:25 PM

If you're looking for "top of the line" you may want to sway away from Behringer. EDEN, SWR, AGUILAR, GK, check 'em.

+1
Even if you aren't looking at top of the line.... stay away from Behringer.. Fronm what I hear they dont hold up well at ll.. they look cool.. but the don't hold up..

ronrector · « **Reply #39 on:** November 06, 2009, 05:15:52 PM »

Hey everybody thanks for the info on the preamp tip, I felt that I was mislead before and 90% is a matter of preferance but when you have to spend the amount of money just to get basic quality sound it helps if you can get good quality advise to make an informed decision. I new to this site but I really am diggin the fellowship and encouragement that I see.

Author Topic: best amps (Read 6534 times)