Advices needed - need an amp with some 'Grit' tone !!!

[Turlu]

Hi all,

I am about to buy myself another rig. Over the years, I have had all kinds of amps, cabinets, from tubes to solid state, hybrid, etc. I have been through Peavey, Yorkville, MarkBass, TC, SUNN, Fender, Carvin, etc.

I play with a Rickenbacker and simply want an amp that would give me that 'gritty' tone, kind of overdriven, but not too much, just enough bite to it. Just something that will make my Ric shine !!!!

Size, weight and price are no issues, other than an 810 cabinet, which would be too much of a killer for me !!!

Awaiting your recommendations ! Thanks in advance as usual !!!

[MisterWraith]

I love my Ampeg SVT4 Pro, I'm sure there are almost as many opinions as there are those of us who like some "grit" & Growl in our tone.

[dhsierra1]

GK RB line (400, 700, 800) is my go-to for grit and growl in the solid state world. The MBs will get you there too if you prefer a smaller package.

[Jeff Scott]

Originally Posted by Turlu

I play with a Rickenbacker and simply want an amp that would give me that 'gritty' tone, kind of overdriven, but not too much, just enough bite to it. Just something that will make my Ric shine !!!!

I just came up from my band's practice space and was using my 4001V63 (you know, the one with the '60s horseshoe pickup in it) running through my recently purchased Aguilar Tone Hammer 500 amp. This amp kicks major butt with the Rick! You can dial in just the right grit/distortion you want/need depending on how you set the Gain and Drive controls. Use whatever cabinet you want with it; I am using my LDS 2126 cabinet with fabulous Rickness®.

[MUSHROOMSeAcOw]

Orange does the tubey, gritty, overdriven tone pretty well for the ones I've played. Kind of ugly, IMO, but good quality and sound.

[Turlu]

Originally Posted by Jeff Scott

I just came up from my band's practice space and was using my 4001V63 (you know, the one with the '60s horseshoe pickup in it) running through my recently purchased Aguilar Tone Hammer 500 amp. This amp kicks major butt with the Rick! You can dial in just the right grit/distortion you want/need depending on how you set the Gain and Drive controls. Use whatever cabinet you want with it; I am using my LDS 2126 cabinet with fabulous Rickness®.

Yeah, I know these V63 basses quite well !!! I have had one since 2000 !!!! Now, loving my 1993 V63 and my 75th anniversary bass !!!

I heard the GK gear would bring me close to a Spock's Beard Tone (Dave Meros) but also like your suggestion of an Aguilar Tone hammer, never thought about that one !!!

How about cabs ??? Other suggestions ???

[dannybuoy]

My vote goes for the Orange AD200B, sounds amazing with a Ric.

[jelwood]

I love the grit my GK's have when I turn up the boost and gain. It can be overdriven if you want but I usually don't go that far. It's what has been part of the GK sound since the good old 300B from the 70's. I think you should look in to it.

[greggster59]

The Ampeg SVT-7PRO matched with a 610HLF cab does the trick.

[Turlu]

I am especially tempted to go try the Aguilar and the GK gear at this time. i like the idea of the Ampeg gear too !! Never had Ampeg gear, maybe it is time !!!

Keep making good suggestions!!

I am after that tone !!! Listen to Dave Meros of Spocks !!!

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

[Jeff Scott]

My band used to play this song.
‪Spock's Beard: "All On A Sunday"‬‏ - YouTube

[Jeff Scott]

How about this Dave Meros tone?

‪Spock's Beard - Crack The Big Sky‬‏ - YouTube

[raul]

i'm kinda in the same boat...tossing up the options between a GK1001RBII with 410NEO or an AmpegSVT7Pro with 410HLF...and a VT Deluxe for tone options...i loved the GK setup i tried yesterday just a bit more than the Ampeg setup...going back for more try outs today with my flat wound P bass...was hoping Ampeg would take it, not sure yet since the GK rig was awesome as well, both were actually...tough call...

[SVE]

Well for the signature gritty Rick sound, most people took advantage of a Ricks stereo output capabilities. Using one amp like a Sunn or Ampeg from the regular output for a solid bottom end, and then a really dirty gainy amp like a Marshall from the Rick-o-sound output. It gave that really dirty sound with messing up the bottom end too much.

Originally Posted by dannybuoy

My vote goes for the Orange AD200B, sounds amazing with a Ric.

Way to give me a GAS attack... My Orange AD200B is coming back from the shop tomorrow and il have an Aggie DB 212 soon(turning the tweeter off). But no money for a Rick

[Turlu]

Originally Posted by SVE

Well for the signature gritty Rick sound, most people took advantage of a Ricks stereo output capabilities. Using one amp like a Sunn or Ampeg from the regular output for a solid bottom end, and then a really dirty gainy amp like a Marshall from the Rick-o-sound output. It gave that really dirty sound with messing up the bottom end too much.



Way to give me a GAS attack... My Orange AD200B is coming back from the shop tomorrow and il have an Aggie DB 212 soon(turning the tweeter off). But no money for a Rick

Good advice.... Although my V63 only has a mono output !!!! My DCM 75th anniversary has the rick-o-sound !!!

[GizmoTheOne]

Originally Posted by Turlu

I am especially tempted to go try the Aguilar and the GK gear at this time. i like the idea of the Ampeg gear too !! Never had Ampeg gear, maybe it is time !!!

Keep making good suggestions!!

I am after that tone !!! Listen to Dave Meros of Spocks !!!

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

Go try them all. Get the one that suits you most. You can't really go wrong with either of those for what you want to use them for.

Tone-wise, I have always loved Ampeg gear. Recently had issues with their CS though...

I really dig GK amps' tone. My next amp is probably gonna be a 1001RB.

Never tried any Aguilar, but heard some of them and it always sounded very good.

[Dustin Teel]

Yeah, you want Gallien Krueger.

[Rockin Mike]

You can run 2 amps without Rick-O-Sound.
Most amps have an output you can run into the input of another amp. Then EQ one amp for bass and the other one for treble/growl.

The advantage of Rick-O-Sound is that each pickup can have its own amp, but you can still dual-amp with a mono output.

I like SWR for the overdriven top end, and Eden for a warm but punchy bottom end.

I had a Gallien Krueger 800RB and wound up selling it. Sounded plasticky to me. For me, nothing can match real tubes in the preamp.

[Rockin Mike]

Validated;

check out Dave Meros' equipment as listed here:
Spock's Beard

He uses Eden and SWR too!

"
Bass: 1982 Rickenbacker 4001 modified with a Babicz Full Contact Hardware Bridge, 4 pickups: 2 in the usual Rickenbacker positions and 2 in the Fender Jazz Bass positions

Strings: DR Lo Riders

Bass Synth: Korg Prophecy triggered by Fast Forward Designs Midi Step pedals

Preamp / effects: Digitech RP-21D (tube preamp / digital effects)
Amp: Eden WT-800 head, SWR Henry the 8 x 8 speaker cabinet. I also have two additional speaker cabinets that are used sometimes instead of the SWR: one with 1- JBL 15"
For live shows, I go from the bass into the RP-21, then into the amp and mic the amp. If there are enough channels on the board. I'll also have a Direct Input. In the studio I go from the bass into both a direct box and the RP-21 / POD Pro, then both the DI and the POD go direct into separate channels on the mixing desk.
"

[ryognbass]

I get that sort of sound from my sunn, although it's starting to show it's age through breaking down, so I might switch to an 800RB if one comes along at a good price.trade value...

check out Bobby Markos' tone with Native. it shines around the 2:42 mark in the song.
‪Native- Backseat Crew‬‏ - YouTube