Advise on 1978 Marshall Super Bass / Rickenbacker gear.

ratmanson · #1 10-15-2011, 01:59 PM

Hi Im looking to buy a rickenbacker 4003 and a 1978 marshall super bass i found for a reasonable price. I do like the sound i heard from Lemmy but I been reading that super bass is mainly mid lows, im worried that it could lack bottom end and wondering if it will have to be special cabinets to use with it.

Rickenbacker has 2 outputs one distorted one clean , can that work fine in the 2 channels of the superbass? or is no need for 2 outputs...

I play a jazz bass with seymour duncan upgrade, stv3 pro and a fridge (8x10 ampeg) still can't get the bottom end that i like, but tonally it does a good job ( i know jazz isn't the fattest and also stv 3 pro either) but now im looking for a warmer distorted sound with enough bottom end so i wonder if that ricky / super bass combination will give me that with no need of a 4 x 15 cab.

I have no chance to try it before buy thats why i would really appreciate the advise Cheers!

RobJ · #2 10-15-2011, 02:12 PM

A stock 4003 does have two outputs, mono and "stereo" (Rick O Sound - the neck and bridge pickups delivered through a TRS jack). Neither of these are designed to deliver a "distorted" signal. Typically the ROS output is split out with an adapter cable or box to send the neck pup to one amp and the bridge to another where they can be independently compresssed, EQ'd, etc.

BassmanPaul · #3 10-15-2011, 02:26 PM

IIRC the Super Bass is only a 100W amp. It's going to distort at almost any level you need it to be.

MAMMOTHvolume · #4 10-15-2011, 02:42 PM

super bass with an 810 wont be a low end monster but it'll certainly be awesome

ratmanson · #5 10-15-2011, 02:48 PM

Thanks for the info about the outputs

I believe is a 100 w amp and it will give the warm distortion i like and seem as far as i read loud enough for any situation it can push through a full stack but i also read that is good for guitar and bass , and i dont know if that will be good for the sort low end im looking for.

I heard you can do some modifications to get more bass or bright and i think this one isn't modded.

Clammy · #6 10-15-2011, 02:58 PM

Super Bass is indeed rated for 100w (at full blast, well into distortion, it can pump out up to 175w).

I've used them for years, and my experience is that they do low mids awesomely, but not that gut shaking bottom end you get with other bass amps. For my style/sound (VERY Lemmy inspired), they're perfect.

And they do make an EXCEPTIONAL guitar amp, too!

Cheers!

ratmanson · #7 10-15-2011, 03:25 PM

Hey clammy , did you recorded slaughtered in vain with a super bass? did you mod it?

btw good **** , i play punk hardcore but very thrash metal influenced!

Clammy · #8 10-15-2011, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ratmanson

Hey clammy , did you recorded slaughtered in vain with a super bass? did you mod it?

btw good **** , i play punk hardcore but very thrash metal influenced!

Thanks!

Actually, I used TWO Super Basses (a 1973 and a 1974) to record Death Machine (our latest album). The only mod is the '74 uses KT88s. both amps have NOS RCA and Mullards preamps tubes, and the '73 has NOS Mullard xf2 EL-34s. The '74 has JJ KT88s. I had my bass plugged into the low channel 2 input of the '73, then daisy chained it from the high channel 2 input to the low channel 2 input of the '74. Each amp was running a single cab - '73 into my 4x12 and the '74 into my 2x15.

As for Slaughtered in particular, I plugged into the high input of channel 1 on the '73, and daisy chained the low input of channel 1 to the high input of channel 1 on the '74, cranked the presence on both amps, dropped the bass a bit and hit the booster on my bass (which already has a super high output pickup, a DiMarzio X2N-B). No pedals were used for anything. The whole album was my bass directly into the '73 SB.

On a side note: the '73 was also used to record our previous CD - Thrash Speed Burn. It powered both cabs for that album.

Cheers!

ratmanson · #9 10-15-2011, 07:11 PM

So basically super bass and bottom end doesn't go along? sad news... i love the sound but with my drummer and my guitar player i really need low end they are ****ing loud!!!

sickest beast · #10 10-16-2011, 12:23 AM

ever since I decided to become poor by buying a Marshall Super Bass, I've seen a whole bunch of interest suddenly pop up around here. It's weird, but interesting I guess.

From what I understand and have experienced (i've played the 1992LEM, not an original Super Bass) the amp is midrange heavy and distorts beautifully. I don't know if I can call it a one-trick pony because I haven't been able to play one for more than 20 minutes, and during those 20 minutes it was cranked.

Alone I don't think you'd get enough low end, especially since you're already using an SVT3. But if you paired those 2 amps together and ran them stereo, you might be in heaven.

Seans · #11 10-16-2011, 01:51 AM

These things are seriously loud and the SB won't start to breakup until quite high volumes, if you're playing small venues then the volume will be to much.

Duke21 · #12 10-16-2011, 02:03 AM

The Marshall Super bass is the amp Squire use for his bridge pup. So if you find a SVT2pro for your neck pup you will have exactly the same setup as Chris!

daychris · #13 10-16-2011, 08:41 AM

I've been really impressed with the sheer volume the "Lemmy" has. I like a bit of hair on my tone when I dig in. My plan was to use this as my low volume rig, but to get to the tone that makes me smile I'm way too loud. I was expecting a lack of low end but that hasn't been the case either. I can't imagine not having enough "bass" on stage with this amp. I'm a believer.
Chemical Valley | Facebook

Ric5 · #14 10-16-2011, 08:52 AM

For low end do a line out to a powered subwoofer.