Amp Crisis! (Warning: Long Rant Content)

**StrangerDanger** · #1 03-22-2011, 12:54 PM

OK so here's the deal:
I have a Fender Bassman TV Duo-Ten (350 watts thru 2 tens, hybrid) and its a great amp, sounds good and looks great on stage and not too hard to move around. It has served me well for the past year and a half. I was playing in a 4 piece band (think Grateful Dead meets Neil Young meets Texas country) with one acoustic, one electric and a drummer with great dynamics (bass speak for not too friggin loud) and the amp worked great for that.

Now Im not in that band anymore (a long story for another day). I'm in a new band with 2 electrics thru 2 Marshall stacks and a drummer who has a John Bonham/Keith Moon fetish (read "loud as hell"). We're playing classic rock covers (Cream, CCR, Zep), 90's covers (STP, Toadies), current covers (Black Keys, KOL, TCV) and riff rock style originals. This new band/genre is requiring me to crank the gain/volume a lot more and Im noticing that the pseudo-tube-ness of my Fender amp is really farting out and sounding like doo-doo when pushed. I am trying a Sonic Stomp pedal this week that I purchased on TB classifieds to see if that helps the situation.

Most likely I will need a new amp/cab. I would like something tubey and classic sounding and it has to be loud and sound good pushed. My price range is $500-$1000. Lightweight and easy to move would be great but not the highest priority. I have tried several amps in the recent weeks without any success.

I tried the new Ampeg PF350 and 500 and I really didnt like them at all. I found the 350 to be underpowered and the 500 sounded clanky and bottomless despite some extreme eq'ing. And I really wanted to like it at that price. To be fair, Same Ole Ash didnt have the cabs that go with it, so I tried them thru a few available cabs.

I tried the MarkBass LM2. Not really my tone. Too modern. Same for the GB Shuttle 6.0 and the SWR amp lite.

I tried the TC Electronics BH500 too. This one came the closest. I played it through their 2x10 and 4x10 and both. It was REALLY LOUD and it sounded pretty damn good. All those goodies like the built in tuner and memory presets are pretty sweet (although having those features without a footswitch is pretty lame). Again though I heard some of that farting out when pushed. Admittedly not as much or as soon as the Fender. I also noticed something really weird. At high volumes, when you hang on to a note, rather than decay naturally, it sort of warbles. Wahwahwahwah . . . I dont know how else to describe it and it wasnt pleasant.

I maybe coming to the realization that I need an all tube head but I dont have the cash for Ampeg SVT-CL and I dont wanna lug around a 8x10 either.

I think the Streamliner certainly sounds like something I would like but I cant find one locally to try. I have also considered a used Traynor YBA 200 (though I dont know if thats enough wattage and I have no idea if the tone is what Im looking for) and a used Ampeg SVT 7 Pro.

So, sorry for the rant but Im really getting edgy about this. We are going to start gigging with this new band in May and I want to have all this gear crap settled so I can concentrate on looking ALLSOME on stage

.

Peace and thanks in advance for any suggestions.

KramerBassFan · #2 03-22-2011, 12:59 PM

Just get more speakers.

**StrangerDanger** · #3 03-22-2011, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KramerBassFan

Just get more speakers.

I wish. Its not expandable.

sevenyearsdown · #4 03-22-2011, 01:02 PM

ashdown

KramerBassFan · #5 03-22-2011, 01:06 PM

It's not expandable?

**StrangerDanger** · #6 03-22-2011, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sevenyearsdown

ashdown

Im definitely open for trying an Ashdown. Any particular model?

GrowlerBox · #7 03-22-2011, 01:11 PM

If you liked the BH500, you may also like the RH450. The goodies are footswitchable (3 channel settings and tuner) on that head. One of the nice things about that head is that, while it's 4 ohm minimum, if you're using TCE cabs, you can safely connect 3 of their 8 ohm cabs for a lot of speakers (3 x 410 or 3 x 212 for example

).

Or you could just go completely insane and get the Blacksmith.

sevenyearsdown · #8 03-22-2011, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StrangerDanger

Im definitely open for trying an Ashdown. Any particular model?

Your price range is probably gonna limit you to the MAG series depending on what you do for cabinets. I had a MAG300 for about 2 years as my practice amp. They have good tone, really transparent set flat, and are loud for they're wattage if that makes sense. They are solid state though, so I don't kow if you'll get the exact tone you're looking for. They also come in a 600watt model.

**StrangerDanger** · #9 03-22-2011, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KramerBassFan

It's not expandable?

nope

GrowlerBox · #10 03-22-2011, 01:19 PM

I just noticed your comment on the "warbling" with the BH500 -- it may be that the compressor was left turned way up by the last user. This is more likely to happen with the RH450 because of the dual-function dials, but worth checking.

**StrangerDanger** · #11 03-22-2011, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrowlerBox

I just noticed your comment on the "warbling" with the BH500 -- it may be that the compressor was left turned way up by the last user. This is more likely to happen with the RH450 because of the dual-function dials, but worth checking.

Im pretty sure I had the compression off but its definitely worth checking again. Thanks!

Zoa · #12 03-22-2011, 01:27 PM

Acoustic head (b600h), good cabs, and VT Deluxe?

dmrogers · #13 03-22-2011, 01:27 PM

With a budget of ~$500-1000, you really need to prioritize and start looking used.

My first suggestion would be to forget about your rig being super light at that price range. Although you won't necessarily have to move an 8x10 around I would start searching for a rugged 4x12 or 4x10 that can handle some wattage.

And it sounds like loud would be pretty high on your list. I'm thinking Peavey Firebass or GK head. Rugged, loud and good deals can be found.

You are going to have to start shopping for gear in your price range. For instance, you give a range of $500-1000. Someone has a Streamliner 600 in the classifieds now and it is going for $685. With your budget, that would only leave $315 for a cab. Gonna be hard to do.

Whatever you decide on, you will need more than 2x10 speakers.

Good luck.

calshands · #14 03-22-2011, 01:31 PM

Maybe a new amp is not what you need as much as a drum shield?

Drum Shield or Drum Screen Drum Volume Control.

**StrangerDanger** · #15 03-22-2011, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmrogers

With a budget of ~$500-1000, you really need to prioritize and start looking used.

My first suggestion would be to forget about your rig being super light at that price range. Although you won't necessarily have to move an 8x10 around I would start searching for a rugged 4x12 or 4x10 that can handle some wattage.

And it sounds like loud would be pretty high on your list. I'm thinking Peavey Firebass or GK head. Rugged, loud and good deals can be found.

You are going to have to start shopping for gear in your price range. For instance, you give a range of $500-1000. Someone has a Streamliner 600 in the classifieds now and it is going for $685. With your budget, that would only leave $315 for a cab. Gonna be hard to do.

Whatever you decide on, you will need more than 2x10 speakers.

Good luck.

Thanks! The $500-$1000 budget would be just for the head. I was planning to sell or trade in the Fender for a cab and add cash if necessary. I can get the Streamliner 600 from my local dealer new for $750 plus tax because they love me and there is a local store here that has a used GB NEO-X 212 for $300.

Do you think a 212 4 ohm cab with a 600 watt head will get where I need to be or will I still need more cabbage?

QuakingDutch · #16 03-22-2011, 01:32 PM

I love my Ashdown MAG. It's a 4X10 combo. I think it would provide the sound you are looking for. It gets pretty tubey despite the fact that it is solid state. (someone will probably argue with me about that) It's also loud and expandable.

BassmanPaul · #17 03-22-2011, 01:33 PM

Yes, against a loud drummer a single 2x10 just won't cut it. I use a pair anywhere I go. you could look at the Carvin website, it's where I go first. I love my BX1500.

lunarpollen · #18 03-22-2011, 01:38 PM

I think something with about 500 watts and a 1x15 in the rig somewhere + a VT Bass pedal would get you back to a more comfortable level. Even those you tried and found too modern can be made to sound very unmodern with a VT Bass... The pedal is also very good at providing more apparent loudness from an amp and giving you more useable headroom (not sure how it does this, but with the pedal on, I can get a LOT more volume out of my LMII before the amp's clip light flickers)

PeterT55 · #19 03-22-2011, 01:38 PM

Having been an Ampeg SVT guy my whole career, I have to plug the GK stuff here. I now use a GK2001RB with 2 GK NEO 2/12 II's and it does all I need in any situation. I have also used GK amps to power Ampeg cabs and that also works really well. I too play classic rock(even when it wasn't classic), so I know the sound your looking for I believe. So given your budget, I would also suggest you look for some used gear and I think you could get a decent setup on that amount. It's all relative tho,....what you like may be only what you like, so keep looking.....and yes, a 2x10 is not going to pull off what you need.....

at least not w/out a great PA/monitor system

lunarpollen · #20 03-22-2011, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StrangerDanger

Thanks! The $500-$1000 budget would be just for the head. I was planning to sell or trade in the Fender for a cab and add cash if necessary. I can get the Streamliner 600 from my local dealer new for $750 plus tax because they love me and there is a local store here that has a used GB NEO-X 212 for $300.

Do you think a 212 4 ohm cab with a 600 watt head will get where I need to be or will I still need more cabbage?

Depends on the cab and the sound you are going for... It could very well be enough. The hypothetical rig you described above sounds like a very respectable one.