Amp upgrade? Any advice is appreciated.

[Sharky1450]

Hi there,

I'm after some advice on upgrading my bass amp.

I'm currently using a Warwick "Sweet 15" 150 watt combo amp (it was bought for me by my parents when I turned 15, I had no input into the purchase). My current guitar and effects - Epiphone Thunderbird IV with Rotosound black nylon flatwounds, Boss ME-50 and Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Bass pi. I'm also saving up for a Tech 21 Sansamp Bass Driver.

I've had my current amp for about 5 or so years now, so I'm after something more powerful.

I like the sound that Jared Followill has (SVT Classic w/ 2x 8x10's) - except that I'm after something a bit warmer/"gruntier". His sound tends to be borderline tinny half the time, and not as powerful as IMO, a bass should.

Pretty much what I'm after is a warm, versatile and powerful amp that will have more than enough presence to punch through and still be able to have the audience feel it, not just hear it. My budget would be up to and around $3000.

Should be playing clubs/bars within a few months with my band, so powerful enough to fill a decent sized one of them, and then some.

Thanks for your time.

[NortyFiner]

With a budget that big, and if you like Jared Followill's Ampeg sound, you may as well buy your own SVT and cabs. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and all that sort of thing.

As for getting a warmer, less "tinny" sound than Jared, I have two thoughts:

- Ampegs (IMHO) are among the warmest amps around, so it may just be a matter of how you tweak your EQ.

- Jared uses a ton of 10's. Perhaps replacing some 10's with bigger cones (12's or 15's) might help take the tin off and warm things up.

Hope that helps.

[Electricblue]

If you want a warm tone, go with Ashdown. Maybe some 15" speakers. Polish it off with the EQ.

[Sharky1450]

Sweet, thanks very much. I forgot to mention that the $3000 budget would be the ideal amount - might just put it off until my 21st when I can get away with asking the parents for "some" input haha.

Yeah, so I don't exactly have much experience with trying different amps, but pretty much what everyone's said over the course of my vast google research into amps is that Ampeg is as good as it gets. That is just what I've gathered, but there's a ridiculous amount of variation out there - I may be wrong.

But yeah, thanks for your input, I appreciate it.

[Electricblue]

To be honest, youre not going to need much more than $3000 to get a massive rig.

[joshmat]

Originally Posted by Electricblue

To be honest, youre not going to need much more than $3000 to get a massive rig.

This is very true. If you're current combo can hang with your bandmates, then you could start with a head and one cabinet with the intention to add another cabinet. Depending on your taste, you could easily run through the 3k on just those items if buying new.

[Downunderwonder]

Rig of doom for sale in the classifieds might be up your street. Some fancy all tube preamp, marshall twin all valve power amp, two cabs, all mint, 2G, shipping might add up but still under 3G

[AwkwardLoudness]

Originally Posted by Sharky1450

I like the sound that Jared Followill has (SVT Classic w/ 2x 8x10's) - except that I'm after something a bit warmer/"gruntier". His sound tends to be borderline tinny half the time, and not as powerful as IMO, a bass should.

An SVT can sound very warm and grunty if dialed in for it and the speakers are a big factor as well.

I suggest a SVT-CL or SVT-VR or vintage SVT through a Bergantino NV610 or NV412.

[Downunderwonder]

I bumped that marshall tube rig.

[waleross]

$3000 can burn a big hole in your pocket. Have fun buying . My first big purchase was a SVt4Pro and the 810E and this is all new. Best thing about new is a 2-3 year warranty. I also have the SVTCL ($1600) , I won't bore you about how anything sounds, find out for yourself....................

[Sharky1450]

I've been looking at 4x10's and I think I've settled on the Ampeg SVT 410-HLF cab, now i just need an head...

Any thoughts on how the Ampeg Micro VR would work with it? Or should I get something more powerful?