To Ampeg, or not to Ampeg?

kingysilvers · #1 10-12-2011, 05:53 AM

I am a bass player with no amplifier. I'm currently very lucky in that I can borrow a Mark Bass LMIII and a couple of MB cabs whenever I need them but sooner rather than later I need to get my amp situation sorted.

The MB is great but I find it very much a jack of all trades where I have a certain kind of sound I'm looking for, that being the kind of dub style huge low end. Now I think most people on reading that would have only one word in mind and that is "Ampeg", I have looked at the SVT 7 Pro and it seems like a good option offering the tone in a lightweight package but I was wondering if anybody has some alternatives? I've only been playing for a year so not had much chance to experiment with different equipment.

The more wallet friendly the better as I'm going to have to get the head and then a cab later on once I've got over the initial hit and it being lightweight would be nice but not essential.

echoSE7EN · #2 10-12-2011, 06:02 AM

It would help to know your performance requirements: wattage, weight, travel frequency, etc.

bassnj · #3 10-12-2011, 06:05 AM

The SVT 7 Pro gets nothing but raves from 99% of people here. I've tried one a few times and I'm ready to ditch my SVT 4 Pro for one. Plus the 7 Pro is really well priced.

If you know what's good, why kill yourself look for alternatives? I can understand testing lots of gear before you make a decision, but something tells me you'll keep coming back to that 7 Pro.

Jimmy M will chime in here soon enough.

lowfreq33 · #4 10-12-2011, 06:06 AM

Ampeg doesn't really come to mind when I think huge low end. Aguilar maybe.

husky123 · #5 10-12-2011, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowfreq33

Ampeg doesn't really come to mind when I think huge low end. Aguilar maybe.

Ampeg is all 'bout the mids baybee.

Darknut · #6 10-12-2011, 06:09 AM

I've had nothing but bad luck with Ampeg over my 30 yrs of gigging & you could not pay me to own one .... but I'm in the minority around here ... good luck if you get one.

kingysilvers · #7 10-12-2011, 06:13 AM

Maybe I don't really know what I want then heh. Like I say I've not been playing for very long and most of that time I've been playing rather than checking out gear. I assumed Ampeg was the way to go after seeing people like Jah Wobble using the stuff religiously and that's very much the kind of sound I'm after.

As for the issues with Ampeg, I have heard that from other bassists I'd met and read on forums about it but always put that down to people being more motivated to post if something isn't work rather than if it is, if you know what I mean?

rusthoneybass · #8 10-12-2011, 06:22 AM

I'm in the minority as well not an ampeg fan. However I think you should just get out there and try some gear. In my opinion that is the only way you will be satisfied.

4-string · #9 10-12-2011, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darknut

I've had nothing but bad luck with Ampeg over my 30 yrs of gigging & you could not pay me to own one .... but I'm in the minority around here ... good luck if you get one.

In minority, but not alone.

chubrocker · #10 10-12-2011, 06:49 AM

I fought buying Ampeg most of my playing life. Either I couldn't afford it or everyone had Ampeg, so I wanted something different. I finally realized the tone in my head is Ampeg. All the players' tone that I liked were all Ampeg users. At shows where I felt the bass player had a great amp tone--Ampeg. So,I'm now on the darkside.

Not every Ampeg is for everyone. I'll eventually have a SVT CL. The 7Pro looks promising due to price and weight.

Try all brands and see what you like. Again, for me, after really researching my fave tones, it all pointed to Ampeg. I haven't been as happy with my tone in my life.

coreyfyfe · #11 10-12-2011, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingysilvers

As for the issues with Ampeg, I have heard that from other bassists I'd met and read on forums about it but always put that down to people being more motivated to post if something isn't work rather than if it is, if you know what I mean?

On any kind of forum you're mostly going to hear the loudest voices, which tend to either be fanboys or those with the biggest gripes. Personally, I like ampeg, and have never had issues with their products - having owned/heavily used 10-15 different products of theirs over the last 10 years, but my experiences don't speak for those others have had/will have, and that's not to say that I haven't liked products from other companies. (Is that vague enough of a comment?

)

The best thing for you to do is try to go out and play a few amps and see if they're the one for you. Ampeg "tone" is generally described as mid-heavy, but if every amp they made sounded the same there would be no point in making more than one. Either way, mids and low mids will give you more perceived bottom-end loudness than lows alone, so really play with the EQ when you try out amps.

Toastfuzz · #12 10-12-2011, 06:59 AM

An Ampeg rig's tone is all in the cabs

Ric5 · #13 10-12-2011, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toastfuzz

An Ampeg rig's tone is all in the cabs

I have 3 ampeg bass heads, B2, B2r, and a B3. Then I have 6 bass cabs that are not ampeg. My DIY 1x18, 2 1x15, and 3 2x10 cabs. I still get the Ampeg tone.

Years ago I went into my local music store determined to buy a GK bass head. Then I tried out several and the Ampeg sounded best to my ears.

steve_rolfeca · #14 10-12-2011, 07:13 AM

The Genz Benz Streamliners have a huge, but not sloppy, low end.

The Orange Terror Bass 500 and 1000 both have unbelievable, almost uncontrollable, low and low-mid push. Too much for me, but they might be just the ticket for dub.

One of the Mesa M series gets a lot of props for booty. The 6 or the 9, I can never keep 'em straight. A 400+ would probably be awesome, as well.

There's also the Aguilar DB759.

I envy you-you've got a ton of great amps to check out. Should be a fun series of shopping trips.

edbass · #15 10-12-2011, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingysilvers

Maybe I don't really know what I want then heh. Like I say I've not been playing for very long and most of that time I've been playing rather than checking out gear. I assumed Ampeg was the way to go after seeing people like Jah Wobble using the stuff religiously and that's very much the kind of sound I'm after.

As for the issues with Ampeg, I have heard that from other bassists I'd met and read on forums about it but always put that down to people being more motivated to post if something isn't work rather than if it is, if you know what I mean?

+1 Absolutely.

I think you need to look at the "big picture" and use your ears to decide rather than buying based on opinions on a forum.
I've heard Ampeg rigs that IMO sounded like ass, some that sound pretty good, some that sounded fantastic; but in most every case the person playing the rig thought it sounded awesome...
And that isn't exclusive to Ampeg.

But that said; it isn't an accident that there are so many Ampegs gigging on pro stages all over the world, or that they have remained a consistent force in bass amplification and enjoy unrivaled longevity through all the fad "rigs du jour" that were wildly popular for a "minute" and then faded back into obscurity over the years.

Despite Loud’s best efforts to cut corners, drop price point, and prostitute the brand.

You really need to listen to a few amps rather than posters on a forum before you drop your money.

rummy · #16 10-12-2011, 07:47 AM

Hi. I was using Little Mark II for 3 years until I ditched it for Ampeg's SVT 7 Pro. 0 regret here. The sound, versatility and the features of the 7 absolutely out weighed the LMII's portability and simplicity.

Plus 1000 watts @ 4 ohms isn't bad either.

kingysilvers · #17 10-12-2011, 07:49 AM

Don't worry chaps, I'm certainly not going to be going and dropping a load of my hard earned without trying out a whole bunch of options but it's just kind of overwhelming the variety of brands let alone the different series and models so I'm just trying to narrow things down a bit.

Thanks for the feedback so far, added Orange, Genz Benz and Aguilar to the "to try" list. Sadly I think Mesas will be a fair bit out of my price range

.

Funkmeister79 · #18 10-12-2011, 07:51 AM

A couple thoughts:

Eden might be worth a try for dub tone. I could be wrong, but I think Family Man plays an Eden rig.

You may want a dub tone now, but what if your tastes change or you join another band? You may want to look for something more versatile.

NKBassman · #19 10-12-2011, 08:22 AM

There's lots of people raving about the new Portaflex heads these days too.

Not really sure how'd they'd play with dub tones though.

JimmyM · #20 10-12-2011, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NKBassman

There's lots of people raving about the new Portaflex heads these days too.

Not really sure how'd they'd play with dub tones though.

With a 410HLF, the PF heads would be total dub, but the 7 Pro is definitely king for that type of tone. Doesn't hurt that it's the best SS head on the market either, IMHO of course.

And regardling Ampeg not being about the low end, some of their cabs aren't, and some are. The 610HLF and 410HLF go very low, especially the 410HLF. The PF115he also goes very low, about the same level as the 610HLF. But if you need loud and super low, I'd probably try the 610HLF or 410HLF. Me, I prefer the slightly rolled off low end of the 810e, but even that isn't so rolled off that it won't let you do dub. Seen a lot of reggae/ska/dub bassists using them.