Back to the DarkSide of tone after a decade!

[DenverDrew]

Hello TBF!

I have not played any bass since I was in high school over a decade ago. I started really contemplating getting back into the bottom end when my drum and guitar duo added on another guitar player. But of course that wasn't enough to push me back over. Then I made the mistake of picking up a bass that I have always wanted to own during a trip to Wildwood Guitars here in CO. Best mistake I've made in years. I picked up a Fireglo Rickenbacker 4003 and I am in love with it!

So now the question is which amp to plug this beauty into? I know loads about guitar amps having played guitar for years but I know NOTHING about bass amps. I am looking for something that will really have a great funk sound. I love the warmth of tubes and I don't want to lose that but a guitar store salesman mentioned that a tube preamp and solid state power section actually gets you warmth with tighter response. I am completely stumped so I popped on here to read up and get some friendly advice.

I have had people recommend these: Orange Terror Bass 500 w/Orange 4x10, Trace Elliot AH1200, Ampeg SVT 4 pro and SVT Classic. I have about $1,000 to spend on this and I want to buy used rather than new to get the best bang for my buck. Let me know what amp and cab you like for that price range and why it might be a good fit for me!

Thanks for your help. Take a look!

[pbass62]

Sweet looking bass my friend congrats. Amp recomendations are like blue jeans you have to do what fits you best. I have personal experience and also partial to Trace Elliot.

Reasons: Great tone! IMO

They are built like a tank

customer service is exc

Have fun and go try out all the amps with your Ric and welcome back to the LowEnd!!

[chaosMK]

If you can get an Orange rig for $1000 I'd go with that.

[TheRealKong]

Welcome back!

I agree with chaosMK, as long as I know that You can get some real good used Ampeg-gear...

Take yourself some time and check it out. You will find the best stuff for your purposes.

[MysticMichael]

It's been years and years since I've owned a Rickenbacker. I'm not gassing for another one these days - but I've always had a soft spot for them in my heart. You've got a beaut!

To me, the coolest thing about a Rick has always been that unique "ring & ping" kind of tone you get when you play rawk with a pick. Very few other bass guitars I've played can come close to that.

IMHO, there are two direction you could go: modern & solid-state, or vintage & tube. Personally, I'd consider a Gallien Krueger or EBS rig (if you like the GK grind, get a 700RB-II and a pair of 8-ohm 212 Neo-II cabs). For a tube rig, maybe a Mesa 400+ or a Titan, with a Mesa 8x10 to match.

Rock that baby!

MM

[DenverDrew]

I agree completely about the pick dynamics of the Ricky, sounds sweet. I'm open to Orange and Ampeg for sure. I also listened to a Trace Elliot demo that was excellent (but on a $2900 rig). The question I keep having is what benefits are there in solid state? I love the warmth of tubes with guitar so lean that direction, but then there are hybrids too... So many options!

Also what specific heads would you recommend for tube, hybrid, and all solid at that price range? Complimenting cabs?

[Buster Brown]

I know that it's "old school", but My Rics sure sound sweet through the ampeg CL into the 8X10........

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by DenverDrew

The question I keep having is what benefits are there in solid state? I love the warmth of tubes with guitar so lean that direction, but then there are hybrids too... So many options!

There are limits to how much you can extrapolate from the guitar world to the bass guitar world - it's apples and cantaloupes. There is a greater diversity of gear available to bassists...and more of a willingness to try new things and to innovate among bassists. Things have changed since the last time you were playing bass regularly...

I'm no expert on tube amps, so I'll leave a direct comparison vs. solid-state amps to someone more knowledgeable. But as to the warmth issue, solid-state technology just continues to get better and better. High-quality solid-state amps now rival some of the best tube amps in terms of total tone quality...

MM

[DenverDrew]

I am not opposed to moving away from tube if the warmth is still there. And after replacing a few tubes I know the cost associated with that. I have always been a small guitar combo guy and I was looking at some 1x15 and 2x10 combo amps too. Is there a large drawback tone/functionality wise with bass combos?

It seems like a better investment to get a head and cab as I can always switch out either if I want to change tones. I love the look and sound of the orange stuff but WOW expensive. Is it really worth almost double what the Ampeg stuff is?

I know for most people this is nerve wracking but for me I am having a blast gear shopping in the lower register.

[Ric5]

I like to play Rics through Ampeg B2 and B3 heads and 10" Eminence speakers. I also like the line 6 bass pod and the VT bass pedal.

[funkinbottom]

Originally Posted by DenverDrew

I have always been a small guitar combo guy and I was looking at some 1x15 and 2x10 combo amps too. Is there a large drawback tone/functionality wise with bass combos?

Large drawbacks? IMHO not at all. You can always throw another cab under a combo for larger gigs.

[DenverDrew]

Oh man I have been looking at the Ashdown abm 500 head and a matching 2x10 or 4x10 and 1x15. They sound really cool on all the demos I have heard, anyone know if they actually hold up in the real world aka usable with my insane drummer? Played the terror bass a few days ago and it's got a great sound but the gain knob seemed totally unusable past 12 o'clock. Loud though which is a plus. Also dug into the Fender TV 2x10 and that thing is almost laughably underpowered, even for a vintage amp.

Steer me in the right direction, Ashdown or go start looking at ampegs and GK?

[back2thefuture]

Ashdown ABM all the way.

[majortoby]

I'd say used VT bass pre ---> used power amp in the 600 watt+ range ---> used cab consisting of no fewer than 4 10"s or 2 12"s

[DenverDrew]

Going to play a few heads and cabs today but i'm pretty set on the ashdown at this point. Don't want to start any sort of internet fire but SOUND WISE is there any difference between the old Ashdown ABM uk 2x10 combo and the new Ashdown ABM EVO III 2x10 combo? I'm running blind with the Ashdown gear because I don't have a local dealer here in Denver that keeps anything in stock so I have to rely on this new fangled internet machine to show me new gear.

[DenverDrew]

Damn, the ashdown combo was a complete bust. Bought it off ebay and it arrived poorly packed and broken. Seller took care of it, but still aggravating.

However, I did find a UK ABM EVO II 900 locally that is in amazing condition and only shelled out $675 which I thought was reasonable given the shape it was in. Now, what cab to buy.......

[Cristo]

One guys "awesome sweet tone amp" is another guys "piece of crap noisebox junk".

Really, I'm serious.

Having said that, I play a GK1001RBII and love it. Try one, maybe you will too.

[DenverDrew]

True enough. I Decided on am Ashdown compact 1x15 for the time being but I want to expand that later with a 2x10 for more precision. Played with the band Friday and it really brought the sound together. My drummer was loving it! We got deep into the pocket on a couple long jams and I couldn't get the dumb grin off my face. I love it.

Thanks all,
Drew

[dmusic148]

[quote=DenverDrew;11434237]..... but I want to expand that later with a 2x10 for more precision. [/QUOTEDon't fall into that trap. 15's are just as 'precise' as 10's. And 15's don't go lower. 10's can go higher but they don't always.....in other words don't buy speakers because of their size, thinking they'll get you a particular tone- doesn't work that way.
You are always best off matching cabs. So if you are buying a 1x15 combo, and the company offers a 1x15 expansion cab, go with that- it'll almost always sound better than mixing speaker sizes.
You will also want to be sure the combo can actually handle an additional cab- many combo's cannot. And watch your impedance's.

[scottfeldstein]

Originally Posted by DenverDrew

deep into the pocket on a couple long jams and I couldn't get the dumb grin off my face. I love it.

Pretty much sums up everything I get out of this whole bass guitar thing.