Bass Amp VOLUME Question for a NOOB

[DPG003]

I just recently decided to switch to bass from guitar. I have really enjoyed the TB forum and have gotten allot of very useful info. I was wondering if bass amps were the same as guitar amps as far as volume and tone. In other words with a nice tube guitar amp you need to crank it pretty loud to get the nice tones going. Do bass amps work the same way?

I have 2 Genz Benz NeoX 112's that I purchased here on TB. My bass is a G&L L2500 Tribute. My playing styles will include everything from 70's Rock to Modern Metal to Praise & Worship. I'm looking for a head.

I've been considering the Ampeg PF500 & 350 - Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0 & 6.0 - GK 700RBII - Hartke LH500 - Carvin BX500 - GK MB200 & 500

I'm thinking if the amp needs to be cranked a bit for better tone then I may want to stay with a lower wattage amp say around 200-350 watts. Is the way it works with bass amps?

Also I like what I am hearing about the Ampeg PF models. Can you also get a decent modern clean sound out of them as well as the classic "Ampeg tone"? Thanks

[bassgod0dmw]

Only an all tube amp would work in the way you describe. Whether it sounds good is up to you.

If you plan on gigging or playing with a drummer, I would suggest 300w as a minimum. It take a lot more power to get those low frequencies to the same volume. A guitar playing through a 100w amp would overpower the bassist playing through a 100w amp easily.

[will33]

Originally Posted by bassgod0dmw

Only an all tube amp would work in the way you describe. Whether it sounds good is up to you.

If you plan on gigging or playing with a drummer, I would suggest 300w as a minimum. It take a lot more power to get those low frequencies to the same volume. A guitar playing through a 100w amp would overpower the bassist playing through a 100w amp easily.

+1

Aside from purposefully overdriving an all tube amp, with bass, you want to err on the side of having more power, not less.

[RickenBoogie]

+1 again, and especially with a solidstate or hybrid amp, it's best to have an abundance of power in reserve. Volume = speakers. You need louder, you need more/bigger speakers.

[Gadgetjunky]

Genz Shuttle 6.0 is my vote. I have the Shuttle 6.0 210T and really like the way you can control the levels. There is a pre and volume for the preamp so you can get the tone you like (cranking the gain) and that's also what goes out the Post DI and then there's a volume for the amp output to the speakers.

[s_mcsleazy]

what guitar head were you using and what impedence?