Best Amp for Blues?

[mikejs]

Ok there have been 100s of posts like this, so... pls bear with me. Here is the situation:

Been playing for a blues band for the past 3 years using a Ampeg Rocket 100 or a Peavey TKO 65 for really small venues. We have an excellent sound system and a tech that knows how to get the most out of it.... so the amp serves as a back-line monitor versus what is going out through the subs (splitting the signal with a Hartke Bass Attack). This works OK for small venues ... but with warmer weather coming we will be moving to more outdoor gigs.

I would like to get a decent quality and reliable set up that one person could actually lift...(not young and getting any younger) thinking a separate amp / cab. I have heard small Ampeg, Eden and Anguilar rigs that have sounded good. If it is popular I might be able to find it used (...sounds like all the new stuff is made in China!) Any recommendations?

Thanks in advance!
mike

[Rune Bivrin]

For blues, all you need is a graphic EQ so that you can adjust it to a sad face.

[armybass]

After many years of playing in pop and jazz bands I am in my first blues band. I have always gotten away with an SWR 210for most of my gigs and have used the Goliath Sr for my outdoor gigs. With the blues band I do not think the 210 is enough. I too am not getting any younger but the reality of the situation was that I felt that I needed at least a 410 cab to push the air needed to keep up with the solid intensity of the drums and guitars and this particular band has an organ player too. I felt like I needed more paper to push more air and to be able to have the headroom I needed. I am sure that some would suggest maybe one or two 15 cabs or maybe 2 212 cabs but I am a 10 guy. Don't really need the speakers to be louder perse but too fill up the bottom nicely and make it a full and even bass presence.

[Hnz]

The Ampeg B100r is a decent combo for blues, isn't it? And since you hook it up to the PA, what more do you need?

If you want a perhaps louder combo, you could check out the Fender Bassman TV15, the Ampeg Micro VR with SVT210AV cab, or better 2 of them.
Or wait for the new Portaflex series - a choise of 1x15 or 2x10 cab and a 350 or 500 watt head - to come out.

Cheers!

[AlexanderB]

Blues is such a wide genre, but I will also recommend the Fender TV 15. Sounds great (to my ears) with a Precision if you want that big, supportive tone. Slightly heavy, though. The Ampeg combos I have tried have been less impressive (especially the low en BA series) but they also cost much less.

[chokeslam512]

Originally Posted by Rune Bivrin

For blues, all you need is a graphic EQ so that you can adjust it to a sad face.

Lol, I think that's emo.

[Calaverasgrande]

As a former sound guy and former resident of the deep south, nothing makes the blues suck more than a bassist with a "modern" tone. I'm not saying you have to get a heavy tube amp and run shallow 2x15 cabinets. But I would certainly avoid cabinets with tweeters. At least turn the tweeters off if they have them. I used to sub in a blues band with my old Pearce IVP-1/power amp setup. The regular bass player used one of those older Trace Elliot heads AH350? I cant recall exactly. Big, grey, blacklight, graphic EQ. He got a HUGE and warm sound out of that rig.
If I was you I;d shoot for a 4x10 or 2x12 cab from Aguilar/Mesa etc and maybe the aggie tone hammer head. If its near as good as the pedal it will be great.
Or find out whatever Duck Dunn uses and get that.
The Mesa hybrid heads are really great at doing warm fat tone as well. Like the carbine M3, M6 esp. I've yet to find an BB750, Titan or Walkabout in a store. So those must be great?

[greenboy]

Originally Posted by Calaverasgrande

As a former sound guy and former resident of the deep south, nothing makes the blues suck more than a bassist with a "modern" tone.

It's the injun - not the bow or arrows.



Over his career Johnny Gayden's done a lot of things; not adverse to tweeters, slapping, complex rigs, effects, basses that white boys with blues complexes would consider sacrilege...

[jnewmark]

Originally Posted by greenboy

It's the injun - not the bow or arrows.



Over his career Johnny Gayden's done a lot of things; not adverse to tweeters, slapping, complex rigs, effects, basses that white boys with blues complexes would consider sacrilege...

And, he always sounds great.

[Nickthebass]

Have you thought about the Genz Benz Streamliner?

I'm about to join a blues band and have bought one with that in mine. It's light (6.5lbs), fat, tubey, warm ... all that good stuff.

I can also thoroughly recommend Barefaced cabinets (might be a little pricey if you're shipping to the US as they're made on the south coast of England).

My rig will be a Streamliner 900 powering a Barefaced Compact and if I need it I'll get my hands on a Barefaced Midget to wring the full 900 watts from the head.

If I need to be any louder some else will be moving my gear for me.

[stiles72]

If you are happy with your B-100R, I'd just get a second B-100R and run them together for bigger outside shows. I use mine with an oldies/classic rock project and love the big warm tone. Never had any volume issues with the B-100R - but sometimes I will split my signal with a tuner pedal and run it with alongside a B15.

[armybass]

I mean no offense to anyone here but how in the world can you guys gig with a 100 watt bass amp? Even as just for a stage monitor... there is no way that would work for me. I have been proven wrong before, but I just have been of the opinion for a very long time that nothing less than 300-350 watts is adequate for a gigging bass amp. We are talking solid state right?

[guroove]

Originally Posted by stiles72

If you are happy with your B-100R, I'd just get a second B-100R and run them together for bigger outside shows. I use mine with an oldies/classic rock project and love the big warm tone. Never had any volume issues with the B-100R - but sometimes I will split my signal with a tuner pedal and run it with alongside a B15.

^ Best answer so far. The amp you already have would seem to be ideal IMO. Anything much bigger and louder, and you've gotten outside of what one person can move my himself.

[Mojo-Man]

How much money do you want to spend ?
The B100R is fine for small gigs.
Ampeg Micro VR with two 2x10 cabs will work.
Reeves 225 head with a Bergantino 6x10 will rock it.
Orange AD 200, with two OBC 1x15 cabs.
Find an old Ampeg V4B with matching 2x15 cab.
I'm gassing for the new Genz Benz "Streamliner 900, with a good 4 ohm cab.
If you got the cash, you can find your sound.

[FunkyWilly]

How exactly do you split your signal to two amps? Please educate me. Thanks.

Originally Posted by stiles72

If you are happy with your B-100R, I'd just get a second B-100R and run them together for bigger outside shows. I use mine with an oldies/classic rock project and love the big warm tone. Never had any volume issues with the B-100R - but sometimes I will split my signal with a tuner pedal and run it with alongside a B15.

[Calaverasgrande]

I usd to do sound at a blues club in Oakland. The bassists that excelled always seemed to be the guys playing a p-bass through an absolute dog of an amp. Then there would be the "fusion" guys playing bass with the blues band to make ends meet or whatevs. They always overplayed and had way to much highs and mids!
The other thing I have noticed about blues bands (and this may just be my experience). The pecking order totally exists. Bass player stays back by the drums and does not call attention away from the vocalist/guitarist/keyboard player. That is really the main reason why I say avoid tweets. Surrender the upper mids to the guitars and own the low notes.

[nysbob]

To me - this is the ultimate blues amp:



If your band drowns it out, they're playing too loud for the downhome blues.

[jnewmark]

Originally Posted by nysbob

To me - this is the ultimate blues amp:



If your band drowns it out, they're playing too loud for the downhome blues.

You got it, Bob. Toured around with that rig in the '70's with a Chicago Blues style band and it always delivered. One night, Calvin Jones ( Muddy Waters bass player ) used it and fell in love with it.

[MrLenny1]

Combos don't cut it for live gigs.
Get a 4x10 or 2x12 and pump it with a hybrid head.
Used Eden WT400, 400 watts, $400. 17 lbs.
Cabs can be found for same price. There is a TB'er here selling
a Bag End 4x10 for $400. Get a 2 hand dolly for the cab.

[mophead]

The Streamliner with an AE212 Berg works well for me. Turn the tweeter down a bit and let the gain of the Streamliner do its thing.
About 59 pounds TOTAL for both pieces.

You can carry it all in a Corvette if you like.