Brands lowdown?

[Thylacine Dream]

Hey guys, I just joined. Through extensive lurking I've come up with a pretty good list of brands that someone aspiring for their first big boy rig like myself should turn to, and I was hoping I could get a basic idea from y'all of what each sounds like, suggested models, how they stack up against each other, best values, additional suggestions, etc. I know I need to go out and play them myself, but shrinking down the list first would be nice. I'm looking for something full, warm and bassy sounding, not too hi-fi in the least but present highs still. Just avoiding sterility at all costs, and I'll never need something good for slapping. From what I understand, a 2x12 Avatar (or matching) cab would be good for that, but would it be enough power? It's hard to describe the kind of music I play, that's probably something I haven't even figured out yet, so I'd want those tonal characteristics but some good versatility for later on. And for quite a while I'd be playing a longscale Dano replica and a nice old Squier P-bass into this hypothetical rig. So, finally, my list:
Genz-Benz
Acoustic B200H (too little power?)/B600H
Ashdown MAG 300
Ampeg-PF350 (would that be enough?)/500
SWR used workingman/workingpro?
Carvin
Peavey (Firebass, pro 500, Nitro 450)
Eden (Nemesis combo, some used head?)
Hartke (LH500)
Fender Bassman (SS kind, obviously)
Mesa walkabout
I appreciate the help, money is definitely an object here but I wanna be happy for a long time with whatever I get. Lastly, GK suggestions abound here; I only got to play trough an MB once and didn't like it a bit, seemed very sterile, my strings may well've been dead then though. But it seems like they wouldn't be good for the sound I want anyway. Am I wrong? Thanks for reading so much

[bassgod0dmw]

Firstly. Welcome!

A few questions that might help you get answers:
1. What kind of music do you play. I know you said it's hard to describe, but seriously...try. We're all musicians here.
2. You're asking: "Will it be enough power?" Enough power for what? Acoustic set? Arena?
3. Budget?

I would suggest to search around the forum to find some of the answers. Genz Benz, Mesa Walkabout, and Ampeg PF350/500 are all hot items right now and you'll find quite a bit of info on them.

[will33]

Based on that very common....and very vague tone desctiption, I'd think the Ampeg, the Hartke LH, the Fender or the Walkabout would be pretty much plug-n-play for you without much knob twiddling although you can make any of them sound good.

[Thylacine Dream]

Thanks! I'm excited to have people to talk to who aren't either trying to sell me something or all too into their own opinions and styles. 1., and response to Will33: That's the problem, I haven't played with people enough to know what my music's like yet. I was in a metal band and am about to be in an alt country band, but I was/will be using other people's gear and varying degrees of other people's music for both of those, and I'm not that into either genre anyway. That's why getting my own, versatile stuff is important to start something from the ground up with a couple friends, my ideas of which come from a few small jams and the personalities of 2 amateur musician friends. That "something" definitely won't be metal, but will sometimes include its volume/aggressiveness/power. I'll definitely be using a more growly, biting tone in those times, but I'd guess that won't be hard with most amps considering the Dano's lipstick tubes. I need a good counterpart for them, but also something capable of offsetting them. I also wanna be able to floor people with lows, just like any bassist, and I'm interested in experimenting with a deep, more synthy tone. I'd also very much like if the amp could do a lot of the legwork in terms of getting dirty, which I've heard the Portaflex isn't so good at. The most important thing to me is that the amp sounds organic at its core. The music's generally very aggressive, weird rock, or very eerie and ominous and hazy, a combination of the former and the latter, more ambient stuff (both relaxing and upsetting) and on the other side, very grooving, jammy things. That's as I know it from jams and ideas, but I'll likely be needing to find my place among synth and stuff in the band I'm putting together. Lastly, in terms of my tone wants being vague, I haven't had good gear to play through and need to know what's worth tracking down (then play through it) before I have a better idea of what sounds I like.
2. "Enough power" for me is loud gigs at something big enough that it would qualify as a venue rather than just a bar with music, I guess. And be well-heard with a loud drummer, a guitarist with a Tiny (or Dual? Don't remember) Terror and 2x12, and a synth.
3. Because I'm such a little child noob and haven't really spent this much money on anything before, I don't know what I'm willing to spend to get the job done. Probably under $1000
Sorry that this is so many words

[jacostilllives]

I'd go used. Search craigslist for some used Ampeg 'pro' gear. Perhaps a used 4pro or 3pro coupled with an Ampeg 410HLF will rock you solid for years to come. (I used this setup for a long time and it did me quite well.)

[will33]

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Sounds like you really don't know what you want yet. Any decent amp with some basic tone controls and a speakers(s) that can hang with a drummer when they're hitting hard can gig you anywhere. A lot of tone is in your hands and your heart. Different playing styles, different basses and different knob twisting can get a huge variety of sounds.

I'd advise finding something you like the general sound of that's loud enough to keep up with a band, then further develop your playing style, your ears, etc.

I'd advise against dropping big $ on gear right now because your tastes and everything else will change....a lot most likely. Don't buy something because some dude on the internet (or in person) told you it was the newest, biggest, most badass whatever and you have to have it because that's what so-and-so uses and they're good. Any middle of the road rig can be bent into many sounds and shapes.

Also don't buy something new because it's the cheapest, there's a reason it's the cheapest. Look a rung or two up from the bottom of the ladder. Buying used gear can get you good stuff for less and you can buy and sell things without losing too much until you run into something that really tickles your fancy.

[GrowlerBox]

A Thylacine in Texas? I knew they weren't extinct!

You've listed an array of heads that covers pretty much the entire range of bass tones, so it's going to be difficult to narrow it down.

Useful rule of thumb -- most amps can be made to sound good with a good speaker cabinet, and all amps are going to sound bad through a bad cabinet. If I were in your shoes, I would be inclined to get the best new cabinet I could afford (it's hard to know what a second-hand cab has been through) and then get a used head.

If I didn't care about weight/pack space, and didn't yet have a "sound in my head" that I was aiming at, I'd look at putting a power amp and a pre-amp in a small rack unit. The pre-amps can be flipped around depending on tonal goals, and power's always in style! And even weight doesn't need to be an issue with power amps now.

Just some food for thought ...

[Thylacine Dream]

I'm glad someone else thinks Thylacines are cool enough to speak up about them; beautiful, scary creatures.
A pre/power setup intimidates me, my feeble mind and klutziness is the same reason I'll be staying away from tubes even if I happen to win the lotto tomorrow or something. What cabs do you think are best in my range then, and is 2x12 a safe choice and something I'll hold onto?

r i g h t y o u a r e , w i l l

I do have a sound in my head, several, really, my inexperience with actual gear means I'm just not great at articulating it. What I'm asking for, and maybe it's a silly thing to ask, is for anyone who's passing by with .02 to throw in on the companies and amps I listed within my pricerange to define their place in the spectrum GrowlerBox mentioned and talk about more practical things like features, toneshaping, weight etc. Or just one person who feels like flexing their knowledge muscles. I'm big into exhaustive information and I'm sure I'm not the only lurker/poster out there who'd love it all compiled like this

I'm probably a ways off from buying an amp even, I just wanna narrow down my list and legwork when it comes time to try everything out, plus it'd just be cool to have that knowledge for the future anyway as my tastes and needs in tone evolve

Great advice from everyone, sleep well tonight knowing that y'all have once and for all dried up the mixture of excitement and overcautiousness that makes gear newbies shy away from the used market. Thanks!

[will33]

Thylacine Dream......is that kinda like the thorazine shuffle?????


Upon further review, apparently not....looks more like a chupacabra with hair.

[will33]

Originally Posted by GrowlerBox

A Thylacine in Texas? I knew they weren't extinct!

You've listed an array of heads that covers pretty much the entire range of bass tones, so it's going to be difficult to narrow it down.

Useful rule of thumb -- most amps can be made to sound good with a good speaker cabinet, and all amps are going to sound bad through a bad cabinet. If I were in your shoes, I would be inclined to get the best new cabinet I could afford (it's hard to know what a second-hand cab has been through) and then get a used head.

If I didn't care about weight/pack space, and didn't yet have a "sound in my head" that I was aiming at, I'd look at putting a power amp and a pre-amp in a small rack unit. The pre-amps can be flipped around depending on tonal goals, and power's always in style! And even weight doesn't need to be an issue with power amps now.

Just some food for thought ...

Good point. Doesn't matter what you plug into a crap speaker, it'll still sound like crap...that's the end component that's doing the "speaking". That said, I can plug into a $4000 rig or I can plug into a beat to hell TNT and I'll still sound like me. Granted one may be a richer, nicer version of me but they're both still me and I'll get the job done either way.

[GrowlerBox]

Originally Posted by will33

Good point. Doesn't matter what you plug into a crap speaker, it'll still sound like crap...that's the end component that's doing the "speaking". That said, I can plug into a $4000 rig or I can plug into a beat to hell TNT and I'll still sound like me. Granted one may be a richer, nicer version of me but they're both still me and I'll get the job done either way.

That's true, but then what would we talk about on TalkBass?

[Thylacine Dream]

Hm, I typed all of this and hit "post quick reply" and it all disappeared, so what's quick reply for?
It's good to know someone else thinks Thylacines are cool enough to speak up; beautiful, scary creatures. Aaaaaaand I just saw the "hairy chupacabra" comment, haha

What I'm asking, and maybe it's a silly thing to ask, is for anyone passing by to throw in their .02 about my list and where on that range of bass tones each company/amp in my price range falls, along with more practical stuff like toneshaping and weight. I figure all this knowledge in one place will be useful to lots of lurkers like I was, and it'll be nice to have that basis for when my tone tastes and needs evolve.

Yeah, I was planning on going new on the cab until I had the ears to tell if something's amiss. What would you say are some likely best new cabs in my range? Would a 2x12 be something I would hold onto if I liked it now, or are they kinda nichey?

I do have sounds in my head, just not the experience to articulate them well and define them through reference/comparison. However, a pre/power setup seems scary and complicated at this point to my feeble mind and klutzy being, the same reason I'm not touching anything tube for a good while even if I win the lotto.

R i g h t y o u a r e , w i l l
As I said, I'm just looking to get a good basis of knowledge before i get out there for myself, not have someone tell me What To Buy.

Great advice from everybody, sleep well tonight knowing y'all have dried up for good the mix of excitement and overcautiousness that keeps one more newbie away from the used market

[will33]

Originally Posted by GrowlerBox

That's true, but then what would we talk about on TalkBass?

I don't know...fashion trends?....what's the latest, greatest stuff you just gotta have?



Wait a minute....that is what we talk about here.

Thank God for early adopters....more barely used stuff for me.


OP, seriously, if you can wade through that stuff, this place is a great resource. Plenty of folks with experience and some real professionals to help sort things out, correct misconceptions and help you get headed in the right direction....whatever that is for you.

[Thylacine Dream]

I'm stupid, the mods need to approve my comments, it told me that, I just didn't think it would take so long. Uh, thanks again, guys! *Just look at his little toddler steps! Darling!*
And I'm changing my mind around reading about the VT Bass, any famous bang-for-buck power amps, Growler or others?