Compact Head Owners, Please Assist

NoNoise · #1 08-30-2011, 07:44 AM

Hello all!

I currently have an Ashdown MAG 600 that I love. It gives a warm, round but still punchy tone through my Bag End 1x15" cabs. I've personally never heard a SS head has come this close to imitating a tube head warmth.

However, it is pretty big, and I don't enjoy lugging it around....

Therefore, I've been thinking of getting a compact head. However, many of them can't be found in my local music stores, and I don't have the money to just start buying them to try them.

So, I was wondering if I could get any assistance to help me find a head that will sound like (or as close as possible) to my Ashdown MAG.

I only need 400-600 watts, and, like I said, the important feature is the warm, round and punchy tone.

I'm going to try to find some compact heads around me, but, as of right now, I haven't heard any of them in person (or with my cabs). The three I've read the most about here are the Markbass, T.C. Electronic, and Genz-Benz. I know Ashdown made a compact head (or two), but I haven't heard them either or read much about them.

Thanks!!

UPDATE: After listening to a lot more clips on YouTube, I'm very heavily leaning towards the GenzBenz Streamliner 600. The Ashdown MiBass is intriguing, so I may wait for it to come out and see what the reviews are like. I probably won't be able to buy a new amp for a couple months anyway.

Gearhead17 · #2 08-31-2011, 09:07 AM

Aguilar Tone Hammer 500 Bass Amp Head: Shop Bass & Other Musical Instruments | Musician's Friend

Warm and tube like for sure. Take advantage of return policies and start ordering stuff. Find other bass players and ask them what they use.....

tsunami1052 · #3 08-31-2011, 09:10 AM

The Ampeg PF-500 is getting some talkbass love for warm tube-like tone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjBg7NQ_xko

Bardley · #4 08-31-2011, 09:11 AM

I was going to say the GB Streamliner sounds like a winner. I'm gassing for one, but my Shuttle 6 is more than adequate right now.

KJung · #5 08-31-2011, 09:14 AM

Remember, most retailers have a no questions asked return policy. You would only be out the shipping (which is minimal on a micro head).

The three heads I would consider, given your like of the Ashdown tone are:

- Streamliner 600 or 900 (as you've mentioned)... very big and round and warm and smooth sounding.

- Aguilar Tonehammer500.... I'm only familiar with the preamp at this point, but it is quite warm and round

- TC RH750.... lots of drama on the wattage rating spec at the moment, but it kicks like a mule, and is also quite warm and organic. The 450 has some upper treble attenuation baked into it which the 750 doesn't, which is why I am recommending that model

Thombas · #6 08-31-2011, 09:17 AM

for "warm, round but still punchy tone" I think it's worth considering the TC RH450. You say you need a 5-600 watts, and I know there's a BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIG discussion about how the amp is rated watt-wise, but it'll compete with other amps rated in the 500 watt segment easily.

JimmyM · #7 08-31-2011, 09:20 AM

All good choices, but I'd throw the PF500 and PF350 Ampeg heads at you for consideration as well

Does an amazing SVT/B-15-like sound and very inexpensive.

KJung · #8 08-31-2011, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

All good choices, but I'd throw the PF500 and PF350 Ampeg heads at you for consideration as well

Does an amazing SVT/B-15-like sound and very inexpensive.

The PF500 looks pretty cool. I hope I run into one to try.

JimmyM · #9 08-31-2011, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

The PF500 looks pretty cool. I hope I run into one to try.

Wow, that's something coming from you! You're a notorious Ampeg hater

KJung · #10 08-31-2011, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Wow, that's something coming from you! You're a notorious Ampeg hater

I've always been unimpressed with their full weight hybrids, and have yet to hear a speaker cab from them that I like. However, the new batch of lightweights seems to be pretty darn nice, from the 7Pro to these models. and the price points are quite good.

On a side note, I recently did a gig with George McHale (If I have that name right), who I think was a big time Ampeg designer in the St. Louis Music era. Heck of a nice guy and a very good guitarist.

NoNoise · #11 08-31-2011, 09:59 AM

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions! I'll definitely be checking several of these amps out this fall. I still think I'm going to wait for the MiBass to come out before I start trying out a bunch of these amps or ordering them. Until then, I'll be listening to a lot of clips online.

JimmyM · #12 08-31-2011, 10:11 AM

Yep, heard of George. Don't know what all he designed but he was a designer for sure.