The Eden Alternate?

Budder84 · #1 12-08-2010, 07:14 AM

Guys, I’ve been a pretty much been set on Eden and the sweet tones the amps produce for the last few years now. However, as of recent, I’ve ran into a few road bumps that I know a bunch of you have encountered with the products as well. My question to you:

What else is out there that’s similar tone wise to Eden. I want to explore other realms.

I've also owned an Epifani UL502 and Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 and they didn’t do it for me.
Suggestions? Opinions?

I play Epifani cabinets if that adds any color to the mix.

What did a lot of you exclusive Eden cats migrate towards?

Also, not knocking Eden, I love their products, just curious of what else is out there thats similar sounding.

Son of Bovril · #2 12-08-2010, 07:19 AM

You could try the new eden preamp pedal with a poweramp?

Von Felgenhauer · #3 12-08-2010, 07:20 AM

well I know when Steve Rabe was first starting out SWR or even before that him and the Eden guy worked together so I'd say a pre-fender SWR is going to sound close

tombowlus · #4 12-08-2010, 08:39 AM

While not identical, I find Mesa/Boogie to be in the same tone universe, and they're a pretty good company to work with (not so many road hazards, if you know what I mean).

Budder84 · #5 12-08-2010, 12:12 PM

Thanks guys. Good input. I've read some things about SWR being similar to Eden. I know Mike Gordon played SWR before he switched over to Eden and tone wise they were very similar.

Tom, Ill have to look into Mesa some more. I guess I always pictured Mesa as very Ampegish. Suggestions on model, MPulse or Carbine?

tombowlus · #6 12-08-2010, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Budder84

Tom, Ill have to look into Mesa some more. I guess I always pictured Mesa as very Ampegish. Suggestions on model, MPulse or Carbine?

I think of them as kind of between Ampeg and SWR (which is also where I slot Eden, though again, Eden and Mesa don't sound exactly alike).

If you want a more full, warm, round sound, then it's the M-Pulse line (including WalkAbout, BB750 & Titan V-12). If you like a big, lush, tube sound, but want a tighter/quicker response and good high-end detail, then it's all about the M3/6/9.

bass12 · #7 12-08-2010, 12:22 PM

You mean "alternative", right?

I went to SWR from Eden (I really didn't like the Eden head I was using much). The SWR was good but the first time I played through an Ampeg SVT Pro I was in love.

Budder84 · #8 12-09-2010, 06:16 AM

Thanks Tom, love the magazine. Just read the review of the M6 in the August 08 issue. Hit another little "road bump" at a gig last night, getting antsy now.

woody357 · #9 12-09-2010, 06:58 AM

I use an Eden wt550, but a lot of people I know that used that head or the 800, went to the Thunderfunk when they made a move. I don't know myself, but I've been told it is similar to the Eden sound, but better. Like I said I don't know

Budder84 · #10 12-09-2010, 07:10 AM

Woody, Ive heard that as well. I have no experience with Thunderfunk. Can anyone elaborate? I myself play an 800 as well as a wtx500.

Vinny D · #11 12-09-2010, 07:14 AM

From what I have found on what is similar to the Eden sound (WT550/800/1205) is:

Mark Bass LMIII

Fender 800pro

Thunderfunk 550 (not the 750)

SWR550x (not the 750x)

Those heads too me come the closest, and if the Fender name doesn't scare you the 800pro is a great amplifier IMO.

But, there are so many new products out there that just about anything could be the magic your looking for!

tombowlus · #12 12-09-2010, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vinny D

Those heads too me come the closest, and if the Fender name doesn't scare you the 800pro is a great amplifier IMO.

+1 Good call, there. That is a very much overlooked and underrated head.

Vinny D · #13 12-09-2010, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tombowlus

+1 Good call, there. That is a very much overlooked and underrated head.

I really hate that I fell into that category of not trusting the Fender name on a new(er) amplifier because the 800pro is a great sounding amp.
It was my leading choice before I finally decided too buy Eden (5-years ago), but I still feel the 800pro sounds just as good as any Eden I have owned.

mlove · #14 12-11-2010, 03:08 AM

from what I've read Thunderfunk would be a good fit.
I own a wt550 and never played a Thunderfunk but am also considering the move.

chi-town_mike · #15 12-11-2010, 07:36 AM

I moved about a year ago from an swr sm900 to the genz benz Shuttle 9.0 and while not exact, the swr was a little thicker sounding, the overall tone I could dial in what I got out of the swr plus this extra clarity I could not get.

Im currently running the shuttle with an eden 410XLT and its pretty massive sounding.

I am a Genz Benz endorser so take what I say with a grain of salt.

The Thunderfunk is kinda like going back to the AMP drawing board and getting it right with a twist. the sm900, eden wt800,thunderfunk750 and AMP BH440 are all "kissing cousins" in a good way.

4Mal · #16 12-11-2010, 09:23 AM

Haven't tried the 9. I listened to the 6 a bunch and never heard anything like the warm, articulate nature of my old WT-800A. I hear articulate and warm, but not at the same time...

I would be inclined to audition the new little tube based Gk. From what I've heard folks say, it adds some wamth and some presence to the GK MB500.

basskillah · #17 12-11-2010, 10:02 AM

Just my $.02, but I currently own a original Traveler (WT-300), and have owned the Traveler Plus (WT-400), along with several WT-800's... My # 1 (and this is what replaced my DB-750) is a Markbass Little Mark Tube 800. I know KJung and several others have posted some negative reviews

... However, I don't care. 750 watts/7lbs (not to mention less than half the price of most amps). It absolutely murders any 4x10 setup with my Bergantino HT-310 (with the upgraded 750 watt drivers). I A-B'ed with my traveler thinking the Eden would win... It did not. I love how you can control the entire timbre of the amp with 2 knobs. Viva Markbass!

**Chef** · #18 12-11-2010, 10:56 AM

To me, the thing about eden is the way the tone stack is laid out.
I really liked the wt800b with the Epi UL410, so, even tho you say you want to move away from eden, you ought to try the wt550 or 800, i think.

I don't find the swr stuff to be eden-ish, at all. I think it's cleaner and faster. Less woolly.

Other amps with that some sorta control layout include the Thunderfunk, and Mesa Walkabout. The Thunderfunk is cleaner than the Eden stuff, but still warm-ish for an ss amp. The Mesa Walkabout is very tubey, or an ss amp, though at lower volumes it just rich and fat.

babebambi · #19 12-11-2010, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chef

I don't find the swr stuff to be eden-ish, at all. I think it's cleaner and faster. Less woolly.

IMO the SWR sounds like Eden with a lot of "enhance" dialed in; then it still got that "aural enhancer" ...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chef

To me, the thing about eden is the way the tone stack is laid out.
I really liked the wt800b with the Epi UL410, so, even tho you say you want to move away from eden, you ought to try the wt550 or 800, i think.

Other amps with that some sorta control layout include the Thunderfunk, and Mesa Walkabout. The Thunderfunk is cleaner than the Eden stuff, but still warm-ish for an ss amp. The Mesa Walkabout is very tubey, or an ss amp, though at lower volumes it just rich and fat.

yup, I love the Eden EQ too

I have been waiting for another amp to un-sit my Eden, but nothing so far ...

Interceptor · #20 12-11-2010, 09:06 PM

Try a Thunderfunk.

Similar tonal range. Reliable, and if one ever was to croak, Dave is there.

I went from Eden to Thunderfunk in search of reliability and have been satisfied. Satisfied isn't a common word on TB!

Jim