Fender Bassman TV vs Ampeg VR Micro Stack

clovis6235 · #1 04-08-2011, 08:05 PM

Hey all,

for those of you who have played bothe these amps, could you give me a review of both and which you feel is a more natural transparent sounding amp? Fender Bassman TV 2/10 -1/10 or 1/12 vs Ampeg VR Micro Stack.

Thankyou,
Dem

clovis6235 · #2 04-09-2011, 07:43 AM

oh yeh, Also which one would make for a better recording amplifier?

markorbit · #3 04-09-2011, 07:51 AM

I haven't yet played through both but I have a Micro VR stack on order and I also want to try a TV Bassman combo due to reviews here. However, I wouldn't think either would be the best choice if your tone goal is transparent. My tone goal is old school warm without going all-tube and I understand that both these amps add a definite flavour to the sound of your bass.

FYI the Bassman 1x10 lacks the gain control that the others have so is a bit more limited tone-wise.

I'll give my thoughts on the VR stack when it arrives.

scotch · #4 04-09-2011, 07:54 AM

I've played both & I agree- neither are "transparent". They weren't designed to be - which is exactly what makes either a great recording amp!

If you're looking for "transparent" for recording, then the conventional approach is using a di. Amps are usually used for 'color'.

clovis6235 · #5 04-09-2011, 09:18 AM

Yeh I have the Micro-vr stack sitting in my room right now. still in the box..... but I loved the fender bassman tv 12... I just dont know what to do.

JimmyM · #6 04-09-2011, 09:41 AM

what to do? unpack your micro vr and get to cranking!

Duke21 · #7 04-09-2011, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clovis6235

Yeh I have the Micro-vr stack sitting in my room right now. still in the box..... but I loved the fender bassman tv 12... I just dont know what to do.

You have one of them in the box but a review???? Why, They ship the VR in a safe these days and you don't know the code???

Roadkill · #8 04-09-2011, 10:02 AM

Maybe the new Bassmans sound better than their ancestors but I just had a guy trade me his '67 Bassman for my Micro-VR after I let him use it for a gig. IMO the tone stack on those old Bassman's sucked for bass. They were "boost only" with flat being bass and treble at "0"

.

Mojo-Man · #9 04-09-2011, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clovis6235

Yeh I have the Micro-vr stack sitting in my room right now. still in the box..... but I loved the fender bassman tv 12... I just dont know what to do.

Are you looking to sell it?
Tape it up and put my address on it?

scotch · #10 04-09-2011, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roadkill

Maybe the new Bassmans sound better than their ancestors but I just had a guy trade me his '67 Bassman for my Micro-VR after I let him use it for a gig. IMO the tone stack on those old Bassman's sucked for bass. They were "boost only" with flat being bass and treble at "0"

.

The new Fender Bassman line of bass amps is entirely different from the legacy 'Bassman' designs.

That classic Bassman tone stack is wicked awse' on bass, though! Many high end preamps use it (Alembic comes to mind).

JimmyM · #11 04-09-2011, 11:21 AM

The bassman tv's do have the fender tone stack, though, and i agree that it's much better for bass than you'd first expect. personally, even though the only one i played (tv 15) sounded really good, i think it's grossly overpriced for what it delivers. no expandability and only 350w for an amp that costs a grand. i'd either rather do the micro vr or a pf500/pf115 combo for $200 less and get expandability.

scotch · #12 04-09-2011, 11:45 AM

I was surprised this past week chatting with a fellow bass-playing colleague. I was at his studio & we were using his TV10. He's actually abandoned his vintage B-15 in favor of the new Fender! (Oh yeah, I'll get that B-15 in the end!!!)

My name is Mudd · #13 04-09-2011, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

...i think it's grossly overpriced for what it delivers.

This.

And my first move would be to unpack the MVR and see what it actually sounds like with your stuff.

clovis6235 · #14 04-09-2011, 01:18 PM

Well I went to the driving range and thought about it,
and as soon as I got home, I decided to open the Micro stack.
Plugged my 2008 fender American Jazz Deluxe into it...
Wooooooow it sounds so natural! Warm, clear, transparent,
with great lows. I had just played the fender bassman tv 12
And 15 the in a shop yesterday with my bass. And I have to
Say the fender was wonderful, yet the micro stack is exactly
what i was hearing in my mind. This thing will be a
wonder for recording. I'm sure the bass plays a big part in
this, but the open notes completely matched the fretted notes.
The best part about it is for some reason I got the head and the
cab for $299. Aren't these supposed to be around $500?
That shop had mis quoted me something awhile back and I think
They were jus trying to make right of it. Thy had sold me a fender
Eric Johnson strat and told me the case didn't come with it when
It does. They charged me for it, but then after refunded me after I showed
Them proof it is supposed to come with it.

clovis6235 · #15 04-09-2011, 01:33 PM

Well I went to the driving range and thought about it,
and as soon as I got home, I decided to open the Micro stack.
Plugged my 2008 fender American Jazz Deluxe into it...
Wooooooow it sounds so natural! Warm, clear, transparent,
with great lows. I had just played the fender bassman tv 12
And 15 the in a shop yesterday with my bass. And I have to
Say the fender was wonderful, yet the micro stack is exactly
what i was hearing in my mind. This thing will be a
wonder for recording. I'm sure the bass plays a big part in
this, but the open notes completely matched the fretted notes.
The best part about it is for some reason I got the head and the
cab for $299. Aren't these supposed to be around $500?
That shop had mis quoted me something awhile back and I think
They were jus trying to make right of it. Thy had sold me a fender
Eric Johnson strat and told me the case didn't come with it when
It does. They charged me for it, but then after refunded me after I showed
Them proof it is supposed to come with it.

scotch · #16 04-09-2011, 01:39 PM

The Micro-AV SVT's are starting to pop up in studios for re-amping here in Nashville. Pretty cool little amps for sure!

BassClefJean · #17 04-09-2011, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clovis6235

Well I went to the driving range and thought about it,
and as soon as I got home, I decided to open the Micro stack.
Plugged my 2008 fender American Jazz Deluxe into it...
Wooooooow it sounds so natural! Warm, clear, transparent,
with great lows. I had just played the fender bassman tv 12
And 15 the in a shop yesterday with my bass. And I have to
Say the fender was wonderful, yet the micro stack is exactly
what i was hearing in my mind. This thing will be a
wonder for recording. I'm sure the bass plays a big part in
this, but the open notes completely matched the fretted notes.
The best part about it is for some reason I got the head and the
cab for $299. Aren't these supposed to be around $500?
That shop had mis quoted me something awhile back and I think
They were jus trying to make right of it. Thy had sold me a fender
Eric Johnson strat and told me the case didn't come with it when
It does. They charged me for it, but then after refunded me after I showed
Them proof it is supposed to come with it.

I'll give you $301 for them. ?

They are $299 each everywhere.

clovis6235 · #18 04-10-2011, 10:07 PM

Hey all, so heres my new bass and amp! Im so excited at how sweet my new little set up sounds..... Pure good tone.

JimmyM · #19 04-10-2011, 10:39 PM

coiled cord is a nice touch...bonus points for it being white.

so the next thing you might want to invest in is a small piece of wood painted black to tilt it back toward your ears. or maybe a crushed beer can or two

My name is Mudd · #20 04-10-2011, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clovis6235

so heres my new bass and amp!

There ya go!