General Amp Guide: Brands and other stuff

[Ezmar]

So I apologize that I cannot make the thread suggested by the title. I have no experience with amps at all, and have none of the required knowledge. What I'm doing here is to sort of propose such a thread, and have it stickied. Because I feel that a sort of orientation thread is needed for amps. More so than Basses, because the bass is the instrument, and there are so many different kinds that it's more readily apparent that you just need to pick one. But I feel like a lot of new people feel that there's some kind of hierarchy, that there is a strict sort of form that Amps fall into. Like "What's the best Brand?", or even "What's the best brand for me?"

So I guess I'm sort of suggesting a thread that gives sort of an explanation of how getting an amp really works, finding YOUR tone, the tone that YOU like, and nothing else, but also, if possible, to sort of give a guide to the main brands, Pros, cons, characteristics, features, sound, etc. I just remember shopping for a laptop, and you could find a rundown of all the major brands, and I know that Amps are different, but I would like to be able to see something similar, because to someone who doesn't have a clue, like me several months ago, it would be nice to sort of cut through hype and just take an objective look at the major brands. something like:

Brand name - followed by some general things to describe it, I can't give any examples, because I don't know anything, as I've said.

Just list pros and cons, such as the "coloring" or lack thereof a brand might have, reliability, price, VALUE, stuff like that.

And I know it's complicated by the fact that each brand has a bunch of different models, like budget models, combos, what have you, but Would it be possible to sort of give a general Guide to different amps and manufacturers? I think that would be very useful to people who are new to the whole amplification scene. I've just decided on a new rig, but it came from asking for suggestions within an extremely tight budget, and given my budget, I can't really be picky. My point is, I STILL really don't know much about amps, and the differences between them.

So yeah. CAN IT BE DONE?

[scubaduba]

I'll ride along on this one.

[cthomas5200]

Me, too. I am a guitar player trying to learn.

[Ezmar]

I'm going to bump this. I really think this is something this forum needs, a guide to amps and amp technology. There are a lot of people who don't know the first thing about amps, and they need to ask a lot of questions, and often they get more than they can understand. Such a guide would be VERY helpful to a lot of people, and I think it would be a very good "read this first".

If anyone can do this, It would be awesome. Or if multiple people want to collaborate, or whatever. I just really think this is something that should happen. Just the basics. There is an FAQ sticky, but it's far too in-depth for someone who only has a very basic knowledge. Can anyone do this?

[pie_man_25]

I think a guide to different amps and manufacturers would be a bit of a task, given the sheer number of amp manufacturers that there are, but I do agree that somebody should make a brief list of amplifier "genres" - heads+cabs, combos, neodymium speakers, lightweight heads/combos, tube heads/combos, preamps, modelling amps, power amps (rack mounted stuff in general - and a few other things such as why mixing cone sizes is a bad idea, the differences between tubes and solid state, the difference between neodymium and ceramics, and other subjects that don't immediately come to mind.

[Ezmar]

Well, it doesn't have to be be a huge in depth list, then. It would even be useful to just list the main brands, like Ampeg, Genz Benz, GK, Hartke, Peavey, and maybe some of the ones that people wouldn't have heard of. I just feel that there's a distinct lack of such a guide here. It seems like it should be obvious, but I guess most people know already, and the ones who don't either stay out or just take a crash course.

I really believe that this thread should exist.

[B-string]

The trouble is......a high quality bass rig is not a "One trick pony". They can do a wide range of genres.
Add to that only the individual knows what good bass sounds like to her/him, playing style/technique can make a lousy rig sound ok or a "great rig" sound like cow plop.

[Ezmar]

But surely there are some Constants.

Those Constants are what I'm after here. I know everything is subjective, but there are things that everyone CAN know, concerning amps, and I think that we should have that information all compiled in one place.

And I still really wonder if there's anything that can objectively be said about certain amp brands. Some things that I've heard are that Orange amps do One thing really well, and that the Hartke HA3500 is very transparent. I don't know, I just feel like I don't know as much as I'd like.

[B-string]

Well I'm not trying to quench your fire, just adding a little reality? Best wishes for no dog fights?

I can give some insight on G-Ks;
800RB is the only G-K amp I know of who's preamp starts to roll off at 80 Hz (just like the old Ampeg 810 cabs and Acoustic Controls 361 cab). Very punchy amp.
800RB and the 2000RB are the only true "Bi-amp" heads from G-K (adjustable crossover).
Other G-K amp heads will go deeper and most have the H.M.S. system to control G-Ks cabs with high frequency horns (before "boost").
All G-K head are very adjustable to a wide range of "sounds" and it doesn't take long to figure out. If you didn't find what you wanted it is your fault, the cabs or your bass.

I do know the Ampeg B2R and SVT 350 are not loved by many at all, low power and "weak" sounding.

Maybe that will get the ball rolling?

[Munjibunga]

Maybe it would help to first set up some categories, maybe four:

1. All-tube amps (tube preamp, tube power amp)
[insert examples here]
2. Hybrid amps (tube preamp, solid state power amp)
[Eden WT series, etc.]
3. All solid-state amps
[Glockenklang Heart-Rock, etc.]
4. Class D amps, hybrid and solid state
[Eden WTX series, GB Shuttle, TCE RH750, etc.]

We could discuss the general characteristics of these, then go into the brand specifics. I'm sure there'll be some overlap and some controversy. Everybody jump in, copy the categories above and add your favorite examples.

[Ezmar]

Well, Maybe we could scratch the whole Brand thing, as it seems the best way to know What the difference is is to try them yourself. Although it would still probably be a good Idea to have a list, because a beginner won't really have any Idea what to look at.

But regardless, a guide to the most basic things of amp choosing, Combos Vs Head and Cab, All those different types mentioned above, Different cab types and sizes, Impedance, something about the true relationship between wattage and volume, How not to get suckered into an amp that might not sound good (eg, playing through a much nicer bass in-store), etc, etc.

I really don't feel like I know enough to explain all of the above. I have a basic understanding, but I couldn't give definitive advice, because I don't have experience. Sort of a "Things you should know before buying a new bass amp."

[Brad Barker]

just ask tom bowlus to give a few-sentence review of each piece of gear he has.

[Ezmar]

Anyone? Nobody wants to put something like this together?

[chadds]

Fear of flames?
The fact that one of us can make a CheaperThanYours 5 watt "BassWonder" sound better than a NeoMatrixUnlimitedBandwidthCostsSoMuch 10million watt "BassPossibility" just by touch?
Hence making what's what, a real personal choice?

[Ezmar]

Still, I think we should really have just a basic intro to bass amplification, because when I first got here, I didn't even know what the difference was between a 4x10 and a 2x12, and I still don't know the general nuances in Tube versus solid state in terms of Bass amplification. It would be very useful.

Unless you think it would be better to just answer those questions in the threads that crop up asking for that. Maybe that works better. Who am I to say?

[chadds]

Originally Posted by Ezmar

Still, I think we should really have just a basic intro to bass amplification, because when I first got here, I didn't even know what the difference was between a 4x10 and a 2x12, and I still don't know the general nuances in Tube versus solid state in terms of Bass amplification. It would be very useful.

Unless you think it would be better to just answer those questions in the threads that crop up asking for that. Maybe that works better. Who am I to say?

I'm fooling around. No questions no answers. Yet one still has to play as much gear as possible. That's why we live so long.
Just know that what sounds like it would work for you may not at all.
You may like the sound of Pro Famous Bassist A who uses gear H. You may sound like poo on that gear but excellent on something else.

[Ezmar]

Well yeah, But I'm talking more now about general things that people should know about amps, just really basic stuff, that most people here probably take for granted. Just to sort of give an Idea of what people are talking about when you're new, and you ask "I play X size places and X style, what should I get" and you get a response "You should go with an X watt amp with either a 4x10 or a 2x12 cab". Of course what amp choice one should make can't really be decided by anyone else, but Just general stuff, like the fact that a 4x10 has a higher frequency response than a 1x15, or how sound dispersion works, and how different sized cabs work together. I really have no clue, I've really only played on a fender Rumble at my school, and my tiny practice amp at home, I haven't really had any chance to look for tone on anything else I've played.