Good Amp match for Epi UL 15's

wellso74 · #1 01-10-2011, 10:21 PM

I have two Epifani UL 15's that I really like- you could say that I have been building my rig for a second- I'm looking for a warm tubey bass amp that will compliment them-
I've been reading many threads about matching heads with cabinets. Does anyone have an opinion on this subject?
I'm open to micro heads all the way up to heads that are 40Lbs tops.

**JxBass** · #2 01-11-2011, 04:41 AM

My personal favorite for all the Epi cabs I used is Markbass, in my case an LMII/III. Nice and smooth with a tubey feel. I'm sure you'll get plenty of other recommendations

KJung · #3 01-11-2011, 04:48 AM

The LMIII is a good call with the UL cabs.... clean but not sterile (hence, what many call a 'clean tube tone'), plenty of power, small, light, not very expensive.

Genz Benz is releasing a line of heads called the Streamliner (in 600 and 900 watt versions) in a couple of weeks. The design goal is a very tube like tone, with a three 12ax7 'old school' front end, and a lightweight class D/SMPS power amp (versus the more traditional class A/B of the LMIII). The 900 watt version might really give you what you are looking for, since the 8ohm power would match up nicely with a single 115UL (the 8ohm power of the LMIII is fine, but it doesn't particularly hammer).

There should be real reviews, clips and pictures of the Streamliner out in early February. I have one on order from Rocket Music ($899 for the 900 watt version).

Another head that has triple 12ax7's is the GK MB Fusion... very small, fully featured, but much more aggressive, deep, sizzly, grindy than the LMIII, and I assume less 'old school' than what the design goal of the Streamliner promises.

IMO, and just some food for thought versus a 'hard' recommendation.

wellso74 · #4 01-11-2011, 06:36 AM

thanks for the input!!!

lomo · #5 01-11-2011, 06:39 AM

If you get the chance to try a Walkabout and you want tubey-it'd be well worth your while. It'd be plenty loud with both cabs but a little shy on volume with 1 if your band is loud.

The Diaper Geni · #6 01-11-2011, 06:53 AM

I've got a Crown XLS1500/Tube Channel combo.

Very nice. I'd call it "clean tube". BUT, you can get a little dirt with the Tube Channel.

babebambi · #7 01-11-2011, 10:00 AM

Also consider the TC RH450.

J.Wolf · #8 01-11-2011, 10:46 AM

I'm a huge MB fan, but if micro is not a strict requirement.. I'd vote tube pre of choice (demeter VTBP201,Alembic F1x, a used read purity or kern IP777) into a Stewart 2.1 or similar medium weight high powered poweramp. I would think that 2 x UL115 would be the kind of rig that would really benefit from gobs of headroom. I know alot of us, myself included, have micro fever, but there really is something to be said for a badass rack rig. plus, I got my HBP1, and QSC powerlight 1.4 used for about the same price as some of the micro heads listed here. Just a thought..

If you did go with a smallish/micro integrated head, there are a bunch of good options listed above. It just depends on, like you say, what compliments those cabs the best, for your tone goals.

wellso74 · #9 01-11-2011, 12:28 PM

Thanks- to everyone! Its tricky finding gear that produces what you want to hear.....

wellso74 · #10 01-11-2011, 12:50 PM

I've been reading more about the walkabout- I like what I'm reading about its tonal characteristics. I'm not sure If I'm looking for a powerhouse or something that has enough juice for stage presence- I'm leaning towards stage presence- could the walkabout handle two 15's? assuming that I'm playing at a stage volume that is not to high- say reggae, classic R&B/soul.