Good small guitar combo for Rick-o-Sound?

BKBassDude · #1 08-31-2010, 05:57 PM

Just got a brand new 4003 (Fireglo, if you care, and no, not cause of Scott Pilgrim) and want to experiment with the stereo output. I already plugged it through my roomates crappy little 5 watt Roland that he uses for keyboard, and it sounded awesome on its distortion setting. I can't wait to hear a real amp!

What wattage is good? Chances are I won't be using this set up at shows any time soon, and even if I do, I rarely play without PA support. So I'm not looking for something big or expensive.

I've been looking at small combos from Peavey and Line 6, leaning towards the Peavey Vypyr series because they have a wide range of distortion options.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

PS My bass amp is an Orange Terror Bass through a Markbass NYC15.

MysticMichael · #2 08-31-2010, 06:57 PM

I wouldn't go too small on a guitar amp. After all, you'll be sending a bass guitar signal through it - which will be stressful enough on it...

Try a Fender Twin Reverb. Gets a great clean tone. But again, since you'll sending a bass guitar signal through it, you can probably count on getting at least some speaker distortion from it...

MM

ishouldbeking · #3 08-31-2010, 07:01 PM

i'd say a Vox AC-15 or AC-30... never done it myself, but i'm pretty sure it's been done before. and that tone would be pretty glorious. my line 6 pod x3 has a bass setting for that.

honestly if you want to get really into it, i'd say get a seperate guitar head (like a vox or marshall) and run it through an avatar guitar cabinet that seems like it'll best suit your needs. you could even have an avatar 4x10 GUITAR cab to match a bass 410...

poorbassist15 · #4 08-31-2010, 07:02 PM

Ah, the Ric-o-Sound

Neck pup to Bass amp, bridge pup to distorted guitar amp. Get something with tubes, I just use a Electro Harmonix channel splitter to do it with my basses.

Anyway, get a Fender Pro Jr. Great little amp for both guitar and bass.

DanNowhere · #5 08-31-2010, 07:32 PM

A couple of Ampeg BA115s, or maybe mix it up with a BA112 and a BA115 or something like that.

CayceG · #6 08-31-2010, 07:47 PM

I have a BA115T and I run my Rick into both of its inputs cause I don't have a guitar amp.

Bass pup clean into the passive input
Treble pup through a Sansamp into the active input.

It can't be good for the amp, but it sounds great.

Jeff Scott · #7 08-31-2010, 07:58 PM

I too, recommend a real bass amp unless you plan to always have the VTC in the up position to put the .0047µ cap in line with the bridge hi-gain. That pickup does produce a lot of bass with the VTC in the down position. If the former, all the Fender tube amp suggestions would be good ones. I use a vintage Princeton Reverb Amp occasionally with my Ricks.