Jamerson tone/warmth in a bedroom amp?

masturbasser · #1 06-14-2011, 09:07 PM

As a few of you may know I've been tossing and turning trying to make up my mind about what bedroom amp to get. I've examined the options and thought about what I actually want to use the amp for. All I really want to do with it is play along to old motown, disco, and Hall and Oates tracks in the privacy of my own home at lower volume levels or silently with headphones. Maybe once every blue moon cranking it and praying the neighbors don't complain. I'm looking at the minimark, PJB cub, Ibanez Promethean, and EBS classic session 60. The minimark sounds great from the youtube clips I've seen but the price is ungodly. I was flabbergasted when I saw Bob Babbit uses a PJB rig with the Funk Brothers. The few youtube clips I've seen of the PJB cub were less than impressive. The Promethean sounds good but I've read about quite a few serious QC control issues on here. The EBS has alot of nice features but the two youtube clips I've found of it having me questioning it's "warmth". I'm an ignoramus and need opinions.

masturbasser · #2 06-14-2011, 09:12 PM

I'm posting this on a PS3 and am limited to how much I can type in. I will be playing a passive PJ bass with LaBella Jamerson flats in Eb. I kind of feel dumb asking this question on here but you guys are much more in the know than me.

EricF · #3 06-14-2011, 09:45 PM

What's your budget?

$300-ish will get you a used Ampeg B100R - great bedroom/practice/small gig amp.

will33 · #4 06-14-2011, 10:22 PM

The only dumb question is the one you didn't ask.

That said, epiphones valve jr. guitar heads can sound pretty darn cool with a bass. You have to buy or make a little 110 or 112 bass cab to go with it though so that could start getting up there in price though. Wouldn't have to get spendy if you could diy something like an emi. alpha10 or something in a sealed box. The VJ is a 5 watt tube amp with a volume knob and that's it. No tone control or headphone jack or anything. About as basic as you can get.

masturbasser · #5 06-14-2011, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricF

What's your budget?

$300-ish will get you a used Ampeg B100R - great bedroom/practice/small gig amp.

Right now I have about a $500 limit but am willing to hold off and save up for an amp that I know will make me happy for atleast the next several years. Right now I'm leaning toward the minimark but the price, ugh! One other thing I forgot to mention is that I don't want any bigger than a 10. I've heard the B100r in action a few times and it does have amazing tone and warmth but the 15 makes it out of the question.

EricF · #6 06-14-2011, 11:18 PM

Why does speaker size matter so much?

JimmyM · #7 06-14-2011, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by masturbasser

Right now I have about a $500 limit but am willing to hold off and save up for an amp that I know will make me happy for atleast the next several years. Right now I'm leaning toward the minimark but the price, ugh! One other thing I forgot to mention is that I don't want any bigger than a 10. I've heard the B100r in action a few times and it does have amazing tone and warmth but the 15 makes it out of the question.

Ampeg BA110 or BA112. They're inexpensive low wattage bedroom amps that sound great and do the Motown thing very well. I'd go for the BA112 because the extra speaker size makes it kick a little harder, but the BA110 is $100 less.

rodl2005 · #8 06-14-2011, 11:46 PM

+1 to Jimmy's suggestion above. I've also heard great reports re the EBS Session 60. I've not heard one in person, but ppl I have known that have them, say they have a great 'old-school' tone.
If you DO like the Ampeg combo's tho, certainly ain't nothing wrong with them

EricF · #9 06-14-2011, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Ampeg BA110 or BA112. They're inexpensive low wattage bedroom amps that sound great and do the Motown thing very well. I'd go for the BA112 because the extra speaker size makes it kick a little harder, but the BA110 is $100 less.

Hmm...interesting. I always thought my BA112 sounded pretty mediocre unless I had a SansAmp in front of it. What about he B50R?

JimmyM · #10 06-15-2011, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricF

Hmm...interesting. I always thought my BA112 sounded pretty mediocre unless I had a SansAmp in front of it. What about he B50R?

If he can find one, sure. But it has a headphone jack and no CD jack so it might not be for him.

I'm a fan of the BA112, though. Can't speak for you or anyone else, but I've always been able to get my sound out of one.

lowend1 · #11 06-15-2011, 04:38 AM

I have all three of the Ampegs mentioned above, and without a doubt, the B100R does the Motown thing best. The B50R is very nice as well, but the 12" in a sealed box gives it a slightly different voice - and it is a tough one to find for some reason. The BA112 is a great little amp and would be a good compromise, because it is ported, and also because the "style" switch gives you some flexibility. It will also likely be the most affordable - I bought mine used for $100.

Dan55 · #12 06-15-2011, 10:55 AM

Ampeg B50R if you can find one or Fender Bassman 25 combo from a few years ago. No longer in production. One of the best sounding low powered combos I've heard.

Dan

jeff7bass · #13 06-15-2011, 11:30 AM

Forget anything with a lot of watts or even with a 12" speaker because your walls will be shaking before you get the tone you want. Also, keep in mind Jammerson's sound has a lot to do with his strength and the high action on his bass. Also of course his un-godly technique which was honed on an upright.
Anyhoo, this little sucka's been getting great reviews, has a pre-amp tube and fits the bill.

http://www.amazon.com/Kustom-Deep-DE.../dp/B003JFK986

Mojo-Man · #14 06-15-2011, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan55

Ampeg B50R if you can find one or Fender Bassman 25 combo from a few years ago. No longer in production. One of the best sounding low powered combos I've heard.

Dan

Plus one on the Ampeg B50R.
One of my all time favorite combo amps.
Killer tone, 50 watts, sweet tube like tone for a SS amp.

RickenBoogie · #15 06-15-2011, 11:42 AM

+1 for the Ampeg BA112. I totally love mine, and went through many other small combo amps before landing on this one. Besides, it has all the required headphone and RCA inputs the OP is looking for.

masturbasser · #16 06-16-2011, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricF

Why does speaker size matter so much?

Because it will be a bedroom amp and I want hear the bass more than feel it. Bigger subs have that inherent "boom" to them that I don't want or need. Thanks for all the help guys. I'm going to check out the local music stores today and see if they have a Kustom DE50 to try out.

Infidelity · #17 06-16-2011, 11:22 AM

B100r/B50r I love my B100r and I usually practice motown/disco/funk stuffs.. You'll love it!

masturbasser · #18 06-16-2011, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Infidelity

B100r/B50r I love my B100r and I usually practice motown/disco/funk stuffs.. You'll love it!

If I stumble across a B50r today I will defintely get it but I doubt it will happen.

Infidelity · #19 06-16-2011, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by masturbasser

Because it will be a bedroom amp and I want hear the bass more than feel it. Bigger subs have that inherent "boom" to them that I don't want or need. Thanks for all the help guys. I'm going to check out the local music stores today and see if they have a Kustom DE50 to try out.

The B100r isn't boomy at all. I usually boost my bass a little just to cope.

IMO if the cab is designed really well speaker size doesn't really matter.

EricF · #20 06-16-2011, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Infidelity

The B100r isn't boomy at all. I usually boost my bass a little just to cope.

IMO if the cab is designed really well speaker size doesn't really matter.

+1...all of it.