Lightweight rig that simulates classic tone?

u84six · #1 08-08-2011, 11:54 AM

Has anyone been successful getting a classic tone (i.e. SVT, Sunn, Bassman, etc) from a modern, lightweight setup? If so, what is it?

poorbassist15 · #2 08-08-2011, 11:58 AM

I'd reccomend looking at some Tech 21 pedals and their heads. From my experience, the SansAmp BDDI can get really close to what I would call a "classic" tone.

AwkwardLoudness · #3 08-08-2011, 11:59 AM

Haven't heard it myself yet, but the Barefaced 69er cab reportedly emulates the original 1968 SVT 8x10 cab tone at far lesser weight.

jokerjkny · #4 08-08-2011, 12:13 PM

unfortunately,

that isnt going to happen... yet.

but if you're ok with approximations, there are some options.

with that said, if you can afford them, i found the berg ae's with the tweeter all the way down to have an ok, psuedo ceramic speaker sound. couple that w/ a thunderfunk or an aguilar ag500, and you might find that grindy thicker old school sound. and as mentioned, the tech 21 vtbass pedal does do some ok ampeg'ish sounds, too, tho i use it primarily for over the top blubbery grind.

but in the end, to your ears, they may still sound like whatever/approximations, but in all honesty, to the audience, they wont/cant tell the difference.

u84six · #5 08-08-2011, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jokerjkny

unfortunately,

that isnt going to happen... yet.

but if you're ok with approximations, there are some options.

with that said, if you can afford them, i found the berg ae's with the tweeter all the way down to have an ok, psuedo ceramic speaker sound. couple that w/ a thunderfunk or an aguilar ag500, and you might find that grindy thicker old school sound. and as mentioned, the tech 21 vtbass pedal does do some ok ampeg'ish sounds, too, tho i use it primarily for over the top blubbery grind.

but in the end, to your ears, they may still sound like whatever/approximations, but in all honesty, to the audience, they wont/cant tell the difference.

I'm a bit surprised that modeling technology is still struggling.

Russell L · #6 08-08-2011, 02:57 PM

I did pretty good at it yesterday with my Markbass Little Mark II going through a Markbass 112 and 115, playing my '87 Jazz Bass Special on the Precision pickup with Fender 9050L flats. Sounded old school in the mix, although it had a little edge if I played alone.

zachoff · #7 08-08-2011, 03:10 PM

The SVT Micro VR and matching 210 do an alright job of copping a vintage tone.

4-string · #8 08-08-2011, 04:08 PM

I have good luck with both TC Electronic amp/cabs, as well as the VT bass pedal. Not that this is the tone I'm going for, but it is definitely there.

JimmyM · #9 08-08-2011, 04:10 PM

You can get close, closer than ever before, but there's a reason SVT's haven't been discontinued.

**bassybill** · #10 08-08-2011, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

You can get close, closer than ever before, but there's a reason SVT's haven't been discontinued.

Yes there is - and it's you!

socknroll1 · #11 08-08-2011, 04:50 PM

Hey, as long as we're admitting that we won't reach that tone precisely, try this:

Set up any small/light rig
Plug in a passive bass
Turn down your tone knob
Bmp your low mids and cut your treble.

JimmyM · #12 08-08-2011, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by socknroll1

Hey, as long as we're admitting that we won't reach that tone precisely, try this:

Set up any small/light rig
Plug in a passive bass
Turn down your tone knob
Bmp your low mids and cut your treble.

That'll kind of work to cop the sound of an SVT with knobs at noon. That won't, however, cop the sound of an SVT with bass at 11:00, treble at 2:00, mids at 1:00 on the middle mid position and ultra-hi switch turned on.

socknroll1 · #13 08-08-2011, 05:00 PM

I know, I'm just being dumb. My opinion is the same as with guitar amps. You can get close to a tube amp but not quite there, and it's up to te individual whether he wants to put up the money and muscle to get the real thing. Same thing that is said on this board every day...every hour...every minute.

Jim Carr · #14 08-08-2011, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by u84six

Has anyone been successful getting a classic tone (i.e. SVT, Sunn, Bassman, etc) from a modern, lightweight setup? If so, what is it?

As 61 a year-old "classic" myself, I feel compelled remind you that these three classics are very different from each other—which you probably realize.

I'm glad deciding among them is something we no longer HAVE to do. So which or what is it you REALLY want? Tone? coolness? The reassurance of tubes?

Back then, most of us just wanted to be heard. Even better if it was with an undistorted tone.

I was never happy playing through the 1965 blackface 212 Fender Bassman my friend Jack Ryan lent me.

My M9 and UL1 410 are everything that amp wanted to be, IMHO.

u84six · #15 08-08-2011, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Carr

As 61 a year-old "classic" myself, I feel compelled remind you that these three classics are very different from each other—which you probably realize.

I'm glad deciding among them is something we no longer HAVE to do. So which or what is it you REALLY want? Tone? coolness? The reassurance of tubes?

Back then, most of us just wanted to be heard. Even better if it was with an undistorted tone.

I was never happy playing through the 1965 blackface 212 Fender Bassman my friend Jack Ryan lent me.

My M9 and UL1 410 are everything that amp wanted to be, IMHO.

Actually, it's kind of hard to explain what tone I'm looking for other than "classic". I hear the difference when I play through SVT, Sunn, etc. They seem much warmer and have that natural compression from the tubes. I play music similar to Pink Floyd, which requires deep, warm, and somewhat compressed sound. When I play newer rigs (I'm sure I haven't played them all), they sound very "pretentious". It's hard to explain.

Anyhow, the big reason for all of this is that I need a lot of power (I have a loud drummer), but I'm unable to lug around big equipment. I need something compact and light that will at least get me 80% of the way there.

I like deep and warm, but what I get with rigs like Genz Benz, GK, MB, is tight and pop, which is not my sound of choice.

mongo2 · #16 08-08-2011, 06:53 PM

I have no problem getting a B-15-esque clean tone (but much louder) out of my GB Shuttle 9.0 and Flite 1x15 loaded with an Eminence Kappalite 3015.

I used to use my SABDDI to get close but I found I didn't really need it with judicious EQ tweaking ddpending on the room I'm in and the particular bass I'm playing.

TC.65 · #17 08-08-2011, 07:04 PM

I suggest you try the Genz Benz Streamliner it has an old school tube tone it comes in 600 or 900 watts @ 4 ohms and only wieghs 6.5 lbs.

svtb15 · #18 08-08-2011, 07:11 PM

Some of the SVT sound comes from the cabinet too.. at least in my opinion... I use my Streamliner 900 on rented backline ampeg 810s often.. does it sound just like an SVT.. no.. But it can have a real toobey tone.... I have a photo in another thread.. i will post once i find it..

svtb15 · #19 08-08-2011, 07:13 PM

Streamliner on 810.. If you use a VT bass pedal with a lightweight and an 810 you should get real close.. My objective is not to get an SVT sound for my gigs though... I play fairly loud and want super clean with some give, and this rig will do it for me...

lpdeluxe · #20 08-08-2011, 07:15 PM

I had my Genz-Benz Shuttle 3.0-2x10T in a large room with a loud drummer and two loud guitarists last week, playing my AV '57 P, and, after quite a bit of tweaking, got a wonderful, warm present tone that was easily heard over the other noisemakers. Up until now I thought my Mesa/Boogie Walkabout Scout 1x15 was the King of Tone, but that little G-B rig (total 34 lbs: 18 for the head + 1-10, and 16 more for the second cab) blew me and my friends away. Need I say, we're all tone freaks?

It took a LOT of tinkering with the EQ but the results were well worth it.