Need New amp for Country/blue/rock cover band need opinions

**duff84** · #1 12-23-2011, 09:37 PM

Im in the market now for a new bass head, i play in a country/blues/rock cover band and need opinions on what amp i should use. Ive tried many over the years, i liked ampeg alot but found the 3 pro i had alittle lacking in volume. I tried genz benz, never really gave it a chance, but i remember i liked the tube channel on the 750 i had before.

I had Gk, found them alittle too aggressive sounding for the music i play. I kinda want to stay solid state or hybrid, i don't want to go the tube amp route. Im thinking maybe a Genz Benz Shuttle 9 or Maybe a Amepeg Svt 7 pro would work, ive heard eden before and liked them too. Too many amps out there, its hard to make a decision.

popgadget · #2 12-24-2011, 03:29 AM

You didn't say what cabinet you were using, but I used a Shuttle 9.0 with a 410HLN and liked it. I used a WT400 before the Shuttle and liked it a lot also.
Now I use the Shuttle with a fEARful 1212/6/1 and I am stuck with a stupid perma-grin on my face. Words can't describe how good it sounds to me, but it's the the best upgrade I've done in over 40 years of playing.
For the genres that you are talking about, I would think that you would want an amp with little tone of its own, perhaps a little to the warm side like the Eden, but basically a good solid well defined musical thump.

cableguy · #3 12-24-2011, 08:52 AM

Again don't know your cab or if you like seperates or not. I've head the SVT7pro is a great sounding amp. I've only played the PF500 and it sounded damn good. The tone hammer 500 sounds great as well. I use a Carvin HD1500 (9lbs-1500W) with a sansamp VT deluxe in front of that. The VT's are a little tricky to dail in, but sound great. You can have 6 presets and a effects loop. I run mine into a fEARful 12/6-12sub. Volume and tone for days. I've also heard great things about Genz Benz as well. Enjoy your search.

**duff84** · #4 12-24-2011, 09:00 AM

thanks for the opinions, my cab is a avatar neo 410.

Low Class · #5 12-24-2011, 09:25 AM

Carvin B2000

**duff84** · #6 12-24-2011, 09:43 AM

would you guys say a shuttlemax 12 would be good for this type of music?

RickenBoogie · #7 12-24-2011, 10:36 AM

ANY amp can be used for ANY type of music. It all comes down to personal preferences, so having hands on experience will be a big help. You should go out and play through a variety of bass rigs, and get a feel for your own preferences, and choose based on price and those preferences.

Mojo-Man · #8 12-24-2011, 11:20 AM

I suggest a Genz Benz Streamliner, it has the tone your looking for.
Fat, clean, warm defined. Smooth top end.

**B-string** · #9 12-24-2011, 11:26 AM

My suggestion G-K Fusion 550, those three tubes are not there for just purdy lights.

bassguppy · #10 12-24-2011, 03:30 PM

here's my 2 pennies...

An Ampeg SVT-7PRO would make a fine head at 1000 watts @ 4ohms. More than likely you'll never need to upgrade for more wattage. Try to hold out for a deal as they could be had for cheaper than the $799.00 regular price.

The Eden WT-550 which I regretablly sold is another great choice although I would try to find a used one older than 2006. The Eden will run between $500 to $600 used.

For the budget conscious, the Ampeg PF-500 is an excellent, underpriced piece of gear that will give you "Ampeg" tone for $400 bucks (can be found cheaper though).

The Ashdown ABM500 will slay. I had several pieces of Ashdown gear and have nothing but praise for them. They don't seem to be too popular around TB as they had a few glitches when some production was moved to China.

Any of these amps will do the blues/country/classic rock gig and more.

**duff84** · #11 12-24-2011, 05:00 PM

thanks for all the advise, im thinking something ampeg or even the eden wt 550 sounds nice. I did try a pf 500 and it was nice, but reading some posts about it cutting out and such throws me off same with 7 pro.

Foamy · #12 12-24-2011, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

ANY amp can be used for ANY type of music. It all comes down to personal preferences, so having hands on experience will be a big help. You should go out and play through a variety of bass rigs, and get a feel for your own preferences, and choose based on price and those preferences.

+1

4Mal · #13 12-24-2011, 05:16 PM

If you found the GK too aggressive, you didn't work very hard at getting to know it ... climbing into flame retardant suit :-)

I've been using the mb2-500 doing county, blues, rock a billy -and a boatload of acoustic support from folk and acoustic pop to blue grass and light jazz. It's been a super flexible amp for me... reminds me of everything I liked bout the 1001 RB II's I used to carry.

So my recommendation, mb-500 or mb-800 if you really need that much ooomph. The 500 has plenty for everything I do.

**duff84** · #14 12-24-2011, 05:20 PM

could have been the bass i was using too, i used a gk 700 rb and didn't find that one overly aggressive.

Ill have to check out the mb series too. How loud do you find those mb series amps?

TomB · #15 12-24-2011, 05:33 PM

If you continue interested in Eden I think you're timing's good. Eden prices are as low as I've seen, but somehow I don't think this will last, as these are solid, reliable pro products. I'd expect a comeback, but I'd also make a move now as there's a lot of older product available but I don't think forever.

I agree that the GK MB-Fusion is a unique product in the GK line (the big Fusion is claimed to be similar-sounding but I've no experience) and I've found it to be in the same warm tonal ballpark as an Eden but a lightweight, flexible, powerful & easy-to-live-with modern unit with channel-switching, and very well thought-through design.

This is not meant as a comment on GB products at all; I have no gigging experience with them.

dog1 · #16 12-24-2011, 06:14 PM

I will always suggest (almost) any GB head with a couple of 12's. Always. Which 12's?

**duff84** · #17 12-24-2011, 08:05 PM

thats a nice set of 12s there dog1, More opinions would be great, So far Genz benz seems to be the #1 out of opinions.

mophead · #18 12-24-2011, 08:22 PM

If you don't like tube then the Shuttles are not for you. The Shuttlemax has clean and tube and works very well. I have a Shuttlemax 12 and it is a keeper. Also have a Streamliner and like it very well. You can run it tube or clean.
Have not tried the SVT 7 Pro but it gets good reviews. Look for the current version. The earlier ones have some issues. Plenty to read on here about the amp.

**duff84** · #19 12-24-2011, 08:25 PM

i like tubes in preamps and such but i don't want the hassles of an all tube bass amp. Shuttlemax 12. Thats what i think if i get one it would probably be the only amp i ever need, Mophead do you know if the shuttlemax 12 is similar to say a GBE 750 or are they different beasts?

rhopper · #20 12-24-2011, 08:26 PM

I would vote for the Orange TB 500 for this type of music. Many people will say that it only cranks out hi gain which is just not true... a very warm, clean sounding amp if you use the gain properly.