NEW: What amp do you use and why?

[jason1980's]

AMPEG! The only brand of bass amps for me ever. I plan to never play through anything else. I will still be using Ampeg when i'm 90! Call me obsessed but....well okay just call me obsessed, lol. AMPEG!!!!!

p.s. - TUBES!!!! lol

[tmdazed]

Bugera BVP5500, Tried many amps out when i was in the Market , it was the best sound for my tone , dialed in quickly, 2 channels(which I like , have one with a modern sound , one with a classic punch) easily cut through our old rhythm players JCM200 half stack , easily finds its place in a mix and has served me well the past three years on many gigs and studio trips. Have a Marshall VBA400 head and VBC 8x10 on order , expect to see it mid jan, will run an AB switch with the 2 as well

[Dan Knowlton]

Genz Benz Streamliner 900 and a Glockenklang HeartCore. The HeartCore sounds great but does not get out much because of the weight and the Streamliner sounds SO good!

Dan K.

[Green Lantern]

I thought about buying a Carvin BX500 to add to my collection on top of my Aguilar TH500. But after playing through my amp today, I don't want another bass amp. The TH gives me the sound I want out of my active jazz bass. I am 100 percent satisfied with my sound. I can play my sons Eden combo when I want something different. I must be crazy not to want another amp?

[RobJ]

My prime rig for larger/louder gigs - '95 Trace Elliot AH350SMX w/TE 2x10 and 1x15 cabs. Lately I've been leaving the 1X15 at home when the PA is great. I want to get another 2x10 and stack them vertically but I digress. As to why? Well I really just haven't played through anything I like as well. Yeah it weighs more than my back can handle these days but I man up when its time to load in or out.

I also have my old faithful GK MB150E for smaller gigs and rehearsals, my '65 Ampeg SB-12 for recording and at home fun, and a Sunn Coliseum 300 rig just because I can't bear to part with it.

[Vlad5]

Mesa M9... loud, punchy, modern, tube-pre, versitile, loud

[tjnkoo]

Ampeg PF500 and 115He cab. I like the portability, tone, and even look of this thing. Its very function, and can get a modern hifi-ish sound on one side of the spectrum and a dirty tube overdrive on the other (and keep in mind this is a solid state amp).

I also use a Phil Jones Briefcase for smaller theater type gigs and rehearsals, as well as quieter dorm practice and such. Great amp.

I tried GK and couldn't stand them. They made any bass I've tried it through sound like a computer (the absolute most artificially clean tone ever).

[boomboom4200]

I have a trace elliot gp7sm 200wt combo,sweet,pushes some serious air too,I was using that guy for full band practice,(2 acoustics,1 loud drummer and one LLLOOOUUUDDD lead guitar) doubled as a stage monitor 1000+ person outdoor fair venue,sounded great but it was always completly maxed out,so it had a little accident,it is only working at very low decibles now,my new rig is an american ampeg svt3 pro,played through an ampeg 4x10 classic,I am new to multi unit set ups and boy do I have questions,the hum/buz?? and why is my jpup on my fender american deluxe active/passive so loud,sorry,been lurking around for a few weeks now and havent really posted,I know this is not a Q&A thread but,well...trace elliot and ampeg,cause so far so good,except the buzz/humm

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by Green Lantern

How does the Carvin sound compared to the Eden? I assume less smooth?

Believe it or not, I haven't actually plugged in the Carvin yet. So I can't give you any experience-based assessment.

But I wouldn't imagine there would be that big a difference. The B2000 has sufficient gain & EQ controls to probably allow one to approximate the Nemesis' degree of smoothness...

MM

[Jhengsman]

I got a Carvin. It was price, specifications and I have local stores. It was hit or miss finding the other brands comparable product locally.

[fasto]

voted for G&K, reason: GROWL

by the way: who are those 3 people voted for Behringer? ;-)

[Bunk McNulty]

Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0. Light, reliable, more than enough tone options. With two 4x10 cabs, all the volume I'll ever need.

[Green Lantern]

Originally Posted by MysticMichael

Believe it or not, I haven't actually plugged in the Carvin yet. So I can't give you any experience-based assessment.

But I wouldn't imagine there would be that big a difference. The B2000 has sufficient gain & EQ controls to probably allow one to approximate the Nemesis' degree of smoothness...

MM

Please report back when you compare the two.
Thanks

[mikeluch]

GB SL900. Works well with the music I play. The TH 500 is a close second

[Playmeout]

Had my Trace Elliot AH350SMX for nigh on 20 years & also bought a second hand one off Ebay a few years back.....best amps I've ever owned....ultra reliable & killer of a tone with 2 x 1 x 15s & 1 x 2 x 10. Never use anything else...!!!

[Evil Undead]

None in the poll.

I use an Ibanez Promethean, because it had the tone I hear in my head.

I use Markbass cabs though.

[Boot Soul]

This:




Why?: Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha !
That's why.

[phillybass101]

Originally Posted by Boot Soul

This:




Why?: Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha !
That's why.

That is so cool. POW!!!!!!!

[SpottedBass]

In the last month, I've gone through the following amps:

1) purchased a used GK 700RB (original);

2) returned above amp purchased a used GK 700RB-II (loved it, but it was used and had issues - returned it as the issues were not simple (internal corrosion affecting sound until warmed up);

3) purchased used GK MB2-500 (this was an A07 revision). Solid punchy amp, but to my ears, thinner sounding than the 700RB-II, likely due to the Class D power amp section;

4) returned the used GK MB2-500, purchased a NEW Markbass LMIII (this is is great, BUT too clean sounding for me - my Sansamp BDDI helps, but not entirely;

5) While looking at swapping out the Sansamp BDDI for the Sansamp VT to give me a more driven sound from the Little Mark III, realized that instead of trying to make the Markbass sound like the GK I loved, I need to go back to the real deal and traded that for a NEW GK 700RB-II.

After all of that I've finally found the sound I was looking for and this is THE amp I will have for quite some time to come. (along the road, I went from a Markbass 102p cab coupled with an Acme Low B-1 to the New York 151 cab (instead of the 102p) and finally settled on a Trace Elliot 1028H - the Trace cab turns out to work very will with the GK 700RB-II.

[majortoby]

Peavey. I play it because Peavey.