Newbie looking for opinions on bass amps.

GladHeAteHer · #1 11-23-2011, 02:32 PM

What's up guys?
My name is Richard, just joined up.
I'm a long time guitar player & as of late, drummer as well.
Going to school for audio engineering and I'm a gear hound.
I've always been able to play bass, but somehow never saw it as interesting.
But I've seen some fantastic bass players live recently, and I woke up thinking "why don't I have a bass rig?".
I'm looking for something that's not massive, but could potentially gig and be pretty versatile in recording.

So, I've been looking around. Want to gather some opinions from the vets on certain amps.
I love vintage Ampeg gear, Fender as well.
I have an old Ampeg VT-22 amp as my main guitar amp (what a BEAST).
Curious as to what you guys think of the old Ampeg B25, B25b, V4B amps. The siblings of the SVT, if you will.
Also, helpful advice from people experienced with Fender Bassman 100's & up on bass would be awesome.
Finally, something a bit newer, and solid state, that I've been curious about: The Ampeg SVT 450H heads. I've seen these used live with pretty excellent results.

I would potentially run these with a 2x15, 4x10, or possibly even 4x12 bass cab. I haven't decided, but I like what all 3 would have to offer.

Thanks for any help and information guys.

MuzikMan · #2 11-23-2011, 02:36 PM

Cue up JimmyM ...........................................

christw · #3 11-23-2011, 02:50 PM

I'm currently trying to acquire a '69 B25B with cab, recently bought a '67 B15-N, and an SVT-CL which will now go to finance that B25B. I also got a PF500 in trade. I used to dislike Ampeg because of my 810e if you can believe it! Then I realized, the only thing of theirs that I don't like is their modern big bass cab voicing.

Remember, some of these "lower" wattage tube amps for bass really don't get super loud. With the right cab, yes. I believe JimmyM and others who say that they've made these amps work for them because I've made them work for me too. It just depends on the gig. I'm rarely fortunate to end up in a band who practices at "reasonable" volume levels. I use earplugs every time these days. That's why I still wanted bigger guns, my SC120 and the PF500, to run in case the B15 or B25B can't keep up.

will33 · #4 11-23-2011, 03:07 PM

The old B15 is the bass amp. The sweetest tone. Low power, low volume though. People do gig with them but needs to be mic'd. The best studio amp. It's the Deluxe Reverb or Plexi of bass amps. The 100 watt V4 is a really good one. Loud enough to gig with but can still use in studio. Can get that pushed ampeg tube amp sound but at volume that won't blow the windows out.

I'm a fan of the bassmans for both bass and guitar but some folks aren't at least for bass. They don't have the deep strong sound of the ampegs and I don't much like how they sound when pushed into breakup with a bass. I like them for their warm but clean, round, bouncy sound. I've never been able to get that at gig volume without a mountain of speakers under it and eventual relegated it to guitar use.

The solid state ampeg heads that are built into a tube amp case aren't that great IMO. Never owned one but played a few as supplied backlines. Could never get a decent sound out of them without cranking up every knob on the thing. Would never abuse my own gear like that.

There are a lot of good ss amps though. You can put something like a VT pedal in front of any of them and cop sort of an ampeg sound. The new portaflexes and the SVT 7 are said to get that tone without any assistance.

Welcome to the bass, you should enjoy it. Some may give you a hard time about being a guitard or whatever but it's in good fun. I'm a bit of a closet hack multi-instrumentalist myself.

dog1 · #5 11-23-2011, 05:19 PM

I dunno. I had a V4B back in the days. Loved it, but what a hunk to carry. Bassmans? Had a flock of them. Great tone at low volume, but best for guitar, IMO. I would like to have both of them again, but just for memories and home use. Now, I have 3 different GB ultralights. Neopak, Shuttle 3, and Shuttle 6. Although I would like to have a vintage Ampeg or Fender, I wouldn't trade any of my current GB's for any of the older tube models.

GladHeAteHer · #6 11-23-2011, 05:42 PM

So the volume/headroom issue is the only problem most have with any those amps?
I'm not looking for any kind of concert amp, more or less small jams, and recording.
I've plugged my VT-22 into an SVT cab before and, it did get a little growl at low volume, though, it was ran at 4 ohms (to match the SVT cab) and was only pushing 50w instead of it's usual 100.
I've heard a lot of newer, SS bass amps, and I've never really cared for the clean, compressed tone. I may regret it as an engineer some day, but I love the dirty, noisy old tube amps, I don't believe it's a sacrifice for the tone.
Keep it coming you guys...

zon6c-f · #7 11-23-2011, 05:59 PM

There are many to choose from. I personally have only owned Soild State Bass amps. Opinions will vary, but I have never had any repairs needed nor maintenance issues that I did not cause. I am original owner of: 1971 Kustom; 1974 Acoustic 370 and 2010 [Guitar Center brand ] Acoustic B200 combo.

As you have audio/ studio experience, I recommend the Acoustic B200, as it has enough power to use in up to medium venues on it's own and line-out for PA or recording; 6-band semi-parametric EQ tone bank. Or you may want the Acoustic 200H; head with separate cabs, which is even more versatile.

My only experience with tube amps was disasterous: In 1968, first gig, I used a borrowed Fender Bassman: NO TONE, Weak volume. In 1971, I used a Traynor provided at a jam...blew-up. 1976 I used a provided SVT at an outdoor jam..blew-up; glad I brought along my 370. As a result, you could not give me a tube amp, regardless of "warmer" tone. Whether I choose my trusty old Kustom, '74 Acoustic 370; neither have ever failed me at a gig or my newer Acoostic; plug it in, turn on the power switch; instant ON. I love them.

Granted: In 1968 the first real bass amp I ever used was a high school friend's Ampeg SB-12 Flip Top, which gave instant John Paul Jones/ Mo-Town tone. Bedroom practice volume and de-riguer in studios back in the day.

Thinking outside the box, you can try a Line-6 "butter bean" or rack unit. Either can be used to record, computer interface as well as DI for PA.
Good luck and again..WELCOME ABOARD.

GladHeAteHer · #8 11-23-2011, 06:44 PM

I should have also mentioned that I'm a pedal nerd as well, so whatever I get, I would likely be using with my guitar pedal set-up. Various OD's, Fuzz, Dirt, and a few other things. I thought of the old Ampeg's mainly because my VT-22 is loud, and clean, and perfect for pedals. So leading to another question, which of these and others accept pedals well?

CL400Peavey · #9 11-23-2011, 06:51 PM

If you decide on a all tube head, check out a peavey vb-2. Used ones can be found for very decent prices.

GladHeAteHer · #10 11-23-2011, 06:54 PM

What are the specs on that Peavey good sir?

JimmyM · #11 11-23-2011, 07:05 PM

MuzikMan...

Any tube amp Ampeg has made throughout their history sounds glorious, both new and old, both with and without pedals. THe amp in your VT-22 is the same as the V4 amp, and if you plug a bass into it and watch your volume, you can get a little taste of what it does for bass, and you could probably use it to record if you're not looking to crank it to 11. Or you can re-route your speaker out into a big-ass bass cab and hear what it really can do.

Ampeg makes some really good solid state amps as well, but the tube amps are king. Still, the SVT 7 Pro is a fantastic amp that's just slightly more than the SVT 450H and sounds closer to the all-tube SVT's than I've ever heard in a hybrid amp. Some like the tightness of the heavier amps like the SVT 3 and 4 Pro, but the 7 Pro hits my buttons. So do the PF350 and 500, and I'm using a PF350 my own self, but the extra tubiness from the 7 Pro's tube preamp pushes it over the edge.

GladHeAteHer · #12 11-23-2011, 07:16 PM

I've tried the VT plugged into an SVT 6x10, and it did sound pretty decent, but, got dirty very quickly. The amp was only running at 50w @ 4ohms though,it definitely should've been breaking up so that wasn't unexpected.
I assume that I could potentially find a proper cab that I could run it fully at 100w with, does such a cab exist?

I also cheated and plugged a bass in when I had the luxury of having the VT-22 on top of an Orange 4x12 cab. Man, the lows weren't convincing but it was close. The entire art department at the school came to see where to noise was coming from though...

CL400Peavey · #13 11-23-2011, 07:17 PM

The vb-2 is 225w head. Pair it with the right speaker cabinets and it will be plenty loud, and IMO have great tone for the price. I would pair it with a 410 cab, with the option of getting a second matching cab if you later decide you want more volume.

JimmyM · #14 11-23-2011, 07:25 PM

Running at 50w, I would figure it would break up early. I used to use a V4b into an SVT 810 back in the day. Always got plenty loud for my needs. Rarely did I run into breakup. But if you want insurance against breaking up early...

CL400Peavey · #15 11-23-2011, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Running at 50w, I would figure it would break up early. I used to use a V4b into an SVT 810 back in the day. Always got plenty loud for my needs. Rarely did I run into breakup. But if you want insurance against breaking up early...

+1
Wattage is important to a point, but more cone surface makes the biggest difference.

JimmyM · #16 11-23-2011, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CL400Peavey

+1
Wattage is important to a point, but more cone surface makes the biggest difference.

Headroom is also important, but you're right about cone surface. So add one of these:

GladHeAteHer · #17 11-23-2011, 08:17 PM

Anyone had experience with the old 2x15 Ampeg cabs? The V4B and B25B respectively, I believe.
I had thought of just getting one of these to hook up to the VT for bass purposes, but was unsure of the match with the cab. The VT22 has an ohm selector switch for 8, 4, and 2, with 8 ohms being where it runs full power.
Are there any 8 ohm bass cabs or are those pretty rare?

CL400Peavey · #18 11-23-2011, 08:38 PM

There are even some 8ohm 810 cabs to be had. I was so unsure of an 810 before I got one, but let me tell you they are amazing. I get so much low end out of my rig its scarry. Even at low volumes I roll back the bass on my head and bass so I don't shake the whole house.

JimmyM · #19 11-23-2011, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GladHeAteHer

Anyone had experience with the old 2x15 Ampeg cabs? The V4B and B25B respectively, I believe.
I had thought of just getting one of these to hook up to the VT for bass purposes, but was unsure of the match with the cab. The VT22 has an ohm selector switch for 8, 4, and 2, with 8 ohms being where it runs full power.
Are there any 8 ohm bass cabs or are those pretty rare?

They're great sounding cabs if the speakers are in good shape. Should be fine with a V4B cab, maybe not so much with a B25B cab as it's smaller and I believe uses speakers with less power handling than the V4 (I could be wrong, but I think that's how it works). You could install Eminence Beta or Delta 15's in one and get a lot more power handling than the originals, but that would get a little costly unless you find an empty cab or something.

And the market is flooded with 8 ohm bass cabs.

GladHeAteHer · #20 11-23-2011, 08:50 PM

Hmm, well it seems as if I may have a little bit of a decision to make. I may just need to try to track down an 8 ohm bass cab and try it with my current amp first. I do believe that the V4B does have an extra "Low" switch and no reverb like the VT-22, don't know how much lower it would really get though, the VT-22 has massive amounts of low end.
I've been thinking of just putting the VT chassis into a head box and using it with a 2x12 cab instead of the incredibly heavy combo. That would also make it easier to use with a bass cab.
Decisions, decisions....