The Official EBS Club

[Sid Fang]

Originally Posted by jonno1707

Still dont understand why EBS doesn't offer more powerful heads to compete with all the competition?
I really dig the tone of my TD650 but find it only really opens up and sounds big when running at 2 ohm's 650 watts.
A 900 watt @ 4 ohm head would be perfect...

Where on earth do you play where you need 900W on stage? I played Shoreline Amphitheatre (a big open-air venue in northern California) with an HD350, and it was plenty loud for the stage, well below the 12-o-clock volume position. I was running the EBS XLR out to the board, of course, but it seems to me that all I need on stage is to be heard over my drummer, and if he's mic'ed, well, I can run to the board as well.

We somehow made it through 30 years of hard rock with 300W SVTs (or equivalent) driving inefficient 8x10 cabs as the standard for large stage bass rigs. I think a lot of the 1000W bass amp business is for gear sluts (no offense intended to present company), not for working musicians, and for better or for worse, EBS targets the later market.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by Sid Fang

Where on earth do you play where you need 900W on stage? I played Shoreline Amphitheatre (a big open-air venue in northern California) with an HD350, and it was plenty loud for the stage, well below the 12-o-clock volume position. I was running the EBS XLR out to the board, of course, but it seems to me that all I need on stage is to be heard over my drummer, and if he's mic'ed, well, I can run to the board as well.

We somehow made it through 30 years of hard rock with 300W SVTs (or equivalent) driving inefficient 8x10 cabs as the standard for large stage bass rigs. I think a lot of the 1000W bass amp business is for gear sluts (no offense intended to present company), not for working musicians, and for better or for worse, EBS targets the later market.

It isn't so much about volume as it is to have clean, open headroom when pushed, especially if you are running at 8ohms or have a low efficiency 4ohm cab. All-tube amps are a bit different, since you can drive them into distortion with limited clamping and a still decent tone for some (not me!).

I was VERY disappointed with the cost/power/size ratio of the HD350 I had (even though it sounded nice). At 8ohms, pretty useless for all but the quietest gigs IMO and IME.

The TD650/660.. that is even worse. Just a touch more output at 4ohm than the HD350 in a three space unit that is very expensive (in the US anyway). I heard VERY little difference between my HD350 and TD650 at 4ohms.

That being said, if the HD350 works for you, then you are good to go. Definitely a quality head, and definitely a better choice than the TD650/660 unless you are cranking at 2ohms.

[jonno1707]

Originally Posted by KJung

It isn't so much about volume as it is to have clean, open headroom when pushed, especially if your are running at 8ohms or have a low efficiency 4ohm cab. All-tube amps are a bit different, since you can drive them into distortion with limited clamping and a still decent tone for some (not me!).

I was VERY disappointed with the cost/power/size ratio of the HD350 I had (even though it sounded nice). At 8ohms, pretty useless for all but the quietest gigs IMO and IME.

The TD650/660.. that is even worse. Just a touch more output at 4ohm than the HD350 in a three space unit that is very expensive (in the US anyway). I heard VERY little difference between my HD350 and TD650 at 4ohms.

That being said, if the HD350 works for you, then you are good to go. Definitely a quality head, and definitely a better choice than the TD650/660 unless you are cranking at 2ohms.

I couldn't have said it any better...Drop a BIG Low B through a rig without enough reserve power/headroom to support it and it sounds thin...Power isnt always about the desire for more volume...

[Sid Fang]

Originally Posted by KJung

I was VERY disappointed with the cost/power/size ratio of the HD350 I had (even though it sounded nice). At 8ohms, pretty useless for all but the quietest gigs IMO and IME.

That's as may be. I've only gigged the HD350 with a 4ohm cab. They're spec'ed for 4ohm and 2ohm operation, and while of course it works with an 8ohm load, I could imagine it losing some headroom.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by Sid Fang

That's as may be. I've only gigged the HD350 with a 4ohm cab. They're spec'ed for 4ohm and 2ohm operation, and while of course it works with an 8ohm load, I could imagine it losing some headroom.

And, it is a great sounding head. That semi-parametric mid that has a tighter Q when cutting versus boosting, and becomes a notch filter at full cut is genius. The onboard limiter sounds great. So much right with that head, just needs a bit more power IMO to be a real player in the market.

[Slaymus]

My TD660 has enough volume for most application,
but it misses the "sheer power destroy all" thing.
I remember the first time I crank the volume knob to 11 with
my GS112s stack... I was like : that's all ???
I can almost crank more volume of a single GS112 with my 400+ than with 2 GS112s + TD660 !
But, as it was said, the tone is there with a lot of useful features.

[c_mike]

i've never had this feeling about low power, even playing in punkrock band with crazy guitarists and drumers. Mostly rehearsing with volume knob in the middle position

[KJung]

Originally Posted by c_mike

i've never had this feeling about low power, even playing in punkrock band with crazy guitarists and drumers. Mostly rehearsing with volume knob in the middle position

Again, if the head has enough power for any individual, it has enough power One general point, the position of the master volume knob means absolutely nothing regarding 'how hard you are running the amp'. Most amps use a typical linear taper master volume pot, which results in the amp (assuming an optimally strong input signal) reaches its full output somewhere around noon.

There are other amps that use an audio type taper pot (like, for example Glockenklang, and some of the Genz amps), which behave very differently. My Glock does not even start to crank (again, with an input signal just below clip at the initial gain stage) until the master is past noon.

Many heads that are sold in 'big box stores' like Guitar Center (think GK, Markbass) use those volume tapers that result in a kid being 'amazed' how loud the amp is 'and I only had it turned half way'

Edit: Also, per a few posts above, wattage is not so much about volume (for example, my HD350 was always 'loud enough'), but about uncompressed low end, headroom, and a full, deep, wide low end. I found that somewhat lacking on the HD350 (not compared to other amps in its power rating range... honestly rated.... but compared to other amps at a much lower cost and much higher power rating). IMO there. Again, high quality gear, just suprising that they don't 'man up' on the power sections given how big the boxes are.

[bassmanjla]

so.. any of you familiar with the LINK jack on the microbass? what the hell is it for?

[Sid Fang]

Originally Posted by bassmanjla

so.. any of you familiar with the LINK jack on the microbass? what the hell is it for?

I've never used it, but it's basically a bypass to send a totally unmodified input signal back out towards an instrument fx/amp chain.

[vgbob]

New T90 sitting in the back seat of my car.
Unless you want pictures of the box, things will have
to wait a bit....

[c_mike]

Originally Posted by bassmanjla

so.. any of you familiar with the LINK jack on the microbass? what the hell is it for?

You can use it for tuner or connect another amp

[Deef]

Can't fault my EBS. Used it at a pub gig the other night, volume low, and I had the bass volume rolled back, still sounded great!! I need the EBS badge, as it's missing, grrrr!

[Lowest End]

I've been using a Fafner head for almost a year now. I absolutely love it.

[goran]

Originally Posted by Lowest End

I've been using a Fafner head for almost a year now. I absolutely love it.

You forgot to turn volume to 1 o'clock!

Just kidding. I had the identical setup (Fafner + Eden D410XLT) and it kicked a**!

[jonno1707]

FYI Just posted my TD650 F/S:
EBS TD 650 Mint condition AMAZING AMP

[Lowest End]

Originally Posted by goran

You forgot to turn volume to 1 o'clock!

Just kidding. I had the identical setup (Fafner + Eden D410XLT) and it kicked a**!

Haha! It sure does sound great. I'm looking to get a second matching 410 or the 212 from Eden. The Fafner really comes alive at 4 ohms I've found.

[Sid Fang]

Originally Posted by Deef

Can't fault my EBS. Used it at a pub gig the other night, volume low, and I had the bass volume rolled back, still sounded great!! I need the EBS badge, as it's missing, grrrr!

Have you tried contacting EBS? I've reached out to them a couple of times by email, and while it took a day or two before they responded, they were very helpful. I needed to convert my Drome from European to USA mains voltage, and they shipped me the replacement transformer for a very reasonable cost. A badge, they might send you for free (expecially within the EU), if only as advertising.

Also, I think you owe us a photo so we can give you a number...

[baskruit]

Since Monday my rig when I picked up a near-new EBS112 for a decent price.

[c_mike]

Congrats !! 10 and 12 , like my setup