Preamp/Amp/Comp vs. Class D "head"

nateynate · #1 10-10-2011, 03:34 PM

Wanting some opinions here. Haven't posted a lot here but this is my go-to resource for info.

I currently have multiple setups:

Ampeg B-100R for small shows

Ampeg 410HLF 4-Ohm 4x10" (approx. 100lbs) used with one of the following:

Rack with Ampeg SVT3-Pro / dbx160A comp / DTR2 tuner (about 60lbs)

SWR Redface Bass-350

I mainly play a 76' Precision with Lollar pickups, but also use a Rickenbacker 4003, Ibanez BTB 5-string with Bartollini pickups, a 79' Jazz with original pickups, or an old 62' Harmony short scale.

I love the tone out of all these amps, but my main goal here is to get a good sound and as light a package as possible. I'm building a fEarFul 15/6 that I am introducing into the mix, but haven't yet completed it, so I can't say what it sounds like with either amp.

I was thinking of pairing an Ampeg SVP-CL preamp, and dbx160A with a Crown DriveCore 1000 bridged into the fEarful . This would give me a 700 watt rig that weighs about 70lbs total and should get loud. I already have a light, shallow rack I could use for this.

I had also considered something like the GK MB800 or the Orange Terror Bass 500 and the fEarful.

Can anyone chime in with experiences with the fEarful 15/6 and any of these amps or variations?

I play a lot of hill country blues, MS delta blues, alt-country, funk, and even some straight up old country and rock.

Any ideas / discussions / experiences welcome.

Nate

bassophile · #2 10-10-2011, 04:00 PM

TC Electronic RH450

RickenBoogie · #3 10-10-2011, 05:13 PM

Yeah, a small pedalboard with a tuner and compressor, plus whatever else you may like, run in to a Mesa M6 Carbine and on to your cab. Less weight, more sound, (subjective, but better sound imo, too).

rpsands · #4 10-10-2011, 05:17 PM

I got by just fine using a micro amp with my fEarful, but I still had to use a pedalboard. So I combined them and went pedal pre + power amp on the pedalboard.

carl h. · #5 10-10-2011, 05:19 PM

Is weight or performance your top criteria?

PF-500 has an Ampeg pre, compressor and 500 watts in a fairly compact package.

nateynate · #6 10-10-2011, 08:39 PM

Thanks for the quick replies gentlemen.

Carl I think the PG-500 is 500w @ 4ohms, and my fEarful will be 8ohms, so I don't think it would give me enough volume.

I guess, I'd like to balance weight / performance as best I can. I have the BR-100 which has great tone at about 65lbs. The 410HLF + rack is upwards of 165lbs and also great tone and plenty of volume.

My outlook is, why carry the BR-100 to a small gig when the fEarful is only about 50lbs? With just about any of the newer class d heads, or a small rack setup, I'd still be less in weight and have much better performance / sound. Same goes for the the larger rig, I'd cut my weight by 100lbs and still have plenty of volume and great tone.

I guess I am just looking for thoughts / advice on some of these setups since I don't have much experience with the new micro heads or the fEarful.

Duke21 · #7 10-10-2011, 11:27 PM

It will be easier and cheaper to buy a class D amp then separate preamp and power amp. If you want Ampeg tone and lots of power I'll choose Ampeg SVT 7pro. There JimmyM I was quicker than you on that one!

EASonBass · #8 10-10-2011, 11:35 PM

What he said ^

7 pro sounds like a good fit for you as like Ampeg. Its light, fits in a gig bag (rack if you want) and has about all the oomph you're going to need.

Oobly · #9 10-11-2011, 12:24 AM

The SVP-CL, dbx and Crown will give you 700W, the Ampeg SVT-7Pro will give 600 and the GK MB800 will give 500. They will all be LOUD with a 15/6 and sound good.

The odd man out in that lineup is the GK. Definitely try one out if you can get the chance to see if you like how it sounds. I think the MB Fusion may suit your tonal goals better, but its only 300W into 8 Ohm. It's a loud 300W, but still only 300W.

If you would like to use the fEARful for something other than bass also, then the separate power amp and preamp will be useful. The SVT-7Pro has a patch section, preamp out, power amp in, so that could do the job.

Switching from the 3Pro to the 7 will lose you about 11 pounds (15 pounds vs 26). The Crown and SVPCL together will weigh 18 pounds, 3 more than the 7Pro (8 less than the 3Pro) and pretty similar tone and output.

So out of these choices I support Duke21's suggestion. Just thought I would expand my reasons / thoughts. I use a Crown XLS1500 and separate preamp with my fEARful, mainly because it's a flexible setup with lots of headroom. Another reason is that the SVT 7Pro was just out of my budget at the time

The Carvin BX1500 is also worth a look. 900W into 8 Ohm, compressor, parametric and graphic EQ, effects loop (so you can separate power and pre if you like) and weighs 11 pounds. A very good match to a fEARful.

Son of Bovril · #10 10-11-2011, 02:58 AM

if you do get the Crown I suggest going for the XLS1500 instead of the 1000 it'll give you a bit of extra headroom at very little extra cost with practically no weight or size penalty. The input sensitivity is also low for some preamps although I haven't had problems with any of mine

thudfromafar · #11 10-11-2011, 09:51 AM

^agreed

The perks of a pre/power rig is cost efficiency and tone flexibility. You get lots of power for a minimum cost, and the ability to choose/swap your preamp to fit your own sound.
My pre/power rig costed about $500 and I have 1000 watts and a great sounding preamp (with a compressor) that I can always change out if I want to for $100-300.

nateynate · #12 10-11-2011, 10:35 AM

What do you guys think of the Genz Benz Streamliner 600 or 900?

I dig the tone I get from my SVT-3Pro + 410HLF

I'm wondering how the Streamliner would sound with my 76' P and my in-progress fEarful 15/6?

nateynate · #13 10-17-2011, 08:54 AM

Any thoughts on the GenzBenz? Also was looking at Carvin BX1500 and maybe a Drivecore 1500 with something like a tube channel strip with parametric eq and compressor.

farboozle · #14 10-17-2011, 09:00 AM

Quote:

great sounding preamp (with a compressor)

What pre are you using?

nateynate · #15 10-17-2011, 09:04 AM

No pre yet. Just looking to build a different / better rig since I am working on a fEarful 15/6.

Ah just saw you were replying to the guy above me :-)

coyoteboy · #16 10-17-2011, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rpsands

I got by just fine using a micro amp with my fEarful, but I still had to use a pedalboard. So I combined them and went pedal pre + power amp on the pedalboard.

Damn, stole my idea! ;-)

Working on a pedalboard idea with a "hidden" poweramp.

greenboy · #17 10-17-2011, 10:11 AM

Ages ago, I did it more like a very short mixer rack - you know those racks with regular rackspace below and a flat spot above that you can mount an appropriately sized mixer facing upwards.

A couple/few rack spaces below for the amp and maybe a few other rackmount goodies, and a terraced shelf just above for whatever stomp boxes you can fit on it. Less stage footprint and when you have your foot on a stompbox you can pull off something like a "righteous dude with foot up on monitor" pose ; }

thudfromafar · #18 10-17-2011, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by farboozle

What pre are you using?

art tube channel

Jools4001 · #19 10-17-2011, 10:58 AM

My gig...rig...is in my sig...

OK, so I'll stop chanting now.

The Barefced Big One (although sadly discontinued) is built along the same lines as a fEarful so I guess the two would be virtually interchangeable. It's light, very easily carried or wheeled along. In fact, it's so easy to transport I even use it for small gigs (even though I have smaller cabs). It's a brilliant cab and I'd expect the fEarful to be the same.

The XLS1000 drives it, bridged for 700 watts into the 8 Ohm load. It can get very loud - enough to keep up with two half stacks (100 watt and 60 watt) and a drummer with Godzilla genes - with enough headroom that I haven't driven it into clipping yet.

The Bass Pod XT Live, well, I guess you love them or hate them but it can emulate enough amps and effects so that I can get nearly every sound I need from it at the prod of a preset. Purists can sniff all they like but they probably wouldn't be able to switch basses from Ric to fretless and set their amp up to go from Geddyeque Ric to Pinoesque fretless, all within an 8 bar intro as our current set list demands.

I've had all sorts of amp heads over the last 40 years, but I'm completely sold on the pre/power/cab flexibility and scalability

thudfromafar · #20 10-17-2011, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jools4001

I've had all sorts of amp heads over the last 40 years, but I'm completely sold on the pre/power/cab flexibility and scalability

yeah

i would love a smaller unit than 3-4 rack spaces, but... until i can get close to teh same features in a smaller bass head, pre/power rules!!