sound city 120 for bass

paradigm_shift · #1 07-10-2011, 02:41 AM

Has anyone tried one of these with bass? Trying to find a nice option for head for both my baritone and bass setup. Both I play in b standard. Looking to use with a vbc412 Marshall cab. Predominantly doom and sludge. My worry is in regards to low end and power ? Low end is key in what I seek to achieve. Thoughts?

MAMMOTHvolume · #2 07-10-2011, 04:14 AM

sound cities are doom, it'll work great for what you want

Bassmec · #3 07-10-2011, 05:21 AM

If its running at the correct bias has good lytics in the power supply and has the original transformers and a good set of tubes, it will be awesome!.

but remember the trick with moderate wattage tube amps is maximum speakerage. 2 X 4 X 12?.
If that dont work then get another Sound City and a lehle splitter box

if that still don't work get a sowter hi impedance 1 in 3 out isolation transformer make a box and run three of those bad boy half stacks.
If that don't work just double up on the cabs again.
Think Modular!.

bassboysam · #4 07-10-2011, 12:25 PM

I had a Sound City Bass 150, and it sounded good but even with the volume maxed and an 810 it was just barely loud enough. I wasn't comfortable running the amp at it's limits for extended periods of time so I sold it. Also I found it noisy. In my opinion old Traynors are better amps and work great with bass and guitar especially a YBA-3 or YBA-3A.

s_mcsleazy · #5 07-10-2011, 12:33 PM

calling fox calling fox. someone mentioned sound city amps and your not here yet

paradigm_shift · #6 07-10-2011, 01:01 PM

[quote=bassboysam;11163204]I had a Sound City Bass 150, and it sounded good but even with the volume maxed and an 810 it was just barely loud enough. I wasn't comfortable running the amp at it's limits for extended periods of time so I sold it. Also I found it noisy. In my opinion old Traynors are better amps and work great with bass and guitar especially a YBA-3 or YBA-3A.[/QUOTE

What was the context? What were you up against playing wise?

Mojo-Man · #7 07-10-2011, 01:04 PM

[quote=paradigm_shift;11163330]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassboysam

I had a Sound City Bass 150, and it sounded good but even with the volume maxed and an 810 it was just barely loud enough. I wasn't comfortable running the amp at it's limits for extended periods of time so I sold it. Also I found it noisy. In my opinion old Traynors are better amps and work great with bass and guitar especially a YBA-3 or YBA-3A.[/QUOTE

What was the context? What were you up against playing wise?

Played a Sound City 150 years ago.
Great sounding head.
No super loud. ( But good for small medium gigs)

paradigm_shift · #8 07-10-2011, 01:15 PM

The other options to look for a kt88 loaded sound city 200. It's either that or the 120... Curious though what tubes did the 150 use?

sledz · #9 07-10-2011, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mojo-Man

Played a Sound City 150 years ago.
Great sounding head.
No super loud. ( But good for small medium gigs)

And that's what I call the company with a long tradition

Corey Y · #10 07-10-2011, 01:22 PM

I use a b120 in my current band and have used it previously for both bass and guitar for very loud, downtuned music. I wouldn't recommend the L120 as much. The b120 has a lot of high end, but it's easy to roll off. The active eq can be a little tricky if you're not used to it, but there is plenty of volume and low end to be had. It also takes pedals very well.

bassboysam · #11 07-10-2011, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paradigm_shift

The other options to look for a kt88 loaded sound city 200. It's either that or the 120... Curious though what tubes did the 150 use?

The bass 150 had 4 KT88s. Which is why I was surprised with the lack of volume.

I play with a very loud drummer and a very loud guitarist with a 120 watt Peavey Butcher and a 412.

Corey Y · #12 07-10-2011, 01:47 PM

The b120 has 6 el34s and is quite loud. The L120 only has 4, not as loud and it sounded weaker in general to me. The b120 is definitely loud enough to keep up in a 2 guitar band.

chadds · #13 07-10-2011, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassboysam

The bass 150 had 4 KT88s. Which is why I was surprised with the lack of volume.

I play with a very loud drummer and a very loud guitarist with a 120 watt Peavey Butcher and a 412.

Might need service.

bassboysam · #14 07-10-2011, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chadds

Might need service.

It was fully serviced and checked out. Plus the capacitors were all replaced.

Mr. Foxen · #15 07-10-2011, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by s_mcsleazy

calling fox calling fox. someone mentioned sound city amps and your not here yet

Yo!

Basically, I had one, and there was awesome girth to the tone but it was really noisy. So I got some more and have been working on a couple, see restoration diary elsewhere. Anything people criticise them for can be fixed, nothing in there is complicated in itself, there are just a whole bunch of standard components that are 40 years old, and a lot of lazy techs.

The L120 also has 6 EL34, but a differently voiced preamp.

If they aren't loud enough, then you need a more sensitive cab, or more cabs, or more likely to not scoop your mids, all the sweet valve tone is in the mids.

There is a whole ton of things that can be done with the gubbins in them to shape them to what you want, but just having one working properly is going to cover most stuff, teh EQ has so much more range than any passive stack.

AwkwardLoudness · #16 07-10-2011, 02:39 PM

The 120w Sound City amps were built during the Mark 4 era and then the DMI era. They are not all created equal. Some of them have a lot more headroom than others, and some are noisier than others. They can sound great if working properly. Volume will depend significantly on the cab used. I'd go with a different rig if you really need to be LOUD! For maximum volume from the Sound City 120 amp, you MUST max out or more of the EQ knobs (especially mids) because it's an active circuit: each EQ knob is like a master volume for its frequency broadband. People who think these amps aren't loud may not be using them right.

s_mcsleazy · #17 07-10-2011, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Foxen

Yo!

Basically, I had one, and there was awesome girth to the tone but it was really noisy. So I got some more and have been working on a couple, see restoration diary elsewhere. Anything people criticise them for can be fixed, nothing in there is complicated in itself, there are just a whole bunch of standard components that are 40 years old, and a lot of lazy techs.

The L120 also has 6 EL34, but a differently voiced preamp.

If they aren't loud enough, then you need a more sensitive cab, or more cabs, or more likely to not scoop your mids, all the sweet valve tone is in the mids.

There is a whole ton of things that can be done with the gubbins in them to shape them to what you want, but just having one working properly is going to cover most stuff, teh EQ has so much more range than any passive stack.

wow i cant beleve that actually worked.

calling allison mossheart in the back of a 1979 ford capri wearing only ben and jerrys ice cream.

Mr. Foxen · #18 07-10-2011, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AwkwardLoudness

People who think these amps aren't loud may not be using them right.

+1

See Electric Wizard and Bongripper.

s_mcsleazy · #19 07-10-2011, 04:59 PM

agreed. people kept telling me my bassman wasnt loud enough but ive showed them