SVT 7, Shuttle 9.0, LH1000, LM Tube 800, Hmmm...

[bassplayer7770]

I'm thinking about a new amp to run through my LDS 15/6.5 cab. Preferably at least 500 watts @ 8 ohms. The tone of my Carvin BX1200 just doesn't quite do it for me, but it gets the job done decently.

First of all, I'm in two bands. The first is mostly just straight-ahead Rock, so some tubey grit might be nice for that band. The Rock ranges from Zeppelin to Aerosmith to STP to Jet to U2 to Weezer, but it's still Rock. The second band plays a variety ranging from Jay Z to Timberlake to Beck to U2 to The Strokes to STP to Faith No More, so versatility is also important.

Given price range and features, here are the heads I'm thinking about right now:

Ampeg SVT 7 Pro - This head has a fairly flexible EQ, and the Mute and Effects Loop are footswitchable. I assume some tubey grit can also be dialed in.

Genz Benz Shuttle 9.0 - I have heard you can dial in some grit on this head, but I'm not sure. Plus, nothing is footswitchable, but the Mute button is easily accessible, and I can probably get around the Effects Loop not being footswitchable. EQ also seems reasonably versatile.

Hartke LH1000 - Not sure how much tubey grit can be dialed in, and the EQ section isn't very versatile (Mids can't technically be boosted). Also no Mute function. But this is the cheapest of them all. It is also the heaviest of them all.

Markbass Little Mark Tube 800 - Again, not sure how much tubey grit can be dialed in, but the EQ is decently versatile. Pulling the Master Volume control for Mute isn't ideal, but I'm sure I could get over that. Again, nothing is footswitchable.

One more thing, I usually use the DI on my amp to run through the PA at live shows, so a good quality DI is also important.

For those of you with experience with one or more of these heads, do you have an input for me?

[KJung]

No grit on the LMT800... had one for a while. It is a clean machine, bright in the upper mids, big down low... tube is subtle at best. While I like that tone profile with the 15/6, it doesn't sound like that would be your thing.

LH1000... fat, tubey, smooth, loud (and heavy)... but 'clean tube', and it has that sometimes frustrating Fender tone stack... limited EQ. NICE for the price, and great... kind of like an old Bassman preamp powered by a clean solid state amp.

Not familiar with the Ampeg.

Shuttle 9..... unless you have a really strong input signal (I mean, REALLY strong) it is not going to break up. However, plenty of power, and the rather bright, punchy voicing works well with the 15.6... that might do the trick, especially if you put some sort of pedal in front of it, that either provides clean boost to push the preamp into break-up, or a 'distortion' pedal.

IMO and IME!

[Burlington]

The only head you listen that I have experience with is the Shuttle 9.0. It can do gritty tubeyness or clean hifi. Also, it is footswitchable, but only for mute, low boost, mid scoop, and high boost.

[jmattbassplaya]

Definitely not the Ampeg... at least yet. They are still relatively new and a lot of people seem to be having problems with theirs so I`d just wait on that one.

LMT is a nice head but really clean. Personally if you`d like to try Markbass I`d say a LMII or III with a VT pedal in front of it. A lot of people rave about how you can get a nice, vintage, gritty tube sound this way, and yet have it in a very nice and easy to manage package.

Shuttle 9`s are nice and could work well for you.

I don`t know anything about the Hartke.

[bassplayer7770]

Ken, thanks so much for your input.

FYI, I would say my Carvin BX1200 is on the bright side. I compared it to my Peavey Pro Bass 500; with the Peavey, the notes just seemed to be inherently warmer and thicker with the kind of "presence" I'm looking for. I can't seem to get that with the Carvin which sounds a bit "thin" to me. Plus, with the Peavey, some tubey grit/overdrive could be dialed in. However, the Peavey only pushes 200 watts at 8 ohms.

[bassplayer7770]

Originally Posted by Burlington

Also, it is footswitchable, but only for mute, low boost, mid scoop, and high boost.

That's right. I had forgotten about that...

[silky smoove]

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

Personally if you`d like to try Markbass I`d say a LMII or III with a VT pedal in front of it.

Based on my experience with an LMT (500 watt class A/B version) into a 15/6/1, I don't think an LMII/III is a great choice. They sound great tonally, but they don't really have enough power at 8 ohms to make the 15/6/1 sing. You REALLY start feeling the limiter kicking in and making everything sound super compressed. On top of that, you're incapable of getting everything those cabs can deliver with that amount of power, or lack thereof.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by bassplayer7770

Ken, thanks so much for your input.

FYI, I would say my Carvin BX1200 is on the bright side. I compared it to my Peavey Pro Bass 500; with the Peavey, the notes just seemed to be inherently warmer and thicker with the kind of "presence" I'm looking for. I can't seem to get that with the Carvin which sounds a bit "thin" to me. Plus, with the Peavey, some tubey grit/overdrive could be dialed in. However, the Peavey only pushes 200 watts at 8 ohms.

It is a bit frustrating that the 15/6's are only available in 8 ohm version right now, which kind of limits your choices if you really want to take advantage of the big volume output and low end those cabs are capable of.

I wonder if the new Carvin B2000 would have enough grit for you. It does have a tube that powers the power amp... not a gain stage tube, but I understand it warms up pretty nicely, and the drive control can add some grit. However, I have not played one, so don't know.

If you can get a hot enough signal into the Shuttle 9, that might totally float your boat. It sounds very good, and there is always a touch of 'tube-iness' in the tone of the Shuttles... but more 'upper mid grit' than fat, overdriven low mid chug to my ear.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by silky smoove

Based on my experience with an LMT (500 watt class A/B version) into a 15/6/1, I don't think an LMII/III is a great choice. They sound great tonally, but they don't really have enough power at 8 ohms to make the 15/6/1 sing. You REALLY start feeling the limiter kicking in and making everything sound super compressed. On top of that, you're incapable of getting everything those cabs can deliver with that amount of power, or lack thereof.

Didn't you have a B2000 for a while with your 15/6... don't remember how that worked out for you. Could you dirty it up with the drive control and switching the 'driver tube' into the circuit?

[bassplayer7770]

My BX1200 doesn't have the tube, but it does have the Drive control. It adds those upper harmonics making it seem a little bit gritty, but that's not exactly the type of "grit" I'm after I guess.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by bassplayer7770

My BX1200 doesn't have the tube, but it does have the Drive control. It adds those upper harmonics making it seem a little bit gritty, but that's not exactly the type of "grit" I'm after I guess.

That's my impression of that head... bright and the grit is in the 1K region, not the 'shake your b***s 250 hz grunty growl (which is what I assumed you were looking for a bit more from your original post).

I've never heard one of the big GK heads with the 15/6.. that might also be an option, although that's a bit more of the upper mid thing also, that a more 'all tube head in full snarl' mode. I know that Fusion550 (not the micro, but that full sized head) is getting some rave reviews by the snarly set.

[bassplayer7770]

Originally Posted by KJung

That's my impression of that head... bright and the grit is in the 1K region, not the 'shake your b***s 250 hz grunty growl (which is what I assumed you were looking for a bit more from your original post).

I've never heard one of the big GK heads with the 15/6.. that might also be an option, although that's a bit more of the upper mid thing also, that a more 'all tube head in full snarl' mode.

I think you're right, and I've tried boosting the low mids on my BX1200, and it just isn't the same.

I guess a GK 1001-RBII could also be considered.

[silky smoove]

Originally Posted by KJung

Didn't you have a B2000 for a while with your 15/6... don't remember how that worked out for you. Could you dirty it up with the drive control and switching the 'driver tube' into the circuit?

Sure did. The B2000 had PLENTY of power into 8 ohms to open up the 15/6/1. In fact, it's rated 300 watts less into 8 ohms than my current Tecamp Puma1000 (Carvin's 700 versus Tecamp's 1000) and the Carvin still felt more powerful. They got it right with that power section. Tons of power on tap, very dynamic and on top of that, it's still a super lightweight package. If you can deal with the somewhat goofy EQ (be prepared to turn the knobs a LOT to get it back to what I would consider flat based on previously using a Markbass LMTube) this is a fantastic head to power a 15/6/1.

As far as grit is concerned... Well... The drive control, with the tube engaged does add a little bit of grit, but if you're looking for overdrive and breakup, this amp isn't really going to do it. If you just want a touch of presence and bite up top, it can definitely do that, but the voicing of this amp is primarily clean. Still a fantastic amp for a 15/6/1. Unfortunately for my bank account, a Tecamp Puma1000 just matched my tone goals more closely.

To the OP: I'm finding that the number of amps out there that have a really great gritty tone AND a lot of power on tap at 8 ohms are few and far between. My advice would be to get a clean sounding amp with lots of power at 8 ohms and then add something like a Tech 21 VT-Bass, or a Catalin Bread SFT in front of the amp's input. That way you'd have both. That's essentially what I did with my Tecamp Puma1000 and my Tech 21 VT-Bass. Works great.

[silky smoove]

Originally Posted by KJung

I've never heard one of the big GK heads with the 15/6..

I haven't either, but after owning a 2001RB and a 1001RB, my gut tells me that this pairing would be fantastic. Had the Puma1000 not come up in the classifieds (Thanks Shawn! ), I would have taken my cab down to GC and plugged in a 1001RB. In fact, I was convinced that's what I was going to do. It'd be nice to hear a real-world account of that head with that type of cab, but again, my gut tells me it would great.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by silky smoove

I haven't either, but after owning a 2001RB and a 1001RB, my gut tells me that this pairing would be fantastic. Had the Puma1000 not come up in the classifieds (Thanks Shawn! ), I would have taken my cab down to GC and plugged in a 1001RB. In fact, I was convinced that's what I was going to do. It'd be nice to hear a real-world account of that head with that type of cab, but again, my gut tells me it would great.

That's my feeling also. To the OP, if they ever release the Fusion 1050 or whatever it is called, that would be the thing

[bassplayer7770]

Originally Posted by KJung

That's my feeling also. To the OP, if they ever release the Fusion 1050 or whatever it is called, that would be the thing

The 1050 wouldn't be in the same price range. If I had $1.2k, I'd seriously consider an M9 Carbine.

[Washishimi]

I can't speak for the other heads, but definitely try out the LH1000 if you can. Soooo smooth, fat, and loud. Grit is achievable, but I'm not sure how much of it you are after. And once you play around with that tone stack and get used to it (it really is quite different than I'm used too), it is surprisingly flexible. The tone sure feels more ballsy and solid compared to the BX1200 I gigged.

My current (Top 40) band plays ALL of the bands you listed, and after two gigs with the LH1000, it handled the tunes flawlessly. For reference, I tried the head with both my Schroeder 101215BMF, and Hartke HyDrive HX410 (separately, of course).

[KJung]

Originally Posted by bassplayer7770

The 1050 wouldn't be in the same price range. If I had $1.2k, I'd seriously consider an M9 Carbine.

Funny thing about the M6/M9 is that they are REALLY clean and bright.... very different voicing from the other Mesa heads.

[bassplayer7770]

Originally Posted by KJung

Funny thing about the M6/M9 is that they are REALLY clean and bright.... very different voicing from the other Mesa heads.

I tried an M9 through a Mesa cab, and, with the Gain past 12 o'clock, I felt it achieved some pretty nice "grit", plus the tone was just plain good.

By tubey grit, I'm not necessarily after massive overdrive. My BX1200 adds some "grit", but it's focused more on higher frequencies.

[Gearhead17]

For grit, I think you are better off getting a tube head or just adding a dist/overdrive pedal in your chain. Neither of the heads you have mentioned can really do gritty overdrive. I am not 100% sure what you mean by grit, but when you say the Mesa M9 has it, all I can think of is a slight amount of edge in the high end on those heads.

The LH1000 can do decent tubey style mids with growly overtones, but the rest are much too clean and will barely distort if you push them.