Transparent 500w Simple Amp?

[captain bass]

Hi there,

I am looking for a relatively simple 500w'ish amp head, just 1 channel is fine.

When I am recording I use a Radial JDI and then use the mic input on my API 512c. This is the tone I like as it keeps the natural tone of my bass whilst maintaining a tight low end with punchy mids. So, I'm not too bothered about tubes, I love the SS API sound.

I don't want the amp to change my sound too much, I currently have a Trace GP7SM-130 and it's a bit sterile and imparts it's own flavour which I don't really like, so transparency would be preferential. My bass is a Darryl Jones 4 with a DJ-Retro.

I changed the pickups at one time to some Dimarzio Area J's, however this was not for me, it took away all the grind and bite in the mid-range, I'm glad I did this because it made me realise how much I love the original Lakland pickups, which I put back in.

So I don't want the amp to get rid of my grindy/growliness, I would like to enhance it. I've heard that the RH450 might smooth out your grind, this is what I don't want.

I also want any ideas for a matching 2x12 cab, which I can later pair with a 2x10 cab.

Here is an example of my bass sound and the grind that I talk of, the Area J's could not get this sound, no matter what!

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4133114/Sloppy%20Chops.m4v

Thanks for any ideas/info, I plan on using any knowledge to make a list, which I will go out and demo with my bass.

Many Thanks.

[Deepwoods]

I would go for the GK MB500 due to the fact that it is tiny, meets your power requirement, and is relatively low cost. Just bypass the internal preamp by going into the effects return and you are good to go.

[Grateful]

Carvin makes very transparent amps. The BX500 and BX1500 have a tube preamp, but there are discontinued, solid state versions that exist (BX600 / BX1200). I have the BX1200 as my main amp, and the smaller BX 250 (250W@4ohms) as my practice/DI amp. Both sound great, are super clean and have tones of tone options.

I try to avoid amps that color the sound a lot, and I'm really happy with the way my Laklands (active and passive) sound through these amps.

The issues here are:
-The BX500 does not include any tone controls in the DI circuit, so it's straight from the jack to the XLR. For some, that's great because it's a straight shot. For others, that means no ability to use the amp to tweak the tone.
-Unless you live near a Carvin store, they'll be tough to demo.

Good Luck!

[BassmanPaul]

[quote=Grateful;10766349]Carvin makes very transparent amps. The BX500 and BX1500 are tube amps, QUOTE]

No they are not! Both are hybrids in that they contain a single 12AX7 tube. I will agree, however, that the BX1500 is a fine amplifier.

[Grateful]

Originally Posted by BassmanPaul

No they are not! Both are hybrids in that they contain a single 12AX7 tube. I will agree, however, that the BX1500 is a fine amplifier.

I stand kinda corrected. They are not ALL tube amps (never said they were), but they do contain a tube compared to their solid state cousins.

[BassmanPaul]

If you state that such and such amp is a tube amp folk will understand that as being a full tube amp. As I posted, the correct term is hybrid. That goes for any amp that mixes tube and SS stages.

[4-string]

Ashdown MK500 - very clean and neutral sound, and as simple as can be despite the 12-band graphic eq. Discontinued now, but still available.

[Col Pruse]

there's a button on the back of the BX500 to bypass the tube so it's a moot point...

[Downunderwonder]

Not a lot of "bass" coming through that direct studio recording in my headphones! Nor what I call grind or growl.

I take it you don't like the preshape in the Trace? Can you take your DI and put it in a power amp? Done.

Or for more beef put a sansamp in front of the trace with the preshape off and knock down the 50 to 120 on the EQ

[Stumbo]

Based on reading too many TB threads on the topic, getting your "tone" live is based a lot on the how your rig reacts to the venue.

It may sound perfect in your studio but with the same settings, crappy at a gig.

Before parting with your hard earned cash, I suggest a few band rehearsals/gigs with your Trace Elliot combo. Tilt it back or get it up to ear level. IME, that's one of the best sounding combos I've heard live.

Make some recordings of your rehearsals/gigs and if it sounds good, it is good.

Your amp gets about 260w at 4 ohms so you can add another 8 ohm cab, maybe a 4x10/tweet. Or possibly borrow a few different cabs for rehearsal/gigs and see if you can get the tone you like.

Just a thought...

[captain bass]

Thanks for the replies.

The wattage is an issue too, the Trace just isn't loud enough, when pushed the cab starts to vibrate and the sound just gets worse. I definitely need to invest in something larger, with the possibility of expansion.

I've been doing a lot of research on the Shuttle 9 along with a 2x12 Uberbass cab, I've read a lot of threads with useful information about the Shuttle and it's competition.

Any fresh thoughts?

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Transparent?

Mic preamp + SS power amp.

Then use the Mic pre to DI the PA.

[captain bass]

By transparent I mean I just want the sound of my instrument to come through naturally, I know how it sounds unplugged and my API 512c along with the JDI maintains this sound. However, I don't fancy carrying my lunchbox around on gigs.

I would prefer to get a specific bass head and speaker cabinet, with room to expand. The features on a something like a Shuttle 9 would also come in very handy for recording options.

[RNV]

Carvin is very transparent. Very Powerful. Very $$$ friendly.