What's with me and cheap amps?

[Dave R]

I'm almost old enough to join AARP, and I've been playing over 35 years. Since Jr. Hi. I've played in bands most of my life. I started out on a Fender Bassman with twin 15's. It was 'the sound'. I've always played classic rock, country, and disco. Never slapped.

'Bout 10 years ago I shopped around for a new amp. Bought a Crate BX 100. I tried lots of others, but liked its sound. It had "the sound." Its 15" speaker did good things with the new(er) 5 string I bought. I have been gigging it ever since. Never heard a complaint.

I tried various Ampegs, & other brands. Didn't like 'em. I even borrowed a buddy's Ampeg for a couple weeks. Blind tested all my non-musical friends with it. Which sounds better? They ALL chose the Crate. Was I subconsciously tipping them off? Playing better with the Crate?

Got tired of lugging around that honkin' big box that weighs like 85lbs. Our PA does most of the "heavy lifting" at our gigs, anyway. My amp is mostly my on-stage monitor.

So I shopped for something smaller and lighter, with XLR out. Wound up buying a used Behringer BX 1200. Its 12" speaker does not 'quite' do low Cs and Bs with my 5er as well as the Crate. But for my Jazz bass, its just as good.

Fits in my trunk. I can carry it without aggravating my back.

I like it.

So why don't I want an expensive amp? I could afford it. Did I just get used to a "cheap" sound? Does my classic rock sound not benefit from the bling of an expensive amp? Will my life change if I spend $500 more on a better amp?

[derridiandrift]

Rock what you like.

Having said that, you might end up spending the money on that Behringer twice. I haven't heard of many people having good luck with the reliability of their gear. That, or you'll end up using your Crate again ;-)

[m.oreilly]

Did I just get used to a "cheap" sound?

could be

Will my life change if I spend $500 more on a better amp?

might not

[BillyIVbass]

It's a personal decision if you value higher quality gear. I'm sure there will be minor perks of a nicer amp, but the E A D and G notes are all the same!

[ksandvik]

Many bass players notice a difference between amps while a huge majority of the audience does not notice any difference. It might be that if you like a certain sound you get more confident so just that might justify the cost difference.

[Foamy]

Don't pay attention to the Behringer bashing. If ya like it, rock it!
If the sound works for you, that's all you should care about.
If you hear someone else playing, and you want "that" sound, then you can determine how much you want to spend.
I bought a Crate BT-100 amp about 3 years ago on clearance for $200!!! Loved it! Wish I still had it.
Don't spend money chasing a tone. If you have a specific need, we can help ya get there.

[olds_cool63]

Hey, I haven't had any problems at all with Behringer products.

I look for their stuff first before I look at other's. When it's time to get a "proper" bass amp, I think I'm gonna go with them.

Nuff said.

olds_cool63

I BASS, therefore I am!

[joeydavidson]

Cheap can be good! Some of the best guitar tones I've heard came from Peavey Bandit combos.

[JimmyM]

the only thing i'd tell you is find a rig that makes you want to play, then play. if that behringer makes you want to play, then there you go.

[AwkwardLoudness]

Originally Posted by Dave R

So why don't I want an expensive amp? I could afford it. Did I just get used to a "cheap" sound? Does my classic rock sound not benefit from the bling of an expensive amp? Will my life change if I spend $500 more on a better amp?

Perhaps you became accustomed to a 'cheap' sound. Perhaps the Ampegs you played were a dogs that needed new tubes, I don't know and can only speculate. Or perhaps you didn't play loud enough as Ampeg SVTs need to be quite loud to reach their sweet spot. There's no need to change if you're happy with the sound. I once had a Crate Vintage Club 30 guitar amp combo (EL84 tubes) that was good, though no where near the tone of my various old loud British tube amps. I've also played a solid state Crate GTX212 combo that was totally awful.

A high end tube amp with the right tubes, fresh filter capacitors, biased correctly, etc. will stomp any Crate or Behringer to my ears. No question. I like an old Hiwatt DR103/DR201/or DR405 loaded with vintage Mullard ECC83 long plate D-getter preamp tubes, Mullard ECC81 in the phase inverter position, and either GEC KT88s or vintage Mullard EL34 double halo getter power tubes (depending on the amp) into a Mesa PH215 cab or a pair of Orange OBC115 cabs (or a number of other good cabs). It's all a matter of taste.

[DaZombieWoof]

Played my old Mesa rig (400 plus and RoadReady 4-10) and realized why I bought the thing. Mind you, it is a pig to carry and the hybrid stuff or pure solid state can be nice enough that your back convinces your ears it is plenty good enough.

[MNAirHead]

There is a maturity that comes along, when realizing (for bass) there are tons more important things to do (like selling and PR).

I once had a producer coach me that "your best investment in your sound will be produced by helping the drummer get setup"

[MyMusic]

If it works for you use it with pride!!!!!!!!!!

[bassmanrocke]

I started playing Peavey basses about 3 years ago after stumbling accross a great deal on an early Foundation. I have so many now it is rediculous. My point, to me they sound better and are more playable than my vintage Fenders. Do I expect others to agree, no, but I am thankful that I have such an inexpensive way to enjoy my hobby/passion. Sounds like you have alot to be thankful for too.

[Dave R]

I know I'm not the only one in this situation. Crate and Behringer sell a lot of amps. If you've got one, and like it, sound off. There are plenty of other threads bashing them.

There is a maturity that comes along, when realizing (for bass) there are tons more important things to do (like selling and PR).

I once had a producer coach me that "your best investment in your sound will be produced by helping the drummer get setup"

And that sounds like wisdom to me.

[seamonkey]

Originally Posted by Dave R

I tried various Ampegs, & other brands. Didn't like 'em. I even borrowed a buddy's Ampeg for a couple weeks. Blind tested all my non-musical friends with it. Which sounds better? They ALL chose the Crate. Was I subconsciously tipping them off? Playing better with the Crate?

Was this just a single blind test where you knew which amp you were playing through? If so then yes ideomotor effect kicks in. You may not even be aware of it.

You'd need to do a true double blind test. And I bet the answer would be 50%/50% on cheap versus expensive for both you and the listeners.

Unless you went really cheap unknown brand.

[okcrum]

Originally Posted by Dave R

...
'Bout 10 years ago I shopped around for a new amp. Bought a Crate BX 100. I tried lots of others, but liked its sound. It had "the sound." Its 15" speaker did good things with the new(er) 5 string I bought. I have been gigging it ever since. Never heard a complaint.

I tried various Ampegs, & other brands. Didn't like 'em. I even borrowed a buddy's Ampeg for a couple weeks. Blind tested all my non-musical friends with it. Which sounds better? They ALL chose the Crate. Was I subconsciously tipping them off? Playing better with the Crate?
...

Play what works for you. You'll hear stories in both directions here on TB.

A buddy of mine was using a BX100 and a BT100 together on his blues/classic gig, but he didn't like the sound so much. I loaned him my old BXR 200 to try out and the very next day both his old amps were up on CL and he bought the BXR. So it's really about what sounds best to each player.

[Johnny Crab]

A high end tube amp with the right tubes, fresh filter capacitors, biased correctly, etc. will stomp any Crate or Behringer to my ears.

Add that the planets need to be aligned, voltage exactly 117.365 VAC, humidty 56%, etc. Now I recall part of why I sold my SVT and Bassman.

I'd rather have consistent sound out of an amp that is my slave rather than an inconsistent sound from an amp I have to slave to maintain. Yes I'm in a band with folks who have dumped all tubes for model/software-based rigs. I don't miss my SVT.

Dave R: If it sounds good to YOU, go with it.

[Bassdirty]

Originally Posted by Dave R

Will my life change if I spend $500 more on a better amp?

well...

Originally Posted by Dave R

Its 12" speaker does not 'quite' do low Cs and Bs with my 5er .....

prolly yess

[RonChase]

If your happy what else can you want go for it I had Crate amps for practice and just passin through and they were decent amps