What's your favorite head? - Why??

[Pedulla-Player]

This is a continuation of my favorite speaker cab thread. I'm in the market for a whole new rig and I was wondering what some of your favorite heads were? I've always used regular amp heads (pre/power) , so I wouldn't mind hearing some thoughts on your favorite pre-amps also.
The only thing is that the heads need to be powerful and versatile enough to handle most gig situations ~ small bars , large halls , and outdoor gigs - No need for auditoriums because I'll Never be fortunate enough to play a gig of that size - Lol.
Thanks for your input!

[kosmicwizard]

MESA/Boogie BASS 400.

[capnsandwich]

I love my GK 700rbII. It's got growl, warmth, punch, and PLENTY of headroom. Plus, it's built like a tank.

[Pedulla-Player]

Another thing that I'm looking for in a head is simplicity. Not a bunch of knobs to tweak to get a good tone. One that sounds great set flat , but can be tweaked for certain room acoustics.

[NecroticImbecil]

If I had to pick one favorite head, it would be this one, though there are plenty that I like. I'm not suggesting you buy one. I know huge, heavy tube amps aren't exactly the thing all the kids want in their stockings. Anyway, to respond to the original post:

Versatile - Bass channel has a no-frills, classic rock-blues sort of bass tone; to use some overused terms, round and warm. Vol, bass, treble, deep switch.

Normal channel adds a mid knob, reverb, and tremolo, has a bright switch instead of deep. Still pretty easy to understand controls. This channel sounds much less colored, great for a more modern sound.

Each channel has its own volume (besides the Master) and high & low inputs. Great if using more than 1 bass of different output levels, just set one channel up for each bass.

3 145 watt 4 Ohm outputs. Want to play a stadium with no PA? Doubtful you'll need to, but you could run 3 SVT 8X10 cabs. Coffee house? One small 4 Ohm cab. I've got a lightweight 2X10 I like to use it with. The 2X10 is the same size as, and considerably lighter than, the amp. If 145 watts sounds too loud for a tiny gig, the volumes go down all the way to 0.

Realistically, it's too big, too heavy, too confusing to be anybody else's favorite amp. Which just makes me like it even more. Then again, I always get a band member to take an end of it when moving it. I wouldn't want to use it for solo bass shows, if I did them, just because I wouldn't want to move it solo.

[Pedulla-Player]

Originally Posted by NecroticImbecil

If I had to pick one favorite head, it would be this one, though there are plenty that I like. I'm not suggesting you buy one. I know huge, heavy tube amps aren't exactly the thing all the kids want in their stockings. Anyway, to respond to the original post:

Versatile - Bass channel has a no-frills, classic rock-blues sort of bass tone; to use some overused terms, round and warm. Vol, bass, treble, deep switch.

Normal channel adds a mid knob, reverb, and tremolo, has a bright switch instead of deep. Still pretty easy to understand controls. This channel sounds much less colored, great for a more modern sound.

Each channel has its own volume (besides the Master) and high & low inputs. Great if using more than 1 bass of different output levels, just set one channel up for each bass.

3 145 watt 4 Ohm outputs. Want to play a stadium with no PA? Doubtful you'll need to, but you could run 3 SVT 8X10 cabs. Coffee house? One small 4 Ohm cab. I've got a lightweight 2X10 I like to use it with. The 2X10 is the same size as, and considerably lighter than, the amp. If 145 watts sounds too loud for a tiny gig, the volumes go down all the way to 0.

Realistically, it's too big, too heavy, too confusing to be anybody else's favorite amp. Which just makes me like it even more. Then again, I always get a band member to take an end of it when moving it. I wouldn't want to use it for solo bass shows, if I did them, just because I wouldn't want to move it solo.

Not a head I was expecting to see when I created this thread - not that it's a bad one by any means. I was expecting more "Modern" heads maybe with and 80's head (800 RB) thrown in the mix.

My stadium comment was taken out of context. I forgot the word "Never" in that statement - which I corrected - Lol.
Thanks for your input. It's nice to see the different amps that people consider their favorites.

[yamaha]

Top 3 ULTIMATE heads for tone : Orange 200, Fender bassman pro 300, Thunderfunk.

But I use the LM2 and the f1 pretty much all the time now. Very very good tone, and so easy to dial in, and transport.

[DwaynieAD]

Originally Posted by capnsandwich

I love my GK 700rbII. It's got growl, warmth, punch, and PLENTY of headroom. Plus, it's built like a tank.

I have the 1001RBII but love it for the exact same reasons

[Pedulla-Player]

Originally Posted by DwaynieAD

I have the 1001RBII but love it for the exact same reasons

I played a 800RB throughout the late 80's to the mid 90's. How does the 700rbII and the 1001rbII compare to it in volume and tone??
Thanks!

[ezstep]

Right now, the Shuttle6.0. I love the simplicity, the tones, the volume, and the compactness. And it is my newest. Before that, the GBE600. Great, modern tones, and plenty of volume.


But, I used a MusicMan HD150 for about 19 years as my main amp before trading it for something more modern. I wish I still had it. Definitely not a modern sound, but, geez, what a sound it had. If I had the money (and the back), I would go all tubes all the time.

[kosmicwizard]

I love my G-K 1001RBII as well, but it is the farthest thing from warm I can imagine. IMHO.

You can cop a 800RB tone, but you can't adjust where the watts go if you are bi-amped. Cheers.

[waleross]

My 2 favorites that I own are a Genz GBE1200 and a Fender Bassman 300...pricey but nice.....................

[pandathe3]

Hartke LH500/1000

Cheap, Power, Ease of use, Sounds great and easy to do so.

Just abit on the heavy side.

[funk generator]

Iv always liked my Epifani PS600 and little mark II. Given i havent used alot of amps. I like the epifani more, even though the MB is more portable. The epifani is still light easily manageable, and gives a nice deep tone that fits my bass very well

[Nickthebass]

I'm loving my Markbass SA450. Quite a simple preamp, sounds good and has the VLE filter (like a passive tone) which every amp everywhere should have.

[StereoPlayer]

right now like my Markbass F1
and.... I know it dosen't meet the OP requirments, but....I really like my GK MB200!.....so much..another is on the way....

[DwaynieAD]

Tone is rather subjective so I'll just say that I like it and the people at shows seem to like it too. I get plenty of compliments. As far as volume goes these things definitely go up to 11. the highest I've ever had my volume set was 5 and my entire house was shaking while I completely drowned out my drummer and guitarist (they were having a wank off that I wanted to end. I did.) I practice with the volume at about 2 with 2 guitarists, drummer, and vocalist on PA, I play shows with full PA support with my volume at about 3.

All I'm really trying to say is she's got volume.

[chris lykins]

Mesa Boogie Titan. Does it all clean and warm check, svt grind yes. Tons of power, you bet!

[jmattbassplaya]

The Markbass SD800 can handle any gig size, is fairly straight forward when it comes to controls, and weighs in at only 8lbs. Plus its VPF and VLE knobs allow you to color your tone just enough to fit almost any song on the fly - which can range from blues, funk, jazz, rock, and everything in between.

[gregoryisrael]

Aguilar DB750. It's only the 2nd bass head I've owned, and it was a major upgrade. I might consider other amps like an SVT if it wasn't for weight/power tube woes, but for super warm tones, transients like a battering ram, and power to spare, the DB750 wins.