When buying a amp, what are you looking for?

[bigsnaketex]

I wanted the new Fender Bassman 100T.......and I got one.

My only qualifying criteria for each decision on amps are tubes - and tubey goodness.

Gots to have it in buckets!

[SJan3]

Originally Posted by bassfran

Reliability, tone, and portability.

This, plus adequate power/volume for the application.

[Jazzdogg]

Input impedance of at least 1megOhm on 1/4" jacks (Piezo DB p'ups);

Two pre-amp channels (for doubling);

1/4" and XLR inputs;

Transformer-protected DI - with pre/post selector;

Phase reverse;

A power amp capable of driving a 2-Ohm load when necessary (or dual mono power amps with individual channel volume controls);

Mute switch;

Tuner output jack (I like my tuner on top of my amp - always on);

Provides enough power to drive my speakers to maximum output without clipping;

Compact and lightweight;

Useful tone controls (preferably parametric or semi-parametric mids);

110VAC convenience outlet(s) on back;

Variable high-pass filter (preferably 24 dB/octave);

Foot-switchable parallel effects loop(s)

110 and 220 VAC (international travel);

A company that stands behind its products by providing excellent support and service after the sale.


No wonder I've been so happy lately; with a few obvious exceptions, I seem to be describing my AI Focus 2R SIII (used with a Fishman two-channel parametric EQ and FDeck HPF/Pre).

[kurosawa]

@Tuned: The clearest thing I have is an Alembic PJ Activator circuit with just the P turned on, filter dimed. Plugged into this rather unremarkable 100w tube rig, it's unbelievable, and I think it would be into any rig. I also have some preamp tubes that do clarity. I think if that's your quest, it would take a good while to get all the pieces lined up. The post before yours mentioned Genz amps, which I'm interested in. We seem to have no comparative standard for clarity. I once played a first generation Clarus through a pair of Bag 15s that was amazingly clear, but how clear in comparison to this or that? "Forwardness" also plays into clarity somehow.

[nysbob]

Tubes in the power section.

[Jawbone]

Originally Posted by SactoBass

Holy crap. Prima is right. What the hell is wrong with us!!!

OP: whatever amp you buy, make sure it comes with plenty of mojo!

Number Uno requirement: MOJO

If it doesn't have your type or quality of MOJO than forget it.

[Tuned]

I've isolated the "clarity" issue of mine to my SWR cab, because I play fretless through an EQ pedal for a preamp and Peavey IPR 1600, dead neutral, no flavoring whatsoever, lets the fingers and strings tell the story, and that they do

All the cabs that work best for fretless work best for fretted provided there's an amp to provide the coloring/warmth etc. For fretted I swap out the EQ pedal for an Ampeg SVC-PL preamp and I'm in heaven. My last amp was a 1970 Ampeg V4B which has the same preamp, so I don't consider tube power amps so important to clarity, especially since class D amps offer so much more power for less money and weight.

For fretted, the tube pre sending to the PA post tubes and my SWR cab gives me killer tone and clarity at low levels plus the FOH engineer has total control over my sound out front. I mix as well, and I've noticed it's rare that an SWR rig is too loud out front. Ampeg is #1 in that department...

[Mr_Music90]

Thanks for the reactions so far!

When it comes to the music : I wanna make the kind of music, Adagio plays : Progressive Symphonic Metal. I have some small financial problems at the moment, but if everything goes right, I can buy some stuff again around spring next year (have to wait for a while, but no problem for me ).

I currently play on a 5 string Spector Rebop that I can use for a while from a friend of mine. In the end, I wanna buy a Ibanez SR Premium 1206e. I like slapping a lot and two hands tappping. I can only say for now that I want the amp to sound very clear and picking up harmonics well.

Try before I buy is the best

[Alexander]

Tone, quality, simplicity and reliability. I agree with the "try before you buy" thing. Easy to buy on impulse or based on the latest TB fad, but that is a recipe for spending lots, getting frustrated and flipping gear. I tried a bunch of different amps before settling on my current Mesa Walkabout. Couldn't be happier.

I personally don't need a lot of features like headphone jack, speakons, etc. I also have learned that I like the tone and presence of big cabs, so don't need gobs of power to get the volume I need. I played at reasonably loud volume this last weekend and the sound guy asked me to turn down. I was still maybe a little too loud with the volume at 10:00, so I don't feel limited by the amp's meager 300w. Finally, I'm not as concerned about cost - I'm willing to pay a premium for quality gear that will last.

[CL400Peavey]

Here is my process for just about every piece of gear I purchase.

- Does it fit within my budget?
- Does it do/sound/play the way I need it to to justify the purchase?
- Is there anything else out there that does what this product does? If yes, where does price/availability/value balance out?

[PJMiDi]

Overall sound(tone/volume ect.), price, reliability, and if the company has a good customer service dept. in case something does happen that's a pretty big selling point for me.

[Frankjohnson]

Originally Posted by Kmonk

For me, its all about the sound and reliability.

You will find that as you become more experienced, your idea of what sounds good will change.

I think that sums it up -
Maybe weight as I get older, but that is like extra credit......

that said, I will take the opportunity to say Ampeg PF500 is NOT the way to go in my book. Good sound when it worked - not a reliable amp. Have had two take a crap on me - second one was gigged twice, and then ONLY at home for 6 months - living room volume. I dont' care about all of them that have worked great - I know I am not alone on this one......

That said - good sound - and reliability.......they should be your watchwords when you are looking for a good amp - and what I think you should look for ...no....EXPECT.

[dhomer]

Does it deliver the tone I want at the volume I need? Used to be size and weight were not factors, but now thats changing..

[SBassman]

Originally Posted by dhomer

Does it deliver the tone I want at the volume I need? Used to be size and weight were not factors, but now thats changing..

I can remember as a teenage player, the bigger the rig, the more we were all impressed. There was always talk from the guitarists about saving up for The Marshall Stack. [bowing head]
Of course, during those teenage years, we weren't actually gigging very often. The monstrous equipment stayed in one garage.

When you get older, and you haul the big rig for the 500th time, you start to get a little wiser.

Now I'm Amazed at how I can shake the walls of my house with my perfectly broken in GK MB112. It didn't shake the walls on day one, but now with some miles on it, it opened up and it can do Anything. At 28 pounds and the size of a practice amp.

[Mr. Foxen]

Looking for things is all of the problem. People need to listen for things.

[arai]

Last time I bought an amp what I had in mind was lightweight, flexible equaliser and a great DI

[wcriley]

Originally Posted by Mr_Music90

So, what is it, that made you buy your current amp?

Reasons why I bought a Genz Shuttlemax a few months ago:
Customer support. (Helpful presence on TB and the guy who started the company is the CS contact!)
Flexibilty. (2 switchable channels each with 2 bands of semi-parametric EQ.)

Other considerations when I buy an amp:
More power than I foresee needing.
Company known for durable products.
Price.

[Calaverasgrande]

Tone, reliability.
I also really don't like to pay for features that I wont use. I hate compressors, enhancers and other gimmicks.
When I was younger I thought a long list of features was impressive.
After a lot of trial and error I found out that I value a simple, good sounding eq over a flexible, harsh sounding one. Bi-amp "capability" is rarely used so why pay for it and haul it around? and I would almost always prefer a stompbox version of any effect over a chorus, flanger, compressor etc that is built in.
In other words, give me a simple amp that just sounds good. dont try and flatten me with marketing hype.

[msaone]

My most recent purchase was a search for good sounding loud noise as I am now up against a half stack and a drummer.


When I played at church it a light weight easy to throw around combo.

Depends on the room.

[rheohead]

My first consideration is: Can I carry it alone and will it fit in my vehicle? Buying an amp I can't transport is just...

Secondly, I'm not so concerned about how it sounds by itself. The real test when you get it on stage. I got rid of a perfectly good amp that sounded great by itself but disappeared with the band. I replaced it with amp whose sound I thought wasn't as nice but once I had it at a gig -whoa! That thing cut like a laser beam! Everything I wanted/needed to hear onstage was right there. I got two 210s that I could stack or split up depending on the venue and it was my main rig for 15 years. Until the D-class amps showed up...