Amps

[Bjazzman]

Do you play Ampeg or other well known brands because it looks cool onstage?

Im just wondering with all this lightweight bass technology out that would make roadies not as necessary if it will replace the amp "look"

or is it more of an endorsment thing?

[jmjbassplayer]

Ampegs are dark and hairy sounding. That's why they play them. However, it doesn't hurt that they look badass to me as well. Those new lightweight amps usually look kind of dorky to me. Plus I'm a fan of big transformers and large magnets. Not sure if the technology of the lightweight gear has completely eclipsed the tonal quality of more old-school gear yet.

[JimmyM]

It hasn't, but it's getting amazingly close. I never thought there would be a chance in hell that solid state could cop tube tones, but there's been some lightweight gear that's been pretty doggone impressive lately. It is dorky looking, but when you have to load in up a flight of stairs, you come to appreciate it, even if it's bright yellow

[stingray56funk]

JMJ...going along with the current conversation...how do you feel the new digital technology like Line6 and the Ampeg plugin cop the big transformer tone? I have read every article that Bass Player has written on you and followed some of your gear transitions and additions, and I seem to remember recently with your NIN tour that you said you might one day have a fully computer rig with full control over the plugins as part or all of you live rig. I love big transformer sound, as does JimmyM, but our backs don't...hence my interest in things like the Ampeg plugin. Do you like the new plugins that cop bass rigs?

[jmjbassplayer]

Line6 works great in a big arena venue, because in a mix you wouldn't hear the difference anyway. It's a viable rig. My man Rob De Leo is using Bass POD XT's, QSC PLX amps and 2 Ampeg 810e's. SICK tone. All good.

But if we're talking about having an amp, I ain't gonna rock some tiny digital sh*t if I can use 8x10's and big iron. If we're talking about modeling (Native Guitar Rig, Ampeg IK plugin, PODs, etc), that's a whole different ballgame, and has an expanded purpose.

Just saying. If I'm going to use a real amp, I'm going to use a REAL amp, unless I'm playing a tiny club, then I'll use my little Mesa Scout rig or a vintage B-15.

JMJ

[JimmyM]

All of a sudden I feel like less of a man for owning a Markbass amp

Not really...I do play the old Ampeg stuff a lot more these days so I'm still in the "Bassists Who Rock Like Men" club

[stingray56funk]

Amen brother!

[Fergie Fulton]

I have been a life long user of large rigs and an Ampeg user for over twenty five years. I recently took the Line 6 Studio 110 to the studio to record and the results were astounding. I mainly use 4x10 cabs so when i record the enginer mikes up one speaker and DIs the signal and baffles up the amp to control the air rush. The line 6 done all of that and because its only 75watts it moves very little air so no baffle required. I used the B-15 pre-set and listening back i could not tell the difference. So impressed with this little amp i took it on tour and not one sound engineer had a bad word about it, only praise. The only thing i will say is that all though i could not hear the difference, i could certainly feel the difference, the little amp does not move the air in the same way as a full rig, so to that end i look forward to trying the Line 6 pro products when they become available, and maybe take a step in to the future of bass amplification.

[jmjbassplayer]

Dude I've used that Studio 110 before, and it's sick. I used it on two last-minute Beck gigs before when we had no backline and all I had was that thing on the bus for practicing. It rocks.

JMJ