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A STATE OF SOLID BASS DISGRACE IS WRIT UPON MY FACE!

P

Pandafist

May 6, 2008
512
8
Portland, OR
#1
Let me start by saying that I am a tube guy, born and raised. My #1 amp will always be tube, but I've realized that I need to buy a back-up solid state head for touring. I blew my SVT CL out the first night of my band's most recent tour and it sucked bigtime. Still had to lug that f%*$er everywhere and I never had the time to take it apart to find the problem while on the road. Bulsh! (please don't bother with tube advice, I know what went wrong now and it's being handled). I've never owned a solid state bass amp that I REALLY loved. I've had a few that were pretty decent though (Sunn Coliseum & Concert bass, and the Peavey 400).
Anyway. I've narrowed the selection down and was wondering if yall had an opinion on any of the following heads vs any of the others. Keep in mind that I'm working with a budget that won't exceed $600, so whichever way I go, it'll probably be a second hand purchase.


1. Eden WT series, the 550 or higher. Comes highly recommended by Eric my amp guy. He says these amps are killer but you have to pay for it. He also said to make sure to get one with the tube pre section (ie. 550 or higher)

2. SWR. There's a million to choose from but my guy says the higher end SWR is really hard to beat for the money. Who knew? No offense SWR fans. I just always assumed they were cheap amps. What do they say about 'ass'uming things? Any model recs. would be appreciated.

3. Gallien-Krueger 800RB. I know these amps and love them. I've played one before and like the tone enough. They can also be found pretty cheap in these parts. However, servicing them is a bitch. My room mate has one that needs it's motherboard replaced, so I checked into it. Turns out it costs more than buying another used one. That's a major drawback if you ask me. Eric (my amp guy) says they are sure to last longer if you always put a fan on the back. That's another minor drawback.

4. Acoustic 450 or 370. All I have to run on here is reputation. I've seen a lot of players that I respect using them so I figure it's a good head.

5. Any solid state you might recommend will also be put in the hat, but I'm working with a budget of about $600 max.

Thanks duderz!
PANDAFIST

ps - My playing style is aggressive and overdriven. Here's a link so that you can listen to some of our songs (if that helps at all)
Link Removed
 
#2
1. I like Eden; had a CXC-110(WT-330 in a 1x10 combo)& loved it but didn't like the WT-400's tone as much. This coming from another tube(D-180)guy.
2. Had a Bass 350 & 750; both were very underpowered, IMO. I was always turning everything up & still wanting more.
3. Haven't played GK, but I've seen/heard the 800 and ALWAYS been impressed. Loud & clear.
4. No experience.
5. Hartke:ninja:is cheap & IMO underrated. We're talking backup here, right? I grabbed a lowly HA-1400(140 watts)as a backup & was surpised at how well it pushed my RR 1x15.
 
#3
Other options... from GK I'd consider a 700RB... a bit more flexible than an 800RB, and they're powerful and in your price range. Or you could easily snag a used 1001RB for that price. They're pretty much unkillable amps, so i wouldn't hesitate to buy one used. Just make sure to try one out and make sure you like the preamp! I had a 2001RB that i ultimately unloaded, though I still think it's a great amp.

Another company to consider: Ashdown. These are probably voiced closer to Ampeg than any other solid state amp (but with a far more flexible preamp and a bit more clarity), and with the tube in the preamp they get a glorious wooly and driven tube sound. I play through an ABM 500 evo II and I love it to pieces. Personally I've A/B'd with a 70s blueline SVT and I prefer my Ashdown, easily... though I wouldnt mind owing the SVT either, i just really like the ashdown preamp. They sell for $750 new, but i used a music123 promotion last christmas to snag it for $600 even. Used would be an option too, but you have to be careful as there were 2 bad runs of these amps... one bad run in the UK, and the very first chinese made amps had issues running on US voltage, all problems have been corrected now, but i'd probably just buy new to be safe.
 
#4
ishouldbeking said:
Another company to consider: Ashdown. These are probably voiced closer to Ampeg than any other solid state amp (but with a far more flexible preamp and a bit more clarity), and with the tube in the preamp they get a glorious wooly and driven tube sound.
Click to expand...
exactly what i was going to say!

to the OP: it's odd, but none of the choices you gave really scream "warmth" to me, with the exception of the GK (and that has it's own tone).

i ditched my ampeg to pick up the Ashdown ABM 500. it kills. and every time i get the itch to pick up a tube amp, i just flick on my Ashdown and revel in it's warm, punchy tone.

look for a used ABM500 Evo II, or check out the MAG line. not bad for the bucks, IMO
 
#9
I'm also a tube guy, my early years were spent with ancient Peavey solid state (loved the mids and the slight breakup at higher volumes) but from there II went to a Mesa 400+ (had what I loved about the Peavey, but sounded better).

I like Eden. Nice warm tone, not too unlike the sound I like from the 400+.

My experience with SWR was that it sounded good, but clean and lacking the color I've come to like from tube amps. It also seemed far quiter than the stated wattage rating led to believe it would.

I've never had a GK, but I've tried them in stores and been in a band with a bass player who used one. Again, a good sound, but without the "tubey" color.

Acoustic - no experience with the amps listed, but the (cheaper when you can find it) 320 is a wicked beast. At its best with 2 Ohms of Acoustic or other efficient cabs. Very versatile. Only 300 watts, so needing the efficient cabs to get the most clean volume out of it. If you don't want clean, just volume, it will still get pretty loud with a high wattage cab but will break up quicker in a reasonably tubelike manner.

I'd check out any old Peavey head. I have one that doesn't even have a model name besides "Peavey Bass" that's pretty low wattage but sounds great. For a while we used it in the blues band for a guitar amp, it distorts when turned up loud but very nicely.

I got a sound pretty similar to the 400+ from a Mesa Mpulse. Don't know the price on those. I prefer the Mpulse tone to the newer models - Big Block, Fathom, etc.
 
#10
just another random option... people seem to like the new line of Acoustic amps (specifically the B200H) that guitar center is carrying. haven't played one myself, but preliminary reports have been very positive, and they're certainly cheap. there's also a 600 watt head being released very soon, which might be worth a test-drive. i imagine that one will cost $450 or $500 when it comes out.
 
#15
I second the Hartke. I had a 3500 for a few years, it's got a lot of features, is pretty powerful at 4 ohms, and wasn't too ridiculously heavy. tube and ss preamps (each has it's own level control) compressor, graphic eq, shelving eq, and the nice thing- it has an effects loop with a blend knob so you can get really awesome distortions out of it. Stick it in a rack case and you've got a dead reliable bullet proof backup that sounds great.
 
#16
Trace or Eden are solid, reliable choices. SWR's high-end stuff has suffered more than a few bruises in the reliability department as of late. G-K sounds like G-K, which can be good & bad, but you have to know which it is for you.

When push comes to shove--as a tube guy-- I could be quite pacified playing through either an old Trace head (i.e. AH350SMX) or an Eden WT-800. I might even enjoy it! :hiding:
 

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