• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

I want a monster amp...... which one? That is the question..

rayzak

rayzak

Jan 13, 2001
3,456
878
Louisville, KY
#1
I'm looking for something new, something different, something way louder than I know what to do with. I play rock! Old school classic, lots of Sabbath, Down-tuned Doom, some Metal, alternative, etc. The Guit@r players in my band Play a full Orange Stack and a Peavey 5150 thru Marshal halfstack.

I already have a Mesa Boogie 400+ thru a Berg NV425(i'd like to add an NV215 to this cab some day...soon)
and a GK 700RBII thru an Aguilar GS212.
It's down to these....

Mesa Titan V12.... This amp looks almost perfect for me except for one thing. It puts out 1200w into 4ohms, but only 840w into 2 ohms. This may be its shortcoming for me as I want to run a Berg NV425/NV215 combo. I love Mesa, which this one's got going for itself, but i've never played this model.

Aguilar DB750.... This one is almost legendary here at TB. I used to own a DB359 tube head and had the AG500 solid state head. Still own my GS212 cab. Love Aguilar and have drooled over this amp for a long time now, but sadly, still haven't played one.

Gallien Krueger 2001RB.... I love the GK tone. My heart lies with tubes, but GK just has that signature sound that I love. Has many great features and is priced the best.

Genz Benz GBE1200.... I don't know much about this head. I do know that I've never read a negative review of it. GB people, give me your input and explain why this is the best head out there for the money;)

Or should I just say screw it and go find me a USA Ampeg SVT VR? Another amp I drool over.

Those are my finalists. Any info/opinions you may have will help me greatly. I will be keeping my Mesa 400+ head, if that needs to be taken into consideration.

Thanks.
 
#3
rayzak said:
I'm looking for something new, something different, something way louder than I know what to do with. I play rock! Old school classic, lots of Sabbath, Down-tuned Doom, some Metal, alternative, etc. The Guit@r players in my band Play a full Orange Stack and a Peavey 5150 thru Marshal halfstack.

I already have a Mesa Boogie 400+ thru a Berg NV425(i'd like to add an NV215 to this cab some day...soon)
and a GK 700RBII thru an Aguilar GS212.
It's down to these....

Mesa Titan V12.... This amp looks almost perfect for me except for one thing. It puts out 1200w into 4ohms, but only 840w into 2 ohms. This may be its shortcoming for me as I want to run a Berg NV425/NV215 combo. I love Mesa, which this one's got going for itself, but i've never played this model.

Aguilar DB750.... This one is almost legendary here at TB. I used to own a DB359 tube head and had the AG500 solid state head. Still own my GS212 cab. Love Aguilar and have drooled over this amp for a long time now, but sadly, still haven't played one.

Gallien Krueger 2001RB.... I love the GK tone. My heart lies with tubes, but GK just has that signature sound that I love. Has many great features and is priced the best.

Genz Benz GBE1200.... I don't know much about this head. I do know that I've never read a negative review of it. GB people, give me your input and explain why this is the best head out there for the money;)

Or should I just say screw it and go find me a USA Ampeg SVT VR? Another amp I drool over.

Those are my finalists. Any info/opinions you may have will help me greatly. I will be keeping my Mesa 400+ head, if that needs to be taken into consideration.

Thanks.
Click to expand...
You might want to consider this Invalid Link Removed
Haven't tried it but it looks very impressive

or I'd consider Sansamp into a poweramp. But since you have the Mesa I'm not sure if it is a step in the right direction
 
#5
I've owned both the Bass 400+ and Titan V12, and I can honestly say the 400+ was a little louder, and probably a bit better sounding. If you're going with Mesa, keep the 400+. If you want a more old-school tube amp, track down an SVT-VR or a vintage SVT.

EDIT: I just saw you were keeping the 400+ either way :D In that case, still get the SVT. Two very different sounds to choose from!
 
#6
Glad you are keeping the 400+, my first thought was to go with the G-K 2001RB because you love their sound. However, you will only be getting 360 watts per side at 4 Ohms, and it isn't safe to mono-bridge down to 2 Ohms. I honestly don't think it will be enough juice for 2 big 4 Ohm cabs. The other 3 (or 4 if you included the shuttle) are hybrids and you aren't going to get them to sound like an all tube no matter how hard you try. The DB750 does 975 Watts @ 2 Ohms, and the GBE is just a weak mans substitute for a tube amp (I know this probably isn't fair, but I think you understand what I mean), I don't understand why mesa says the V12 pumps less at 2 Ohms than 4, this simply does not make any sense to me?!?!? Anyway K-funk says the V12 is not as good as the 400+, since he A/Bed them I would take his word on it. You like tubes and the 400+ doesn't do the SVT tone IMO. My final advice after all things considered, get a vintage SVT (or if you must an SLM era VR), you will have total tonal tube options at your disposal. One last question ... Why do you want a NV215? I understand a NV610 with a NV215, but not 3 10's and 3 15's. Why not get another NV425? It would be like a 610 and a 215 in a cooler package! I hope I gave you some food for thought. Cheers.
 
#7
I love my GBE-1200. Since you plan on keeping the 400+ (good plan IMO) it would provide a nice complimentary sound, as it is a very quick, articulate sounding head without being sterile or cold. My primary band plays drop-tuned 100% of the time and I have no issues cutting with my GBE-1200/NEOX-212T setup even with the cranked up bass that my guitar player insists is necessary to his sound. Mixing the FET and Tube channels with just a hint of breakup through the tube yields a nice rough sound that I really dig.

The icing on the cake is that no company will serve you better than Genz shoudl you need it. Be it a service issue or just something you were wondering about, they will take care of you ASAP.
 
#8
GBE-1200 is a SILLY loud amp.
In a 1800 seat auditorium with the NEOX212 cab, I was asked to TURN DOWN because I wasn't in the PA much at all.
Even with other cabs, the GBE1200 just wails away and sounds REAL good doing it.

But your keeping the Mesa 400+....that thing should be loud as hell! I would maybe look into some othe cabs. Maybe a SVT 810, a pair GenzBenz Uber 410's, hell, almost any pair of 410's!!!!
And if you're still not happy, get an SVT-CL.

But if it's crazy volume you crave, I'd start by grabbing some more speakers first.
 
#9
Since you are keeping your Mesa, which sounds like a great head for the tone you are going for, you might want to consider the Carvin B1500. It's smaller and lighter than most lead sled amps, has the best spec's per price in the business as far as I can tell (check out the testing and review in the new Bass Gear Magazine... it actually does put out over 1000 watts into 4ohms), very high quality, and it won't break the bank (I believe they are under $700 new).

They are more on the clean side, but the drive control can warm them up quite a bit, and it would give you a really different flavor, be loud as heck, and serve as a great backup to you 400. IMO!
 
#10
KJung said:
Since you are keeping your Mesa, which sounds like a great head for the tone you are going for, you might want to consider the Carvin B1500. It's smaller and lighter than most lead sled amps, has the best spec's per price in the business as far as I can tell (check out the testing and review in the new Bass Gear Magazine... it actually does put out over 1000 watts into 4ohms), very high quality, and it won't break the bank (I believe they are under $700 new).

They are more on the clean side, but the drive control can warm them up quite a bit, and it would give you a really different flavor, be loud as heck, and serve as a great backup to you 400. IMO!
Click to expand...

+1 A Big Amen to that!!!! I've had SVT's, a Mesa D180, an old Cerwin Vega monster in the 70's......but the B1500 is an absolute killer! Especially for the weight & price factor, you can't go wrong.
 
#11
Thanks for all of your input and great advice.
Here's the thing, i'm not unhappy with my sound. I am very happy with the 400+ and the Berg, I just want a different "flavor". I've had this rig for about 3 years now and GAS is getting the best of me.... thanks TB;)
I am thinking that maybe I should start with adding another NV series cab first. That may be all I want. I've come to the conclusion that I want 15's (although the NV412 is tempting). I want to be felt as well as heard. I know many people frown down upon the mighty 15, but I love them. Not to mention we play a lot of "c" tuning.... think Sleep/OM;) My tens hate me for it.
Maybe I should just add an SVT. Weight is not really an issue with me. I do lots of lifting and carrying for a living. I don't mind breaking a sweat for "my" sound:D

I'd still like to hear more about these "monster" heads (I forgot about the Carvin monster.... good call). I never really make up my mind until I have it in my possesion.
 
#12
rayzak said:
Thanks for all of your input and great advice.
Here's the thing, i'm not unhappy with my sound. I am very happy with the 400+ and the Berg, I just want a different "flavor". I've had this rig for about 3 years now and GAS is getting the best of me.... thanks TB;)
I am thinking that maybe I should start with adding another NV series cab first. That may be all I want. I've come to the conclusion that I want 15's (although the NV412 is tempting). I want to be felt as well as heard. I know many people frown down upon the mighty 15, but I love them. Not to mention we play a lot of "c" tuning.... think Sleep/OM;) My tens hate me for it.
Maybe I should just add an SVT. Weight is not really an issue with me. I do lots of lifting and carrying for a living. I don't mind breaking a sweat for "my" sound:D

I'd still like to hear more about these "monster" heads (I forgot about the Carvin monster.... good call). I never really make up my mind until I have it in my possesion.
Click to expand...

The cool thing about Carvin is that 10 day 'no questions asked' return policy. You would only be out the shipping if you don't dig it. If the description of the tone seems interesting, it might be worth a try.

Of course, if you want another 'all tube monster', it would be hard to go wrong with an SVT!
 
#18
rayzak said:
:eek:Whoa!!:eek:
Click to expand...

I have not played that big SWR, but have played the SWR750 that it's based on. From what I understand, it's basically two 750's in a huge, heavy single box. IME, the SWR750 is a VERY unimpressive amp, and in no way reaches 'lead sled' performance. Having two of these duds in a stupid huge and heavy box at a very expensive price point does not really appeal to me:D IMO.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back