Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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.
"My prior amp was a Carvin BX1500 - which simply was too much power for this gig. I could never open up the amp to let the sound "blossom" as it should."
I am confused by this statement. It's solid state amp that does not sound any different at low volumes versus high volumes. There are no tubes in the head, so I am at a loss at what this head was not doing for you. I owned the BX1200 for years and never heard a tone change at different volumes. If you did, I think that is more attributed to your playing style and what cabinets you were playing. Perhaps the cabinets "sounded" different at particular volume levels.
I am confused by this statement. It's solid state amp that does not sound any different at low volumes versus high volumes. There are no tubes in the head, so I am at a loss at what this head was not doing for you. I owned the BX1200 for years and never heard a tone change at different volumes. If you did, I think that is more attributed to your playing style and what cabinets you were playing. Perhaps the cabinets "sounded" different at particular volume levels.
This. BX500 is a great head. Pair it with a BR410 and you have a great rig. I picked up this exact rig locally for $300 and it is worth every penny and more.
Well, it could have been a "quirk" in this particular head, or possibly my cabinets - but it sounded best at high volume - and then it was entirely too loud for my band. I did not understand it either - I am not a "rookie" - have been playing for almost 50 years. At lower volumes it sounded very sterile - I have tried other heads with better results.
If you are going new on the PF-500, I think you have no worries. Those negative reviews were very early in the production. I have had one for at least four years. I push it hard and play in crazy conditions (rain, snow(!), temps in excess of 100...) and I have no issues. It isn't the smallest unit and it has its distinctive tone, so you should look around. It works for me because I have it in a Portaflex cab and I love the flip top.
There is a lot of really good equipment out there. Try before you buy! These units are dependable, so used is a great option.
There is a lot of really good equipment out there. Try before you buy! These units are dependable, so used is a great option.
Were you running the BX1500 in bridge mode? If not then IMO you'll have the same problem with the BX500 if you are using the same cabs.
This looks nice.................keeps $50 in your pocket. Right here on TalkBass.
For Sale - Markbass Little Mark II Italian Made
For Sale - Markbass Little Mark II Italian Made
Well, I like my TC BH550. I got mine for $350 on eBay. Not sure if it will be tonally much different than your BH250 but might be worth a try.
I would not recommend one head or another, but I am totally of the 'big amp turned up to 3' than the 'almost big-enough amp turned up to 10 1/2' school. I could understand the Carvin you have may sound more RedHead than FlipTop, but that could easily be solved. That old-school tone is always flatwounds and basic EQ with tubes as a starting point. You're old enough (as I) to have been around long enough to remember when that stuff wasn't 'oldies radio' !, and you can remember what guys used back then just like I can. You'll find it I'm sure.
IF I were going to recommend a head, knowing Randall Smith's reputation for tone and build quality, I'd be very intirgued by the little 800 Mesa as well, if not the Scout. An instant recipe for this in another old-school fashion would be either of the Alembic preamps into a suitable size power amp.
IF I were going to recommend a head, knowing Randall Smith's reputation for tone and build quality, I'd be very intirgued by the little 800 Mesa as well, if not the Scout. An instant recipe for this in another old-school fashion would be either of the Alembic preamps into a suitable size power amp.
Definitely not accusing you of being a rookie
. The BX Series of Carvin heads are going to sound the same and if the BX 1500 didn't do it for you, I would stay away from Carvin.
You do have a great point - with all of the tonal and EQ possibilities that the Carvin heads have, you would think that they would be able to replicate any sound that a user could think of !Definitely not accusing you of being a rookie
I have a PF-500 and it has been, and continues to be, a trooper. I've also just purchases a Tech 21 VT Bass 500 for a secondary rig. I emailed sweetwater and asked for $50 off. That puts it right around your range. Something to look at anyway.
With what you are describing as criteria I would check out the Fender Rumble 500. I have one and I love it for just the reasons you state. At least try one, with the 112 cabs I would think you'd have the sound you're looking for.
A local player here gigs a Shuttle 6.2 combo -- the 1x12. Combo alone for smaller stuff, with the extension cab (another 12) for bigger stuff. I get to play through (and hear others play through) his rig semi-regularly at an area jam and I think it would do what you want (depending on your cabs and bass, of course). I like the voicing of the 6.2 more than that of the 6.0 (which is a little light in the low end relative to it). The 9.0 or 9.2 would be decent candidates as well.
I have a Kustom KXB500 that I like. The EQ is okay, but not the most versatile. The basic tone and response of the amp I liked well enough, however, to keep it over a Tone Hammer 500 and a Markbass F500. In some ways it splits the difference between those amps -- cleaner and more dynamic than the TH500 but with more grit/character/harmonic content than the F500. You might dig the Aggie, though -- it has a certain attractive thickness and it'll do "Motown clean" but, for me, always felt just a bit fuzzy around the edges. I took it out a couple of times but didn't play it a ton -- maybe I didn't spend enough time with it to truly get to know it (the guy who bought it from me loves and, as far as I know, is still gigging it).
I haven't spent any significant time with the Ampeg PF heads, but they might be worth looking into if you dig the tone.
I haven't played the Rumble heads -- based on what's said about them here, I might give them a look, though.
The Kustom can be had for ~$300 used.
Right now in the classifieds there's a Shuttle 6.0 well within your price range and a 6.2 and 9.0 within striking distance of it. The Mesa D800 and Genzler heads seem to go in the $600 ballpark (at least looking at the first few classifieds that popped up).
I have a Kustom KXB500 that I like. The EQ is okay, but not the most versatile. The basic tone and response of the amp I liked well enough, however, to keep it over a Tone Hammer 500 and a Markbass F500. In some ways it splits the difference between those amps -- cleaner and more dynamic than the TH500 but with more grit/character/harmonic content than the F500. You might dig the Aggie, though -- it has a certain attractive thickness and it'll do "Motown clean" but, for me, always felt just a bit fuzzy around the edges. I took it out a couple of times but didn't play it a ton -- maybe I didn't spend enough time with it to truly get to know it (the guy who bought it from me loves and, as far as I know, is still gigging it).
I haven't spent any significant time with the Ampeg PF heads, but they might be worth looking into if you dig the tone.
I haven't played the Rumble heads -- based on what's said about them here, I might give them a look, though.
The Kustom can be had for ~$300 used.
Right now in the classifieds there's a Shuttle 6.0 well within your price range and a 6.2 and 9.0 within striking distance of it. The Mesa D800 and Genzler heads seem to go in the $600 ballpark (at least looking at the first few classifieds that popped up).
Latest posts
-
-
-
Misled by Talkbass Seller on Recent Trade- Latest: MultiScaleMale
-
-
