A little different spin on finding a "Plug & Play" live rig

[alexclaber]

The Avalon U5 and power amp rack works extremely well with an Acme or two if you want transparency. You'll need plenty of power if you take this route but power is cheap. 1-2kW into a Low-B4 or pair of Low-B2s is LOUD.

Alex

 

[KJung]

Thank you guys tremendously on the suggestions so far. Lots of good stuff in this!

I understand that there were a lot of "buzzwords" in that original post, so I'll try and simplify a little. Looking back on it, I'm really just looking for something with a ton of head room, the ability to have minimal coloration at higher volumes, with a full range cab(s?) that remains clear at higher volumes without turning into mud.

And, as Alex said in the post above, "input=output", even when it's played LOUDLY.

There's a lot of good stuff to go check out on this list, so this is going to be fun. Thanks folks, and please keep the suggestions coming!

That is the spirit in which I took your original post. Lot's of nice stuff out there that will fit your bill of 'plug and play' and 'even sounding' throughout a wide volume range. Some rigs are a little more sparkly and alive, while others are more fat and mellow, but the stuff in my list sounds, to me at least, in the 'transparent' end of the tone coloration continuum.

Please post as you try some of this stuff, and let us know what you end up with, along with what didn't work.

 

[tonedeaf]

I am currently using a Roland D-Bass 2x10 combo with the 1x15 extension cab that I think fits your specs pretty well. It does a great job of showing the character of whatever bass is running through it, has very flexible but simple tone controls and amp models, and can be quite loud. It's also incredibly light for its size.

 

[peterpalmieri]

Ken made some great suggestions in his first post.

The one thing I would emphasize is the interaction between the amp and cabinet. Some pieces can be more difficult to match up then others. What I would suggest is use something you are very familiar with be it a head or a cabinet. Find the piece that sounds the best using that familiar piece and go from there.

The reason I say this is that for example you may love a LMII through a certain cab and hate it with another. There are allot of amps I don't like but can sound great when paired up with a complimentary cabinet.

I always drag my gear out with me when I am seriously considering a purchase, I know it is a pain in the neck but it usually saves time and effort in the long run..

 

[Eminor3rd]

Who says?

My personal experience. I will qualify my previous statement by stating that I am referring to Ampeg tube amps only. I actually think that the solid state amps are quite transparent, but IMO overpriced and not "plug and play" at all, so I did not suggest them.

As you experiments clearly pointed out, it is difficult to distinguish a "tube" sound from a solid state sound at low volumes, but IME, at high volumes (which the OP clearly stated was important) a tube amp sounds very different. I would go as far as to say that the tube amp is, in fact, as much a part of the sound as the bass is, which is exactly what the OP appears to want to avoid. Although I do not not own any tube amps at this time, I have had gigging experience with an SVT-CL, a Fender Bassman, and extensive (5 months) gigging experience with an original 70's Ampeg V4. It is with these amps that I derive my opinion on the matter.

All this being said, I completely respect and value your opinion and think that the OP should take it into consideration. I just disagree in this instance.

 

[JimmyM]

Well thanks dude! Same here...it's just that the automatic reaction of people is to assume that the solid state rigs with hi-fi speakers are transparent, and I question it. Especially after my little test. And with all due respect to Alex as well, there is no amp on earth where the input = output, only varying degrees of how well it happens.

 

[KJung]

Well thanks dude! Same here...it's just that the automatic reaction of people is to assume that the solid state rigs with hi-fi speakers are transparent, and I question it. Especially after my little test. And with all due respect to Alex as well, there is no amp on earth where the input = output, only varying degrees of how well it happens.

god help us Hi Fi speakers... literally the definition of hi fi is transparent. god help us.. Ampeg being transparent.... speakers with a high -3db roll off and literally no response above 2K called 'transparent', amps that totally change their tonality when they are turned up and pushed called 'transparent'..... it just makes me cry and makes my head hurt.... not that there is anything wrong with those types of rigs, but rather that they are used in the same thread as the work 'transparent'.

 

[JimmyM]

Not all Ampeg cabs have no response past 2K. Even the SVT has it up to 5k. I'm just against the blanket statement that they're not transparent because the heads have tubes or some of their cabs don't have a tweeter.

 

[KJung]

Not all Ampeg cabs have no response past 2K. Even the SVT has it up to 5k. I'm just against the blanket statement that they're not transparent because the heads have tubes or some of their cabs don't have a tweeter.

Jimmy... you know I'm just tweakin'... love ya', and all this stuff is pretty much subjective... we all hear what we hear and love what we love

 

[Shiveringbass]

I would strongly suggest Glockenklang, Soul or Heart rock head, depending of your power need.

Like K said, not exactly flat but will let you ear the sound of your bass with a bit of warm. 5 bands eq voiced exactly where you need it (bass blooming, low mids punch, mids to cut through the mix, highs for cizzle, and extrem high ends to refresh your strings).

Then a Quattro US 4 ohms or a Double US 4 ohms also from Glock and there you go.

Now that I've seen a bit more equipement brand, I can see why Glock is amazing also in its bullet proof construction .

Don't want to offense any body but even a high end cab like a Epifani looks like common stuff beside a Glock cab.

 

[peterpalmieri]

I would strongly suggest Glockenklang, Soul or Heart rock head, depending of your power need.

Like K said, not exactly flat but will let you ear the sound of your bass with a bit of warm. 5 bands eq voiced exactly where you need it (bass blooming, low mids punch, mids to cut through the mix, highs for cizzle, and extrem high ends to refresh your strings).

Then a Quattro US 4 ohms or a Double US 4 ohms also from Glock and there you go.

Now that I've seen a bit more equipement brand, I can see why Glock is amazing also in its bullet proof construction .

Don't want to offense any body but even a high end cab like a Epifani looks like common stuff beside a Glock cab.

I am always happy to support a proper Glockenklang recommendation. Great stuff that isn't a TB household name yet!

 

[KJung]

I am always happy to support a proper Glockenklang recommendation. Great stuff that isn't a TB household name yet!

I should have included the cabs in my list also... nice stuff.

 

[unclekebm]

I question it. Especially after my little test.

with all due respect, I think your test proved that you can make 3 different amps sound like an SWR, I didn't hear anything that sound like an all tube amp...

 

[maconbass]

The MarkBass LMII is certainly "plug and play" IMO. I don't eq it at all. It would be fine with just a gain and volume knob.

 

[seanm]

EA iAmp.... quite 'transparent', but totally NOT plug and play... so I left that off my list. I also don't personally dig the big low end extension of those heads, which I always had trouble controlling... more big, wide, pure, deep and sizzly than 'even and punchy' to my ear...

The iAMP can be very plug and play: just hit the flat switch, and optionally one of the preshaped switches, and go

The AI is very transparent. The tone controls are very subtle, even if you knock them out of place, you probably won't notice I don't own an AI but used to use a guitar players once in a while. Great amp for a non-coloured tone.

 

[KJung]

The iAMP can be very plug and play: just hit the flat switch, and optionally one of the preshaped switches, and go

The AI is very transparent. The tone controls are very subtle, even if you knock them out of place, you probably won't notice I don't own an AI but used to use a guitar players once in a while. Great amp for a non-coloured tone.

I am one who absolutely hates those presets... WAY to extreme for me, at least with the wide voiced cabs that I use.

The low end was the big problem I had with my 800 (the 500 was better if it hadn't hissed like a snake)... I never really found a way to tighten the voicing of that head so that it punched through a mix. The 800 always sounded a touch boomy to me (especially with one of those 'scoop' contours engaged). IMO though... and it's all about the mix and match. The iAmp800 actually sounded pretty good to me with the old VL210. The presets and voicing of the iAmp800 also work better with the very voiced 'Wizzy' cabs IMO, which are kind of 'mid voiced' and obviously have a more attenuated top end than a tweeter loaded cab.

Just IMO there. I don't recommend their gear any more.

 

[seanm]

I am one who absolutely hates those presets... WAY to extreme for me, at least with the wide voiced cabs that I use.

I also never use the presets. I just threw that in since I know a lot of people like them. Although the deep works great with the CXL-112, at least at home. I think that is what it was designed for.

And I don't use a wide voiced cab, unless you consider the wizzy "wide voiced", so that may account for some of the difference in opinion.

 

[KJung]

I also never use the presets. I just threw that in since I know a lot of people like them. Although the deep works great with the CXL-112, at least at home. I think that is what it was designed for.

And I don't use a wide voiced cab, unless you consider the wizzy "wide voiced", so that may account for some of the difference in opinion.

+1... those contours work better with smaller cabs with more tight voicing like the Wizzy's.. that's a nice combination IMO.

 

[Shiveringbass]

I am always happy to support a proper Glockenklang recommendation. Great stuff that isn't a TB household name yet!

Things are changing little by little. Glockenklang is great not only by its sound but also by its incredible construction and of course customers service.

 

[Porksicle]

Thanks a bunch again for all the advice. I think I'm ready to start my search with the easy and accessable. I'm going to head to GC tomorrow with my Jazz and Sterling to check out the LMII, the GK stuff (never liked the 800RB with the Jazz, but we'll try it again), and whatever else I find.

I'm also going to pull the trigger on a couple pieces from the Carvin collection - what's to lose with the 10 day trial except shipping, right?

Thanks again folks - will keep you in the loop on what I find!