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A question about SS amps

G

GingerBraFace

May 7, 2014
4
0
30
Isle of Wight
#1
I have spent quite a lot on basses recently. It occurred to me that I should probably get a decent bass amp rather than playing through my keyboard amp. Only thing is, tube amps are really expensive and -from what I've heard- quite difficult to transport. So it seems sensible to get an SS amp. Only thing is, I can't find one I like. I live in quite a remote area and there's only one shop that sells amps that is within a reasonable travel distance. They only stock Marshall, which I really can't get into at all. I did use my schools ashdown stack for a while. But I didn't really go for that either.

So given my lack of experience with amps, I was wondering if anyone could help me. My main basses are a Rickenbacker 4003 and a MIM P-bass. It's a bit difficult to describe the sound I'm going for. But I use my Ricky for quite heavy stuff (Soundgarden, Mudhoney, Melvins, etc.) as well as some more traditional Ricky stuff (Yes, Wolfmother, etc.). I plug the bridge of the Ricky into a guitar amp as well for a bit of added bite. I use the P-bass for funk mainly. Though this is largely improvised stuff. So I'm not after anything specific in regards to shag, just something I can work with.

For both basses I prefer a quite dark but fat tone. Something that my keyboard amp doesn't really do all that well. Any recommendations are much appreciated. Budget doesn't matter hugely. Just as long as it's worth it. I don't tend to use a whole lot of volume, but I would like the power there if I need it.

Cheers guys!
 
#2
There are also hybrid amps with usually a single 12ax7 tube that are very light weight. I'm a big fan of the class D amps, some are solid state others are hybrids. Amps that come to mind are MarkBass LMIII, Gallien Kruger MB500, Aguilar TH500, Ampeg PF500. Fender has a couple of new class d amps. TC Electronics RH 450. Etc. That should get you started, but there are many more.
 
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#3
What brands do the local shop deal in. Marshall and Ashdown are out. There are a lot of flavors out there. Any Ampeg has a unique signature tone. It's the tone I love and have returned to. I use a PF-500, but previously gigged for years with a GK1001RB. I never connected with the GK tone. It did the job but for me was as utilitarian as my old PV based rig. I didn't like the character of the low end. A Sansamp helped.

The Ampeg took me right back to my SVT years.

I have an assortment of old heads. Your description of "dark and fat" screamed Acoustic 370 to me. When my GK failed, I used my old 370 head as a backup. Holy Cow, was it eye opening. The GK had a rather refined low end...tight and punchy. The Acoustic had a huge, open, uncontrolled low end that was so much wider and lower than the GK. Old school for certain.

The Acoustic was meant to drive the big folded horn 371 cabinet. As big as the cabinet was, the actual speaker enclosure for that 18" speaker was a small, sealed cabinet. The small enclosure controlled the excursion of the speaker. The amp didn't have to.

Into a modern, ported cabinet, the low end is intense. Still with plenty of control over mids and highs.

I still have my old PV Mark III and Mark IV. I see them used for under $100 all over. Most need main filter cap replacement. Fortunately it's easy to replace them, and with modern caps that are much smaller in size than the stock caps. I just got new caps for my MK IV that are twice the capacitance, and half the size of the originals.

New caps (there are two) will restore original punch and headroom. Go larger on the capacitance and the headroom is noticeably improved.

All of the amps/brands that klokker mentioned would work well...all with different signature tones. Fender's Rumble series might have what you are looking for.

The signature tone of different designs is largely a matter of the tone circuits used and the gain staging. A Fender tone stack has a signature tone from the passive design. It has an inherent midrange cut with very interactive tone controls. Marshall is similar with different tone centers. (The inherent mid cut is lower, and the highs have more high mids in them.)

GK uses 4 active boost and cut tone controls...non-interactive. They add an FET stage that is pushed when the boost control is turned up to get the amp's signature "growl."

Ampeg's formula is a passive Baxandall, boost/cut, non interactive bass and treble, and the midrange is an inductor based active boost and cut. Classic sound. Ampegs have a bit of "grind" to them that some love, and many don't.

Any good bass head, of sufficient headroom and power should be able to be adjusted to meet your needs. There are tons of speaker options.
 
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#4
Difficulty to transport is a relative thing. Tube amps can be heavier than solid state, but not all solid state amps are lighter. Do you like a scooped modern sound or a midrangey vintage sound? From your description, it seems like the more vintage sound is your thing, but it is always worth asking. Do you like it to be really clean or do you like a bit of overdrive?

My opinion is predictable: look for used gear and especially look for Acoustic Control amps and cabinets. They are reasonably priced, but they are a bear to move if you aren't used to moving large, heavy objects. If that's not your thing, then listen to these other guys!
 
#6
Thanks for all the replies guys! The hybrid amps are not something I'm all that familiar with, I'll probably have to check them out next time I'm in London or Southampton. They're definitely something I want to look into. Cheers!

I had a look through the amps you mentioned Steve. The acoustic 370 does sound like something I'd like, but I could only find them on eBay in the US. :/ I did a bit of listening on youtube for some of the others. I did try an ampeg once but can't remember what one it was. Might have been an SVT. I did quite like that. Though I'm not sure I £1600 liked it. The GK 700 RB sounded quite good in the video I found so I'll see if I can find one of them to try next opportunity I get.

I tend to favour clean for the most part. Though I do have a Phat hed that I quite like and do use from time-to-time. So ideally I'd like an amp that can handle it without thinning out completely. Not a huge disaster if not though, because I can still run the drive line into my keyboard amp if need be.

I don't have a fixed budget. I'm just trying to get a good idea of what sort of thing I should go for/try out.
 
#7
GingerBraFace said:
Thanks for all the replies guys! The hybrid amps are not something I'm all that familiar with, I'll probably have to check them out next time I'm in London or Southampton. They're definitely something I want to look into. Cheers!

I had a look through the amps you mentioned Steve. The acoustic 370 does sound like something I'd like, but I could only find them on eBay in the US. :/ I did a bit of listening on youtube for some of the others. I did try an ampeg once but can't remember what one it was. Might have been an SVT. I did quite like that. Though I'm not sure I £1600 liked it. The GK 700 RB sounded quite good in the video I found so I'll see if I can find one of them to try next opportunity I get.

I tend to favour clean for the most part. Though I do have a Phat hed that I quite like and do use from time-to-time. So ideally I'd like an amp that can handle it without thinning out completely. Not a huge disaster if not though, because I can still run the drive line into my keyboard amp if need be.

I don't have a fixed budget. I'm just trying to get a good idea of what sort of thing I should go for/try out.
Click to expand...

For the price, its tough to beat the GK 700RBII. With the right speakers, you'll likely have more volume on tap then you'll ever need. When I was amp shopping, I tried many and cost wasn't really a huge concern for me. After I tried the GK 700RBII, I didn't look back. I honestly don't think I'd trade that head for any other amp out there. It's funny that the poster above describes them as utilitarian. Different strokes I suppose. They have more features than a Swiss Army knife, with the ability to biamp and attenuate the tweeters from the front of the amp. They definitely have a warm signature sound with a tight and focused low end. It's also one of the loudest heads in its price range.
 
#10
From what you describe as your target tone I would suggest a MarkBass LM III, much easier to find than a vintage Acoustic, which I used exclusively in the olden days when they were still in production (B150, B140 and a 450 all with a 2X15 cab, which I toured with, so I understand the attraction), I had a LM II and the III has all the features I would have wanted if I had stayed with MB. I found the tone and filters very useful in getting an old school like, fat tone, moving away from it's inherent, somewhat full range, modern tone. Also, if possible get Cabs without horn tweeters. [For me] the tweeters add nothing to a fat warm tone..... just click and clack.

AS you can see from my sig. I'm a GK man. I just changed from a 1001 RB II with 2 Neo 115s to a MB 500 and a pair of Neo 112s.
 
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#11
New version 3 Fender Rumbles have just hit the UK. The 40; 100, 200, and 500 Rumbles are all D-Class ICE Power and they all share the same front end / pre-amp. They are getting rave reviews by working musicians right here on TalkBass. http://www.talkbass.com/threads/fender-rumble-club.970397/page-35 I suggest you give them an audition at your music store, and compare them to every other amp in your price range.
 
#12
Hi there GingerBraFace!

You didn't say what your musical setting is: Do you play with bands that are loud or quiet; or is it just for you? That could dictate whether you would want to get an amp in the 300, 600, or 900 watt range. If you can afford it, go for extra headroom! \m/

I have to agree with a lot of the other posts; going for a Class-D amp that has a tube pre-amp should deliver a traditional(ish) sound that matches what you mentioned as your style. AND, you'll save your back. Nearly every major amp company today offers this configuration, so it's up to your ear and wallet to determine what works for you.

You also might want to think about what kinds of speaker cabinets you plan to use... I like to think of it as a modular approach to the different demands of different settings. Speaker sizes have less impact on the sound than, say, 20 or 30 years ago, but they do offer different flavors from one another. Good hunting!
 
#13
No I didn't specify the setting. Sorry. At the moment it's mainly a hobby. Though I have sessioned in the past and I would like to do more in the near future. I also do quite a lot of recording. Though again, this is mainly just a hobby.

I did notice the Fender rumbles while I was browsing through GAK. They certainly do seem to be getting some good reviews. I'll add them to my list of amps to try.

As for speakers, I do have a couple of cheap monitors that I've set up to uses as practise speakers for the time being. Though I intend to get a proper cabinet either with or shortly after getting a head. But I've not given it to much thought. What would you guys recommend?
 
#14
GingerBraFace said:
As for speakers, I do have a couple of cheap monitors that I've set up to uses as practise speakers for the time being. Though I intend to get a proper cabinet either with or shortly after getting a head. But I've not given it to much thought. What would you guys recommend?
Click to expand...

For recording? greenboy Bassic 15 with a 15PR400. Would be my choice for recording 100% of the time.
 
#15
If you aren't using your rig to compete with drummers and guitarists, I would recommend going for speakers that have either an even response or have a voicing that favors lower frequencies. There are a lot of companies that make cabinets that are gig-friendly (louder, with more emphasis on the mids and low-mids) AND have other lines that are more studio-friendly (less volume, more girth); a great example is Eden's XLT and XST lines.

But, again... it's all up to your ears and your wallet.
 

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