A really well made/designed and really light head without too many bells and whistles

I've been looking a lot into lights head's recently.
I'm leaning toward the GK MB500 but I've looked into a lot others and have been recommended to get from the following.

Quilter 800 which is supposed to be very transparent.
As well as
The Mesa Subway (more bells and whistles on the 800+)
Aguilar TH500
Genzler Magellan 800

 

+1 on the Quilter BB800, although I wouldn't say it's transparent. It has a great sound and very intuitive controls. I use mine when I play out all the time now. At 4 lbs, it's a breeze to carry and at 800 watts into 4 ohms I'm never short on power.

 

Aguilar TH500 is a great sounding amp but I wouldn't describe the tone as transparent. It's also one of the most "tubey" sounding non-tube heads out there, IMO.

 

I've heard nothing but good things about this...

Welcome to Trickfish Amplification - Professional Bass Amps/ Bass Cabs

 

Get a Quilter Pro Block 200 if you don't need 800 watts.

Quilter Amps

DOH!, just noticed the 1,000 numbers in your last post

 

A Bergantino Forte

 

Sounds like you want Bergantino forte’

Close thread now?

 

Try the Aguilar AG 700. Clean clear.

Fir more watts, try DNA 1350.

 

I own the MB500 and MB200 heads. Both are pretty incredible for the size and cost. Made in USA and supported by Jason in SoCal. There's a more powerful MB800, and the MB Fusion 500 and 800. Both have a tube in the preamp. They are louder than their watts say and very portable. I am so thankful I chose GK, I like buying US and they are well made, loud, and punchy.

I've been kicking around the idea of trying out the Quilter 800 but I'm put off by the EQ.

Mesa Boogie? Carlos Santana at Woodstock. Mesa Boogie pushing quality and boutique before there was such a thing. Pretty much the Rolls Royce of bass amps. The amp can go down to 2 ohms, which means 3 x 8 ohm cabs if you ever want to go crazy with volume. Another one on my bucket list.

As we all say here on TB, this is a great time to be a bass player for equipment! Good luck, keep us posted!

 

Mesa Boogie Subway D800 is the amp you seek. I have a D800 along with various GK amps and a Quilter BB800. The Mesa is the most transparent, easy to use amp of any of them. The biggest problem with the Quilter is the lack of a proper DI (not a problem for me, as I also have the Mesa D800 DI pedal that I use when I run the Quilter!)

 

The ultimate "no frills" amp is a power amp & 1,000 Watts should be easy to find.

 

I use my Quilter BB800 DI on just about every gig. What's not proper about it? I don't like that the Master is tied to it but the DI is fine IME.

 

You answered your own question

A DI tied to the master volume is not a proper DI.

 

If you want something light in weight, I would go for an 1980's GK 800RB or an early 2000's 1001RB-II. Hartke HA3500 and HA5000 are also great choices.

 

I disagree. Mine still sends a perfectly functional signal to the board.


My issue is with how my amp deals with my cab and DI output. It's different but that doesn't make it improper.

 

Bada Bing!

 

That list covers all of the cool new amps I secretly want to try but have no real reason to. All of the outsiders. Especially the Eich and the Vanderkley.

BTW I played a BB800 once as backline with a GK 212 and it killed, was a great rig, smooth and powerful.