AGH!!! Help needed

[GBassNorth]

Lets see - Grateful Dead cover band, what would I choose for a rig...

I'd start with an Alembic SF2 and then into a high power Crown or maybe Carvin 1500 or Aggie DB750 type amp connected to a Bergantino 412 or 215 cabinet. I can't imagine that combination not being able to nail any Dead Head tone.

 

[Ballin'bass]

I'd say go GK for the head, iriegnome. And avatar for the cab(s). Avatar b410neos are amazing and clear, yet deliver huge boom and volume if you need it. Plus they are very affordable, and you can customize them if you like. Oh and they are super light!

As a fellow moddy member, I can say that both these companies will compliment your basses very well. Me personally, I like the svt classic with my avatars, but that's cause I'm still a young buck who can handle the weight, and I love my tubes and graphite .

 

[iriegnome]

Man how I love that turbo... My Schroeders are fantastic. Just tired. I am looking to go in a different direction with my tone or sound (BTW - We are not a cover band..95% original). I want my tone in something new and current. My Schroeders have not been made since 2006 or so. My SWR well, the company is out of buisiness. I need something that is current and being made now. I want to buy new, not used. I want the warranty. And yes, Ballin, I am way too old to lug a 100 pound head around.

 

[Ballin'bass]

well, i guess i don't really know what schroeders sound like so i can't really direct you there. but as a good second option to SWR i would still say check out the GK800rb or GK1001rb. very impressive amps for the price range, with very nice sculptability.

 

[DuShauh]

Hartke- Kilo Amp(Maybe even LH1000) + HyDrive cabs of your choice will get you where you desire to go, without going the cookie cutter "modern" path that most current gear will take you down ;-)

 

[August West]

Alembic F1-X >>> Crown K-1 has worked beautifully for me for 15+ years. It's a little heavy, but none of the light stuff I've tried compares. Ran SWR cabs for years, but now Epifani.

Might add an Alembic SF-2 at some point. If budget was not a factor, I'd rack an F1-X and SF-2, a high end power conditioner, Crown power amp, and run a nice pair of 2x12 cabs.

 

[TheRealKong]

I have seen several times that bassmen, especialy pro cats, tend to sound the same, no matter what gear they use.

OK, there are cabs and amps of different voice, but there are mighty EQ on any given amp. You can sculpt your sound like you want.

As I play in different bands I have a variety of different amps like a GenzBenz GBE 1200 with a Tecamp L 215, a good old Peavey TMax with a sealed 410, a Markbass LM II with a SWR Workingman 212 with Beyma woofers, an Ampeg SVP Pro with a poweramp and a Tecamp L 810, and a Bugera BVV 3000 with a Tecamp L 810. Not to forget the Ibanez Promethean 5110.

I play Musicman Stingray basses the most, a Classic 5, a SR 5 and a SR 4 3bd - besides a variety of other 4- and 5-string basses.

Believe it or not, it seems like I sound the same with all my different rigs. Ok, maybe not exactly the same, but as similar as possible. Its not that I desired to sound the same, it just happened.

I had the same problem, my SWR Redhead died in 2006 after more than 16 years of have giging. No chance to replace or repair the beloved amp. Next to the SWR - sound came the Markbass LM II when running the amp flat with the VPF-Filter between 11 and 12 'o clock. This gives you the scooped sound of a SWR. As the LM II/III are no longer in production, I recommend the Big Bang. The Big Bang has a bit more deep lows, but there is an EQ.

Another amp I would like to recommend is the
Glockenklang Blue Sky. The amp is dead-neutral, literaly "a wire with gain", plus a mighty EQ, so you are able to dial in any tone you like.

You like your cabs, is there a need to replace them? If you blow a speaker you can get one for replacement. Are the cabs what is called "road worn"? Is it a cosmetical issue? So make it your project, get some tolex or rat fur or whatever finish there is on the cabs. DIY.

Think about my words. Bassmen tend to have "theyr own" sound, no matter what amp is used. The better the amp (EQ), the more they do.

 

[iriegnome]

Here's a question for you - Bag End D12-D on top of a Bag End S15X-D?? Thoughts?

 

[Kirk Bryant]

I say you owe yourself a road trip to the nearest all out bass store or GTG. Play everything and it will become clear what you really want to move up to. I ended up with my Genz Benz Shuttlemax amp and Bergantino cabs after literally a couple years of research. Mostly on here, paying close attention to the people I have come to respect and feel like I know from being on this site for over a decade. I have what I consider the best sounding rig I personally have ever owned. And I bought it all online without ever playing it !!!?? After I had this rig I attended a couple of GTGs which are great by the way for checking out gear. I also have been up to Bass Northwest a couple of times but all of this AFTER I bought my gear. I have no regrets whatsoever. NONE! My previous rig was a Glockenklang Soul II with either a Schroeder 410 and or a Schroeder 15L or more often a pair of Aguilar of GS 112's. I do not play as loud as you most of the time but sometimes I do. Now with the Shuttlemax 12 and Bergantino AE 212 plus an AE 112 as well as the option of adding a Berg EX 112 I can go 4x12 if need be. I wouldn't recommend buying without trying but it worked for me. But I did a LOT of reading and listening to clips which generally suck. I based my decisions by first person reviews from users here. Luckily my educated guesses were right for me. I thought perhaps I might have been happier with the Genz Streamliner untill I actually played it last year. I didn't care for it and it seemed "slow" compared to my SM. it was paired with a Fearless F112. One cool feature of the SM heads are two preamps with semi parametric mids which can be used separately or mixed together. Do your due diligence and I. Sure you'll find a rig that work for years to come. While there's always GAS and I see new amps on the Horizon that have my attention like the new Bergantion amp due out any day and the Sonic Farm amp due this year. I don't need them just yet. Also I have been following Big E speakers closely and if they weren't quite as heavy I might be trying to get one. Though the smaller ones are interesting. And of course Barefaced and Fearless cabs. Good luck in your tone quest. The chase can be almost as interesting as bagging a trophy! Gnite!