I need some advice! I have had an Eden WT600 for 20 years. It's been my main and often only head. And I love it, it sounds great, totally reliable and always more than enough power. Recently I sold my Eden 410 and replaced it with a Schroeder mini 12+L (a 1x12" with a tweeter) that weighs an incredible 18 lbs. Also recently, I bought a Warwick Gnome that I figured would be a good secondary lightweight head. The thing is I actually love the sound of the Gnome, it is more than enough power for rehearsals with my volume-conscious 3 piece - I had both gain and master at like 2 or 3 during our last rehearsal. I live in NYC so if I ever am bringing a head it will be the lightweight and tiny Gnome (not the 35 lbs Eden). So...Should I sell the Eden and just commit to the Gnome? I feel like the Eden aside from being heavy is just kind of serving no purpose for me...in fact it might be a bit too much power for the cab anyway. Or at least the if not too much, then not particularly helpful. The only reasons I can think to hang onto it would be to have a backup head.
Keep the Eden and also get Gnome. If you like what the Eden has done for your ears in the past, put it in a closet, put it in the garage, park it out of the way somewhere.....chances are your ears will want to hear it again. I've parted with equipment in the past that I felt was the be all/end all when I bought it. Later my ears find a new be all/end all and I trade it in for alittle of nothing only to find on down the road, "Man, why didn't I keep that!"
Yeah, and my worry is whether I would be able to sell the Eden for enough money to make it worth selling.
For me, it was two Mesa M-6 Carbines. My ears LOVED em, but my back not so much. Thought I absolutely needed to jump on the light weight class D amp band wagon, and please don't take me wrong, I REALLY like the class D heads I gig with. Sold both M-6's (one was in a road case and worked perfectly, the other needed service.) Wanted to sell them locally but couldn't hardly give them away. Ended up selling them both with road case for $450.00! Wish I'd have just parked them for the day my ears thought they were fatigued and needed to hear something different. Lesson I've learned, if you REALLY like a piece of gear, keep it.....
I have 3 heads currently. The heaviest is 4.6 lbs. The other two in the 3 lb range. Perish the thought of carrying a 30 lb head for backup! Sell the EDEN unless you have an undying love for it and are willing to schlep it around, IMHO.
I gig with my GK MB heads, and have my old SWR ST220 at home to play there, frankly it sounds a little bit nicer - but, here's the important part - not enough to be noticeable with a band.
I have 3 gig worthy rigs...they all sound good but my latest rig is about light easy travel. Most of my tone comes from the bass itself anyway. Why sell anything unless you need the space or the cash.
And that's what I find to be true about so much stuff (basses, heads, cabs, pedals) many of us fuss over . Sure it's fun at home alone or maybe while recording. But in a live setting with another people, subtleties are just lost in the mix.
I bought an Eden WTX 500 about a year ago to pair with a Yorkville 115 cab. I like the Eden a lot and don't think that I'd sell it (or the Yorkville either). The fan sounds like a Harrier jet taking off when I first turn it on and it (the fan) pretty much stays on the whole time, but when I'm playing it's not as noticeable and the amp sounds great. It's a solid little amp and definitely a keeper - I just wish I could find some rack ears for it. I'm glad that you like the Gnome; I was thinking about one of those and found your experience helpful.
It used to be that people associated a heavy amp head with reliability - heavier meant solidly built. That association is gone - heavy now just means awkward and outdated. Last night, I played a gig where I use an amp - my big gigs are all ampless, but this one is kind of a coffee house vibe. In the bag with my cables I keep 2 heads - each has the same power rating as an SVT, and it’s easy to carry over a shoulder. The power rating of an SVT is about as small as you can buy nowadays in a decent amp. The world has changed. Your amp may not be useful to you, but it’s probably not any more useful to someone else. If there’s a nostalgic bone anywhere in your body, you might want to hold on to it. If not….
You've obviously never lived in NYC. However I have a strategy. My ex-wife plays bass and her amp had a voice coil rub. I loaned her my Rumble 200 under the condition that she can't give it back to me unless I ask for it or she moves.
Keep the Eden and use it on occasion at home. If you eventually find someone willing to make it worth your while sell it to them.
That’s one heck of a back up head….Tastes do change over time and that is normal. I’d keep the Eden unless you need the money, some other piece of gear that’s causing gas, or it’s just in the way. Of course, if it’s just in the way, I’ll gladly store it for you. I’ll even power it up on occasion to make sure it’s still working. No charge either.
Agreed.. I probably have a few things that I don't really "need" but until I need to free up some cash, I'm just hanging on to them. As long as the bills are paid, family is fed and there's sufficient room in the storage area, why sell? Regards Mark
Just how much money do you feel like the Eden owes you after 20 years of reliable service? Sounds like the perfect thing to pass on to a young, strong, up and coming player. Or a school music program.