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Amp advice?

E

explodingPSYCH

May 7, 2009
114
5
#1
Hey guys,

I have an old blackface bassman head that I use with a single Jensen 15 (4ohms to match) that I put in an old sub woofer cabinet I found in my backyard.

I like it just fine, but I REALLY liked this Benson amp I had for a while. It had what I might describe as a "soft" treble/brightness that I really liked.

I've been thinking about switching to a cheaper amp that maybe isn't as loud, maybe even a solid state. I'm not super into the really low end as I play in a two piece band and have to do a decent amount of chords and stuff. Can anyone recommend the amp for me?

Thanks,
Johnny
 
#3
dog1 said:
You found a cabinet in your back yard? Did you wonder how it got there?

I don't mean to sound like a jerk, but that's one of the strangest things I have heard lately.
Click to expand...

I don't know why you'd sound like a jerk. I don't really know why it was there. I guess somebody threw out their huge sub woofer so I took what little wood working skills I had and converted it into a cab.

Any thoughts on an amp I could upgrade/downgrade to?
 
#4
If you do a lot of chording, I would think that something clean would be just the ticket. I have a couple of Genz Benz heads that are both quite clean sounding. But a GB couldn't be considered a cheap head. BTW, if your blackface Bassman is in god shape, it would bring a pretty good price and allow you to shop around.
 
#5
dog1 said:
If you do a lot of chording, I would think that something clean would be just the ticket. I have a couple of Genz Benz heads that are both quite clean sounding. But a GB couldn't be considered a cheap head. BTW, if your blackface Bassman is in god shape, it would bring a pretty good price and allow you to shop around.
Click to expand...

it is, and that's my plan. I do a good bit of chording, and clean would be good all the way up into the high end, where i like some soft kinda saturation kinda sounds. i guess i'm just curious if there's any solid states out there that might soften up my high end without losing it. i know that sounds a little bit like an oxymoron, but I've heard it with my own ears!
 
#6
What are your settings on the Bassman? Could it be you're boosting the highs too much? The Bassman's got that weird Fender tone stack where flat is bass and treble on 1 1/2 and mids on 10. Makes it a great guitar amp but makes using it as a bass amp a little odd until you figure out the knobs. And then it sings.

When I think of softening the high end, I think more tube than solid state, personally. Most Genz Benz heads have a tube preamp, so I think they might be a good option. Don't know if I'd sell a Bassman to get it but I think it's worth looking into. I think your main concern at the moment, though, is getting a brighter cab. I love 15"s but they really don't pump out the treble.
 
#7
JimmyM said:
What are your settings on the Bassman? Could it be you're boosting the highs too much? The Bassman's got that weird Fender tone stack where flat is bass and treble on 1 1/2 and mids on 10. Makes it a great guitar amp but makes using it as a bass amp a little odd until you figure out the knobs. And then it sings.

When I think of softening the high end, I think more tube than solid state, personally. Most Genz Benz heads have a tube preamp, so I think they might be a good option. Don't know if I'd sell a Bassman to get it but I think it's worth looking into. I think your main concern at the moment, though, is getting a brighter cab. I love 15"s but they really don't pump out the treble.
Click to expand...

That was my other thought. 2X12 maybe? Know anything about folded speakers? Maybe I could try a couple of 12inch folder horn?
 
#8
There are a lot of speakers out there, bro ;)

You have to take them all on a case by case basis. You just can't generalize anymore. I have no experience with folded horns other than big giant PA cabs in the 70's, but Bill Fitzmaurice on here does a lot with folded horns. www.billfitzmaurice.com . Only catch is you have to build it yourself or have someone else build it. He just has the plans.
 
#9
Yeah, I think you might want to keep that Bassman head, and start looking at speaker cabs. Like Jimmy said, there's alot of them available, and it's hard to generalize about them. But, start looking at those, and see what happens. And, 2x12 is a great arrangement, and there's alot of those, too.
 

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