Amp Head

[freshpots]

+1 for Mesa

If you have the opportunity, try out the TT-800 from Mesa. Plenty of power, they have a tube channel, and are extremely versatile. For me, it was between this or an Aguilar. After playing the Mesa, I was sold.

 

[Mike Lock]

+1 for Mesa

If you have the opportunity, try out the TT-800 from Mesa. Plenty of power, they have a tube channel, and are extremely versatile. For me, it was between this or an Aguilar. After playing the Mesa, I was sold.

I've got a aguilar tone hammer 500... But I don't a have a Mesa Boogie...gotta swing by the music store this weekend..they carry Mesa stuff and I will definitely try it out....thanks for the heads up

 

[Bisounourse]

To me, "sharper crisper sound" means either GK or Genzler. I'm sure there are others (probably MarkBass), but the Aguilar is not one I would put in that category. Neither is my TC, though it's a BH250, perhaps different than your TC....

EBS Reidmar and Eich Amplification comes to mind as well. Also worth having a look at, and since they're a UK based amp company, maybe the Darkstar Unity Elite 700H might be something (haven't played through one, but it looks good on paper and it gets good reviews over here).
Maybe ask the same thing on Basschat.co.uk as well...

 

[dannyc12]

I found the TC heads to be far to sterile sounding for my taste. Although I use tube amps both the Orange and Markbass sound great.

Fab thanks for your feedback!

 

[dannyc12]

When I practice with my band at our guitar dude's house, he lets me use a MarkBass 2x10 combo that's there. While that works okay for practice and saves me from carting in my own 2x10 and a head, I'm really not excited about it (or combos in general). I just brought a newly acquired Tobias Killer B to practice for the first time and I had some trouble with keeping my sound from running too bright and clanky with that amp, even with the highs on both the amp and the bass trimmed down a bit.

I gig through a pair of vertically stacked 2x10 cabs and we play a buffet of rock and dance covers. I've had a GK MB 500 for a couple of years and I also picked up a used Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 as a backup a couple months ago. I can say that I'm completely confident with using either one of these heads for a gig and the GK has truly impressed. It's a little package that gives me borderline enormous sound.

I also get more of what I'd consider to be sharp and crisp sound with the GK. The Shuttle can make more of a warm and wooly tone depending on how much gain I dial up for the single-tube preamp. I haven't tried to get too much of a similar sharp and crisp personality with the Shuttle yet, but it does clean up with the gain backed down and the preamp volume up. It also has a simple yet potent eq section which includes a variable mid control that covers a very wide frequency range.

There are probably at least a dozen ways to get into the neighborhood of sound that you want. Hopefully this gives you some useful perspective. Good luck with your quest (and sorry that I can't compare my heads to your TC 450).

That's brilliant, thanks for your feedback- I'll def check out the GK!

 

[dannyc12]

Why not an Ashdown amp to pair with your Ashdown cabs?

The cabs are fine but surprisingly the Ashdown amp head never appeared in any searches?

 

[dannyc12]

The GK Legacy 500 would work well for you. You can dial the treble back to 9 o'clock and tame it or have plenty on tap and then there are three voicing switches in addition to the 4 band EQ. It gives you great attack with tight deep bass and nice mids. It does not do warm and wooly like a tone hammer but can if you run a preamp pedal like the Tonehammer Pedal into it which is what I do when I want that sound.

I've been playing mine weekly for about 2 years with no issues and no problems being heard through a 2x112 setup with a full band playing rock and jazz. Good luck!

Great, thanks I'm going to check it out!

 

[dannyc12]

I have an EVO 500 one of the first silver plated ones to come out to be exact me and Stewart zender got the first two...still to this day one of my best sounding amp head..

Check this out im using my EVO and playing my Modulus Q5...put on your headphones or big speakers..Enjoy my friend

Bloody hell I daren't share your vid with my band cause they will want to replace me immediately!

 

[dannyc12]

EBS Reidmar and Eich Amplification comes to mind as well. Also worth having a look at, and since they're a UK based amp company, maybe the Darkstar Unity Elite 700H might be something (haven't played through one, but it looks good on paper and it gets good reviews over here).
Maybe ask the same thing on Basschat.co.uk as well...

Thanks for that! I will also check out Basschat!

 

[dannyc12]

GK, Aguilar AG700 would get you there. Another that virtually no one on here hypes at all is the Acoustic Image Clarus. Great amps with really intuitive EQ, made in the USA.

Thanks I will check out- not sure I've seen it any any stores here but that could just be my poor eyesight!

 

[dannyc12]

Yo Danny go with Mark Bass you can't go wrong. The overall tone and power of those amps are ridiculous....i use a combo 210 with another 210 cab for rehearsal and smaller clubs and DAMN ITS SWINGIN MY FRIEND...i play my surine and my Q5 through it and the Tone is off the chain

Thanks- its one that keeps coming up, not just when doing my market research but more importantly with other bass players!

 

[dannyc12]

+1 for Mesa

If you have the opportunity, try out the TT-800 from Mesa. Plenty of power, they have a tube channel, and are extremely versatile. For me, it was between this or an Aguilar. After playing the Mesa, I was sold.

Thanks I'll check it out!

 

[el murdoque]

If you're looking to go sharper and crisper, and you want to reduce the weight and size for convenience,
You might also want to look at your cabinets. And then turn your head southwards. There's Brighton. In Brighton, there is barefaced. Get yourself a Big Baby II and you will get brighter and crisper than you could wish for. You'll start looking for an amp head that can dial back on the crispness.

If it is bright and crisp you're looking for, the Markbass is really worth looking into. The Aguilar is the polar opposite. In direct comparison, it's mellow, warm and round.

 

[Waltsdog]

If you're looking to go sharper and crisper, and you want to reduce the weight and size for convenience,
You might also want to look at your cabinets. And then turn your head southwards. There's Brighton. In Brighton, there is barefaced. Get yourself a Big Baby II and you will get brighter and crisper than you could wish for. You'll start looking for an amp head that can dial back on the crispness.

As the OP is in the UK a Barefaced cab should be high up the list, a single 12 would be enough for those gigs for sure.

I currently have a TC Electronic 450 Classic bass head but now thinking of replacing it. Couple have jumped out so far, MARKBASS LITTLE MARK IV 500W and the ORANGE HYBRID 500W. My speakers are 600w
Any thoughts please?!

Add the Bergantino heads to your list to check out, two great amps and very versatile. If budget is an issue stay away from the US stuff and look at maybe GR or Eich as well.

That Orange Terror isn't going to get you a crisp sharp sound, one of their other offerings might so look at the little bass thing of the OB-1

 

[Mike Lock]

Fab thanks for your feedback!

Mark Bass is da poopie

 

[BruceG63]

I would check out the Mesa Subway series.They sound great.Warranty for 5 years and great resale value if you decide to get something different down the road.

 

[Mike Lock]

Bloody hell I daren't share your vid with my band cause they will want to replace me immediately!

Lol danny im sure your band is happy with you my bass playing brotha you just keep doing what you're doing and you'll be just fine love you man

 

[Wicked G]

Hi OP. I've read this thread and the Katana one and to me it seems like you may be barking up the wrong tree. Those RM cabs are pretty dull sounding. Not Ashdown's greatest work. No matter what head you get, those cabs are going to hold it back considerably. IMHO and IME.

Years ago while trying out the RM500 EVO, I wasn't very impressed playing it through the RM115. But I after I plugged that amp into a Rumble cab, I forgot which one, that amp came to life. I then used it through all of my cabs and it sounded even better.

My advice would be to get better cabs first, then you might even be impressed with your Classic 450. Sorry to throw a wrench in your thought process, but a better cab or cabs can and will make a huge difference.

 

[musicman556]

Hi OP. I've read this thread and the Katana one and to me it seems like you may be barking up the wrong tree. Those RM cabs are pretty dull sounding. Not Ashdown's greatest work. No matter what head you get, those cabs are going to hold it back considerably. IMHO and IME.

Years ago while trying out the RM500 EVO, I wasn't very impressed playing it through the RM115. But I after I plugged that amp into a Rumble cab, I forgot which one, that amp came to life. I then used it through all of my cabs and it sounded even better.

My advice would be to get better cabs first, then you might even be impressed with your Classic 450. Sorry to throw a wrench in your thought process, but a better cab or cabs can and will make a huge difference.

This is great info, and I didn't even think about it at first. I have no experience with the Ashdown cabs, but I will say that the greatest single improvement I have ever gotten in my sound was stepping up to cabs that were way better than the stuff I had been using before. More important than my bass, more important than the amp.

I have Mesa and GK cabs now, but I hear great things about your locally produced Barefaced cabs.