Amp Shopping Help

[Jerry Rice]

Hey all - I was wondering if I could get the community to weigh in on their favorite 5-pound (give or take) heads. I've been shopping around, and reading the forums, and my best options seem like the Mesa D-800, the EC Electronic RH750 and the Tech 21 VT-500. I currently use a MarkBass 102 (many years old now, but I still like it), but with my lumbar discs shot, even the 40 pounds and size are killing me.

I'm not really searching for a specific tone, I'm looking for versatility, light weight, and reliability. Obviously I'll want to play through any/all of them if possible (otherwise shop online at places that have returns )

I'm primarily doing funk/soul/R&B gigs, playing a home-made bass with Nordstrand pre connected to a P and MM, which is a boat anchor (black walnut) sustain and low-end beast (I try to find places to sit when I play it lol).

Here's the back story for the shopping, if you're interested: I just bought the MarkBass Big Bang, and last night I had serious issues. Once I dialed the master output past 6, it stopped output to the speaker out connection, but still fine via DI to the PA. I reset power and it came on for a second, then out again; reset power AGAIN, lowered master out to 4, and no issues. It was plugged in to someone else's old beat-up Ampeg 4x10, so I'm not sure if it was a resistance issue or what, but either way not something you want to happen on a gig.

 

[swamp_bass]

The more popular brands I see in the forums are the Ampeg Portaflex, Markbass Littlemark, and GK MB.

I own two of those three brands, and I've been quite pleased with them.

 

[edencab]

the Traynor SB500H is 4 lbs , 500watts into 4 ohms....I have the 200 watter, damn loud, great tonal options, made in Canada, rock solid gear

 

[pravus]

I'll recommend the Tone Hammer 350/500. It's very versatile, reliable and might fit well with your genres. Worth looking into.

 

[Jerry Rice]

Right on, guys - thanks. My 102 Combo has the equivalent of the LMII, and I love it to death, and I've played the Ampeg power amps and some old GK rigs, and they sounded nice (although the GK tended to be too bright/brassy for my sound).

@swamp_bass: just out of curiosity, which of the two have you owned?

On a side note, I still have my pre-sellout Eden 4x10 XLT sitting in the corner, which is what I'll be using to test out any/all heads once I bring them home. I figure that's as good as anything for testing. I have warned the wife that when I test the Big Bang I bought, it will be LOUD (since I have to push it above 5 to try to replicate the issue).

Luckily I have a boutique store a couple miles from my house that sells the GK, Ampeg, Aguilar AND Mesa heads, so when they open (on Tuesday - I guess selling Fodera basses means you can work whatever damn hours you please) I will head over there and do an A/B/C/D.

I just wish there were a Genz-Benz dealer anywhere closer than 4.5 hours away from Chicago. Many of the old-school guys say the Shuttle or Streamliner are their go-to, with any others being "things to try". EDIT: Well, it looks like you can't buy those heads ANYWHERE online, and both of the dealers in Illinois don't carry them either. Makes you wonder...