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Ampeg or carvin? Would you rather?

B

bampilot06

Jan 10, 2013
105
15
Virginia
#1
Just like your input on what amp i should stick with. Back round info was in a band through high school and college and during that time i had a ampeg 200t with a 15 cab. I played a fretless stingray and loved my setup. Well band broke up and my job took off literally so i sold everything. Realized there was something missing recently so my fiance bought my a new bass and rents got me the micro cl. As posted in another thread ive gone through two micro cls both didnt work, and i started looking at carvin. Ive never heard anything about carvin and after doing some research on the site it seems people either love or hate them.
My needs are a portable amp that can handle small gigs (bar) and sounds relatively descent. Unfortunatly im not playin on a stingray this time around. Fiance got me a jag. I had originally picked the ampeg cl because i liked the sound with a squire p and jazz (pretty much what i have) and i am a sucker for ampeg.
Thanks
 
#2
Let me preface this with I don't like either.

Of these two I would go with the Ampeg. Long term reliability.

If you are a "sucker for Ampeg" why ask. You know what you like. The only thing asking these yahoos can do is confuse the selection.

I think Micro CL is an Ampeg in name only. It's kind of like the SWR Pro and the Workingmans line.
 
#4
bampilot06 said:
Just like your input on what amp i should stick with. Back round info was in a band through high school and college and during that time i had a ampeg 200t with a 15 cab. I played a fretless stingray and loved my setup. Well band broke up and my job took off literally so i sold everything. Realized there was something missing recently so my fiance bought my a new bass and rents got me the micro cl. As posted in another thread ive gone through two micro cls both didnt work, and i started looking at carvin. Ive never heard anything about carvin and after doing some research on the site it seems people either love or hate them.
My needs are a portable amp that can handle small gigs (bar) and sounds relatively descent. Unfortunatly im not playin on a stingray this time around. Fiance got me a jag. I had originally picked the ampeg cl because i liked the sound with a squire p and jazz (pretty much what i have) and i am a sucker for ampeg.
Thanks
Click to expand...

If I were to chose between the two, I would go with Ampeg. Not a Carvin hater... But I never found they did anything for me either.
 
#7
Got2SadowskyNYC said:
The only thing asking these yahoos can do is confuse the selection.
Click to expand...

Hey! Who are you calling a yahoo? :rolleyes: :smug:


odineye said:
+1 because you KNOW that what he should really be playing is a Genze Benz/SWR/Hartke/Fender/Eden combo amp stack...


Through a fEARful cabinet.


:hiding:
Click to expand...

LMAO, now that's funny. I was wondering how long it would take for some one to sneak in the word "fearful" :D
 
#8
Thanks for the responses. My svt was reliable never had issues with it. Thats why im sucker for ampeg. With that said going through two micro cls both out of the box not working kinda hits on that some. I do have a feeling your right about ampeg cl being ampeg name only. I will check out the genz benz
 
#11
bampilot06 said:
Just like your input on what amp i should stick with. Back round info was in a band through high school and college and during that time i had a ampeg 200t with a 15 cab. I played a fretless stingray and loved my setup. Well band broke up and my job took off literally so i sold everything. Realized there was something missing recently so my fiance bought my a new bass and rents got me the micro cl. As posted in another thread ive gone through two micro cls both didnt work, and i started looking at carvin. Ive never heard anything about carvin and after doing some research on the site it seems people either love or hate them.
My needs are a portable amp that can handle small gigs (bar) and sounds relatively descent. Unfortunatly im not playin on a stingray this time around. Fiance got me a jag. I had originally picked the ampeg cl because i liked the sound with a squire p and jazz (pretty much what i have) and i am a sucker for ampeg.
Thanks
Click to expand...

a few years back I tried a few of the larger Ampeg heads, to me they seemed a bit on the noisy side, sure they're awesome looking but taking into account the price point, noise and weight I eventually went with a Carvin BX-1200, essentially it has far more tonal options, it's quieter plus it's been very reliable in spite of being configured into bridge mode while driving a 4 ohm load regularly, of course thats only one mans experience, I'm sure there are those with different yet just as legit views.
 
#13
I'm way too cheap to buy Ampeg, and way too old to lug one around.

Carvin stuff is decent quality, and it won't break the bank.

If you need something other than stage monitor from your rig, YMMV.
 
#14
Gj, it is a lot of amp for less money. They just are not as realiable.

If you the type that likes to trade later, you REALLY don't want Carvin. All things the same you get less for the Carvin. This is true for tradeing thier basses also and i happen to like thier basses.

Let me restate, I don't have either so I really don't have a dog in the hunt.
 
#15
bampilot06 said:
Thanks for the responses. My svt was reliable never had issues with it. Thats why im sucker for ampeg. With that said going through two micro cls both out of the box not working kinda hits on that some. I do have a feeling your right about ampeg cl being ampeg name only. I will check out the genz benz
Click to expand...

Ampeg sure do seem to have reliability issues. What about the carvin with a tech 21 VT bass pedal? Those pedals can get a pretty close to ampeg tone
 
#18
I'll take a Carvin bass over any other bass on the market. But Ampeg vs. Carvin amps? I vote Ampeg.

I have an old Carvin Pro-Bass 500, which I purchased in 1991. I've never loved it. It seems to lack punch, or any real character. The new amps may be better.

I recently played a gig with a backlined Ampeg rig, and was blown away by the warm furriness of it all.

I personally don't use either brand currently, but I'd definitely choose the Ampeg.
 

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