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Amps/Cabs trylist: what else ?

pmaraziti

pmaraziti

Feb 12, 2006
1,106
43
51
Singapore
#1
Dear Low End Addicts,

I'm putting together the right trylist to help me finding the amp/cabs combinaiton for the sound I'm looking for.
The requirements are: 500W rig with some nice headroom form medium to big clubs gigs. The sound whould be warm and round (I dig the sound of Jon Ossman on Chris Botti DVD, the setups was all Eden I think) , but quite flexible. I don't want a heavy rig.

Amps I've included:
Epifani 902 (maybe the 502)
Eden WT800
Aguilar DB750
a Markbass

Should I include anything from Glockenklang and Mesa Boogie?Others ?

Cabs I've included (I'm inclined towards 12", but feel free to open my mind)
Epifani UL 212 (should I buy 2 of them ?)
Schroeder 1212 (should I buy 2 of them ?)

Let me know what you suggest apart from this !
I'm struggling to find a shop which has everything (maybe bass central) to test it out...

Thank you !
Paolo
 
#3
Have you checked out basstasters.com?

I've been doing something similar as you and I went through the entire list on basstasters one day. For my ear, I like the Trace Elliot V type preamp and the Epifani 4x10 cab the best.

Too bad for me that the Trace is discontinued. Also, who knows what the stuff sounds like in person?
 
#5
musicman5string said:
For my ear, I like the Trace Elliot V type preamp and the Epifani 4x10 cab the best.

Too bad for me that the Trace is discontinued. Also, who knows what the stuff sounds like in person?
Click to expand...
I really loved the V-Type clip they had on there, but when I actually played one I wasn't able to get that sound out of it. Part of that was that I wasn't using a Sadowsky or MTD, I imagine.
 
#6
Hmm....but did it sound good? I guess it doesn't matter if they're not making them anymore.
Just looking at my list it seems I also liked the Sadowsky outboard pre,the Ashdown RRm1, and the BE Bmax...and (of course) the Avalon....but THAT aint happenin....


I'll check the Thunderfunk again...it didn't make my list the first time.
 
#7
You definitely need to add Bergantino to that list!

Quickie reference guide:

Berg IP series: powered cabinets with digital signal processing ... the cabs of the future are here today
Berg HS series: modern ported/tweetered cabs (clear, deep, and loud)
Berg NV series: vintage sealed cabs, warm but NOT muddy!
 
#8
Well, in my opinion, if you want a truly HUGE round sound, go with the SWR Megoliath. Sure, you're thinking "great... another huge 8x10 to move around." It's actually one of the lightest I've found and rather easy to move due to the handles on the bottom. Take my word on it. This cab is amazing! It definitely has ALL the low end you could ever want. Feel free to ask any questions if you're interested.
 
#11
One question I have is: do you want much color added to your tone from your rig? I was talking to someone the other day who wants as little color as possible, but I think I'd like some warmth added from the amp or preamp and the cab. Not alot, and not any real toneal variations, just alittle warmth and roundness. To me, that's what that Trace V type sounded like.....
 
#13
musicman5string said:
One question I have is: do you want much color added to your tone from your rig? I was talking to someone the other day who wants as little color as possible, but I think I'd like some warmth added from the amp or preamp and the cab. Not alot, and not any real toneal variations, just alittle warmth and roundness. To me, that's what that Trace V type sounded like.....
Click to expand...

These V-types are still great pre's.
 
#14
musicman5string said:
One question I have is: do you want much color added to your tone from your rig? I was talking to someone the other day who wants as little color as possible, but I think I'd like some warmth added from the amp or preamp and the cab. Not alot, and not any real toneal variations, just alittle warmth and roundness. To me, that's what that Trace V type sounded like.....
Click to expand...

Yep, I'd like some color added... I really love the tone of Paul Turner as well on the Jamiroquai gig @ Jazz Cafe in London... ok, he had a wonderfull Alleva Coppolo and ... he's Paul Turner ! :)

I'm intrigued by the Thunderfunk...

Paolo
 
#19
pmaraziti said:
Yep, I'd like some color added... I really love the tone of Paul Turner as well on the Jamiroquai gig @ Jazz Cafe in London... ok, he had a wonderfull Alleva Coppolo and ... he's Paul Turner ! :)

I'm intrigued by the Thunderfunk...

Paolo
Click to expand...

The A-C basses sound VERY nice through the Thunderfunk head if you are looking for more warm/vintage tone that is still tight, quick, and articulate. The Markbass LMII also sounds great with those wonderful, single coil basses if you want a little wider and slightly more modern tone, and want more boom and sizzle in your slap sound (if you use that technique at all).

For 212 cabs, I'm very impressed with both the Eden 212XLT and the Aguilar 212 cab (can't remember the letters... GS?)... and I'm not a big fan of any of the other cabs in those companies' line-up. I have not played the Epi212UL, but really like all the other cabs in that line, so I bet it would be killer. A single one of any of these 212's in 4ohm version would be plenty loud for the gigs you describe with a 500 watt head like the TF or LMII (or Eden WT550).

Regarding the Schroeder 1212L, great cab, but VERY different sounding than a typical 212 cab. Most 212 cabs are deep and wide sounding to my ear. The very small 1212L is more of a mid punch machine, which can be good or bad depending on your tone goal. If 'small and light' is not very, very high on your list, the other, larger more traditionally voiced 212's would be a better bet IMO.

Finally, although they are quite pricey, the Accugroove Whappo Jr. is a very nice, warm, organic sounding cab that matches up wonderfully with the Thunderfunk.

IMO as always.
 
#20
pmaraziti said:
Really ? I thought that much of the DB750 (which I like) came from the tube pre. Has the AG500 really a similar tone ?

I think I'll need to spend a week at basscentral to check everything out !

Paolo
Click to expand...

If you want the tubiest tone you can get in a relatively small, lightweight format, the Mesa MPulse line is very cool. The MPulse600 is just a beautiful sounding 'modern clean' tube tone... very warm and fat, but clean... like a good mic preamp.. wonderful. The Walkabout is a little warmer and growlier, and the BB750 is rock snarly and mid grindy.

I would still think the Thunderfunk would be wonderful for your described tone goal, but if you really want some big, tubey-bloomy low end and that very unique warm 100% tube top end in a small, lightweight format, the MPulse600 is really something.
 

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