Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Amps you hate
- Thread starter ojthesimpson
- Start date
alexclaber
Commercial User
Just in defense of an amp I bought while doing a steady outdoor gig in Miami. (This is going back a few...), but it was a Crate amplifier (I think it was called the BR200???)...and I think at the time I was using an SWR Henry Jr. (4x8). I bought them both specifically because I didn't want my serious stuff to get all...salted/corroded out. I used it for nearly two years there, with very satisfactory results.
Ok...I'll throw in my 2 cents...
Really dislike SWR amplification...I find no redeeming qualities.
Peavy has always had its shortcomings as well.
If I have to pick one on the high end of the spectrum...(and this is most likely because of all the ranting about this amp being near to the second coming of Christ)...I was not impressed w/ the Iamp 800. Not much by way of headroom and quite frankly, very sterile. I think I owe it to them that I'm back to all tube preamps; thank you EA. Yes, Iamp owners...it is a decent setup, considering size and its kinda cute w/ its little sliders, buttons and pretty red knobs; but not worth the hype...MO...on the flip side, I would certainly not look down my long nose at anyone choosing to use one.
Ok...I'll throw in my 2 cents...
Really dislike SWR amplification...I find no redeeming qualities.
Peavy has always had its shortcomings as well.
If I have to pick one on the high end of the spectrum...(and this is most likely because of all the ranting about this amp being near to the second coming of Christ)...I was not impressed w/ the Iamp 800. Not much by way of headroom and quite frankly, very sterile. I think I owe it to them that I'm back to all tube preamps; thank you EA. Yes, Iamp owners...it is a decent setup, considering size and its kinda cute w/ its little sliders, buttons and pretty red knobs; but not worth the hype...MO...on the flip side, I would certainly not look down my long nose at anyone choosing to use one.
GK, trace and peavy sound crappy and harsh.
If you really want people to get the point, plug the aforesaid, crappy-sounding heads into any Hartke cabs. Harsh and brittle, even if stage volume cuts through a loud guitar stack.
Crappy sounding from the audience.
Crappy sounding to the audience.
And don't say your personal taste is more important that what the audience cares about. It isn't more important, unless you play in isolation.
Bass guitars amplified should sound warm, wet and thick and juicy.
If you really want people to get the point, plug the aforesaid, crappy-sounding heads into any Hartke cabs. Harsh and brittle, even if stage volume cuts through a loud guitar stack.
Crappy sounding from the audience.
Crappy sounding to the audience.
And don't say your personal taste is more important that what the audience cares about. It isn't more important, unless you play in isolation.
Bass guitars amplified should sound warm, wet and thick and juicy.
I had a Hartke Kickback 15 that was fine. I expected it to be tinny but I think the fact it was a 15 gave it a bit more beef. It was also VERY loud for a 120watt combo. Played some big venues OK.
Carvin combos are my pet hate. Was forced to play though one on a ship gig for 4 months and could not coax a decent sound out of it. I'd get lucky every now and then and find a passable sound but then it'd sound awful when I tried to reproduce it coz of the over complicated preamp. The flat sound is unusable.
Mark
Carvin combos are my pet hate. Was forced to play though one on a ship gig for 4 months and could not coax a decent sound out of it. I'd get lucky every now and then and find a passable sound but then it'd sound awful when I tried to reproduce it coz of the over complicated preamp. The flat sound is unusable.
Mark
i thought i was one of the few members that didnt like the ampeg tone, this thread proved me wrong.
I'm shocked at all those who hate the SWR's. I always thought those were well loved all over. Interesting.
I dont like: swr heads. but I like their cabs
I dont like: ampeg cabs but I like their heads
I dont like: eden cabs but I like their heads
I dont like peavey. Something about that tone just doesnt work for me, made to last though. I do have to say that the new peavey pa speakers sound good.
The biggest disappointment to me was a aguilar db359 and aguilar 212 combo. Bad volume and bad tone.
The other high end piece of gear that disappointed me wa an epifani 210ul. Farted out before a lot of cabs Ive tried.
Even though Id like to get ahold of one, I dont think the EA Iamp 800 holds up to all the hype.
I dont like: ampeg cabs but I like their heads
I dont like: eden cabs but I like their heads
I dont like peavey. Something about that tone just doesnt work for me, made to last though. I do have to say that the new peavey pa speakers sound good.
The biggest disappointment to me was a aguilar db359 and aguilar 212 combo. Bad volume and bad tone.
The other high end piece of gear that disappointed me wa an epifani 210ul. Farted out before a lot of cabs Ive tried.
Even though Id like to get ahold of one, I dont think the EA Iamp 800 holds up to all the hype.
SWR became really big around 1987. They were one of the 1st integrated amps that offered a "transparent" tone. Not everyone liked them then, and since that time trends have gone back and forth to more "colored" tones. One of the big advantages to the SWR preamp was that it added some clarity to vintage basses (or if you prefer, didn't rob them of any more clarity). Since then, a good deal of the "high end" basses that have come out excell at clarity, but fall short on old school "warmth". Many players discovered that they liked playing these thru preamps with more "character". Ditto for cabinets with hyped tweeters, especially ones like the original SWR/Eden Goliath. IMO, once you get to a certain level there are no "bad" amps, just a myriad of flavors, some of which you may not like.Moo said:
IvanMike said:
You just nailed it. With a P bass or even my old Pedulla Rapture J2 the SWR is great, with my modulus I need some help from a preamp.
The old SWR speakers are good with either ... as long as you have a fat sounding pre with the modern bass.
to say they don't like Aguilar, EA or, heaven forbid, schroeder cabs.
The point is, find something you can afford that you can get a decent sound out. You shouldn't feel discouraged to play if you do not have expensive stuff.
A stupid teenager playing along with CDs 6 hours a day out of his little combo that his mom bought him is getting the point more than these exotic collectors who spend more time arguing the merits of their gear.
In other words, we all should just shut up and play our bass once in awhile.
That said, I really like Edens and vintage tube amps.
The point is, find something you can afford that you can get a decent sound out. You shouldn't feel discouraged to play if you do not have expensive stuff.
A stupid teenager playing along with CDs 6 hours a day out of his little combo that his mom bought him is getting the point more than these exotic collectors who spend more time arguing the merits of their gear.
In other words, we all should just shut up and play our bass once in awhile.
That said, I really like Edens and vintage tube amps.
IvanMike said:
Wow...1987. I remember getting a Tobias classic and an SWR Goliath (w/ the port in the rear) - still IMO the best cab they made...and running it w/ my then, new Walter Woods. Never cared for SWR's amplifier (which if I'm not mistaken came out about 2 years after the inception of the Goliath). I think it was the 350(?) I never thought of them as 'transparent'. Was that a selling point for them?
Ya know...this term: transparent. I think I'm over it. I'm sure there are objective ways/tools to determine one amp's color (or lack therof) over another, but I fail to see the point. The truth be told; after the sound of these "transparent" amps hits your ears, you immediately translate an objective measurement into a subjective experience and one transparent amp has 'color' over another transparent amp. I mean, it really becomes a moot point (unless you're the kind of consumer that has to boast of his amp's transparency prowess.) And are tubes out of this equation...apparently not - tube amps are as popular today if not more than ever! (?) I'm in full agreement w/ your answer in your last sentence:
IvanMike said:
i own amps from probally the 2 most put down companys.
peavey.
hartke.
i have the peavey mark IV bass head. a SOLID bass amp, construstion wise, it is the toughest bass head i know. It tone is kinda sterile and now after 2 years im starting to get a good BASS tone, maybe due to my 2x10, anyways.
hartke B60. 60 watt practice amp, i really love that little guy. a solid amp that i leave at school for jazz band. with only one 12 it can give a nice up right bass tone that i need. if i had more money and didnt know what to buy, lol, i would probally buy an ampeg B100R, the rocket amp to replace it. just because it looks cool and has a sweet 15 in it.
my list would be.
Crate...played the newest combo from them, the 15" and i thought it was solid, but bad amps out weight good ones.
SWR....really un happy with some of there stuff, but i played threw a KILLER 4x10 1x15 rig at a blues jam night. ohh man that thing was awesome. but again, bad out weights the good.
peavey.
hartke.
i have the peavey mark IV bass head. a SOLID bass amp, construstion wise, it is the toughest bass head i know. It tone is kinda sterile and now after 2 years im starting to get a good BASS tone, maybe due to my 2x10, anyways.
hartke B60. 60 watt practice amp, i really love that little guy. a solid amp that i leave at school for jazz band. with only one 12 it can give a nice up right bass tone that i need. if i had more money and didnt know what to buy, lol, i would probally buy an ampeg B100R, the rocket amp to replace it. just because it looks cool and has a sweet 15 in it.
my list would be.
Crate...played the newest combo from them, the 15" and i thought it was solid, but bad amps out weight good ones.
SWR....really un happy with some of there stuff, but i played threw a KILLER 4x10 1x15 rig at a blues jam night. ohh man that thing was awesome. but again, bad out weights the good.
angelopb said:
I've not played Schroeders so I can't say... But there are EA, Aguilar, and numerous other high-end pieces that I do not like. Personally, I'd rather be able to help my wheelchair bound girlfriend of three years (whom I will be marrying) get in and out of cars and up and down steps with a healthy back for as long as I can. That means no more hauling around 810's in and out of trucks and up and down steps for me...
Music is something we all take seriously here, myself and my girlfriend (an accomplished pianist) included. Sounding the best I can is very important to me. Having a flexible rig is something I feel is paramount to sounding good, and if it isn't portable I'm at the point where it just isn't worth it to me.
Now when Crate or Peavey starts making reliable gear that sounds great all the way on down to the B-string, and is small, portable, loud, and able to cover many different varieties/styles, at the cheap prices they have now, count me in! Until then, my current rig or some similar conception of it (DB-680 into my lightweight 2KW power amp into my two lightweight EA cabs) is staying put...
And what the 16 year-old playing for 6 hours a day doesn't get (yet) is that he's most likely going to need a minimum of 5x that wattage with more speaker area to keep up with the 16-17 year old drummers and guitarists.
With all of that out of the way, I do believe that tone is in the player and his or her fingers... The gear you choose can help or detract from that tone to varying degrees though, IMO.
