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Are bass amps obsolete?

#582
superdick2112 said:
If the used amp market is any indication, non-Ampeg fridge-size rigs are out of vouge.
I have my big PJB rig for sale locally on CL (I can't imagine the cost or logistics of shipping it), and while I have had some interest in the head, it seems nobody wants large cabs anymore, no matter how good they sound.
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Try listing your PJB here on Tb Classifieds. Which cab do you have?
 
#583
sanwin17 said:
Try listing your PJB here on Tb Classifieds. Which cab do you have?
Click to expand...

I bought the full-meal deal.
I have an M-500 head, along with 8-T and 16-B cabs, same as the rig pictured here...

100_3873-jpg.jpg


Not quite as big as an SVT, but its more than 2x as powerful, and just a tad heavier...
 
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#585
Adam Groves said:
Personal amps will always be important on and off stage. And I hope I never play a show where people are wearing ear buds, totally misses the point. When I had my first amp 2 channel Peavey with 1810 cabinet, I learned about volume, sound, tone, gain, feedback and other stuff. It wasn't just about bass, but everything else or what it wasn't supposed to be. When we played basement shows or practiced, we would use it for vocals and bass because we had nothing else.

Amps are getting more portable and my band members rely on my amp, when we play, because monitors are not always reliable nor are sound guys. Depends on scale, but bass amps will never be obsolete and I do not think musicians should give up their amps. It will still be a central part of playing electric.
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yes :thumbsup: :) :bassist:
 
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#587
two fingers said:
Bass amps are not simply about convenience and/or practicality (or the lack thereof) for many of us.

I simply enjoy hearing myself through speakers. When I can, I will bring an amp. If I can get away with it, I'll bring an Ampeg SVT. The sound of that heavy beast makes me smile. :bassist:

They absolutely will be less common in a decade or so. We'll probably all have wireless basses with transmitters you can't see that send a signal directly to the computer used to run sound (that is the size of a pack of gum). Every audience member will be wearing headphones (tiny earbuds) that allow them to control the volume of their live band. Take out your earbuds and all you will hear are people talking and the sound of sticks hitting electronic drums pads. Your average bar will sound like a library until you put in earbuds. :cool:

So, not yet... but it's coming.
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All I can say is Thank God I’ll probably be dead and long gone by then or at least incapable of doing any gigging. Of coarse I’m sure there will always be the retro gig or bar that will still embrace the old sound systems and amps. Can’t imagine there not being any listeners left that wouldn’t want to still “feel” the sound!!
 
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#589
sanwin17 said:
In every situation I have played in the last several years FOH has controlled the bass, volume and tone. My stage amp, when I have occasion to use one, serves as my personal monitor. This is not only on big stages but also in small clubs when band leader provides sound and mix. FOH always wants the stage volume down so they can control the mix. And yet, it seems almost every day, a new bass amp is out.
Thoughts?
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Not the norm I know, but thru our pa we have 5 trumpets, 5 trombones & 6 saxes sharing a couple of mics per row (for solos, but never switched off), 2 vocalists and we DI the (electric) piano for bit of extra spread, but guitar, bass & drums are rarely in the pa, so we can play at a reasonable volume on stage;) Having said that I run a Puma 500 through a little fearless 112H and never need > vol 4. If I was to do without an on-stage rig, I'd want in ears and a bassboard to stand on, or maybe one of those new back vibrators.
 
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#590
Ian Lewis said:
Not the norm I know, but thru our pa we have 5 trumpets, 5 trombones & 6 saxes sharing a couple of mics per row (for solos, but never switched off), 2 vocalists and we DI the (electric) piano for bit of extra spread, but guitar, bass & drums are rarely in the pa, so we can play at a reasonable volume on stage;) Having said that I run a Puma 500 through a little fearless 112H and never need > vol 4. If I was to do without an on-stage rig, I'd want in ears and a bassboard to stand on, or maybe one of those new back vibrators.
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Interesting lineup. What kind of musics?
 
#591
We play rock-metal and I use only my Darkglass preamp with cabinet simulation. That goes directly to PA and my IEM. No need for loud and heavy amp an stage. I am little bit confused from what I read here. We in Czech Republic have full PA even for smaller venues (approx 80 listeners). For medium venues about 150+ people you always have full PA with enough wedges for every player and independent AUX mix. I switched to playing only with IEM and I can hear my bass more clear, than with amp. And when I want, I can hear the complete mix of the song when I need to hear what our guitarist plays on rehersals.

You don't have full PA for small venues in the world?
 
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#593
sanwin17 said:
In every situation I have played in the last several years FOH has controlled the bass, volume and tone.
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That is not my situation. I have to make my own noise and none of the bands I see gigging at a local or touring level are doing away with amps.

IME for most of us, bass amps are not obsolete, redundant or being replaced.
 
#594
Remguy said:
Yeah baby, the 80s! Did you play the obligatory Rickenbacker 4001?
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Never had that kind of money then (or now, for that matter). Main axe was an Electra Phoenix X-630 (oddball P clone) on which I routed in a J by the bridge. Killer top and bottom and sustain for days (one of the early Matsumoku versions).
Search of that tone also took me into biamping with full rackmount gear culminating in in a Gauss 18 bottom and 2X10 top, after I tired of hauling around 2-2X15 cabs and a small one for the top (think it was an Altec coaxial 12 cab)
Needless to say, I have more than a little hearing damage today (tinnitus and high end loss). That makes this whole amp Vs Monitors Vs ITE all the more relevant now.
 
#596
Ian Lewis said:
Not the norm I know, but thru our pa we have 5 trumpets, 5 trombones & 6 saxes sharing a couple of mics per row (for solos, but never switched off), 2 vocalists and we DI the (electric) piano for bit of extra spread, but guitar, bass & drums are rarely in the pa, so we can play at a reasonable volume on stage;) Having said that I run a Puma 500 through a little fearless 112H and never need > vol 4. If I was to do without an on-stage rig, I'd want in ears and a bassboard to stand on, or maybe one of those new back vibrators.
Click to expand...
Sounds like a fun big band. In that situation you would want a "music emanating from the stage vibe" to sound authentic.
 
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#600
superdick2112 said:
I bought the full-meal deal.
I have an M-500 head, along with 8-T and 16-B cabs, same as the rig pictured here...

View attachment 3314602

Not quite as big as an SVT, but its more than 2x as powerful, and just a tad heavier...
Click to expand...

It's pretty easy to see why nobody wants that speaker rig.. It's very much a case of complexity. What I'm wondering is why YOU WANT TO SELL? as that's really what's at question here.
 
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