Bass amp, the big shootout!

[baxter_x]

Hi all,

I thought it could be interesting to have a big amp shootout with most of the classic amps for bass. Obviously, everything will be In My Humble Opinion.
I've played for about 7 years on an Ampeg SVT 4 Pro. I've also owned Mesa M-Pulse 600, a Mesa M9 Carbine and a Mesa Titan V12. I sold all the heads and kept the Titan V12.
I also wanted to try since a long time an all tube head just to see if it's worth it. SO I rented an Ampeg SVT2 Pro and an Aguilar DB750. I wanted to try the DB750 as so many people praise that amp.
The basses I used where an Fender American Deluxe Precision, a Lakland 55-02 Deluxe and a Sire V7. Cabs were two SWR Goliath III 410s.

So, here's my review of all the amps:

Ampeg SVT 4 Pro:
As I mentioned it, I've used this amp fro 7 years. To me, it's one of the best amp you can find on the market. It has all the bells and whistles any bass player would need: Compressor, 9 band EQ, power for days. Also, you can plug a hole bunch of different cab combinations thanks the mono/stereo capabilities of the amp. And in stereo it can go down to 2ohms. Soundwise it's massive, heavy... The typical Ampeg tone. Unfortunatly, I've seen many people bashing that amp on the board. I can't believe those who bash the amp used it correctly. However because of this mono/stereo capability, the SVT 4 Pro is not a plug and play amp. I sold because it was a bit heavy, after 7 years I wanted to change, and I would probably never use the stereo options as I only play 4*10s. But I still love that great amp!

Mesa Titan V12
The same says it all! Same power as the SVT 4 PRo, but feels a bit stronger. However it has two totally independent channels with OD on each channels, solo knob, two independents inputs . It's also very light for such an amp! around 30lb. Tonewise, the amp has the Mesa tone. Very clean, articulate and very dynamic. Knobs are very sensitive. Everything can be controlled from the 5 buttons footswitch. The sound produced is as massive as the SVT 4, a bit stronger and slightly colder. But I love it. I compared it to the SVT 2, and felt it was the same. The SVT2 was maybe a little bit more articulate, but in a live situation, you never notice it!

Ampeg SVT 2 Pro
We all know this classic amp. I wanted to try it since a while as the tube sound is praised by so many players and I wanted to see if that all tube thing was THAT great. The first thing that hit me was the fact that when played clean , I felt I was playing my SVT 4. To me it was 100% the same sound. I even had to visually check that my bass was plugged in the SVT 2 to make sure I was not mistaking. I then messed with the amp for like two hours, but haven't been really impressed by that tube thing. Yes, I could feel that natural tube compression, that tube "thing", but nothing so incredible to me. I felt my Titan and my SVT 4 had more headroom in the lows. I admit, I rented it and never used it live, but I'll never do it for one reason: its weight!!! OMG!!! Are you serious?? Some of you really carry that thing around??? So much pain just for this tube tone? If I had to just, I would take another SVT 4 against the 2. I might be the only bassist in the world to make such a choice but I swear I would! Tonewise pretty much the same for the sound I crave, and the SVT 4 pro is not such a pain to move around

Aguilar DB750
Well...... Tell me what's so special with this amp?? I was just nice. Nothing fancy or fantastic about the tone produced. It even reminded my Mesa M-Pulse 600 that I traded against an M9 because I couldn't get a tone I liked out of it. I felt the same with the DB750. The fans produced the same level of noise of a plane when taking off. The weight is insane for an SS amp. Did I miss something? I've seen this amp described so many times as one of the best things ever created for bass players, but to me it's just.... nice.

Mesa Carbine M9
Traded against an M-Pulse 600 plus 300 buck from me. It was night and day! I loved the M9. Super dynamic, great finish, awesome compressor, 9 bands EQ, only 2U.... Absolutely great amp. Despite some strange choices in the conception of the amp. Especially the taper of the master volume. Those who owned it know what I'm talking about. One very slight touch on the knob switched from mute to deafening. Plus other little strange things. Still, an awesome amp. I also felt it was sounding way better with my Sire V7 than both of my PBasses. I sold it as it was bit too much on the SS typical sound. And At the time I had to much gear that had to go.

This great shootout raised a couple of things. First, trust your ears and only your ears. For example so many people claim the DB750 is one of the most fantastic head created. I just think it has nothing special, it's very heavy and noisy. Also, many of the board claim once you have tried an all tube amp, you never look back. Well, maybe I should try more, but for what I've seen and heard, I don't see a real reason to go full tube.
And in the end, I finally found out that I was more of an SS amp player. So I'll save my cash for a Sadowsky bass soon
Any feedback will be appreciated as usual.

Thanks for reading

 

[kringle77]

Nice review of some solid amps.

 

[baxter_x]

Thanks. The pleasure was mine

 

[Spidey2112]

"So I'll save my cash for a Sadowsky bass soon."

Once I heard Sadowsky, I forgot what the rest of the thread was about... (good choice, my friend).

 

[caligula]

Thanks a lot. I always like these kinds of comparisons.
I cannot really comment on the Ampeg and Mesa amps as I feel I'm not familiar enough with any of them.
I played, however, the DB 750 for seven years.
Did you a/b those amps by yourself or in a band setting?
My experience regarding the DB 750:
When I first checked it out alone, it sounded warm and powerful, but the EQ seemed kind of limited, the fan was rather loud (as you mentioned) and I thought it sounded like a mid-heavy one trick pony.
However, once I used it in a band, that's when it really showed its potential (IME). The EQ is not super flexible, but the tone just sits so incredicly well in a band mix with enormous heft, power and authority. I have seriously never had a better tone in more than two decades of bass playing and miss it quite a bit.
I had a bad tone on stage exactly twice during those seven years. Unfortunately, as you say, it's really heavy, so weight and size made me sell it.
Needless to say, one player's dream is another player's nightmare. Taste is just very subjective.

I had a similar experience with the EBS Fafner I.
A good friend of mine absolutely loved it, I didn't like it at all, especially due to its lack of low mid punch.

 

[bucephylus]

It is somewhat amusing how we all have different ears for these amps. Somewhat like your experience, I could not get that DB750 back in the box fast enough, when I auditioned it. I was using a Berg NV610 at the time, and primarily playing a Sadowsky RV5. I knew within 10 minutes that amp didn't work for me. In contrast, the Trace Elliot Hexavalve that I auditioned at the same time completely won me over. The Hex IS all tube; but, is also perhaps the cleanest all tube amp ever built. In the world of clean, I have since tended to gravitate to the higher power SS power sections.

I still VERY much dig playing through SVT's when they are healthy and supplied by someone else. But, I am also completely satisfied with my Demeter preamp based rigs and my newer Bergantino B|Amp. We have a lot of great choices these days.

 

[MrLenny1]

Thanks for sharing your research.
Yes, lots of choices and varying taste.
My bass playing buddy raved about my rig last night.
A TC RH450 thru a Eden 2x10 XST. Kind of a mutt rig
but it works for me.
If I had a roadie a 6x10 would be nice.

 

[OldFunBass]

Thanks for taking the time to share this. Very interesting and helpful.

 

[baxter_x]

I'm glad you guys like this thread.

Did you a/b those amps by yourself or in a band setting?

By myself. I agress that a band setting is the real final test for any gear.

It is somewhat amusing how we all have different ears for these amps

Yes we all do have different ears. That's the reason why, especially after this shootout, I'll more than ever trust my ears and only that.

 

[Artobass]

Thanks for sharing your opinions on these amps. I too, believe, playing in a the band mix may have possibly changed some impressions. I personally have not played through every amp you played, so my input would be minimal, other than band setting is where I find what works best for me. Again, thanks for the information.

 

[baxter_x]

Oh and I forgot to add: I usually see "that amp is the tubiest I've ever heard/played". To me that just means the amp can produce a warm tone. That is just it!! And I guess a tube amp can sound solid too But strangely I've never seen this description.

 

[tattooSAM]

Nice comparison, maybe some of the amps you weren't as fond of would have sounded better through different cabs or speakers. I have found that certain cabinet/speaker setups really come alive with certain amps. Anything Aguilar seems to really improve when paired with Aguilar cabs IMHO and I bet that SVT-4 pro would have been more dynamic with an Ampeg 8x10 fridge, yet it would have not been a true "apples to apples" comparison at that point and definitely would have taken much more time and $$$$$$$$$$$$$.
I do appreciate the unbiased info and well thought out responses.

 

[SLO Surfer]

Thanks for sharing. I would guess that the SVT 4 would match best out of your choices with an SWR 4X10 too. Those cabs really like SS amps. I owned a Goliath III for 20 years, and I never liked the sound of a tube amp through it. (Granted I only tried a few)

I wonder how your shootout would've gone with a different cab, like a single 15". Or the Aggie 4X10.

 

[Al Kraft]

It's always a good read when someone takes the time to compare their experiences with multiple products, thanks!
FWIW, of the amps you mentioned the M9 is my favorite and one of the heads I own. Your description of the M9 struck me as very fair and accurate based on my own experience.

 

[BassCliff]

Hi,

I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts. I know what you mean about weight. I don't like to carry heavy amps around any more.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[mpdd]

Don't stop, can you do the Mesa subway, gk mb fusion 800, and the quilter bass block 800 too?

 

[baxter_x]

I have found that certain cabinet/speaker setups really come alive with certain amps.

Yes, that would have been awesome if I could have tried the amps with different cabs.

Don't stop, can you do the Mesa subway, gk mb fusion 800, and the quilter bass block 800 too?

If I can rent these amps, I might give a try. However, I've tried the GK MB Fusion 800 in a store, and I was feeling I was playing the Mesa M9 Carbine. I felt it was 100% the same. This typical glassy tone was there exactly the same.

 

[REV]

A word about Tone.... As bass players do we want to sound great on our own ( playing alone in a room)? Or do we want to perform a function in an ensemble? I've heard so many players sound great when they are noodling between songs and sound crappy with the band. We spend so much money and time to get our tone but we don't always consider how that tone affects the music we are playing. I guess the answer is hopefully, both.

 

[baxter_x]

^^THAT^^ took me many years to understand and is the secret for a good tone!
When I started, I was dialing the "best" tone out of my amplifier, but onstage that "fantastic" tone was sounding at best almost audible. In worst case scenarios I couldn't cut through the mix and was getting lost in. It took me many years to understand that what you dial in your room/studio/rehearsal space is most likely completely useless in a band and in a mix.
Once you understand that, it's actually the secret to a great tone. It's like working in a lab in perfect conditions, expecting it'll be the same in real life.

 

[Al Kraft]

However, I've tried the GK MB Fusion 800 in a store, and I was feeling I was playing the Mesa M9 Carbine. I felt it was 100% the same. This typical glassy tone was there exactly the same.

I own GK MB heads and Mesa Carbines and they are much more similar in every respect (aside from size and weight) than people would probably expect. The basic/inherent voicing is remarkably close. Of course with the EQ and other features on some of the heads you can get tonal variations that others can't, but more than a hint of the baked in sound is always there.