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Bass Amp - which one to choose??

#22
Philip Capewell said:
Unfortunately I only had the trace elliot SMX gp12 since last June and have had three blown ups and a cut out problem with it, its a great amp but its also been the bairn of my life for problems :( i just cant risk getting an older amp like that again. Its the whole poweramp problems that seem to come with it and also finding people to fix it who know what they are doing from amps around that time. I was playing through a Peavey TNT combo which is the older than trace and still running fine but just not getting the tone which is why i moved onto the Trace
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The old Trace gear is pretty legendary for reliability. Not a bad suggestion to get another and then maybe an ELF for back up. Since the old gear is heavy some amazing equipment can be picked up cheap. I picked up this last year for $600. No issues at all with it. Sounds amazing.
 

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#23
For what it’s worth, a really good sound head and cab combo is a Hartke3500 and a SWR 4x10 cab. The hartke head is kinda bright sounding and the swr cab is kinda softer sounding= a really nice sounding setup. I like it better than my Ampeg and gk setups I previously had.
 
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#26
Haymaker said:
For what it’s worth, a really good sound head and cab combo is a Hartke3500 and a SWR 4x10 cab. The hartke head is kinda bright sounding and the swr cab is kinda softer sounding= a really nice sounding setup. I like it better than my Ampeg and gk setups I previously had.
Click to expand...
And depending upon your cab choices, Hartke 3500s can get significantly louder than their 350Watt RMS rating would have you believe. The graphic EQ is a really nice touch, and the blendable parallel tube and SS preamps as well. Lots of gut-punch and lots of highs available as well.
I'd definitely suggest trying one out unless the 35ish pound weight is a problem.
 
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#27
Concerning the hartke3500, I have found that there are slot of people who don’t know how to use it! Most I’ve found don’t know they need to blend the tube and the SS knobs together and work the high and low pass knobs too in conjunction. It’s not a straight forward amp, but when you get it dialed in it’s sounds really good.
 
#29
Haymaker said:
For what it’s worth, a really good sound head and cab combo is a Hartke3500 and a SWR 4x10 cab. The hartke head is kinda bright sounding and the swr cab is kinda softer sounding= a really nice sounding setup. I like it better than my Ampeg and gk setups I previously had.
Click to expand...

I had a SWR rig once with a Goliath 410, and I loved how it sounded. I didn't love that it weighed 80 pounds. (edit: I just looked it up, 89 pounds)
 
#31
baddarryl said:
The old Trace gear is pretty legendary for reliability. Not a bad suggestion to get another and then maybe an ELF for back up. Since the old gear is heavy some amazing equipment can be picked up cheap. I picked up this last year for $600. No issues at all with it. Sounds amazing.
Click to expand...

Totally understand that that it will differ for reliability from amp to amp, so i know just because my amp hasnt been playing nice, doesnt mean the next one will be (or yours for that matter), but i kind of just need to know my amp is going to work lol as ive had nothing but trouble with my SMX, but thats the risk with all second hand gear I suppose, nevermind amps that were made 20 + year ago. But the Bipolar bear poweramp that comes with it, is known to be notorious for problems (alot research on this). Im young lad so not bothered about heavy gear at my age at this present time, so lugging gear around doesnt bother me really. But i will give it i think.

Hope your rig will be ok and doesnt suffer the problems ive had :)
 
#32
Artman said:
And depending upon your cab choices, Hartke 3500s can get significantly louder than their 350Watt RMS rating would have you believe. The graphic EQ is a really nice touch, and the blendable parallel tube and SS preamps as well. Lots of gut-punch and lots of highs available as well.
I'd definitely suggest trying one out unless the 35ish pound weight is a problem.
Click to expand...

Ive got my cabs sorted but will check out the Hartke 3500 for defo, Weight is not an issue :)
 
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#33
Philip Capewell said:
Hello People

I need help on choosing my next bass amp. I have previously posted about my Trace Elliot SMX GP12 having problems on this forum, well after three fixes and back and fourth to an amp tech. The amp gave out again today at band practise. So now as much as I love the amp and the sound it gives me, i think it's time to let go and move on. Only problem is I'm not sure which amp or manufacture to go with and where its not going to be burning a hole (too much) in my pocket.

I need an amp that gives me a punchy bass and treble sound that I got from the Trace Elliot Pre Shape, my sound is a mix between Mark King and Marcus Miller. Bass with enough punch and treble so you can hear every string being hit.

Few things i will miss from the Trace is the Graphic EQ, built in compression and the EQ balance mix. The EQ balance mix is such a great tool for when cutting through certain frequencies more when you are playing venues with not so great acoustics. So if theres any amps out there that people have had experience with which would give me the same qualities as my Trace Elliott than any suggestions would be most appreciated.

P.S people have suggested the Aguila Tone Hammer but watching videos on youtube im not getting the sound vibe i would of liked to have from it.
Click to expand...

I played an old AH350SMH for a few years in the 90s. The amp had tone qualities that are generally confounding, as in they work against each other. Nice fat lows that somehow remain clear, tight, focused. And nice bright highs that somehow remain warm.

The amp in my collection that most reminds me of it is my Genz Benz GBE1200. The GBE1200 were considered top of the line touring amps just a few years ago. Two channels one FET, and one Tube. You can find these amps in very good condition with the massive FootSwitch for about $600. The only detractor IMHO is they weigh 42lbs. I have 29 amps in my collection and the GBE1200 might be the one I would keep, if there could only be one. Of course it's not exactly the same as the old Trace Elliot...but I think it does have some of the same type of Mojo...and AFAIK it's brutally powerful and rock solid reliable and




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Genz Benz GBE 1200 Bass Head w/Footswitch | Evolution Music - Manassas | Reverb

If weight is a priority, I believe the Genz Benz ShuttleMax 12.2 and 9.2 are voiced fairly similarly and have variable mid controls.
 
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#35
Just checked out the Genzler MG800, god what lovely amp and a few from GK. But they are just a little out of my price range at this present time :( the Genzler MG800 is pretty much near the tone i want and very close TC that i had.

Just checked out the EBS HD350 that Marcus Miller had, also lovely sounding amp but again its just finding one as i dont think they make new anymore
 
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#38
Philip Capewell said:
Hello People

I need help on choosing my next bass amp. I have previously posted about my Trace Elliot SMX GP12 having problems on this forum, well after three fixes and back and fourth to an amp tech. The amp gave out again today at band practise. So now as much as I love the amp and the sound it gives me, i think it's time to let go and move on. Only problem is I'm not sure which amp or manufacture to go with and where its not going to be burning a hole (too much) in my pocket.

I need an amp that gives me a punchy bass and treble sound that I got from the Trace Elliot Pre Shape, my sound is a mix between Mark King and Marcus Miller. Bass with enough punch and treble so you can hear every string being hit.

Few things i will miss from the Trace is the Graphic EQ, built in compression and the EQ balance mix. The EQ balance mix is such a great tool for when cutting through certain frequencies more when you are playing venues with not so great acoustics. So if theres any amps out there that people have had experience with which would give me the same qualities as my Trace Elliott than any suggestions would be most appreciated.

P.S people have suggested the Aguila Tone Hammer but watching videos on youtube im not getting the sound vibe i would of liked to have from it.
Click to expand...

I think I remember you and your MOSFET mismatch issue.

Here is the deal...that Trace Elliot SMX series was the pinnacle of that companies efforts before Ashdown.

That being said; there are many reliable SMX units around that have that sound that you like and want. Find another one. If you want to keep looking for a tone you may like better, buy something else.

Trace Elliot = Trace Elliot

It ROCKS!
 
#39
Philip Capewell said:
Unfortunately I only had the trace elliot SMX gp12 since last June and have had three blown ups and a cut out problem with it, its a great amp but its also been the bairn of my life for problems :( i just cant risk getting an older amp like that again. Its the whole poweramp problems that seem to come with it and also finding people to fix it who know what they are doing from amps around that time. I was playing through a Peavey TNT combo which is the older than trace and still running fine but just not getting the tone which is why i moved onto the Trace
Click to expand...
wow, sorry to hear that you had issues like that. I've had 2 over the years that didn't give a single issue but then again they weren't quite as old.
To give you an idea of what I like, my main amps were the Trace Elliots, briefly an Ampeg SVT4Pro, and most importantly an Eden WT550..... then I went to an Aguilar TH500. It was great but never felt right to me so I grabbed a Crest CA9 power amp with an Eden Pre and was in love... until I got tired of lugging it all around.

I've since purchased a Mesa TT-800 and couldn't be happier. It sounds massive yet articulate in its own way and seems more like a window to the tone of the bass rather than making the instrument conform to its own inherent sound.
In fact... I even use it for guitar. Yup, just a Line6 PodGO into my Mesa. I seriously sold a pedalboard of 15 high end/vintage pedals as well as a Splawn Quickrod tube head, the Eden WTP, Crest CA9, DBX160a, and a 1st gen BBE maximizer.
The Line6 and Mesa replaced all of it.
 
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#40
PhatBottomBass1 said:
I think I remember you and your MOSFET mismatch issue.

Here is the deal...that Trace Elliot SMX series was the pinnacle of that companies efforts before Ashdown.

That being said; there are many reliable SMX units around that have that sound that you like and want. Find another one. If you want to keep looking for a tone you may like better, buy something else.

Trace Elliot = Trace Elliot

It ROCKS!
Click to expand...


Totally understand and which i stated earlier just because mine has had problems doesnt mean other SMX models will have the same issue, just a risk of buying one that could produce the same problems and Im out of pocket and back to square one
 

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