I run a fully equipped hourly rehearsal room, the back line we provide is a variety of high end tube amps and v30 cabinets for guitars, the drums are All maple shells w zildjian A custom cymbals, strong Jbl and EV PA w. Beta 58 mics.... the room is treated and sounds great! Clients take notice and are happy with what’s in the room for their rehearsals... However, when some bands return to the studio all to often the bass player is bringing a rig of their own. I’m aware the house bass rig is not satisfactory for some bassists and I want to correct this! Current set up is a ampeg classic 8x10 and svt 350 head.... bassists, what rig would you like to have available for you at rehearsals? Your input is greatly appreciated and will help me determine what gear to go with.... thanks!
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Bass amps
- Thread starter Brasic
- Start date
For me a Fender Rumble 500 or A Genz Benz 6.2/ 212 combo
I gig the Rumble and had the Genz Benz rig, but like a fool I sold it
Duke
I gig the Rumble and had the Genz Benz rig, but like a fool I sold it
Duke
I don’t know why they wouldn’t be happy with that rig for rehearsals., too dark maybe.
I’d say take note of what they’re bringing in, 4x10” is popular for more modern tone.
Most studios we frequented just had basic rigs from combos to the 4x10” and 300W or so amps. I was always happy with the combo but we’re not at all loud, I prefer to keep it low and sort out the arrangements but some other bands were louder in a small room than we are at gigs so I don’t know.
I’d say take note of what they’re bringing in, 4x10” is popular for more modern tone.
Most studios we frequented just had basic rigs from combos to the 4x10” and 300W or so amps. I was always happy with the combo but we’re not at all loud, I prefer to keep it low and sort out the arrangements but some other bands were louder in a small room than we are at gigs so I don’t know.
I also use a Rumble 40 for rehearsal
Duke
Duke
SVT Classic. The SVT 350 is a love/hate solid state amp.
You may look into a PF 50t or VB head too.
I dont think the cab is an issue, unless maybe it is from the dark years or overpowers the the rest of the rigs.
You could look into a cab that moves a little less air and has a more hifi sound, just for versatitity, like a two or three way.
One amp line of note here on the forum that gets a ton of love is the Mesa Subway selection of amps and cabs.
The tl;dr of it is there is only one available amp, with a huge loud cab. The amp is like 50/50 fans/haters. Try a true tube amp; try a newer design solid state amp; try a differently voiced cab.
Good luck
You may look into a PF 50t or VB head too.
I dont think the cab is an issue, unless maybe it is from the dark years or overpowers the the rest of the rigs.
You could look into a cab that moves a little less air and has a more hifi sound, just for versatitity, like a two or three way.
One amp line of note here on the forum that gets a ton of love is the Mesa Subway selection of amps and cabs.
The tl;dr of it is there is only one available amp, with a huge loud cab. The amp is like 50/50 fans/haters. Try a true tube amp; try a newer design solid state amp; try a differently voiced cab.
Good luck
Replace the head with a tube SVT and that will satisfy the majority. It's the #1 backline bass amp used around the world.
If they don't like that, ask them why not.
You know them picky bass players. They want to bring their own amp because they think anything less (or more) is not the TONE they want. 
I would keep the stack you have and get a SVT tube head since it won't be moving around.
I would keep the stack you have and get a SVT tube head since it won't be moving around.
Agree with the SVT choice. V4B, IMO, would also be great for rehearsal volume given that it would be paired with an 810.
With that nice PA, I personally would bring a Preamp/DI and go direct.
With that nice PA, I personally would bring a Preamp/DI and go direct.
810 is a good item to have as a backline! Sell the SVT 350H ASAP! The SVT CL is a good choice, but if you don't want the tube maintenance, the Mesa D800 or D800+ would be two excellent choices.
Ampeg is awesome! I'd say it's more to do with crankin' up their own amp set up in a rehearsal setting. Making sure their amp is loud enough next to the drums.
800RB will do nicely. SVT will too. Both will play nice with an Ampeg 8x10.
I didn't carefully research and buy all my gear just to leave it at home and play through someone else's.
What good is it to rehearse through an SVT and dial that in when you are going to be rocking a GK/Hartke rig at the gig?
What good is it to rehearse through an SVT and dial that in when you are going to be rocking a GK/Hartke rig at the gig?
Just give me DI to the mix desk, and I'm a happy camper. I may be in the minority in this.
if you have nice high end tube amps for the guitars, why not the same for bass ?
SVT-CL
Mesa 400
Fender Super Bassman
Aguilar DB750
Traynot YBA
SVT-CL
Mesa 400
Fender Super Bassman
Aguilar DB750
Traynot YBA
- Feb 12, 2006
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- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
There are a lot of bass players that do not care as much for tube amps. I know this might seem ludicrous to some, but it fairly accurately represents a good portion of the market, especially those who are the less verbal majority.
Different players have different tastes.
I think the head is fine, but maybe have a 4x10 cab and a 1x15 cab to run together or separately. That would cover a wider array of sounds than an 8x10
Sounds like a great room! Unless there is something wrong with the cabinet I would just swap the head out. GK sounds great though a sealed 810 but so do any number of other individual heads, inclusive of Ampeg.
As some one suggested, pay attention to what these folks are bringing in. Or simply ask. In mid 2020 I was with a group of musicians using a rehearsal space that had a few different bass amps and I hated all of them, including the Ampeg stuff. I had been using Eden stuff for 20 years. However they did have an Epifani 410 cabinet setting there so, on a whim, I brought my WT400 plugged it into the Epifini and was in heaven. Maybe it was the 410 sound and not necessarily the Eden vibe, I'm not sure. But I to would be interested to know what your results turn up. I would love to try 810 however,
Keep the 810 and ditch the SVT-350 in favor of an SVT-CL. Or, ditch the cab and head and get something decent like a 4x10 or 2x12 cab with a 500+ watt head (Fender, Mesa, GK, etc.).
Do you also provide a selection of DI: passive, SansAmp, Line 6, active with tone shaping, speaker emulation, digital amp/cab simulation, etc.? For the recording sessions I have done since the early 90's, many recording engineers and techs preferred the control and clean of DI rather than mik'ing cabinets. And most players should as well. Nothing new. From Jamerson to McCartney to Kaye to many others from then until now, the DI is the way to go. Yes, as a young sprout player I also had to be convinced, but once I was, engineers and techs were much easier to work with. I don't even carry a bass amp on stage for gigs. I use DI to our digital system and let our sound man do the rest. I highly recommend you set a policy of trying the various DI's first before setting up an amp & cab, for all the reasons we can discuss in a recording room compared to a live setting.
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