• 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.

Bass amps

#65
Honest feedback on that rig: I'd be disappointed in the head and less than thrilled about the cab, though I'd live with the cab.

Lots of times though at practice I just wanted to play my rig because it's my rig. It's really good equipment, and I want to let those horses run. Maybe many guitarists don't have great tube heads so they see the amps available in your studio as a step up from what they have. I almost always see rehearsal studio amps as a step down from my gear though.

If I'm going to use a rehearsal studio rig, I want a really powerful, snappy, controlled amp and a lot of control over my eq. The ampeg head doesn't give me that. There are people who'll think I'm crazy for saying this, but I've never gotten a sound I like out of an ampeg head, to me they sound nasally and mushy. The cab is ok, but I like more high end frequency response and that cab rolls off at around 5k. There are worse cabs out there. If you had a big QSC power amp with a flexible preamp, one of the more recent Mesa heads, a MarkBass head, a Quilter, even a powerful Rumble I think I'd be ok with it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: legalbass and DavidEdenAria
#67
Honestly? That rig is not for me on a gig. The reality is it takes a special kind of knucklehead to forego using a perfectly functional rig set up and ready to go for rehearsal for one they need to lug in. No matter what you provide, that particular character will continue to do what they do. Your rig is fine; leave it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: pbass2
#68
If you have lots of different rooms to stock, why not get some variaty?
Maybe classics.
Acoustic 360/361, SVT, Sunn 2000S, Hiwatt, Marshal Major, Any RB series G-K, etc.
Things bass players have always liked or been curious about.
I know I'd like a place where I could spend some time getting to know some of those.
 
#69
Brasic said:
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!
Click to expand...
I think most of us would be happy using an ampeg 810 we didn’t have to move. I used one for a decade and really only sold it because I got tired of my cab of choice dictating what kinds of vehicles I could drive. So the cab is likely fine. But for the amp yeah I’d recommend a Mesa subway series personally. They are great amps and with that series the amp heads are actually decently priced, it’s more so the Mesa subway cabs that are expensive. All the amps in the subway series have 800w power amps. You see a lot of players using them with smaller cabs that handle a lot of power but they actually drive ampeg 810s really nicely. Another thing is it would be an upgrade as far as XLR out tone which is one of my main complaints about a lot of the ampeg heads. They’ve gotten better about it more recently with their mini tube heads but on a lot of the bigger amps the xlr out is an after thought.
 
  • Like
Reactions: fauxtoe
#70
What do you want to spend. Bergantino B|Amp and two Schroeder Cabs, 12PL single 12 inch, 12-12L dual 12s. Keeps up with Guitar with Dual 100 watt Mesas with four 12s each and a hard hitting drummer.
Me
upload_2021-3-17_22-3-23.png
 
#71
Dude, I’ve found superior tone out of a GK 800RB and a ampeg 6x10 HLF. The 8x10 sucks tone wise compared to the 6x10 HLF
Fender Basses and stingrays always seemed to go good with this rig. I wish they still made the 800rb, one of the best amps ever
 
  • Like
Reactions: DavidEdenAria
#72
Brasic said:
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!
Click to expand...
My preference is to have an amp with a lot of clean headroom and remains clean enough to allow the character of my bass to come through. Controls on the amp should be there, but not so many that it gets too fussy to operate. The Mesa Subway D800 and D800+ are my picks. After that it's nice having a choice of cabs: 2x12, 2x15, 1x15 + 1x12, etc.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DavidEdenAria
#73
Depends on the budget......i would want at least 4 or 5 different bass amps and several cabs in a rehearsal room such as yours given the amount of great gear in the studio.

GK 800RB would be a great start...they are out there if you look....a pair of TL-606 cabs w EV 15L or EV 15B are great and can be had for reasonable these days, great cabs at lower volumes and easy to hear with them stacked.
 
#74
Do you have spots going unfilled because of the gear? Some guys will schlep gear simply because they own it/don't trust someone else's gear. I'd say get a PF-500 and if they don't like it they can bring their own. Even if it's nice stuff, they might just want to play their own unless it's exactly the same gear.
 
#75
Gearhead17 said:
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.
Click to expand...

I second this. At the very least ditch the 350. Never liked those when they came out years ago. There was no good reason to put it in the SVT chassis other than for looks when under the hood it's just a basic SS amp.

I'm running a Mesa D800 into an Ampeg 810, and if that isn't loud or clean enough then whoever is plugged into it has some major hearing problems. At noon on the gain and volume with an active bass it cleanly gets over a drummer with the greatest of ease and it has plenty to go. In your situation I would probably go with the D800+ to take advantage of the adjustable HPF which could prove a little extra useful in case you need to mellow out some frequencies for the room or to keep the cab from getting too much sub bass and to preserve it a little better. All of the Subway amps can dish out a real 800 watts, so caution is advised to any speaker cabs not spec'd to handling it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DavidEdenAria
#76
sawzalot said:
Honest feedback on that rig: I'd be disappointed in the head and less than thrilled about the cab, though I'd live with the cab.

Lots of times though at practice I just wanted to play my rig because it's my rig. It's really good equipment, and I want to let those horses run. Maybe many guitarists don't have great tube heads so they see the amps available in your studio as a step up from what they have. I almost always see rehearsal studio amps as a step down from my gear though.

If I'm going to use a rehearsal studio rig, I want a really powerful, snappy, controlled amp and a lot of control over my eq. The ampeg head doesn't give me that. There are people who'll think I'm crazy for saying this, but I've never gotten a sound I like out of an ampeg head, to me they sound nasally and mushy. The cab is ok, but I like more high end frequency response and that cab rolls off at around 5k. There are worse cabs out there. If you had a big QSC power amp with a flexible preamp, one of the more recent Mesa heads, a MarkBass head, a Quilter, even a powerful Rumble I think I'd be ok with it.
Click to expand...
As an example, my main bass is a 65 Epiphone Newport w neck 'mudbucker', it sounds too dirty thru my buds early 70's SVT rig and not enough EQ available but not a problem with other basses no doubt...i like clean headroom and lots of EQ available and that includes the speaker rig needing to be clean with clarity.
 
#79
OK, I know that I'll get blasted, but this is a rehearsal space, not a recording studio. Just get a decent head (maybe an older GK or a Legacy) and a 410 cab and call it good. Or a Mesa rig (D800 and a few Subway cabs). Why would you need 2 or 3 or 5 different rigs for a rehearsal space? If someone insists on using a specialized rig, they can bring it with them.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DrMole
#80
9Thumbs said:
It's a rehearsal room, not a recording studio guys. If they don't like the SVT350, let them bring their own head. If they don't like the 810, let them bring their own cab. You have provided a reasonable rig. There is no way you'll find a rig that pleases everyone. Why try?

Personally, I'd love the chance to try out any of the new Mesa heads, but not having to transport my rig for practice would be more than good enough.
Click to expand...
Wow never thought Bass players had the egos of guitarists, boy am I naive. Like the man said it's a rehearsal room! Too bad you had to bring up Mesa ;)
 
  • Like
Reactions: agedhorse

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back