• 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.

Best Solid state bass head?

#41
Me personally, I LOVE the GK 700brII! GK builds some great SS heads. They have the headroom, warmth, punch, and growl that you would want in an amp head. Just my opinion though. Of course, it all depends on the bass and what you want in a head. I personally want a head that gives me punch, growl, and clarity without having to sell my soul. GK helps me out on that end of the spectrum.
 
#42
gk800rb!!! its the head that made gk famous.
you can find them used for like $400 used on CL. its a classic and many pro's still use them today. its the best ss head in my opinion. very warm,clear and stays true to the tone of your bass.
my main head is an ampeg svt-cl and the gk800rb is my backup played through my ampeg 8x10. you will never need anymore power and they sound sick through an ampeg 8x10.

if GK made the gk800rb all tube i think it would be the best head EVER! :bassist:
 
#45
Grindy rock?
Warm & clear?
vintage 2x15 bass cab?
Looking for SS but like the sound of tubes?
No specified limit on weight or price?

The answer is:
AGUILAR DB750 or 751

I'm biased because I own one, but this amp fulfills your preferences far better then most SS amps out there. I have not heard this girth and deep, rounded fullness of plucked notes from other SS amps such as GK.

edit: it's technically a hybrid as it has a tube pre section..
 
#46
I've played and had a love affair with SWR Amps for years. The sound of them with my Jazz Bass is like nothing else ... it's "my sound". Many of them have a tube preamp others are SS & even others have both. I have several of thier amps, combos and cabs. I am however scared of thier new stuff since the Fender buy-out.

David Eden is also a fine product and in part was engineered by the same guys as SWR.

Mark Bass is an impressive rig; I've used several of them in backline situations and was surprised at the bang for the buck and the sonic quality was also excellent.

Genz-Benz has some interesting options with the shuttle line as well and is hugely powerful yet very portable and sounds great. I may get one of these for the arsenal soon.

If you have the money to spend, Aguilar is some of the best sounding stuff out there but it's crazilly expensive.

Trace Elliott (particularly the British built stuff) is a fine amp as well but is not cheap either.

I owned a G/K 400RB back in the late 80's and I couldn't have hated it more. No ass, no headroom; it wouldn't get out of it's own way. I "turned it" cheap to a pawn shop in New Orleans because I was tired of using it for a doorstop.

I own a '67 Blackface Bassman Amp and '69 VT15 (2x15)cab with JBL D140F speakers. I also have a Bassman 135 which was my main amp for years. I use these to record on occasion when layering the mix but most of them haven't left my home in years. Once I got into SWR and learned about "clarity" in a bass mix and mid-range punch, I haven't been able to listen to myself through a tube amp without disgust; although on occasion I use the '67 with a fretless for low volume jazz gigs. The Tube Preamp side of my SWR provides enough crunch to play rock but it still allows you to cut through the band. There's surely nothing wrong with an SVT sound, it's just not me.
 
#47
Queg said:
Grindy rock?
Warm & clear?
vintage 2x15 bass cab?
Looking for SS but like the sound of tubes?
No specified limit on weight or price?

The answer is:
AGUILAR DB750 or 751

I'm biased because I own one, but this amp fulfills your preferences far better then most SS amps out there. I have not heard this girth and deep, rounded fullness of plucked notes from other SS amps such as GK.

edit: it's technically a hybrid as it has a tube pre section..
Click to expand...

+1.... I use the Aguilar AG500SC through 2 GS112's which is totally SS but still sounds warm, full, clear and very "musical" to my ears. If I could handle the weight I would use a DB750/751 with 3 cabs @2 ohms.
 
#51
Played alot of different heads and the most usable and good sounding head which you get some very goods tones out of has been the Carvin Bx series (1500) or even the (500)
pretty reliable and they won't cost you an arm and a leg either.

Just a thought...
 
#53
cuatro_cuerdas said:
I lived in Oslo, Norway, so it might be necesary to ship from the USA.
Click to expand...

I'd strongly suggest you buy locally. Factoring in all the expenses (shipping, VAT, etc) , importing an amp yourself is not that much cheaper than buying one at the store, and having to ship a heavy ass amplifier head back to the US for warranty repairs really sucks...

Try RIFF in prinsensgt if you haven't already. The service there is usually much better than at Imerslund or Myrbråten.

Regarding SS heads, I have to add another vote for Gallien Krueger. I have a 1001rb-II that I run through a neo 410 and a neo 212, and I absolutely love the sound.

EBS also make good stuff.

Lykke til videre med jakten :)
 
#54
cuatro_cuerdas said:
Hi,

I am thinking about buying me a new bass head, and eventhough I like tubes, i don't want to discard the posibility to buy a SS head. Based in your experience what would be the best sounding SS amp head in the market now?

I am looking for something warm and clear at the same time.

Just for reference I play a Fender american jazz bass deluxe, and I am planning to use the amp with a Kustom 2x15 vintage bass cab.

Any thoughts could be a great help.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Glockenklang bassart .
Head shoulders, legs and feet above all else I have heard.
 
#56
Bulldog said:
I'd strongly suggest you buy locally. Factoring in all the expenses (shipping, VAT, etc) , importing an amp yourself is not that much cheaper than buying one at the store, and having to ship a heavy ass amplifier head back to the US for warranty repairs really sucks...

Try RIFF in prinsensgt if you haven't already. The service there is usually much better than at Imerslund or Myrbråten.

Regarding SS heads, I have to add another vote for Gallien Krueger. I have a 1001rb-II that I run through a neo 410 and a neo 212, and I absolutely love the sound.

EBS also make good stuff.

Lykke til videre med jakten :)
Click to expand...

In my country (Argentina) there's a huge diference between importing and buying here, even paying taxes, etc

I got a V4bh from a TBer for $500 + $200 ship + 50% taxes = $1050...here there are only a few v4bhs at $2000
 
#57
I would suggest one of those Aggie TH500's or check out the new Kustom Micro head. 500 watts at 4ohms and it's less than $400 dollars. I plan on getting one as a backup to my Puma 500. If you want to know more about the Kustom ask Brad Johnson. He owns one and gigs with it.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back