• 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.

Big Amps will come back one day!!!

#241
Lance Bunyon said:
I think class D and neodymium speaker cabs ARE the big amps.
My new tiny Markbass combo is 26 lbs and if I really needed to get it's full 500 watts I just connect another 8 ohm Markbass 121 cab and it's a mini stack of doom.
You wouldn't believe the sound this thing pumps out.
Juxtapose that against the Ampeg stack I was playing in 1993, a pro III head on top of a 115 and 410. Each cab was 200 watts.

Who wants such inefficient amplification?
Click to expand...
Me?
Along with all the modern tech too, it all has its place, and appropriate place and uses.
There is charm in old tech ; and old appliances. Nostalgia is not always logical.
People seldom write letters anymore, right?
Why use such an inefficient mode of communication?
ICE motors driving vehicles is a thing of the past too?
Does everyone have EVs?
Personal mode of transportation is an antiquated idea too, is it not?
How about walking?
Hunting?
Eating meat?
Come on realize that everyone does NOT have the same perspective or needs as you.

heck live music, and real musician playing instruments is also an antiquated concept in the modern world.

there is validity and in nostalgic romance for many. Romance is seldom “practical “
Practical is often boring and trite.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Derek Kay, Murch and JimmyM
#242
jkalads said:
The Vinyl comeback is not small at all. Its huge and its mostly pre-teens that are interested and buying them. For real…what goes around around comes around. I stand by the original post I guess time will tell…
Click to expand...
What does a niche market for vinyl among music consumers emerging over the last few years have to do with what gear choices pro musicians are making though?

What sensibilities are causing this little vinyl thing that would also cause bassists to want to haul around hundreds of pounds of gear instead of a 6 pound head that fits in a gig bag? The audience doesn’t know or care what the bassist is playing through.

I don’t see any connection, personally.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Artman
#243
JenderBazzFass said:
What does a niche market for vinyl among music consumers emerging over the last few years have to do with what gear choices pro musicians are making though?

What sensibilities are causing this little vinyl thing that would also cause bassists to want to haul around hundreds of pounds of gear instead of a 6 pound head that fits in a gig bag? The audience doesn’t know or care what the bassist is playing through.

I don’t see any connection, personally.
Click to expand...
Nostalgic Romance.
Ex: Steampunk
Dodge Challengers / Chargers
Ford Mustangs
Chevy Camaro
Ford GT350

“Re issue” this / that.

heck the Fender Precision bass (Sunburst with a tort guard) is ANCIENT simply made from commodity parts elevated to divine status.
 
  • Like
Reactions: murphy and Derek Kay
#244
JenderBazzFass said:
What does a niche market for vinyl among music consumers emerging over the last few years have to do with what gear choices pro musicians are making though?

What sensibilities are causing this little vinyl thing that would also cause bassists to want to haul around hundreds of pounds of gear instead of a 6 pound head that fits in a gig bag? The audience doesn’t know or care what the bassist is playing through.

I don’t see any connection, personally.
Click to expand...
Comparing 2 niche markets based mostly on nostalgia.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Artman, MarshallAC50Stack and /\/\3phist0
#245
/\/\3phist0 said:
Nostalgic Romance.
Ex: Steampunk
Dodge Challengers / Chargers
Ford Mustangs
Chevy Camaro
Ford GT350

“Re issue” this / that.

heck the Fender Precision bass (Sunburst with a tort guard) is ANCIENT simply made from commodity parts elevated to divine status.
Click to expand...

I certainly understand the nostalgic appeal of classic cars, but there is no chance Detroit is going to start making "big iron" again. People take a fond look at cars like that, but at the end of the day they still want all the advantages that the cars of today offer.
 
  • Like
Reactions: murphy, Artman, SteveC and 2 others
#248
agedhorse said:
We transfer high end native audio files all the time, at whatever resolution we want to.

There are also services that are much higher end than "average consumer quality", like Qobuz, 24bit96, ProStudioMasters. I haven't used these but they support many of the higher quality file transfer protocols.

My experience is that pro class D amps are in fact MORE reliable than the equivalent level of class AB amps. That's one reason that they have thrived in the touring pro audio world.
Click to expand...
I was referring to a download / streaming service to hear modern pop music at CD quality. Sorry if that wasn't clear.
 
#249
JenderBazzFass said:
I certainly understand the nostalgic appeal of classic cars, but there is no chance Detroit is going to start making "big iron" again. People take a fond look at cars like that, but at the end of the day they still want all the advantages that the cars of today offer.
Click to expand...
Point I’m making is Detroit IS making the “big iron” today. Cars that have 15MPG 600HP loud brutal unrefined drag strip ready monsters, that are outperformed in every way by for example a Tesla.

Next year they are debuting the same style cars, with EV power plants MOSTLY because of governmental regulations.

The big 3 ALL are reimagining their hits from the 60s and 70s with EV power because it’s what the public wants and buys. VW is reimagining the Bus as the iDBuzz (I’m getting one)

73nd3r continues (and many many other “copies” ) to produce designs virtually unchanged since the 50s Tele, Strat, Precision, Jazz ETC
Gibson? LP, Vs, Tbirds

Certain things, remain indelible in people’s minds as “the real thing”
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jim C and agedhorse
#250
Big Amps will come back one day!!!

Doubt it!

lighter
 
  • Like
Reactions: Artman and /\/\3phist0
#252
Just to be clear, I’m approaching 60.
Own play love and support forward progression of tech. I’m in IT.
Amongst the first to order a D-800 with a pair of Subway cabs.
My PA was a digital mixer with active neo loaded mains and monitors.
Wireless, IEM, pedalboard preamp.
Small light and loud? Yep I’m all for it.

I do own and use an SVT and a 2x15. Why?
It’s got an intangible something going on with all its foibles it’s STILL a different guilty pleasure, raw, visceral.

The 80 LB (neo drivers) 2x15 is on tilt back caster wheels, towel bar handle, and slide rails. Easy to move and load into my wagon.

will big amps come back? They never left.

the kids will still look back to the stuff that was, for inspiration today.

Please note the current fascination with the “atomic age” movies TV fashion.
Godzilla, Palm Royale, Fallout, Mad Men, comic book superheroes from : the 50 and 60s comic books.

nostalgia is powerful.

sometimes things were better, and thing are often REMEMBERED fondly, although the reality was much different.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Coot, Drredplate, Nebadon2000 and 3 others
#253
/\/\3phist0 said:
Point I’m making is Detroit IS making the “big iron” today. Cars that have 15MPG 600HP loud brutal unrefined drag strip ready monsters, that are outperformed in every way by for example a Tesla.

Next year they are debuting the same style cars, with EV power plants MOSTLY because of governmental regulations.

The big 3 ALL are reimagining their hits from the 60s and 70s with EV power because it’s what the public wants and buys. VW is reimagining the Bus as the iDBuzz (I’m getting one)

73nd3r continues (and many many other “copies” ) to produce designs virtually unchanged since the 50s Tele, Strat, Precision, Jazz ETC
Gibson? LP, Vs, Tbirds

Certain things, remain indelible in people’s minds as “the real thing”
Click to expand...

I think the OP's suggestion was that he believes average young players are going to come back around and start dragging around those 200lb tube rigs again. Not that they would develop a love for the classics tones in modern packaging like a Ford Mustang EV or what have you.

That was the inspiration for my comment - that we all recognize the appeal of nostalgia but Detroit isn't going to start thinking there's a market for vintage reissue automobiles, 20 feet long with bench seats and AM/FM radios only, or that many people would buy them because that's the real thing.
 
#256
JenderBazzFass said:
I think the OP's suggestion was that he believes average young players are going to come back around and start dragging around those 200lb tube rigs again. Not that they would develop a love for the classics tones in modern packaging like a Ford Mustang EV or what have you.

That was the inspiration for my comment - that we all recognize the appeal of nostalgia but Detroit isn't going to start thinking there's a market for vintage reissue automobiles, 20 feet long with bench seats and AM/FM radios only, or that many people would buy them because that's the real thing.
Click to expand...
Understood, but, they’ll seek out the antiques. They are buying the clothes, listening to the music etc.

The Big iron of yesteryear will be continued to be sought after and used when the pendulum swings back yet again.

the sizable amps will likely , like Detroit, be a reimagining visual and stylistically reminiscent, but with lightweight drivers and materials ( Subway 2x15 , fender bass man 800)
Class D etc.

The idea that fire breathing v8 ICE won’t come back is valid, mostly due to fuel costs and regulations. Cannot debate the realities of fuel supply, vs agendas here, but there are still people of all ages that would ABSOLUTELY by a new V8 in 20 years .
 
#257
baxter_x said:
While big amps are not necessarily for me, a video is not enough to convince me to go amp less.
Click to expand...

I was desperate for a Google Image for my TB post and this was the only one that I saw. Sorry. Overall, I also dislike so called, "informative videos"!

I'm old and retired and don't play active anymore but God Almighty!!!!!!........hauling around huge amps and cabs..........YIKES! In this day and age of the PA system, it seems like any bass amp a player uses is mostly for hearing himself/herself on stage. What a paradox!
 
  • Like
Reactions: baxter_x
#258
/\/\3phist0 said:
Understood, but, they’ll seek out the antiques. They are buying the clothes, listening to the music etc.

The Big iron of yesteryear will be continued to be sought after and used when the pendulum swings back yet again.

the sizable amps will likely , like Detroit, be a reimagining visual and stylistically reminiscent, but with lightweight drivers and materials ( Subway 2x15 , fender bass man 800)
Class D etc.

The idea that fire breathing v8 ICE won’t come back is valid, mostly due to fuel costs and regulations. Cannot debate the realities of fuel supply, vs agendas here, but there are still people of all ages that would ABSOLUTELY by a new V8 in 20 years .
Click to expand...
There are plenty of muscle cars being produced by US auto manufacturers. Not to mention high powered (V10 F150 Ford) oversized pickups and SUVs like the Cadillac Escalade. American consumers and manufacturers are pursuing the consumption of fossil fuels at an increasing rate, not decreasing.
 
  • Like
Reactions: /\/\3phist0
#259
I would make an argument for amps if there were no FOH support. Back in the day, the PA had vocals only. The room was carried by amps. These days, it's DI/IEM/Silent stage and modelers do fine. They attempt to sound like the gear they are modeling as if it were running through a PA. I think mostly it does. The crowd doesn't notice or need that extra. Their knobs don't need to go to 11. 10 is fine.

The last 5-10% is the tone chasing we do. TalkBass exists mostly because a few hundred of us are forever chasing tone. Many working bass players out there have a simple rig, maybe mic'ed or DI'ed into FOH when/if available. They play a decent bass. They have fun and so does the crowd. If you are new to TB it seems like everyone has a $1K tube DI, a collection of multi-thousand dollar custom or hi end basses, and a big rig. I'm pretty sure TB is a really small sample - statistically.

Anyway, big rigs will be there for some, but I think modeling is here to stay.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Artman and /\/\3phist0

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back