Class D amps vs traditional amps

[el murdoque]

Just play bass and don't worry what class the amp is or what color it is.

It does not happen often, but I must disagree on that statement. My barefaced cabinets have the cloth grille, which is silver and the sides are black.
My aguilar Tonehammer has a silver face and black sides. This is a really classy match.
I let go of a Markbass head which sounded and performed good, but the yellow and black color scheme did not really work with the vintage style of the barefaced cabinets.

However, as someone who played live before the first class D amps came out and who has done the schlep,
I've also done the blind test and was unable to discern between a lead sled power amp and a class D one.
Put me into the 'happy with class D' camp.

 

[baxter_x]

Thank you, moderators!

Oh yeah!

 

[WG Plum]

Did he declare victory and quit or was he banned? Either way, a true loss to the forum.

 

[Frank77]

What was the subject of this thread anyway?

Was it "Try to guess how I'll feel about my new amp" ? or was it "Please submit your opinion on a subject that's new to me so I can tell you how useless it is" ?

Absolutely riveting.

 

[baxter_x]

Did he declare victory and quit or was he banned? Either way, a true loss to the forum.

Banned.

What was the subject of this thread anyway?
Was it "Try to guess how I'll feel about my new amp" ? or was it "Please submit your opinion on a subject that's new to me so I can tell you how useless it is" ?
Absolutely riveting.

The second one.

 

[dbase]

I know it! He was a friend of mine, he actually played with another friend of mine from strawberry alarm clock when I lived in Studio City LA

Tim was my mentor back in the late 60's. We used to chat on Facebook until he retired from the band to spend more time on his Harley.

 

[Doug Parent]

The GK MB200 is a really nice amp -- people talk about its size but it sounds good too.

So true it's my overall favorite sounding bass amp in my arsenal. I use it every time I can gamble with less power.

 

[arbiterusa]

This thread has been a true masterclass in social skills.

 

[bassliner50]

My class D Traynor SB115 kicks ass. The transportability advantages of these amps is real.

 

[micguy]

The PA I played through a couple of days ago has a few 10's of kilowatts of amplifier power. All class D. Somehow, it didn't seem anemic or weak at all. My pedalboard is all class A, but on it's own - that's anemic.

 

[baxter_x]

My pedalboard is all class A

Class A topology?

 

[Paul New]

After having owned a couple of earlier Walter Woods amps (Class A/B) I bought my third Walter Woods amp in April 2001, it being my first brand new one from Walter (the others were bought on the used market). I gigged with that amp for 15 years, and it wasn't until many years after having bought it, that, in one of my conversations with Walter I asked him for more details about the amp. That is when I learned that it was Class D. I never would have known, otherwise, going by its tonality.

Yes, and I believe Acoustic Image was the first company to manufacture bass amps with a Class D amplifier on a largish scale, taking their cue from Walter Woods. I was on the waiting list for the first of those. At first I was a little skeptical of the stated power specs compared to A/B or tube circuits, but eventually came around.

 

[Tanner5382]

I went out and bought a Class D amp and all I got was this lousy @agedhorse t-shirt.

 

[ELG60]

I have quite a few amps: Tube, A/B, and Class D's. Also, I've played through a wide variety of said equipment over the last several years.

My experience has been that most of the quality "modern" gear (say, over the last 15 years or so) can easily provide me with some useful tones, given my specific preferences . . . A warm, yet tight, round bottom-end with a prominent low-mid focus.

With that in mind, my giging rigs all consist of Class D's (coincidentally of @agedhorse's design) with an array of various lightweight, high quality cabinets .

Why would I bring an SVT, DB750, or Strategy, when a lightweight, reliable, feature laden (HPF anyone?) head featuring many useable and pleasing tones will suffice?

The audience isn't going to give a "poopie" about the slam, if it even exists (and I suspect that it may)
As long as the throbbing bass is pleasing to the ear, sits well in the mix, serves the song, and puts the a$$es on the dance floor, my job is done.

 

[micguy]

Class A topology?

Most pedals (with obvious exceptions that use DSP processing) are class A in topology.

 

[baxter_x]

Most pedals (with obvious exceptions that use DSP processing) are class A in topology.

Very interesting, I didn't know that. Isn't it only for power section? I mean does a pedal have actually any sort of power section?

 

[baxter_x]

The audience isn't going to give a "poopie" about the slam, if it even exists (and I suspect that it may)
As long as the throbbing bass is pleasing to the ear, sits well in the mix, serves the song, and puts the a$$es on the dance floor, my job is done.

Exactly my philosophy too. None of the audience can make any difference. As long as I hear the tone I have in my head, I'm fine.
My guess is it's only here we can spend so much time talking about such details.

 

[Passinwind]

Yes, and I believe Acoustic Image was the first company to manufacture bass amps with a Class D amplifier on a largish scale, taking their cue from Walter Woods. I was on the waiting list for the first of those. At first I was a little skeptical of the stated power specs compared to A/B or tube circuits, but eventually came around.

When was that please, I can't remember offhand? The Peavey MegaBass came out around 1986 IIRC, and they were pretty popular throughout the late 80s.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

How old are you? I went from heavy amps to a 4 pound amp. I really appreciate lightweight stuff now.

 

[wazzel]

OP - Not sure about that particular amp. I got my first class D amp in '07, GB Shuttle. Never felt the class D options to be less than tube or the other classes. If you are happy with the sound of a particular amp do not worry about the class of the amp.