• 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.

Clean amplification suggestions

pdusen

pdusen

Aug 18, 2004
390
463
#1
Getting back into playing after a few years, and looking into getting an amp setup. I still have a Line 6 Bass pod whose sound I like, so I'm mostly looking for a setup that will color the sound of it as little as is feasible. I'm also concerned with getting a decent volume.

I actually prefer to go direct from the bass pod, but I had a bad experience at a show a few years back where the sound people basically forced me to play through a miced ampeg stack (the ampeg itself was nice, but it colored the sound from my Pod with some really... quirky results). Basically, if I ever am forced to be miced again, I'd like to at least stay reasonably close to my direct sound from the pod.

So, any thoughts? Is a power amp with a cab a good way to go, or should I get an actual bass amp? Any specific recommendations? My price range is $500-600 for the whole setup.
 
#2
You could save money and build a better cab than what is available on the market. fEARful is recognized as one of the most colorless cabs (in a very good way). Pair that cab up with a power amp and you should be able to reproduce almost exactly what the Bass Pod puts out. Some other members could give you the realistic cost of a fEARful cab if you build it yourself. If you check out the used market for bass amps and power amps you may find a good deal. If you find a bass amp you could use it as a slave to the Bass Pod, that way the amp would not color the sound at all. In one of my racks I have an Ampeg B2RE that i picked up used for well under two Benjamin's. I use that amp as a slave to a preamp and it does very well.
 
#4
I've contacted one of the builders listed on fEARful's website with some specific questions.

I'm not really expecting to have to carry a room, this setup is more for in case at some venue I don't have the option to DI, and have to go through a mic (a position that baffles me, but certain soundmen have held strongly). Still, it should probably be able to fill a moderately-sized room. I'm afraid I don't have a specific basis for comparison.
 
#6
pdusen said:
I've contacted one of the builders listed on fEARful's website with some specific questions.

I'm not really expecting to have to carry a room, this setup is more for in case at some venue I don't have the option to DI, and have to go through a mic (a position that baffles me, but certain soundmen have held strongly). Still, it should probably be able to fill a moderately-sized room. I'm afraid I don't have a specific basis for comparison.
Click to expand...

There is a list of authorized builders somewhere on the link in my signature. They can build one for you, but you may have to stretch your budget.

I think a fEARful 15/6/1 combined with a good power amp would cover all your bases as far as clean tone and volume goes.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back