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Distortion amps

S

skylarlynn

Jun 1, 2010
2
0
Texas
#1
I am looking for an amp that can handle a lot of distortion, 45 min to an hour set with distortion the whole time. My last amp (behringer 2x10) has crapped out twice, so its time for an upgrade. I currently have a Behringer ULTRABASS BX4500H head and can take it or leave it.

I am in a two-piece (drums & bass) so I am needing my distortion to have that punk fuzzy distortion where it bascially mimics the sound of a guitar, but still having that low end. I am using a Bass Pig to acheive the distortion. But I need a 2x10 or 4x10 cab that can handle that kind of sustained distortion without having to replace speakers every six months or so.
 
#2
skylarlynn said:
I am in a two-piece (drums & bass) so I am needing my distortion to have that punk fuzzy distortion where it bascially mimics the sound of a guitar, but still having that low end. I am using a Bass Pig to acheive the distortion. But I need a 2x10 or 4x10 cab that can handle that kind of sustained distortion without having to replace speakers every six months or so.
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you need more than a 410, dude. you should use two 410's or an 810. or learn to control your volume in the amp and let the pa do the heavy lifting.
 
#3
JimmyM said:
you need more than a 410, dude. you should use two 410's or an 810. or learn to control your volume in the amp and let the pa do the heavy lifting.
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This.

I like 15's, personally... but still, even then i'd reccomend at least a 2x15. One of the main reasons i like them is a reason i'll reccomend them to you: They can be acquired VERY cheaply. I see 2x15's all the time on Craigslist in the sub$200 range. Even 4x10s get pricey.
 
#4
heavy distortion and fuzz usually cuts some of the low end from your sound, thats why most bassists who use distortion either go for that tube overdriven type sound (ala ampeg SVT with a sealed 810) or tend to run a mixed signal of a distorted top end with a clean bottom end, this can be done in many ways with lots of different gear.

as for volume and playing loud I would definitely recommend more than a 210. first rule: more speakers = more volume

playing loud with distortion also means you can't hear when your speakers reach the point where they are being pushed too hard because they are already distorted hence it is easier to blow speakers. rather have more power and speakers than you need that way you can worry about your tone rather than about having enough volume or damaging equipment
 
#5
There is no reason why running distortion would damage your speakers. Your problem with the Behringer is that it is a piece of crap, not that you were using distortion.

With that said, if you run distortion a lot, you will probably want a cabinet with either no tweeter at all or a defeatable tweeter. Distortion sounds horrible through most horn-equipped cabs. I use Tech21 B410 cabs, which do not have tweeters. They sound great with dirt.
 
#6
Distortion compresses the signal, and if you are doing the two piece thing, probably means you amp is going full tilt for more than it would if you were plonking. That means it will be getting pretty warm. A bunch of headroom should sort you. Big distorted bass is my thing, and I use a PA amp, and a valve amp. You probablt don't need sub lows either, so you could high pass to really save your amp and speakers, as the sub bass isn't required to get round guitars.

My setup is a driven guitar amp for the drive, or a blackstar HT valve pedal, mixed with clean for lows, sometimes with a bass big muff on the lows to get really silly. I think two amps is the true path, big clean lows, nasty guitar fuzz, and not trying to make a bass amp or a guitar amp do the job of both at once.
 
#7
Son of Bovril said:
heavy distortion and fuzz usually cuts some of the low end from your sound, thats why most bassists who use distortion either go for that tube overdriven type sound (ala ampeg SVT with a sealed 810) or tend to run a mixed signal of a distorted top end with a clean bottom end, this can be done in many ways with lots of different gear.

as for volume and playing loud I would definitely recommend more than a 210. first rule: more speakers = more volume

playing loud with distortion also means you can't hear when your speakers reach the point where they are being pushed too hard because they are already distorted hence it is easier to blow speakers. rather have more power and speakers than you need that way you can worry about your tone rather than about having enough volume or damaging equipment
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What would you recommend? I have been looking at GK 410, but im concerned about the weight at 75lbs, thats a little bit more than I can handle on my own.
 
#9
skylarlynn said:
What would you recommend? I have been looking at GK 410, but im concerned about the weight at 75lbs, thats a little bit more than I can handle on my own.
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btw, sorry i called you "dude" ;)

unfortunately, bass = big. one thing you might try is to take two 210's and stand them on their sides. you won't get any extra air movement over a 410, but you'll get a lot more throw stacked like that and you'll have a speaker closer to ear level, which will help you hear it better.
 

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