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Doom Metal Amp

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DownTuned

Jun 16, 2009
6
0
#1
Hello All

I am relatively new to bass, i am playing a Jaguar fitted with rotosound drop zone plus's (85-175). I am looking for a new amplifier as my practice amp is getting kinda worn out and lacks pretty much everything i am looking for in an amp. I have been looking at various different things and i cant seem to find something that fits my requirements. My budget is £1000 maximum (thats about $1600) preferably a little less. I need something that will allow me to get a decent doom sound (so a tube amp, preferably about 300+w), and probably a 15" cone to suit downtuning. So far i have considered

Orange Tiny Terror Bass + OBC115 cab
Ampeg BA300 115
Ampeg BA600 115
Ampeg SVT450H (dont know what cab - only leaves about £320 for it so might be a push, the ampeg SVT-115Eone is like £500, only option is the B-115E)

I know there are many others out there in this catagory, but i havent tried any or heard any reviews about how they sound, at least for the kind of thing that i am looking for. at the moment i am leaning towards either the orange or the SVT450H with some form of 15" cab (would get a 2 or 4 10" at a later date)

Thanks to anyone who gives me a point in the right direction, i am having a few problems finding places that stock all or any of these to give them a test, and i dont want to go a long way to try something that ends up being completely wrong.
 
#2
i play in a "doom/stoner" metal kinda band, my set up is a jazz 5 tuned to A standard, drop G at times. my B string is a 150.

i have an ampeg SVT-VR with an ampeg 810E and an ampeg 215E. its br00tal as all hell.

in terms full amps, playing loud stoner stuff its tough not to spend more than a grand, but if you get a bunch of used stuff you can probably do it. ive seen 810 cabs go for 500 used, and you can get a good used head for 600-800 bucks.
 
#3
What sort of volume do you plan on playing at? If it's anything close to normal doom metal levels, combo amps and 1x15's aren't going to cut it. All you'll do trying to play super loud through a 1x15, or a pair of 1x15's is blow speakers.

Now, if you're planning on just running into the PA at shows then that's a whole different story.

I guess more info is needed. What you're going up against as far as guitar rigs, and drums and that sort of thing.
 
#5
Unless you wanna go with 3015LFs cos those are 15s that will deal with it from what I've read. Two of them with a loud as hell midrange would probably have you sorted, for something that low you need a hell of alot of power, I'd recommend perhaps going with an amp with a tube pre for the grind but with a real hefty solid state poweramp to back it up, as ignited said all of those are hybrids anyway, but I reckon hybrid is the way to go for stuff that demands that much low end.

In an ideal world two of greenboys fearful cabs and a 1kish hybrid setup would be all you could ever ever possibly need. Although more realistically given you need to get the speakers and find someone to make the cabs for you and spend a hell of alot on midrange drivers, perhaps an acme b4 would get the lows your gonna need, that thing can do a 30hz continuous sine at 30hz... god knows what that thing is like in person cos it makes my bowels loose just thinking about how ridiculous that is, seems to be about $700 average price so it ain't cheap though...
 
#6
Anything all tube will do just fine. Lots of used stuff out there Ampeg SVT are great sounding amps even if they weigh a ton. Orange AD200B is IMO the best all tube amp on the market (probebly out of your price range as well as mine too LOL). The Traynor YBA 200 is another all tube affair thats very reasonable brand new for under $900.
 
#7
Depends how much OD you like.

Maybe a Traynor YBA (around $600-700ish new, 200w tube) into an Ampeg 8x10. With the master on 9-10, it would probably sound nice and huge if you dont mind brutality/grit.

I don't really see a 1x15 getting the job done live.
 
#8
yeah, i am looking for a hybrid, not a full tube. I am just starting to play doom at the moment but looking to form a band in the near future, so im not compeating with anything much and this isnt a serious setup for gigging or anything - that would come later. Its just kinda an intermediate thing to suit the half way stage between learning and gigging properly. It doesnt have to be deafaningly loud as long as i can get the sludge / doom sound from it.
 
#9
Ok, so after reading some more and taking you guys's opinions on board, i think im gonna be getting an Ampeg SVT-450H, its pretty powerful so will be able to take a cab upgrade in the near future, that just leaves the cab - £400 should be enough to find something second hand right? either that or i will get something new to last me a few months untill i can add a second one to it. What should i be looking for? I assumed i would need a 15" to get the lows properly, but some people have suggested differently. Ideally i would get a 15" and a 4/610 but sadly i cannot afford this.

edit - i am being a dufus and only just realised that the 450H doesnt have a tube preamp.... Thinking of getting a BA300/115 combo and saving the rest of my money for a year or 2 to get a full tube orange, an 810 and a 115. Would i be able to get any form of overdrive from this thing?
 
#19
Metal Matt said:
What sort of volume do you plan on playing at? If it's anything close to normal doom metal levels, combo amps and 1x15's aren't going to cut it. All you'll do trying to play super loud through a 1x15, or a pair of 1x15's is blow speakers.

Now, if you're planning on just running into the PA at shows then that's a whole different story.

I guess more info is needed. What you're going up against as far as guitar rigs, and drums and that sort of thing.
Click to expand...

Doom = big big big big big as far as amplification goes.

It's not really necessary if there's PA support though.
 

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