Enough Tubes. Let's Talk Solid State! Name Your Favorites and Why?

[steveinohio]

Like the Ampeg SVT-4, and the B4r. The GK 1001rbII. The SWR 750x. Probably my all round favorite at the moment is the Little Mark III. I think I'm slowing down on collecting guitars and shifting more towards amps and cabs.

 

[gypsyfelon]

My markbass 121p with matching cabinet. Plenty of volume and clean tone. Yeah baby!

 

[Phalex]

My old Carvin PB-500 bi-amping a 4x10 sitting on top of a 1x18 is still a thing of wonder.

 

[pnchad]

I love the love of the GK 400RB - I used one for 20 yrs 5 nights a week - gotta get it back out of a friends closet after 12 yrs Hehe

 

[seansbrew]

Out of all the amps I've owned, the GBE 1200 is the best sounding solidstate amp hands down.

 

[bassfart]

Yorkville 400B, Canadian made amp with killer tone and lots of headroom. GK 700RB another favorite, but my all time favorite is the Mesa M6 Carbine.

 

[JimmyM]

SVT 4 Pro and Aguilar DB751 are awfully sweet for trad SS hybrids. For lightweight amps, the SVT 7 Pro is my favorite, but honorable mention to the PF800 and Genz Benz Streamliner.

 

[Buzz E]

GK. Reliability, versatility, character and TONE...!

 

[RaniBrandt]

I'll second the Markbass LM II. I've had it for about four years now. It has versatile tone shaping, it sounds great with my fEARful 12/6, and it's been super reliable. I only wish it had a headphone out, but otherwise, no complaints.

 

[gjbassist]

Hartke LH1000. Simple, clean and loud.

I have also been quite happy with my TC BH250. Of the several different small class D heads I have owned this one's my favorite.

 

[vdbass]

Acoustic B200H with B410....
Perfect decay, reminds me of Ampeg 300 watter. Not too many knobs for an old coot like me to get befuddled over.
It sounds like Ohio Players' Mr Marshall is in my garsge.
It brings the noise AND the Fonk!!!
I Love++ it!

 

[707GK]

GK 400RB. That growl.
I'm sad I got rid of mine

 

[CenTexThumper]

Any G-K solid state. Pure reliability.

 

[strictlybass_ic]

GK MB500. Just sounds good no matter how you turn the knobs.

 

[hintz]

GK 800RB..... Perfection

400RB a close 2nd IMO!!
After trying the 800 no desire to go back to tube amps

 

[BazzTard]

MarkBass Little Mark 250

teensy weensy, LOUD. Clean. If I want OD I switch on my OD pedal.

 

[dewbass4]

..........GK 800 RB, cuz it sounds great.
...........

+1

Also love the tonal versatility and extreme compact portability of Roland Cube 20xl. IMHO Best bedroom / small coffee house bass amp ever.

 

[SasquatchDude]

Acoustic 360.

Because JPJ, that's why.

 

[laughing house]

My favorite solid state amplifiers are the Univox A group and the Mobile Ohm series. The first time I heard them, I noticed the fast response, as if the sound was getting to the speaker quicker. The amp had a sharp, immediate attack. That sound you get with a tube amp that everyone refers to as "warm", sounds muddy and muffled to me. Solid State sounded brash and raw. Tubes were like candles and solid state was like fluorescent lights. Plus you got the reliability issue. I never really had a problem with them, they're very low maintenance.

 

[Thrust Meatnozl]

800RB. The SVT of SS.