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

#61
My current favorites are Genz Benz 6.0 and especially the 12.0 because of the two mix able channels, one tube one SS. I blend them most of the time. But also something not yet mentioned. My Glockenklang Soul II head is just a great sounding SS head even though it weighs twice as much as the D class varitials it is probably one of the best sounding SS heads I've ever heard!
 
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#62
My favorite amp is my 13-pound Reiner Amplification Studio 1200, serial number 4, played through my 2011 Ampeg Heritage 810e. It's a 1200 watt hybrid with an inductor-based active EQ and a 3-tube preamp which is Jensen transformer coupled to a Class-D ICE final.

It has caused me to convert from tube snob and, except for my Ashdown CTM-15 and '67 Ampeg B-15, I've sold or am selling everything else, including: '73 Kustom K250, '82 Peavey Mark IV, and even my 2014 V4b reissue.

Nothing else touches the Studio 1200 in tone, power, or clean headroom. It sounds fantastic at bedroom or arena levels .. it's just incredible.

If you could play one you would be hooked too.
 
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#64
Hertz said:
GK 800 RB, Peavey Bass series 400 the one with fuzz and distortion though I run it clean, Focusrite platinum vocal pre into any power amp. Solid state is great! I wish there were boutique solid state amp builders. Tubes are great but the maintenance and weight keep me going back to solid state. If any one knows of any boutique solid state amp builders please do tell.
Click to expand...
A Walter Woods is the amp you seek.
Premium quality boutique SS amps. If you want the best he's your guy.
 
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#65
Bassic Playing said:
More rock/ metal definitely a peavey tour series. Loud, mean, and plays great with fx...
Click to expand...

I'm a metal bassist and I did own a peavey tour 450. I used it with a variety of cabinets: 810s, a 115, and also a 110 at one point lol. It did have a pretty decent tone, but honestly for more extreme metal it did leave something to be desired for in volume. I also got the chance to try out the higher powered model, the tour 750. The eq on these amps isnt very powerful, and although the tone is decent the amp seems to always sound a certain way. I also think that the controls are kind of annoying, with no master volume control. The high pass/low pass thing is weird to me too. I'd much rather have Bass, Mid, and Treble knobs and along with the graphic eq.

That being said, the amp that I replaced the peavey with was a TC Blacksmith, and I've got to say it is a very good solid state amp. It's a great amp period. Note that I did not purchase one at anywhere near the insane original asking point! Anyway, the amp has more than enough power for any cabinet I've used. Its lightweight (although a bit obtuse), and the built-in tuner is amazingly convenient. The best feature, though, is the 4 band semi parametric eq. It really makes it possible to fine tune the tone of the amp for specific cabinets or basses. I've used it mostly with an ampeg 810 and a warwick 115 loaded with an emince kappalite 3015, and more recently a mesa powerhouse 410. The bass is a musicman bongo, and occasionally a mexi jbass with bartolini pups. I've never heard a tc cab, so I can't say. But the blacksmith is great amp that has always worked for me since ive owned it.
 
#68
Enough Tubes. Let's Talk Solid State! Name Your Favorites and Why?
Glockenklang. To my ear, they sound better than any other conventional bass amp I have heard.
...and what I use... a Chordelectronics SPA 2232 poweramp with custom made Pre amp. that sounds even better.
 
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#70
i think i have new favorites. last week i spent several quality hours at GC with a couple TC combos - the BG250-112 and the BG250-115. i tried lots of other amps as well, but ultimately i found myself coming back to the TCs with every bass i tried. and you know what? every bass i tried sounded great to me through both the TC combos! funny thing is they have features i don't like in theory, but you can't argue with a tone you love. gonna go to another GC and try 'em again when i get up. overall they sounded rich, chocolatey and the sound of both really grabbed me, more than any amp since the SWR silverado special.
 
#76
Fender BXR 300. Got it at a yard sale with a 2-10 Randall cab for $125. back in the mid '90's. It has enough oomph for every gig without pushing it. Treble and Bass boost switches along with adjustable mid pots make it easy to dial in whatever tone you want. Never had a problem with it. No idea what year it is, but it's got to close to an antique by now. Just recently purchased a preamp and I'm curious how the two will sound together, never having used one before.
 
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#77
I've been using Thunderfunk amps since 2007. First the 550 which I upgraded to a 750, which is at the 800 spec.

These are wonderful amps that just nail my idea of a great sound. They are loud, warm and clear, with a full, fat well defined tone.

In that time I've also owned Markbass, TC, Genz and now Aguilar amps. These all sounded great through my Bergs but the Thunderfunk amps have remained.
 

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