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Favorite amp for dirt, especially fuzz

#25
zachoff said:
My Bassman 135 takes amazingly well to all forms of effects (that I've tried, at least). Bums me out that it's not loud enough because if it was I'd use it over my SVT.

QUOTE]

that's exactly what i was about to say!
But I don't have a problem with the volume.
Maybe you are doing quite big gigs?
what are you running the 135 through?

I can get massive volume through the original 2x15 Bassman cab; but only after I completely rebuilt and strengthened all the joint and braced it back to front internally.
Also a fellow TBer told me about hot-wiring the two channels together with a patch lead across the instrument inputs. This runs both sides of pre-amp tubes and gives a whole load of extra grunt.

Back the OP's question....absoultely +1 re Bassman 135.
It is a beautifully clean and clear amp at max volume, it just does not distort and retains all the warmth and tone. This means your fuzz can come through in all it's glory! I love my 135 and will never sell it....ever.....period!
Click to expand...
 
#27
Bassnut62 said:
that's exactly what i was about to say!
But I don't have a problem with the volume.
Maybe you are doing quite big gigs?
what are you running the 135 through?
Click to expand...

I'm also running it through the Bassman 215. I just have a really loud guitarist & drummer and we play sludgy metal. V4 half stack & a 26" bass drum. It's fine though & I'm happy w/ my SVT/810 rig. The Bassman is pretty awesome though... Not enough juice for my situation, but I'm guessing it would work in most.
 
#28
I like using a low wattage tube head. Specifically a Marshall Lead and Bass. I currently gig live with this amp through a single 1x15", and I only run the volumes on nine o'clock, and it's loud enough to make my ears ring after gigs. I like to bridge the channels because the bass channel is pretty clean on it's own, but with the guitar channel going too I can push things into a really nice crunch with a dirt pedal or booster.

If you're going to get serious about dirty tone, I highly recommend at least trying out a non master volume tube amp, something low enough wattage for you to crank it. I haven't found any other way to get the level of tone and interaction with dirt pedals that a setup like that provides.
 
#31
well, I love my Electric head, but I understand it's quite spendy and niche.

that said, if it was in the shop I wouldn't be sad at all about using my Bassman 300 Pro again.
great amp, it has nice clean and SUPER adjustable dirty tones at reasonable volumes, loves pedals,
and will get loud enough to shake the fillings out of your mouth.
it also has graphic eq and dual band compression, if that's your bag.
I've never turned that stuff on.
 
#32
Marshall MB450. Has 2 channels, one clean ss front end, other tube pre with passive EQ stack. Sounds really tight and awesome with fuzz (IE Oxide!) if you roll the bass off the tube channel, then boost it a little for SS channel, blend to taste-gives a solid but non-muddy bottom end while fuzzing up the mids & highs and with enough gain, pushes the tube into od on top of the fuzz.
 
#33
I've been thinking of picking up a Tech 21 bass amp. 2 channels with apparently crushing distortion. I like my my Big Muff Pi pedal, but I'm running it through a Classic GK 400RB head and a Peavey 8x10 that just makes it sound terrible. Anyone out there every try Tech 21 amps??
 
#34
If you want a head that takes pedals well most simple non master volume tube heads are a good platform. Although personally, for my taste in dirty bass tones, I usually just crank the volume and maybe bridge channels on my Traynor YBA-1 or Sound City B120. Most of the time when I'm using pedals I'm going into a solid state amp like my LMII in order to get a more tube like sound (usually a light OD, not over the top fuzz).
 
#35
any amp will work just fine. i greatly prefer tube heads, but i've done it with ss heads and it works just as well if that's the sound you dig. i think it's more important to have a cab that doesn't do past 5k.
 
#36
I like my Mesa m6... Tight, clean, and with very good basic tone to start with. The tone controls are fairly simple and get a wide range of very usable tones from very deep to sparkly high. The m6 plays well with all my pedals.

Also second the Mesa buster recommendation; BTW, Jared, there's a buster head for sale in Santa rosa.
 
#37
Mesa D-180​

IMO none of these come close to the king of bass fuzz, the venerable Mesa D-180. The only tube bass amp I'm aware of that can cascade channels 1 & 2 for the ultimate fuzz-fest with tonal control. I'm an old SVT & V4B guy but the Mesa pried those amps loose from my cold arthritic fingers (crippled from carrying those beasts around, don't even ask about my back) and rejuvenated my tone. Every time I play this beast through my 70's Ampeg fridge, the OX gets a woodie and grave dirt moves.
 
#38
Jazz Ad said:
You can't beat old Acoustic heads for fuzz. I don't really like them otherwise but for fuzz they're incredible.
With that and their loudness, I wonder why stoners don't use it more.
Click to expand...

I tried that for a while. Kept blowing speakers with that fuzz!

For me the Mesa Bass 400 (non plus) is great with fuzz. It gets a good drivey sound on its own when you push it hard enough.

The Traynor YBA1a (which is what you guys probably mean when you say YBA1) is awesome with a fuzz pedal. I have used it for guitar as well and it nails that early Sabbath tone.

The GK 400RB (the original one not the later vented one) gets a good drivey sound and the EQ is very good with fuzz/overdrive bass.

Then there is that old Peavey head. The Century or Musician? I forget which one it is. Maybe it is both? Every now and then one will turn up at a practice studio I share and I have to jam with it. They don't get very loud, but they get very crazy fuzz. They have a distortion AND a fuzz! They also have more knobs than any other amp I know of but hey! FUZZ!
 
#39
I use a YBA-1, not a YBA-1A. Although I'd like to have a 1A as well, just to have the option of a bit more clean headroom without going up to something monstrously loud. Before I owned my YBA-1 I always heard/read people saying they were great for guitar, but not really powerful enough for modern bass players. I don't know what those guys were smoking, because mine is loud enough to gig at "1", it just starts breaking up a little past 1.5/2, but that works perfectly for the band I use it in w/ my Ric for a little growl without going into fuzzy territory.

Oh, and hello fellow TapeOpper :D
 

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