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First POst!!! Got some amp questions... Could you help me?

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pdjb98

Jul 19, 2008
7
0
#1
Hey Guys,
I have an Ampeg BA115. Its fine for what I do normally. I am mostly a guitar player but I love to record bass lines and I do play some at church. So for all of that the BA115 is okay. However, my dad who is bass player big time. He played in bands forever and was part of a Country Swing band that played 3 nights a week at a pretty big place... anyways he just got a Mesa Fathom/M6 Carbine. I gotta say, that thing is sweet and is in a whole different realm than my BA115. Its making me want to jump more into the deep end its that type of inspiring just like a cranked Marshall or Fender Twin can be.
So I guess heres the question, he has a leftover Classic Ampeg 1x15 cab. Is there anything out there headwise with the depth and just flat out awesomeness of the Mesa that I could pair up with the Ampeg 1x15? Or, do I need something with 2x12s like the fathom has, or if I want to get that sound do I need to just figure out a way to get that same amp?
I am sure I can get usable tones by a lot of different things but what are some of your opinions?
Thanks in advance,
Patrick
 
#2
Not too familiar with that amp but does it have a jack for an extension speaker? Check the ohm rating of the other cabinet but it could be possible to chain it to the combo for 2x15 stack.


OK, nevermind, that amp doesn't have that, you'd have to run from the lineout to another amp to power the other cab.
 
#3
One thing is for sure, if you want Mesa tone, only a Mesa amp will do that. I'm not sure if your BA115 has an ext spkr output, but the 1x15 cab would probably want another 8 ohm cab with it, depending on what head you end up with. Most bass amps run at full steam through a 4 ohm load. (8 + 8 = 4)
 
#5
Thanks guys for getting with me on this. I guess I did not make it too clear. I have a BA115 and its basically going to be gone. Now, I made a deal with my dad to take his extension 1x15 off of his hands.
The major question I am wanting answered is:
Will a Mesa M6 Carbine or Mesa Impulse sound like a Mesa through an Ampeg Classic 1x15 Extension Cab? haha
I know that it would probably sound pretty decent but I do feel like matched company cabs and amps in the guitar world seem to work best... thats from my own perspective whats your guys take? Is like having a Fender amp through a Marshall Cab? Basically a English sound through a British tuned cab? So a Mesa Sound through an Ampeg tuned cab. Has anyone tried that or liked it or whatever haha!
 
#7
pdjb98 said:
Thanks guys for getting with me on this. I guess I did not make it too clear. I have a BA115 and its basically going to be gone. Now, I made a deal with my dad to take his extension 1x15 off of his hands.
The major question I am wanting answered is:
Will a Mesa M6 Carbine or Mesa Impulse sound like a Mesa through an Ampeg Classic 1x15 Extension Cab? haha
I know that it would probably sound pretty decent but I do feel like matched company cabs and amps in the guitar world seem to work best... thats from my own perspective whats your guys take? Is like having a Fender amp through a Marshall Cab? Basically a English sound through a British tuned cab? So a Mesa Sound through an Ampeg tuned cab. Has anyone tried that or liked it or whatever haha!
Click to expand...

I haven't tried the Carbine or Impulse, but I owned and played extensively through a Mesa Walkabout Scout combo. I sometimes used just the head to power various speaker cabinets, but unfortunately never the Ampeg Classic. The Walkabout head drove a Yorkville 8 ohm 1x15 cabinet to a pretty loud volume (though it won't get as loud as your Dad's-just not enough speaker area) and still retained the Mesa sound. So, I'd say the Mesa you're thinking of will do a very nice job with the Ampeg Classic. Unfortunately, you won't get the full power available from the amp (unless the Classic is a 4 ohm cabinet-I don't know and I'm too lazy to find out) and that single 1x15 speaker will not be able to handle the power of the Mesa at extreme volume, nor will it have as big a bottom end as having a pair of the Ampeg 1x15s would. You can't beat having lots of speaker cone area for a big, solid, loud and punchy sound live. The 2x12 cabinet will give you more of it than the 1x15. The 2x12 plus a 1x15 would be a killer sound if you have to play loud. An Avatar 2x12 cabinet would be a cheaper alternative and sound good with the Mesa.

So, to sum up--the Ampeg Classic cabinet with the Mesa head will sound louder than the current little Ampeg you now use. It will also sound more Mesa like and sound better than the Ampeg. It won't get as big and loud as your Dad's rig.
 
#8
I have run an A/B test with a Walkabout head through a Mesa stack, (610's), vs an Ampeg Classic stack, (115, 210's). What's important is, they both sounded great, but yes, different. The Mesa cabs were much tighter sounding. Hope that helps.
 
#9
thanks a lot guys. This has been a good thread. I didnt check back for a little bit but I read what you guys wrote. I dont have the cash at the moment so I went for a cheapie used Ampeg B2R. I am going to spend some time with it and my dad's new Fathom and try and make a decision for the long run on which sound I like best. Then go get a higher dollar AMpeg or Mesa or geez I dont know if I spend too much time here I bet I will choose something entirely different. I will tell ya this,
I am digging playing and working primarily with the bass. My dad played alot the years I was growing up so I heard a lot of bass grooves in my formative years and it seems I always had to fight the bass when trying to learn the guitar when I listened to cds to learn. Now its feeling pretty natural...
so thanks again,
patrick
 

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