Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Flamers Prepare: Ampeg and Fender
- Thread starter totallybacan
- Start date
- Status
But.......OK, I'll bite..
After quickly analyzing the OP's posts I've concluded that someone in his immediate circle has slammed his coice of amp (G-K) in favor of Ampeg. (maybe his axe too) This seems to have gotten him all worked up over it and caused this ultra defensive position. Kinda like in high school when guys would call your girlfr.....uhh, I mean sister, a slut! It just plain makes you MAD!!!
The laughable irony of it all is how many here have taken the bait, and joined in saying "this discussion has no point" (myself now included)!
BTW, I have no sister.........and haven't been in high school since my '64 P Bass was a toddler!
After quickly analyzing the OP's posts I've concluded that someone in his immediate circle has slammed his coice of amp (G-K) in favor of Ampeg. (maybe his axe too) This seems to have gotten him all worked up over it and caused this ultra defensive position. Kinda like in high school when guys would call your girlfr.....uhh, I mean sister, a slut! It just plain makes you MAD!!!
The laughable irony of it all is how many here have taken the bait, and joined in saying "this discussion has no point" (myself now included)!
BTW, I have no sister.........and haven't been in high school since my '64 P Bass was a toddler!
+1,000,000....but only if it's Honey Roasted Crunchy (see link)
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
... Must be getting late when it comes to this!!!
Yet another thread like this? hmmmm
Ok, let's see..
Currently in my possession I have 6 different bass heads with 4 different cabinets. I also have 4 different bass guitars. I have played with all sorts of different combinations for the last 3 years or more at different gigs, venues etc. I have experimented with so many combinations of gear, I still ended up with a somewhat mixable and decent sound... until I bought my 5 string PBass and played it through my Ampeg SVT 3 pro and Ampeg 410. I have played the PBass through the other heads (ashdown, Eden, Yamaha, Carvin) and through the other cabinets (Madison, Ampeg, Eden) and I melted when the PBass rang throught the Ampeg setup.
My point? There is some amazing gear out there. In a lot of ways it's better than what many think may be the status quo, to me that is a matter of opinion. Your opinion on what is golden in your bass world may not be what I think is golden, but it most definitely deserves equal merit. Just play the crap out of your gear, have fun, and don't stop trying new combinations of gear. To me, my setup is Fender/Ampeg because it gives me exactly what I want to hear in the mix. It has absolutely nothing to do with what music snobs and guitar magazines say I should have. I would have bought the PBass/Ampeg combination a long time ago if that were the case.
Ok, let's see..
Currently in my possession I have 6 different bass heads with 4 different cabinets. I also have 4 different bass guitars. I have played with all sorts of different combinations for the last 3 years or more at different gigs, venues etc. I have experimented with so many combinations of gear, I still ended up with a somewhat mixable and decent sound... until I bought my 5 string PBass and played it through my Ampeg SVT 3 pro and Ampeg 410. I have played the PBass through the other heads (ashdown, Eden, Yamaha, Carvin) and through the other cabinets (Madison, Ampeg, Eden) and I melted when the PBass rang throught the Ampeg setup.
My point? There is some amazing gear out there. In a lot of ways it's better than what many think may be the status quo, to me that is a matter of opinion. Your opinion on what is golden in your bass world may not be what I think is golden, but it most definitely deserves equal merit. Just play the crap out of your gear, have fun, and don't stop trying new combinations of gear. To me, my setup is Fender/Ampeg because it gives me exactly what I want to hear in the mix. It has absolutely nothing to do with what music snobs and guitar magazines say I should have. I would have bought the PBass/Ampeg combination a long time ago if that were the case.
I gotcha. If the people that want it and request it actually know it for the sound, more power to them. My guess is that the majority don't know the sound, but just assume it's one of the best based on the fact that many people use the Ampeg/Fender setup in rock music.
It's a reasonable assumption, too, because it IS one of the best. I don't know...I generally assume that the people I work with know what they're talking about. I have a really hard time with the concept that other people have no idea what they're doing just because they may like equipment that I don't.
True. I'm not a Fender guy, but a lot of people sound good with them and I just assume that they play them because they like them. Sure some kids probably buy them because it seems like the thing to do, but anyone who's been playing a while I always think would play whatever they liked the most.
Everybody uses Jif but I know the kroger brand is better - it's crunchier and has less monoglycerides and costs less! It makes me mad when June makes the Beav's sandwiches with Jif - people see that and believe it's better.
People just use the Jif because it's been around forever and they think that's the only thing to use. I wish more people would switch to kroger as i'm kind of insecure & if they did my opinions would be validated.
People just use the Jif because it's been around forever and they think that's the only thing to use. I wish more people would switch to kroger as i'm kind of insecure & if they did my opinions would be validated.
Never cared much for Ampeg, even when the SVT first came out and almost everyone was using it. Back then, I was an Acoustic 360 man. Been playing 44 years and have never owned an Ampeg. These days I use Genz-Benz. Fender? Well, for years, Fender was THE bass, hands down. That started to change in the late '60s. My first pro bass was a Fender P and I played it exclusively for eight years, till I got a Rick 4001, then a Gibson Ripper, then a Steinberger L2. After not playing professionally for almost 20 years and having sold my equipment, I went with Lakland and still use their basses 99% of the time. I'd still love a P, but it'd be a Lakland Bob Glaub, not a Fender.
Housing costs sure have a lot to do with it. I pay almost 2 grand a month, after my bills (gas/electric/phone/internet/insurance) and thats a huge drain on someone's income. I used to work a lot, and I never buy new. I've only bought a handful of basses new, and that was because they just came out (2008 American Standards, I went through 6 of them), and I was paying the used price for a new bass every time.
I think a big part of it here, is not only the housing, but the transportation issue as well. Hardly anyone here owns a car. I own two, thankfully, rather large vehicles (pickup and a van) so hauling around gear isn't a problem. Often I'm the only guy in the band with a mode of transport that doesn't run on a set of rails. Combo amps and certain half stacks are subway do-able. Thats why you generally see those.
But my post was in reference to the backlines supplied by venues and rehearsal studios, but I've noticed that most players follow the same trend.
Nicest bass amp I've played through at a venue was a Mesa BB750 which belonged to the sound guy because the actually backline head melted.
Still most popular basses here are most likely the mexican Fenders. Ibanez is probably up there too but I don't see many older players gigging with one.
I hear ya on the sound thing though I have not owned a real all tube SVT Rig in 26 years. Too much of a back breaker. 
I did play a V4 for a number of years and later a Mesa Bass 400 and 400+. I9 finally gave in and went for a SVT3PRO in 2005. I have since moved away from that thing as of 2009. Went to a SWR Pre/QSC Power Amp and am also sporting a Markbass LMIII these days. The MarkBass nails the SVT Tone but not as loud. The SWR will nail any tone.
On cabs, I got rid of my SVT 8x10 in 84 and have never looked back. Playing NEO Cabs these days. Just too darn easy to lift.
For Basses I have owned everything under the sun. From Curbow, to Tobias, to Ricks and everything you can think of yet I only Play Fenders these days. My first Bass was a real 53 P Bass. I'm kind of a snob as I only Play P Basses though addmittidly one has a J Pup in the Bridge.
J Basses are for wussies. 
I did play a V4 for a number of years and later a Mesa Bass 400 and 400+. I9 finally gave in and went for a SVT3PRO in 2005. I have since moved away from that thing as of 2009. Went to a SWR Pre/QSC Power Amp and am also sporting a Markbass LMIII these days. The MarkBass nails the SVT Tone but not as loud. The SWR will nail any tone. On cabs, I got rid of my SVT 8x10 in 84 and have never looked back. Playing NEO Cabs these days. Just too darn easy to lift.
For Basses I have owned everything under the sun. From Curbow, to Tobias, to Ricks and everything you can think of yet I only Play Fenders these days. My first Bass was a real 53 P Bass. I'm kind of a snob as I only Play P Basses though addmittidly one has a J Pup in the Bridge.
J Basses are for wussies. I know I came in late but... what a let down
I was sure that Ampeg had been bought out by Fender.
Remember when some of us thought that caould happen?
Now that may be flame worthy or it may be a good thing. It probably would not end with a peanut butter thread killer.
I was sure that Ampeg had been bought out by Fender.
Remember when some of us thought that caould happen?
Now that may be flame worthy or it may be a good thing. It probably would not end with a peanut butter thread killer.
Fender/Ampeg?
Well, maybe 20-30 years ago... but now there are a ton of options. True, Fender (and fender style) instruments are pretty well dominant, but Ampeg, particularly the newer gear, has really be outpaced by a longshot.
Now, if you want an old-school rock&roll rig, and *old* ampeg and a good fender is hard to beat - but for Jazz/funk/Alt, there are a ton of options that will do the job better.
Well, maybe 20-30 years ago... but now there are a ton of options. True, Fender (and fender style) instruments are pretty well dominant, but Ampeg, particularly the newer gear, has really be outpaced by a longshot.
Now, if you want an old-school rock&roll rig, and *old* ampeg and a good fender is hard to beat - but for Jazz/funk/Alt, there are a ton of options that will do the job better.
I am not a Fender player. I like them enough, and they sound good, and I have had a few, but in the end I seem to always go back to my 5 string Yamaha/Bartolini bass. I guess I prefer the more "modern/hi-fi" (for lack of better terms) sound I get with this bass. Although, when I bypass the Bartolini preamp, I can get some nice "Fender-like" tones if I want to change it up a bit.
I don't care for Ampeg. I've tried them, just not my thing. It's the thing for many others, just not me I guess. I currently use and love Genz Benz. For me, my amp isn't an integral part of my sound. It's a practice amp, stage monitor, and for smaller gigs stand alone, bu tI tend to get "my sound" out of whatever I play.
If it works for you, great. There are a lot of great players/tones out there that have nothing to do with Fender and/or Ampeg. I get compliments all the time (from those that "know" something to just your average Joe) on my sound and I am not a typical Fender/Ampeg guy.
Thank goodness there are plenty of choices out there and each of us can find our own voice within all that great gear.
I don't care for Ampeg. I've tried them, just not my thing. It's the thing for many others, just not me I guess. I currently use and love Genz Benz. For me, my amp isn't an integral part of my sound. It's a practice amp, stage monitor, and for smaller gigs stand alone, bu tI tend to get "my sound" out of whatever I play.
If it works for you, great. There are a lot of great players/tones out there that have nothing to do with Fender and/or Ampeg. I get compliments all the time (from those that "know" something to just your average Joe) on my sound and I am not a typical Fender/Ampeg guy.
Thank goodness there are plenty of choices out there and each of us can find our own voice within all that great gear.
- Status
