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Good Looking AND Playing Amp
- Thread starter ajsmcs
- Start date
I'm kind of surprised that no-one really gave a straight answer to this by saying that yes, solid state amps are much, much more accepted in the bass community, and not just as a cheaper, beginner-intermediate-semipro option. Valve preamp/SS power amp amps are hugely popular at just about every level (plenty of big names rocking Aguilar DB751s, Ashdown ABMs & Mesa hybrids), and fully solid state micro amps are all over this forum being played by working pros (Markbass, Genz-Benz, Aguilar TH350/500 etc) - they're starting to show up on big stages now as well. There will likely always be a place in the bass world for valve amps like the Ampeg SVT and Mesa Strategy, but they're by no means preferred by everyone for every purpose in the way that valve amps are for guitar.I love the look of the Ampegs- especially the tube ones- but she isn't too crazy about them.
I don't know how she'd feel about the Excelsior. She's hard to pin down. It has to be flashy. But not too flashy. And classy, but not boring.
I've always liked the look of the Oranges, too. Is the Pix ballsy enough to be a performance amp, or is it more for practice? When we finally move out of our apartment and buy our own house in the next 2 years, I'll be taking my big, loud John Bonham-style Gretsch drumkit (I play that too) from my parents. I need it loud enough to play over that.
I'm digging the look of the Fender Rumble.
Stupid question: Do bassists generally prefer tube over solid state? I mean, with guitar amps, most players prefer tube for the nice warmth and natural distortion when cranked. Obviously. But with bass, I imagine you'd want to take advantage of the quicker response and larger amount of clean headroom that you'd get from solid state, although I could still see valuing the tube warmth I guess what I'm asking is if solid state amps are more accepted in the bass community than the guitar community?
I can't believe a Neanderthal such as myself is the first to suggest this...
If you are feeling at all handy, why not just buy whatever bass amp she likes the sound (NOT look) of, then strip off the tolex or rat fur and reapply your own finishing oil (or new tolex) and grill cloth? You could theoretically have an Ampeg B15 that looks like a Fender with tweed covering and a tan grill cloth, or an SWR Redhead (my recommendation for your little missus) that matches your Vox.
If you are feeling at all handy, why not just buy whatever bass amp she likes the sound (NOT look) of, then strip off the tolex or rat fur and reapply your own finishing oil (or new tolex) and grill cloth? You could theoretically have an Ampeg B15 that looks like a Fender with tweed covering and a tan grill cloth, or an SWR Redhead (my recommendation for your little missus) that matches your Vox.
I rambled a bit in my response but I (and the guy right after me) said - I thought quite clearly - that YES SS is well accepted in bass.
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Seriously? No love for "Fonzerelli scale"? come-on, I'm hilarious.The Rumble V3 210 looks to be a nice combo, granted, but it's $140 more than the Genz Contour, $499 vs $359. Not an insignificant difference, especially when the budget is an already pretty unrealistic $200-$400. The Contour covers all the musical bases needed, does it very well, & all for little coin (much less than original retail & its intrinsic value).
Wifey (& maybe the OP) can want their cake & to eat it, too, but people in Hell want ice H2O also. Don't mean they get it.
I think one that does fit within the price range and has good resale value, has the tube & vintage caché, would be a good bedroom or practice amp and which She (mine) would allow in Her living room would be the Bassman 20. A clean example could be found and re-grilled if necessary due to possible fading.
Perfect living room amp - but he ALSO wants to be able to transition to small gigs which this little beauty would not be appropriate for. BTW - I mentioned the Excelsior BEFORE he said it would be nice to gig with it too.I think one that does fit within the price range and has good resale value, has the tube & vintage caché, would be a good bedroom or practice amp and which She (mine) would allow in Her living room would be the Bassman 20. A clean example could be found and re-grilled if necessary due to possible fading.
I really do love the look of the Ampeg B-100R... How do those sound?
I love the idea of a non-tonally-colored speaker cab. I also like building things that look pretty. That's what I like about the fEARful. And if the sound quality lives up to the hype, then I won't ever really need to get another cab.
I could start with a decent head, and only need to upgrading that later.
What I have right now is a beat-up old Peavey Microbass. It was abandoned at my parents house by an old band-mate of my brothers back when he was in high school. Its ugly, its finicky, and I don't really like the way it sounds. Its muddy as all hell, and has no real low end to speak of. The fartiest-sounding thing I've ever heard is the Stingray with bass knob cranked through that amp. No me gusta.
I love the idea of a non-tonally-colored speaker cab. I also like building things that look pretty. That's what I like about the fEARful. And if the sound quality lives up to the hype, then I won't ever really need to get another cab.
I could start with a decent head, and only need to upgrading that later.
What I have right now is a beat-up old Peavey Microbass. It was abandoned at my parents house by an old band-mate of my brothers back when he was in high school. Its ugly, its finicky, and I don't really like the way it sounds. Its muddy as all hell, and has no real low end to speak of. The fartiest-sounding thing I've ever heard is the Stingray with bass knob cranked through that amp. No me gusta.
That Carvin seems pretty cool, too. I like that you can order it with different coverings.
You said you wanted ideas in the $200-$400 range. If you're completely throwing that out the window, then a fEARful & separate powerful amp to take advantage of the fEARful is a great option. But you're talking ~$600 (or more) for the cab & ~$400 (or more) for the amp. Minimum ~$1K.
As for the Ampeg combo, yeah pretty nice sounding, but ain't no way it's gonna keep up in no loud gig.
