Guitar Amps for Bass Players

[Phreaky Phriday]

those circuits are so simple I think it would be inexpensive to get a tech to go through and fix the trem. you might just need to replace the tube that drives it (iirc it's one of the 12ax7s).

imho well worth it for that lovely tube bias trem

I tried replacing the tubes to fix it - was not the tube . Someday i probably take it in

 

[FugaziBomb]

I run a wet/dry biamped set up. For the dry line preamp, I just use a low pass filter (which is actually just the low side of a Rolls crossover) then that gets sent through Channel A of the EQ (which further sculpts the lows) and Compressor, then on through a Crown XLi and finally out to one or two 18" subs. The high side - which is also the isolated effects side - goes into a Demeter VTBP-201S preamp, then though side B of the EQ and Comp, out of that and into a Mesa Stereo Two:Fifty tube power amp, then into one or two 2x10 cabs (currently loving the old Edens, but I also have Hartke XL and Peavey Headliner 2x10s I use as well).

One thing I found is that I only like how guitar amps sound feeding bass cabinets. I used a couple of open back 2x12s and even a 4x12 closed back 1960a - since I had subwoofers handling the low end - but none of them were "tight" enough in their response like a sealed and ported bass cabinet is.

Also, I have a 5 watt Bugera that I use in the studio instead of the big stack, and it sounds killer with the help of a Captor X or OxBox sending the speaker output right to the board. We still will catch a DI as well to retain low end, but the "voice" of a low watt tube amp is amazing on a bass track.

Bonus: Check out this clean cable routing

 

[tris66]

Carvin X100B tube heads are great sounding, versatile amps, cool aesthetic, and cheap on the used market. Features switches on the back for speaker ohm matching and output attenuation, so you can use them with a lot of different cabs and get the most out of them at different volumes. Extra bonus is that these sound great with bass too, if you use a proper modern bass cab (preferably without tweeter).

View attachment 7428792

I have a love/hate relationship with mine. I will use the cross over on my bass amp and send the mids and highs the the X-Amp. As you know the clean channel is really clean and the the overdrive channel can get pretty distorted. I absolutely love the grinding bass tone I can dial in.
I've gone through a few over the years selling them because of moves or because I'm a bit stupid. The last one I bought I ordered through guitar center. When it showed up I thought it was a bit heavier than I remembered. I was right. The listing didn't show there was a EVM12L in it. I thought $450 shipped was a decent deal for an amp with a foot switch and cover. A $200 speaker thrown in? Sometimes you get lucky.

 

[tris66]

My first Fender amp was a '64 Super Reverb I bought for $200 in 1976 to play in a band. It worked well - loud was a thing back then. Around '81 I was living in Austin and wanted a more modern, fusiony sound at less than airplane-hangar volume levels, so I had the Super Boogie-ized by Fred Bonty with the help of Eric Johnson, with whom Fred was equipment manager. The modded amp had an articulate and velvet tone that I loved - great for those early Holdsworth type tones. I restored the amp to stock blackface circuit in the '90s and sold it.

I've also owned 4 other vintage blackface Super Reverbs and one 1970-ish silverface.





What do you not like about the Vibro Champ? Ever have it serviced?

One of the best sounding, most touch-sensitive amps I ever owned was a '59 tweed Champ. Only real amp-sale regret.

I had a whole bunch of amps I regret selling including another early silver face Super Reverb, a beautiful 4 input Marshall 50 watt from about 1975 (if I remember correctly) and a tweed Champ... yes, THAT tweed champ. But I bought a house that eventually led me to being debt free, so it was a reasonable exchange.
The Vibro Champ is thin and wimpy sounding. It could probably use a recap. I rarely even remember I have it. Meh.
Edit: a quick pick of some of my junk. I dragged the Champ out to give her some attention.

 

[poochiecheeks]

I used to have a valvestate 8100 on top of a 410 bass cabinet, worked well enough. Later had a crate gx130c with the same cab. No longer have either but looking for some kind of 1U rack preamp that will do either of these sounds.

 

[vvvmmm]

For bass or guitar use I have a Musicman HD130, and a Ampeg VT60 - and a Fender ProJr. that records well at very low volume.
For guitar only I have a Boogie .50 Caliber (replacing a blond Mark IIB that was too heavy and needed to be too loud for peak tone), a Blackstar Soloist 60, an original Silver Jubilee 50 1x12" combo, an HRDX, a Tiny Terror, a Tech21 Trademark 60 and a pair of Trademark 10's, a pair of Vox NT15's, a Vox NT 50, a Fender Bassbreaker 15 and an 007, an Elektar 10, a Rickenbacker M8E, a Jet City 20, various cabs, a few S/S amps from Peavey, Kustom, etc.

I have also enjoyed using my PF50t on guitar (check it out, here).

A buddy brings a Princeton re-issue over that I like, altho' I'm kinda trying to find a Deluxe Reverb re-issue for a good price. Amps, pedals, and guitars are my investments, as well as CD's (the kind ya play).

 

[HelpImaRock]

The Mesa Boogie Subway Rocket was my main amp from 1996 to 2007. I've primarily played the Allen Encore since.

 

[tris66]

I have also enjoyed using my PF50t on guitar (check it out, here).

I have no idea what you have going on, but I like your songs. Completely unexpected.

 

[smatanovic]

I'm just starting g to ply guitar, and play either through my Ampeg Micro CL bass rig, or through UA amp plugins (I have the Marshall and fender tweed plugins).

 

[CryingBass]

Kustom. Cushiins.

 

[Passinwind]

I have also enjoyed using my PF50t on guitar (check it out, here).

I naturally had to check out cut #2, since it sounded potentially familial to this:



I don't remember all the details of my guitar chain, but I think it's mostly VG-8 patches, but maybe with some Roland GR-09 and/or the Laney amp I mentioned upthread mixed in on some of the dubs. My rig was crazy convoluted back then, I had a MIDI tiggered Emu rack sampler too.

Anyhow, I dug your vibe a lot. @Pocket Dave, yours too BTW.

 

[vvvmmm]

Thanks - and yers made me smile - nice room sound on the drums, also.

 

[EastDakota]

I have also enjoyed using my PF50t on guitar (check it out, here).

Thanks for posting that, I've been really curious about that or the PF20t as a dual-purpose head.


To contribute, here's a passive P-bass through a DSL-1H (50th anniversary version) into a cab that has a Bag End E-15. The "Deep" switch works.

 

[PsychoG]

I have a Mesa Badlander 1x12 combo. Great on its own, but I also use it with a Helix Rack. Very happy with it.

 

[SteveCS]

Whatcha got? What do you prefer?

Current guitar amps are a Dumble-clone-circuit

I'm with you on the tube gain stage thing. I have a 1980s Kitty Hawk Quattro preamp which is a take on the Dumble ODS. It has 4 12AX7 tubes and 4 selectable gain structures from crystal-clear sparkly clean through crunch/overdrive to a very hot full-fat distortion. Not many were made and even fewer survive, but it is a total keeper.

 

[Nedmundo]

this is not a very "sexy" answer,

but the gen 3 boss katana is so great.

huge range of very authentic sounds. the effects are good. the univibe in particular is exceptional. all of the mid/high gain sounds are incredible, the clean is impeccable, and mild breakup sounds are extremely nice.

i use one in my classroom and in my home studio, i'd probably never play guitar with a band. the .5 watt, half power, or full power settings make it great for practice.

Yes, those Katanas are excellent. One of my former bandmates used one for some rehearsals, and I was impressed.

I'm fairly sure they're the direct descendants of the Roland Cubes, which were very good for solid state amps in their day. My Cube 60 for guitar was great for home use and band rehearsals, and I still have my Cube Bass 100 from about 2005. It's now serving as a bass monitor for the BL/"Jerry" in my Dead cover band.

 

[SteveCS]

i use one in my classroom and in my home studio, i'd probably never play guitar with a band. the .5 watt,

Putting aside the fact that a lot of guitar cabs might not be particularly efficient, 0.5W through the 'right' cab can be pretty loud, IME.

 

[smatanovic]

For bass or guitar use I have a Musicman HD130, and a Ampeg VT60 - and a Fender ProJr. that records well at very low volume.
For guitar only I have a Boogie .50 Caliber (replacing a blond Mark IIB that was too heavy and needed to be too loud for peak tone), a Blackstar Soloist 60, an original Silver Jubilee 50 1x12" combo, an HRDX, a Tiny Terror, a Tech21 Trademark 60 and a pair of Trademark 10's, a pair of Vox NT15's, a Vox NT 50, a Fender Bassbreaker 15 and an 007, an Elektar 10, a Rickenbacker M8E, a Jet City 20, various cabs, a few S/S amps from Peavey, Kustom, etc.

I have also enjoyed using my PF50t on guitar (check it out, here).

That's a great guitar tone. Is all of the gain/breakup coming from the amp or are you using effects as well?

 

[smatanovic]

Thanks for posting that, I've been really curious about that or the PF20t as a dual-purpose head.


To contribute, here's a passive P-bass through a DSL-1H (50th anniversary version) into a cab that has a Bag End E-15. The "Deep" switch works.

This thread is doing absolutely nothing to diminish my GAS for a pf-20T.

 

[Ross Davies]

View attachment 7428947
I run a wet/dry biamped set up. For the dry line preamp, I just use a low pass filter (which is actually just the low side of a Rolls crossover) then that gets sent through Channel A of the EQ (which further sculpts the lows) and Compressor, then on through a Crown XLi and finally out to one or two 18" subs. The high side - which is also the isolated effects side - goes into a Demeter VTBP-201S preamp, then though side B of the EQ and Comp, out of that and into a Mesa Stereo Two:Fifty tube power amp, then into one or two 2x10 cabs (currently loving the old Edens, but I also have Hartke XL and Peavey Headliner 2x10s I use as well).

View attachment 7428986

One thing I found is that I only like how guitar amps sound feeding bass cabinets. I used a couple of open back 2x12s and even a 4x12 closed back 1960a - since I had subwoofers handling the low end - but none of them were "tight" enough in their response like a sealed and ported bass cabinet is.

Also, I have a 5 watt Bugera that I use in the studio instead of the big stack, and it sounds killer with the help of a Captor X or OxBox sending the speaker output right to the board. We still will catch a DI as well to retain low end, but the "voice" of a low watt tube amp is amazing on a bass track.

Bonus: Check out this clean cable routing

View attachment 7429010View attachment 7429008

Nice rig and super pleased to hear Captor X working out well for you!