Help with finding the RIGHT amp!

[ookla the mok]

I'm fairly new to the bass itself (1 year experience so far, 15 years exp playing guitar), so i've been having trouble 'dialing in' the proper sound with the gear my band has acquired so far.

We've been using a Trace Elliot GP7SM 300 head on an unnamed 4x10 cab w/ a Fender Jaguar bass (active OFF) strung with La Bella flatwound "deep talkin' bass" strings. Also, we have a Sansamp Bass Driver hooked up at the moment.

I've ordered a Sansamp VT pedal based upon all the great reviews I found on this forum... so I'm hoping that might help dial in the right tone we're looking for, but after gigging out this weekend and playing on 2 different ampeg SVT's (newer solid state models), I've found the Trace's sound (maybe its the cab?!) to be completely lacking in power and tone.

The style of music we play ranges from Motown/Stax to Beach Boys/Zombies/Beatles/Kinks/Who it's all over the place, but definitely 60's era. Here's some samples - Link Removed

Any and all help is MUCH appreciated. Cheers!

 

[NKUSigEp]

Welcome to TB and good to see another local on here. That's some great music on your myspace too! Good sound!

My suggestion - try some Eden gear. The WT400 amp paired with a D210XLT cabinet seems like it would be a perfect combination for your music. It's a portable rig with a great warm sound that can put out a lot of volume if you need it to. The Ampeg B-15 sound can be easily coaxed from it with the right P-bass and that IS the Motown and Stax sound. It's very versatile though and would be suitable for the other styles of bands you have listed.

 

[username1]

I dont think you could go wrong with most anything out there today. I would just figure out your budget and go try as many amps as posible. Sound is a very subjective thing, what works for me might not be your cup of tee.

 

[NKUSigEp]

I dont think you could go wrong with most anything out there today. I would just figure out your budget and go try as many amps as posible. Sound is a very subjective thing, what works for me might not be your cup of tee.

+1

If you want to try out some Aguilar gear, I'm only 20 mins from Harrison in Bridgetown.

 

[LaklandBass]

Trace elliot sounds awesome. Get a good cab

 

[basspro]

Even just a fair cab can hold back the best of amps from shining thru, so i would start
with a good cab and go from there.

 

[ookla the mok]

Thanks for the fast input all! Does anyone know a good argument for choosing between 4x10" vs 1x15" if I don't want to lug around both to gigs? Also, what does one look for in a speaker and cab construction?

 

[SteveC]

I need the right amp, too. I'm not sure what to try and I've been playing for 20+ years. I think the cab advice is good. The cab is what translates everything else. That's where you - and I - need to start I think.

 

[basspro]

My recommendation totally unbiased, "as i don't own one" would be to go with a single cab,maybe an Ampeg SVT 810E it's sealed,heavy,on wheels,but will nail the vintage Motown tone.
If more funds are available,also look at an Ampeg V4B to match-up with this cab if your still unhappy with the Trace.

But really, take your bass and Trace to the local music store like GC and plug into different cabs.Then maybe plug into what i have recommened, and other different brands and see what works FOR YOU.

 

[JimmyM]

I've ordered a Sansamp VT pedal based upon all the great reviews I found on this forum... so I'm hoping that might help dial in the right tone we're looking for, but after gigging out this weekend and playing on 2 different ampeg SVT's (newer solid state models), I've found the Trace's sound (maybe its the cab?!) to be completely lacking in power and tone.

Depends on what the cab is, but if you don't know what kind it is, I'd suspect it before the head. However, Ampeg makes great stuff, no doubt. I prefer their tube heads greatly over the SS and hybrids, but they do make a very good hybrid (their all-SS amps are IMHO kind of meh, though).

 

[NKUSigEp]

Thanks for the fast input all! Does anyone know a good argument for choosing between 4x10" vs 1x15" if I don't want to lug around both to gigs? Also, what does one look for in a speaker and cab construction?

There are a lot of deviations to the logic but very generally speaking, a 4x10 will be louder and and have a broader response than a single 15. I don't like single 15 cabs so I won't comment on them to avoid bias. It's hard to go wrong with Ampeg but I'd strongly recommend Aguilar or Eden if you can find a good deal on one.

As far as speaker cabinet construction - good solid handles, covering (carpet, tolex, etc.) that properly fits the cabinet, sturdy corner protection, a good set of speakers, and casters. Tweeters are of no use to me and speakons are nice but not necessary.

 

[troyus]

With the Jaguar pre-amp you can cop a good tone on mediocre setups. Use the pre-amp but use it sparingly, it can be very useful as long as you don't lay it on thick and greasy.

 

[Count Bassie]

Most heads require some time to get them dialed-in. Trace can be tough because of all the eq choices you have, as well as whatever other choices you have on that model. But they tend to be conservatively rated- as for your remark about the Ampeg ss heads, I've found those to actually be a little weak.

Why don't you keep the Trace for now, since you have it, and get serious about a cab. Avatar has inexpensive stuff that sounds good and isn't too heavy to lug around. I'm using a b212 (non-neo) with a Bag-End 15 on top. The Avatar alone sounds good out front. They are also re-sellable when / if you decide to move to something else.

Anyway, that Trace, given some tweak-time, might show itself a real good amp. But a good cab will (most likely) bring out the best in whatever you use to power it.

 

[ookla the mok]

I've turned off all the pre-amps on the jaguar and trace... have just been running it through the sansamp bass driver until i get my VT pedal in the mail.

I looked at the back of the cab and it's a PEAVEY T-Bass 4x10 enclosure...

Also @ JimmyM - I think the Ampegs i got to play through over the weekend were probably hybrids. I'd have to check with those guys to find out for sure though. Either way, i noticed a huge difference in the power i was putting out.

Thanks again for all the different opinions guys! The more information, the better.

 

[jmarnett]

If the cab is an older peavey, it probably has the old scorpion speakers in it, these speakers have been known around both bass and guitar as crappy flat sounding speakers, so it could be the cab. Ampeg all around are great amps, and different rigs work better with certain basses, so you might have found a rig that works better for your bass then the one you have. Playing live and in different locations brings different sound just by the surroundings of the amp. Hybrid and tube amps always sound better than solidstate. Your eq settings on your amp now could be adjusted and running the preamp higher and the power section lower will push the amp giving you a different tone, its all about messing with what you have, but more times than none something out there will help the tone.

 

[ookla the mok]

UPDATE!

I just traded my old EH Micro Synth pedal for a 70's Kustom 250 bass head.

If the cabinet has crappy speakers... you couldn't tell anymore!

The Kustom paired with my new Sansamp VT pedal COOKS! I smiling from ear to ear... and i only had to pay 150 for that pedal!


I'll probably end up looking into a diff speaker cab in the near future though, i'm sure it could sound better!


Thanks again all for the advice.