How attached are you to your amp?

[ravlin]

I'm more attached to my pedalboard, which is mostly just unimpressive but very functional q\strip + keeley bassist both with minimal tweaks. Occasional OD and that covers 95% of my playing. Between backlines and FOH, it keeps everything consistent and controlled. That said, if my GK MB800 ever dies I'll get another one off reverb. Simple with a totally underrated channel B gain circuit.

 

[Andy Marshman]

I always have to be able to get 'my sound' from an amp. I'm always window shopping but the only thing that would make me change, and I would change, is an amp that's about the same weight, at least the same power rating and affordable.
I'm gigging a Rumble 100 in our classic rock band. We play moderately loud and I'm the loudest guy in the group. I'd switch to a tweed TV Bassman with a 12" speaker but they're hard to find and I'd need a sensible asking price from the seller. I used to have the 15" version of the amp but it's too big, too heavy (now) and too much money.
For practice at home and ukulele gigs I have a Line 6 110 Lowdown amp. It's the ONLY practice amp that I've ever had that delivers the tone I want to achieve and it has a 10" speaker. I don't think I'll ever replace it for at home practice or ukulele gigs.

 

[groovepump]

Minimal attachment. I could rebuild either of my speakers, and find another "micro" bass head. I was actually thinking about that as I was coming home from rehearsal. What are the things that I always worry about leaving behind by accident? The two things I looked back and checked for were my bass and my book. Many of the band's charts would be hard to replace, and it would be a major disaster if I lost mine.

EXACTLY!!! I left my notes / charts (3 notebooks full) at a music series concert. I was absolutely bummed-out when I got home and noticed them missing. Fortunately, the band that played after us found them on the stage and returned them to me. What a relief...

 

[Fishheadjoe]

As I drive the 20 minutes weekly to our rehearsal space (singers basement), the smile on my face grows with every minute knowing that I am going to get to feel my bass sound and fill the room with glorious low end!
Yah, I love my Marshall VBA400 into my Berg NV610!
I don't concern myself with weight as my band mates love the sound of my set up and are more than willing to help. Actually we all help each other as an un-said rule. Yah, I know I am fortunate to have such a good group to play with.
At home for practice, I use a Traynor YBA-1 (45 watt tube amp into a TC Electronics RS2x10. Great little setup as well.
Fishheadjoe

 

[Bass Ameg]

With a 6m cable!

 

[Deleted member 389437]

I adore my two Edens. I've got a WT550 and 800. They sound great through various cabs but I love the punch and growl I can get with my Ashdown MAG410T. I would love to grab a Eden 410XLT to pair them with but its a bit of a hard find.

 

[Eric Ryan]

Extremely attached. It's the best rig I've owned so far, & I've had a few (SWR, Eden, Genz-Benz, Mesa, Ampeg...).

It's all controlled by a Demeter VTBP-201 preamp, run thru a QSC GX5, & projected by a Darkglass 2X12. It's about 800-850 watts, is very clean & warm, & can get club-crushingly loud. Not all that heavy either; all it takes is one trip with my folding hand truck.

I rarely need FOH help. It makes good basses sound great, & great basses sound like I stole them from God's personal collection.

I admit I'd like to give the PJB RoadcaseBG-800 a test drive, & I've got a great backup rig, but I'll NEVER be without the Demeter.

 

[Snarf]

Not very. The cable comes out pretty easily.

 

[gtmalone]

Completely happy with these two! '66 Ampeg B15N and '14 Ampeg PF500/PF210.

Both are great with electric and upright. The Yamaha SLB300 is not in the pic. I need to make a new family portrait.

 

[primusfan1989]

Im not really particularly attached to any piece of gear I own, they're all tools to me.

 

[mambo4]

I love my GB Streamliner 900 and want no other.

 

[lermgalieu]

I like my amp alot, but it has nothing to do with why I play.

 

[bmusic]

Super attached:

But by the same token:


I had been studio-only for 25 years, and only recently started to play out again a little—and even then, didn’t really understand or care about live tone until I set up in front of a backline that was (I think) a biamped GK into a Mesa 1516. I was like “Wait a sec…I can sound like this?”

So now I care. And now I know why they give you a carrying bag with the WD-800. I’m a recent convert, still in the midst of the love affair, but for the moment, I want to take that thing with me wherever I go. Hell, I may take it to the dentist today.

 

[msb]

I have different rigs for different needs and am a bit nerdy over amps.

So I really do love the ones I’ve chosen to use.

 

[murphy]

Considering that I am in 2 permanent bands now and that I left an amp and a cab at each place and others are using them, I would say I am not attached. I am glad they are being used and I am not just hoarding them. Both places did not like the Mesa 400 with the 210 + 115 diesel cabs though. I bring it sometimes but they are not welcomed to stay.

What is it they do not like about the Mesa Combination?

 

[BienBajo]

There's no sentimental attachment for me but I like what I like (pre-Fender SWR's), so I have kept them in good repair and they have served me well for over 25 years. I'll keep lugging them around for as long as I can.

 

[mikeswals]

What is not to like about the Mesa Combination?

Right?!
People get to use a nice amp for free, and they complain about it? LOL!

 

[Bob_Ross]

How attached are you to your amp?

Uh... I guess the answer would be "not very" since
- A) I recently sold off the arguably most covetable parts of my Big Rig
- B) I donated the remaining parts of my Big Rig to a recording studio since it wasn't getting enough use to warrant shipping it to my new abode
- C) Just the other night when the drummer dropped the head for my Not-So-Big Rig, my first thought was "meh, I have a backup head at home"

So yeah, not too attached. Probably comes from decades of relying on venue-provided backline and being totally comfortable getting a good sound from almost any amp.

 

[logdrum]

What is not to like about the Mesa Combination?

It is liked, but my buddy does not want me to leave at the rehearsal space. It is loud and his other band is loud but it is a wall shaker. We did gig with it, when we were playing louder stuff. Having said that the Carvin Cab + SWR 350 has been working with no issues. I've left it there since Nov 2019 and it is used for rehearsals and recording, I would say 40 weeks a year 2-3 times a week. A testament how tough that SWR head is. I've owned it since 1990. I was told the other bass player brought his Aguilar head once but switched to the SWR after 2 songs. SWR nowadays get's no love here on TB. A part of me is waiting for it to explode . The master is always cranked to 8-9 when I get there.

 

[waveman]

When I use an amp, it's my Little Markbass III most everytime. Reason, it sounds good and having independent level for DI is an essential reason why I will always rely on it. Outside of that, I can use just about any amp.