Thanks for all the replies, I'm looking at the different pedals and stuff that you guys suggested right now
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I don't think I like my new head
- Thread starter Bass_masta16
- Start date
GK products sound great for a reasonable price. The 1001's are great and a little over $600. I bought one but I kind of wish I would have got the Fussion 550 as I really like their sound. I believe the Fussions are actually a little cheaper than the 1001's.
I'm guessing you want that meaty overdriven type sound Ampeg is known for. Just get an overdrive pedal. It's a much cheaper option than getting a whole new amp!
it's your post, derail away!!! you've taken enough flack where you can start talking about hockey sticks and you wouldn't be out of line.
personally, i would never go with Ampeg anything. I have Played the LH1000, and i gotta say, very possibly the best head that I have played. But, i played it through HX810...so, they were kinda made for each other. I would recomend trying out other cabs...My personal Favorites are SWR or the Hartke Hydrive cabs...get yourself a Nice SWR 4x10 and a Son of bertha....i bet you'll have a good time 
thats what i use, and i have a Hartke model 5000 head powering(hahah..wanna trade
)....which has a tube pre and a solidstate....oh, plus a fancy EQ...but i gotta say they are really tricky to get down....I've spent HOURS(like 20) messing with it, and im still struggling to get the "right sound" im about as close as im gonna get though. By the way...what i just described, handles everything from drop tuned(C-G-C-F) Hardcore metal, to real mellow Praise music......i would highly recomend giving those cabs a look.
thats what i use, and i have a Hartke model 5000 head powering(hahah..wanna trade)....which has a tube pre and a solidstate....oh, plus a fancy EQ...but i gotta say they are really tricky to get down....I've spent HOURS(like 20) messing with it, and im still struggling to get the "right sound" im about as close as im gonna get though. By the way...what i just described, handles everything from drop tuned(C-G-C-F) Hardcore metal, to real mellow Praise music......i would highly recomend giving those cabs a look.
And after time and trials go by, if you still don't like your LH1000 if you would like I would trade you up even for my Fender Pro 800. I love both heads. My cabs are Hartke. 
Anyway, just thought I would put this out there.
Peace. David
Anyway, just thought I would put this out there.Peace. David
AmpegSVT, I bought my 1001 a year ago and I paid $625 new, at that time I was quoted I $600 for the Fussion.
I really like the sound of the Fussion, at NAMM I saw the 1050! I would have loved to played with it but I didn't have the time nor want to start getting that "hunger" again. I went with the SS unit for it's roadworthiness. I agree with you on that "sterile" sound but I've got it adjusted pretty nicely.
I really like the sound of the Fussion, at NAMM I saw the 1050! I would have loved to played with it but I didn't have the time nor want to start getting that "hunger" again. I went with the SS unit for it's roadworthiness. I agree with you on that "sterile" sound but I've got it adjusted pretty nicely.
Oh, go put on a clean dress and quit whining.TB has realy become a hardcore bashing, troll calling "old fart" zone lately. I thought you guys were supposed to support the new generation of players, not put us down for out parents supporting us. :scowl:
Yet again, IMO.
That was a joke, BTW. It has nothing to do with age, though. It has to do with wastefulness and not thinking major purchases through before dropping the cash. I'd say it to anyone, not just a kid.
And I have another question..
When I have the speakon in my Hartke (bridged, 1000), and I put it to about 3:00 ( I don't ever do this, just the one time, but I'm just asking..), if it was hurting the cab, would it make some kind of noise? Because when I've done this, it doesn't make any kind of noise showing it's hurting the cab, but it does pump out a hella lotta sound!
When I have the speakon in my Hartke (bridged, 1000), and I put it to about 3:00 ( I don't ever do this, just the one time, but I'm just asking..), if it was hurting the cab, would it make some kind of noise? Because when I've done this, it doesn't make any kind of noise showing it's hurting the cab, but it does pump out a hella lotta sound!
It would either put out farting noises until it blew or it would just blow the second you played a note. So it's probably OK but just the same, I wouldn't do it.
i could be wrong, but i believe the Ampeg SVT-410HE has a light on the interior of the amp that acts as an overload protector. If it looks like your speakers are lighting up from behind, you should probably back off.
I am sure someone else will confirm this or tell me that i don't know what i am talking about.
I am sure someone else will confirm this or tell me that i don't know what i am talking about.
If you get a nice clean sound, I wouldn't be worried about having a more extensive EQ. I've run into more people that damage sound with a complex EQ than not
Definitely try looking for a nice overdrive or distortion pedal if that's the sound you want. There's a lot of tube distortion pedals on the market at this point, and they'll certainly do you a favor when you want to keep that clean sound. If you are really set on getting another head, I'd look into something with at least a semi-parametric EQ - the Shuttle 6.0 is very nice and doesn't cost an arm and a leg.
Definitely try looking for a nice overdrive or distortion pedal if that's the sound you want. There's a lot of tube distortion pedals on the market at this point, and they'll certainly do you a favor when you want to keep that clean sound. If you are really set on getting another head, I'd look into something with at least a semi-parametric EQ - the Shuttle 6.0 is very nice and doesn't cost an arm and a leg.
I was in your same shoes ten years ago when I was your age. I would have to firmly disagree with anyone telling you to just be happy with what you have. For myself (and I'm sure many others), who are not content to just plug into any amp and bang away, if your amp isn't giving you the sound you're looking for, you're not going to be inspired to play it.
At sixteen, most people don't have bills to pay so if you have a job, pretty much all of your income is disposable. Yes, of course you'll take a loss when you go to sell it and buy a new one, but the search for the tone in your head can be an expensive one unfortunately. I've found in many cases that the sound of the amp in the store is exponentially better than when I actually bring it home. Sometimes you even fool yourself into thinking you really like a piece of gear for a few months once you first get it and it takes some time before you realize it actually isn't what you were looking for.
In any case, I say if you don't like the head, get rid of it and move on. I see you're in Canada so I'm guessing you have a Long and McQuade somewhere nearby. I've bought/sold/traded probably about 8 different heads and combos through L&M and their policies can be very forgiving. For instance, there have been times where I've brought a head/combo back to them after 6 months of using it and while it was way past their return policy date, they would just charge me for the minimal rental fee per month which is awesome. Talk to the store where you bought the head and maybe they can work something out with you to get you playing through something you really like without costing an arm and a leg. Another thing L&M allows me to do is take a head or cab home for a weekend to try it out in my usual playing situations at no charge (provided it comes back with no damage of course). That's another thing I would strongly suggest when you get a new head. Many of the music stores are designed for everything to sound killer whereas your basement likely isn't...
At sixteen, most people don't have bills to pay so if you have a job, pretty much all of your income is disposable. Yes, of course you'll take a loss when you go to sell it and buy a new one, but the search for the tone in your head can be an expensive one unfortunately. I've found in many cases that the sound of the amp in the store is exponentially better than when I actually bring it home. Sometimes you even fool yourself into thinking you really like a piece of gear for a few months once you first get it and it takes some time before you realize it actually isn't what you were looking for.
In any case, I say if you don't like the head, get rid of it and move on. I see you're in Canada so I'm guessing you have a Long and McQuade somewhere nearby. I've bought/sold/traded probably about 8 different heads and combos through L&M and their policies can be very forgiving. For instance, there have been times where I've brought a head/combo back to them after 6 months of using it and while it was way past their return policy date, they would just charge me for the minimal rental fee per month which is awesome. Talk to the store where you bought the head and maybe they can work something out with you to get you playing through something you really like without costing an arm and a leg. Another thing L&M allows me to do is take a head or cab home for a weekend to try it out in my usual playing situations at no charge (provided it comes back with no damage of course). That's another thing I would strongly suggest when you get a new head. Many of the music stores are designed for everything to sound killer whereas your basement likely isn't...
Give your amp a chance in a band situation, not just playing at home: our ears can be overly critical of bass tone.
This happened to me: I got a new amp head and loved the way it sounded -- until I played it for hours on end, at which point I began to think it was lacking something. Started to wonder if it was sounding different than it did when I first tried it.
But then, I A/B'd the new amp head against the old one and laughed out loud. The new one indeed sounded far better, proving that I had simply let my ears fool me. For me, it was "buyer's remorse" and "G.A.S." causing me to doubt my (good) decision to buy that amp (which I still have more than 15 years later).
My advice is to live with the amp for at least a year and never let your mom think you don't appreciate it.
This happened to me: I got a new amp head and loved the way it sounded -- until I played it for hours on end, at which point I began to think it was lacking something. Started to wonder if it was sounding different than it did when I first tried it.
But then, I A/B'd the new amp head against the old one and laughed out loud. The new one indeed sounded far better, proving that I had simply let my ears fool me. For me, it was "buyer's remorse" and "G.A.S." causing me to doubt my (good) decision to buy that amp (which I still have more than 15 years later).
My advice is to live with the amp for at least a year and never let your mom think you don't appreciate it.
Here is my advice for what its worth. If your mom spent the dough on a new amp, dont tell her you dont like it. That certainly wont convice her to go out and get you another one. She may be cool but not that cool. I would suggest adding pedals or a defferent eq. It would probably be easier asking for more gear than to tell her you didnt do your homework and she wasted her money on an amp you dont like. Make her think that amp is the best thing in the world and she will feel good for supporting your musical endeavor. If after a few add ons and some time you find you still feel the same way about it, go for an upgrade. If you stick with it she will be easy to convince its time for an equipment upgrade.
But, whether you still like your amp after getting some extras or not, you have to keep your mom thinking it was a good decision to get that amp for you.
And you have some good gear there.
Kapeesh?
Your life will be much easier if you keep your mom happy.
But, whether you still like your amp after getting some extras or not, you have to keep your mom thinking it was a good decision to get that amp for you.
And you have some good gear there.
Kapeesh?
Your life will be much easier if you keep your mom happy.
Chef
In Memoriam
bass masta:
dang, brutha, I would killed for your rig, at your age.
For most of my working career, I din' have nothing that nice and powerful.
Having said that, I get where you're coming from.
1) The Hartke has a "Fender Tone Stack." This means the bass control feeds the mid control, mid feeds treble...they all interact, and it can be a little confusing.
The manual doesn't say what flat is, but is does say 5-5-5 is a little bass boost, and a little treble boost. It's a lil different than many current eq setups, but plenty workable.
Try to think of eq as a device to take out what you don't like, rahter than to add more of what you want.
2) The amp stays clean, despite the tube in it. I presume this is why you want a gain control: to push some overdrive into it. An outboard pedal wouold serve you well for this.
3) The LH1000 deosnt' really start putting out til you turn it up to 7...but then it comes on gang-busters. Work in little increments from there, or your speakers *will* be at risk!
An outboard overdrive, and outboard eq of some sort will cost you way less than a new rig. I'd advise taking that route first. Both are items you could use with any rig, later.
Good luck!
dang, brutha, I would killed for your rig, at your age.
For most of my working career, I din' have nothing that nice and powerful.
Having said that, I get where you're coming from.
1) The Hartke has a "Fender Tone Stack." This means the bass control feeds the mid control, mid feeds treble...they all interact, and it can be a little confusing.
The manual doesn't say what flat is, but is does say 5-5-5 is a little bass boost, and a little treble boost. It's a lil different than many current eq setups, but plenty workable.
Try to think of eq as a device to take out what you don't like, rahter than to add more of what you want.
2) The amp stays clean, despite the tube in it. I presume this is why you want a gain control: to push some overdrive into it. An outboard pedal wouold serve you well for this.
3) The LH1000 deosnt' really start putting out til you turn it up to 7...but then it comes on gang-busters. Work in little increments from there, or your speakers *will* be at risk!
An outboard overdrive, and outboard eq of some sort will cost you way less than a new rig. I'd advise taking that route first. Both are items you could use with any rig, later.
Good luck!
