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If you could build a custom bass amp head...
- Thread starter Hawk256
- Start date
- Status
3 seperate preamp channels, 801 watts. Name that starts with an "M".
Sort of Modular
Preamp input (adjustable impedance from 500kohm to 10 Megaohm)
Mixable and routable as well
Octal Tube on Channel 1
JFET on channel 2
HPF with adjustable slope
DBX 160 based compressor
EQ Bypass
4 EQ circuits (all tube 12**7 based except for the 4th one)
Fender TMB
Pultec Style EQ Modified for bass
Baxandall Ampeg style
Channel strip with semi parametric mid
2 effects loop with different input sensitivities -pedal base -10db or +4db and can run parallel or series and can be daisy chained as well
EQ routable to FPGA based DSP for true IR / Cab emulation and various output - USB audio, coax digital and optical all future proof up to 32 bit 400Hz digital fidelity. Analog out will be high end. This module will also handle post and pre DI - Jensen Equipped
Into a Low Power 2 tube parallel Class A switchable to AB and can take 6L6, KTXX and 6550 either in matched pairs when in AB and a mix when in class A. Variable power from 12 watts to 100 watts depending on power tubes and class operation.
Output of tube can go to speaker outputs or into a reactive class D amp 600 watts but low distortion like GK legacies - Stable down 2 ohms. That means if you want power tube amp growl you can get it but you can boost it up to 600 watts. Tube section will also have secondary D1. D power section will have damping/resonance controls to match with speaker response
Power tube will have have intelligent tube biasing like Carole Ann amps on demand and always at power on.
And the amp will be released with it's own VST plugin that will be HW based
That is my dream amp. It won't be light - And I insist on FPGA not DSP on the digital parts. I have to reiterate low distortion on the Class D module when cranked. I only asked for 600 watts but low distortion 600 watts.
When I say modular - You can break it into 3 but they can all be together as well:
Input /HPF/Compressor and EQs + IR will be one unit.
Tube Power section
class D power amp
Since there are limitations on signal connections with the old 1/4 phone - XLR and CAT7 cables will be used for nodular connection.
Preamp input (adjustable impedance from 500kohm to 10 Megaohm)
Mixable and routable as well
Octal Tube on Channel 1
JFET on channel 2
HPF with adjustable slope
DBX 160 based compressor
EQ Bypass
4 EQ circuits (all tube 12**7 based except for the 4th one)
Fender TMB
Pultec Style EQ Modified for bass
Baxandall Ampeg style
Channel strip with semi parametric mid
2 effects loop with different input sensitivities -pedal base -10db or +4db and can run parallel or series and can be daisy chained as well
EQ routable to FPGA based DSP for true IR / Cab emulation and various output - USB audio, coax digital and optical all future proof up to 32 bit 400Hz digital fidelity. Analog out will be high end. This module will also handle post and pre DI - Jensen Equipped
Into a Low Power 2 tube parallel Class A switchable to AB and can take 6L6, KTXX and 6550 either in matched pairs when in AB and a mix when in class A. Variable power from 12 watts to 100 watts depending on power tubes and class operation.
Output of tube can go to speaker outputs or into a reactive class D amp 600 watts but low distortion like GK legacies - Stable down 2 ohms. That means if you want power tube amp growl you can get it but you can boost it up to 600 watts. Tube section will also have secondary D1. D power section will have damping/resonance controls to match with speaker response
Power tube will have have intelligent tube biasing like Carole Ann amps on demand and always at power on.
And the amp will be released with it's own VST plugin that will be HW based
That is my dream amp. It won't be light - And I insist on FPGA not DSP on the digital parts. I have to reiterate low distortion on the Class D module when cranked. I only asked for 600 watts but low distortion 600 watts.
When I say modular - You can break it into 3 but they can all be together as well:
Input /HPF/Compressor and EQs + IR will be one unit.
Tube Power section
class D power amp
Since there are limitations on signal connections with the old 1/4 phone - XLR and CAT7 cables will be used for nodular connection.
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Simple. Just get a Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier, A Markbass MoMark, and a HPF/LPF Broughton pedal and some other various compnents and throw them in a blender! 
someone please correct me if i'm wrong, but i don't think there's a bass amp head that does what blackstar (and i'm sure other brands are doing) for guitar amps. All tube amps with the ability to play with headphone use without being plugged into a cab. I think they call the feature a tube emulator.
anyways, that'd be nice for let's say a 100W all tube bass amp.
anyways, that'd be nice for let's say a 100W all tube bass amp.
There's plenty for me out there already, and Andy's Subways are at the top of the list, but there a more great amps now than ever before. I'll steer clear of this as I'm not a designer as far as the big stuff goes.
I do have two favorite small features I'm very fond of, though as I don't know the engineering involved to add these, it's really no more than a small wish list:
1) I was always a big fan of the input 'under-OK-over' input signal strength lights on the OG Trace amps.
2) I had a Yamaha B100MkIII solid state head that head the most complete DI arrangement I ever saw:
a) XLR or 1/4" balanced out (and this was separate from the Preamp Out 1/4") with a dedicated output gain, completely separate from Front Panel gain
b) Pre- or Post- Front Panel EQ switch
c) Ground Lift
Again, these are easy for me to daydream about, as I don't have to design and incorporate them, but I really admired these two features.
I do have two favorite small features I'm very fond of, though as I don't know the engineering involved to add these, it's really no more than a small wish list:
1) I was always a big fan of the input 'under-OK-over' input signal strength lights on the OG Trace amps.
2) I had a Yamaha B100MkIII solid state head that head the most complete DI arrangement I ever saw:
a) XLR or 1/4" balanced out (and this was separate from the Preamp Out 1/4") with a dedicated output gain, completely separate from Front Panel gain
b) Pre- or Post- Front Panel EQ switch
c) Ground Lift
Again, these are easy for me to daydream about, as I don't have to design and incorporate them, but I really admired these two features.
1) If it has a HPF it must be variable.
2) If the speaker damping has been reduced - following the judgement of the designer in consultation with players or whatever, for example TT-800 - then that must be switchable or variable.
3) Bass control at 70Hz (or 90Hz!) is too high. The one I have stays centered. (But bass on an SVT at 40Hz is perfect for killing what I don't want from an SG/EB.)
4) Treble control at 6kHz is too high (unless there's another one lower down). On the one I have, that treble stays at zero and I use the semi-parametric mid at about 3k to assist, so that's the only knob I want to use. Have a Q\Strip when I want to work around this.
5) If fanless isn't possible, then a *more serious* attempt at quiet cooling would be nice. (Thinking about one of the three large diameter, slow turning fans in the quiet computer I built ten years ago, on the bottom, blowing upward.)
2) If the speaker damping has been reduced - following the judgement of the designer in consultation with players or whatever, for example TT-800 - then that must be switchable or variable.
3) Bass control at 70Hz (or 90Hz!) is too high. The one I have stays centered. (But bass on an SVT at 40Hz is perfect for killing what I don't want from an SG/EB.)
4) Treble control at 6kHz is too high (unless there's another one lower down). On the one I have, that treble stays at zero and I use the semi-parametric mid at about 3k to assist, so that's the only knob I want to use. Have a Q\Strip when I want to work around this.
5) If fanless isn't possible, then a *more serious* attempt at quiet cooling would be nice. (Thinking about one of the three large diameter, slow turning fans in the quiet computer I built ten years ago, on the bottom, blowing upward.)
Class D
Drive with gain and blend
Tuner
Metronome/rhytms
7 band equalizer
HPF
2 Ohms
Handle like in Hartke 600 TX
Slanted front panel like in Ampeg PF heads
AUX, effects loop with blend (HA3500)
Headphones input
On/off switch on front
1kW power (one can never have to much RMS, BHP and $$$)
Effects processor
Drive with gain and blend
Tuner
Metronome/rhytms
7 band equalizer
HPF
2 Ohms
Handle like in Hartke 600 TX
Slanted front panel like in Ampeg PF heads
AUX, effects loop with blend (HA3500)
Headphones input
On/off switch on front
1kW power (one can never have to much RMS, BHP and $$$)
Effects processor
Tube Pre Amp
Variable High pass filter
Compressor
4 band EQ with sweepable low and high mid frequency selectors
Deep/Bright switches
2-8ohm capable
800-1000 watts
Pre/Post EQ DI
Headphone out
Aux in jack and bluetooth in
Variable High pass filter
Compressor
4 band EQ with sweepable low and high mid frequency selectors
Deep/Bright switches
2-8ohm capable
800-1000 watts
Pre/Post EQ DI
Headphone out
Aux in jack and bluetooth in
An Ampeg 200 watt all tube bass head with a V/SV switch dual preamp selector, vintage ultra high and ultra low switches. 50/200 watt power selector.
Quiet fan, 2/4/8 ohm selection, black cloth, priced between a V4B and an SVT.
Personal engraved Portaflex style dimmable light up logo on the back panel with speaker off headphone output and all the other standard Ampeg features also. That way I can look back there without needing a flashlight.
Quiet fan, 2/4/8 ohm selection, black cloth, priced between a V4B and an SVT.
Personal engraved Portaflex style dimmable light up logo on the back panel with speaker off headphone output and all the other standard Ampeg features also. That way I can look back there without needing a flashlight.
As much as I respect Andy , Mesa Boogie (even if you isolate bass division) is not just just him. It's Randall Smith as well as the the other old timers that had been there forever (Doug West, Mike B come to mind immediately) and do not forget the nice lady at the reception (was it Deb) and the guys out back. The Boogie Tone stack on the TT has been there forever.
I own a Bass 400 as well as the rare music stereo amp, have own Boogie amps from II to V (stiil have the IV and Studio 22 and the Blue Angel) and the Prodigy 8:88 and the old 200 watt power amps. Their firs amps they sold were bass amps.
Here's the updated design team link.
Meet the Design Team | MESA/Boogie®
I own a Bass 400 as well as the rare music stereo amp, have own Boogie amps from II to V (stiil have the IV and Studio 22 and the Blue Angel) and the Prodigy 8:88 and the old 200 watt power amps. Their firs amps they sold were bass amps.
Here's the updated design team link.
Meet the Design Team | MESA/Boogie®
- Mid-pass filter
- Post-eq -> pre-eq loop, for extra eq
- Built-in always-on spring reverb
- DIN-8 input for old Soviet basses
- Photo frame for displaying picture of loved ones while you play
- Pleasant scent
small lightweight tube amp like my pf50t with a tuner built in. My bass is my tone the amp just makes it louder, and the tubes warmer.
- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,086
- 5
- 221,200
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
Mesa has done this on many of the guitar amps via the silent recording function. It's also on a few guitar amps with the Cab Clone IR installed (like the Badlanders), those have headphone outs.
I agree. The 800rb and old 400RB II are perfect. I would use this design and add a good overdrive channel and maybe a HPF.
Class D, 800 watt, 2ohm stable, -6db pad switch, gain, hpf, compressor, aural enchance knob, graphic eq, master volume, under 5 lbs. basically a darkglass without the distortion circuit, maybe a tube pre tooo, I'd want it to sound like an SWR grand Prix
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IIRC
He did start a similar thread a few years back asking us this very question, and then he built it.
….nice.
Yea pretty much same here. The reason I didn't mention drive or any kind of effects/filter/etc. because there are endless choice of pedals out there. I personally wasn't a fan of the plex and 2001rb drive. But if they can could squeeze a SansAmp bass driver like od in it I'm sold.
Front panel:
1 input with active pad switch.
1-knob compressor (based on the Orange Squeezer).
Tube preamp, with the tube mounted in such a way that it can be removed and swapped without having to open up the whole casing of the amplifier (a simple panel on the front that you unscrew would be ideal).
4-band fully parametric EQ, i.e. boost/cut control (with centre detent), sweepable frequency control, and variable Q control.
A footswitch that lets you select between two EQ and compressor presets, perhaps working like the GK Fusion 500 motorised knobs?
Master volume.
Mute switch.
500 watt solid state power section.
Back panel:
Effects loop with blend control (mounted on front).
DI out with pre/post EQ.
Line out.
Tuner out
2 speakon outputs with indicator lights.
Footswitch:
Compressor on/off
Preamp tube on/off
Comp+EQ Preset selector 1/2
Mute on/off
If Eden made this....
Peace,
SoundSupport
1 input with active pad switch.
1-knob compressor (based on the Orange Squeezer).
Tube preamp, with the tube mounted in such a way that it can be removed and swapped without having to open up the whole casing of the amplifier (a simple panel on the front that you unscrew would be ideal).
4-band fully parametric EQ, i.e. boost/cut control (with centre detent), sweepable frequency control, and variable Q control.
A footswitch that lets you select between two EQ and compressor presets, perhaps working like the GK Fusion 500 motorised knobs?
Master volume.
Mute switch.
500 watt solid state power section.
Back panel:
Effects loop with blend control (mounted on front).
DI out with pre/post EQ.
Line out.
Tuner out
2 speakon outputs with indicator lights.
Footswitch:
Compressor on/off
Preamp tube on/off
Comp+EQ Preset selector 1/2
Mute on/off
If Eden made this....
Peace,
SoundSupport
- Status
