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If you had to pick the most boring head...

Gremson

Gremson

Mar 22, 2012
535
576
North-Leftern USA
www.commonlycourteous.com
#1
I'm starting to double up with electric bass and upright in my band, and my Acoustic 470 is just too gnarly and gritty to give my upright a good sound.
I've already got a Bassbone to switch the two basses, and a slew of effects for my electrics tone shaping. I just need to find a reliable amp head without a whole lot of character to make me louder.
I've already got an Avatar 115 cab that does great. I've heard the Carvin BX250 is a pretty neutral sounding head, but I'm curious if you folks can offer any other ideas. Something over 200 watts and under $400. I'm down for the used route too, if it's not too hard to find. What do you think?
 
#3
The most neutral head I've ever heard is the GB Shuttle 3.0 . I occasionally use it at home to practice as it points out every little defect in your playing in excruciating detail LOL. I've seen quite a bit of love for it amongst DB players - from EB players not-so-much.
 
#7
Gremson said:
I'm starting to double up with electric bass and upright in my band...need to find a reliable amp head without a whole lot of character...over 200 watts and under $400.
Click to expand...

I double on electric and upright. I've used SWR, GB, GK, and Ampeg. Something clean over 200 watts into 8 ohms and ~$400 is probably going to be a used Genz Benz Shuttle 6.x or a Gallien Krueger MB500. I have used the Ampeg PF-350, but found it did not have enough power.

You have a problem you may not have anticipated. Whenever you are going into the PA, you will need two channels into board. I don't think the Bassbone is the right tool. Add a separate DI/Pre for your upright. The Tech21 ParaDI is great for piezo-equipped uprights, and has a good DI. It can go into the effects return of your GB or GK. Not sure the Bassbone buys you much for this application.

I have also used a Countyman type85 DI with a Gage Realist piezo. That DI is active, unlike the Radial JDI.
 
#15
Gremson said:
Rad. Some options I hadn't considered.
I immediately thought about a PA power amp, but my bassbone doesn't have the output to drive a power amp. And adding a separate preamp is a hassle I don't care to deal with.
Thanks for the suggestions guys!
Click to expand...

Amps with DSP can handle it.
Other amps may have line switches that can handle it. Or a little mixer or pre-amp can boost it.
And you may not need "full" output - just enough to make it loud enough for you.
 
#17
To my ears the Ampeg PF-350 and Acoustic B200 add a great deal of color. They are nice heads, I'm not knocking them (I own the Ampeg and have owned the B200), but the Ampeg is very mid strong and the Acoustic has the baked in Acoustic tone. Eden amps are the most neutral I've tried, but are pricey. If you're considering a P.A. setup (ultra clean, not warm), then GK products may work well for you.
 
#18
j.kernodle said:
You could find a used early 90's SWR sm400 or studio 220 for peanuts and they're built like boutique amps, just not the "in" tone for electric bass lately.
Click to expand...

I never really understood this. I hear that SWR is a 90's tone and out of style, but to me good tone is good tone and SWR is timeless. To this day, I will always see some jazz guy or watch Palladium and see and SWR cab on stage. Their cabs are EXCELLENT. I also play only SWR and Mesa and the two sound similar in that they're both hi-fi, but I would never call them "dated tone". MAYBE you could say that about Trace Elliot, but again good tone is good tone. Just my 2 cents ...

OH, PS - What's old is new again so at some point in the near or far future SWR will be the "in tone" again :)
 
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