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I'm Amp Researching -opinions welcome

What amp do you think would best meet my tone goals?

  • GK MB Fusion 500

    Votes: 6 27.3%

  • Fender Bassman 500

    Votes: 4 18.2%

  • Wait for Bergantino B|Amp or Mesa Boogie Subway

    Votes: 4 18.2%

  • Orange OB-1 500

    Votes: 1 4.5%

  • Other

    Votes: 5 22.7%

  • RH 450

    Votes: 4 18.2%

  • Walkabout

    Votes: 3 13.6%
  • Total voters
    22
V63

V63

Sep 13, 2008
171
32
Alberta Canada
#1
I'm tired of my current setup and want something new. I don't want to go all tube but I am interested in hybrids. I'm looking for something gig-able that can be used for home recording.
I am curious about the Aguilar Tone Hammer 500 but I hear the fan is noisy. This was a deal breaker between me and my Walkabout.
I'm interested in: Orange OB1 500
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Fender Bassman 500
Invalid Link Removed
maybe Tech 21 VT 500
Invalid Link Removed
These heads don't seem to have many videos or sound clips available.
If any one has experience running clean-ish with Flatwounds on these heads I'd like their opinions.

I want to sound sorta like this:

or this


Should I wait for the Mesa Boogie Subway D-800 to come out?

Thanks!
 
#2
I'm a tube guy, that has substituted the heavy tube amps with an amp that seems to generate a lot of hate here... TC RH450 was the first non-tube head that impressed me. I now use the RH750, but actually prefer the 450...

I highly recommend the RH450/750 for the tube emulation, DI, 3 programmable presets, programmable EQ, 3 band compression, and built in tuner (any/all notes). And did I mention the fab tube tone and tube amp feel???

Happy hunting!
 
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#4
I use an Aguilar TH500. I love the tone and it is loud, but sadly so is the fan. I'd only recommend the TH500 for gigging.

Then again, I wouldn't buy a new amp right now. The Mesa Subway and Berg B|Amp are about to ship and they could easily be game changers in the D class amp world.
 
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#6
two fingers said:
Get the Walkabout and put a quieter fan in it. It takes about 5 minutes and the tone is well worth the hassle.
Click to expand...
Thank you very much for taking the time to reply. I have heard this before but paying over $1500 for something and then having to "fix" it myself just sticks in my craw. I hope the new D800 doesn't have this problem.
So far things things seem a little partisan. It'd be nice if people could tell why one amp would be a better choice then another it terms of my tone goals.
Thanks!
 
#7
V63 said:
Thank you very much for taking the time to reply. I have heard this before but paying over $1500 for something and then having to "fix" it myself just sticks in my craw. I hope the new D800 doesn't have this problem.
So far things things seem a little partisan. It'd be nice if people could tell why one amp would be a better choice then another it terms of my tone goals.
Thanks!
Click to expand...


Understood.

As far as tone goals go, to my ears anyway, a tube pre with MOSFET power gets closer to a real tube amp vibe than does "class D". And the tone stack of the Mesa is just amazing to me. Plus, by rolling tubes in it you can actually change the amount of "dirt" you can blend into it.

That is why I said the tone is worth the hassle of switching out the fan. (Of course, all the fuss about the fan fascinated me because it has never been an issue whatsoever to me. It just isn't as liud as all the pissing and moaning would have you believe.) I believe that amp could not only nail the tone you are after, but also offer several other very pleasing tones from warm and clean to downright gritty.

Either way, it's not personal to me. I hope you find what you're after.
 
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#8
two fingers said:
Understood.

As far as tone goals go, to my ears anyway, a tube pre with MOSFET power gets closer to a real tube amp vibe than does "class D". And the tone stack of the Mesa is just amazing to me. Plus, by rolling tubes in it you can actually change the amount of "dirt" you can blend into it.

That is why I said the tone is worth the hassle of switching out the fan. (Of course, all the fuss about the fan fascinated me because it has never been an issue whatsoever to me. It just isn't as liud as all the pissing and moaning would have you believe.) I believe that amp could not only nail the tone you are after, but also offer several other very pleasing tones from warm and clean to downright gritty.

Either way, it's not personal to me. I hope you find what you're after.
Click to expand...
Thanks "Two Fingers" you've actually made me sorta regret returning my Walkabout too soon.
 
#11
I know you sold it, and to chime in on TwpFingers wrote, yeah the Walkabout. My fan was quiet. I put the more quiet fan in before I sold it (which I regret). Took 10 minutes. In the same vein is the Mesa Big Block 750. Warmer than the Walkabout.
 
#12
V63 said:
Thank you very much for taking the time to reply. I have heard this before but paying over $1500 for something and then having to "fix" it myself just sticks in my craw. I hope the new D800 doesn't have this problem.
So far things things seem a little partisan. It'd be nice if people could tell why one amp would be a better choice then another it terms of my tone goals.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
$1500 for a Walkabout? Either you are not in the USA or you are doing something wrong. Everything in the photo below cost significantly less than $1500 and that includes the Alembic.
image.jpg
 
#13
Guy I know in another band got a chance to play through a Bugera Veyron, it's escaping me at the moment whether it was the tube or MOSFET version though. But he really was raving about it, he wants to try the one he didn't get a chance to, but he's pretty much sold that is his next amp.

Personally I'm kinda thinking I'mma gonna closet myself away with the first Subway I see for awhile and put it through it's paces, not really in the market for a new amp, but the Subway kind of intrigues...
 
#14
V63 said:
I'm tired of my current setup and want something new. I don't want to go all tube but I am interested in hybrids. I'm looking for something gig-able that can be used for home recording.
I am curious about the Aguilar Tone Hammer 500 but I hear the fan is noisy. This was a deal breaker between me and my Walkabout.
I'm interested in: Orange OB1 500
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Fender Bassman 500
Invalid Link Removed
maybe Tech 21 VT 500
Invalid Link Removed
These heads don't seem to have many videos or sound clips available.
If any one has experience running clean-ish with Flatwounds on these heads I'd like their opinions.

I want to sound sorta like this:

or this


Should I wait for the Mesa Boogie Subway D-800 to come out?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

31 years of jammin Bass for me and I will only use all tube amp heads all tube Mesa and all tube Ampeg IMO are the BEST!!!!!:thumbsup: :bassist::bassist:
 
#18
hsech said:
You want know until you try them. You can speculate and listen to sound clips, but there is nothing like testing one yourself.
Click to expand...
I live in a small town now so testing is unfortunately out of the question.
Dan Bass said:
31 years of jammin Bass for me and I will only use all tube amp heads all tube Mesa and all tube Ampeg IMO are the BEST!!!!!:thumbsup: :bassist::bassist:
Click to expand...
I'm afraid of the cost and weight but a Traynor, Ampeg V-4B or Bassman 100T might be do-able. What does 100 tube watts = in class D watts again?
 
Last edited:
#20
SirMjac28 said:
Out of all your choices I like the VT 500 it can easily add that edge you like. Personally I record clean make a duplicate of that track and use vst's to shape it then use both tracks in the recording.
Click to expand...

Thanks SirMjac28,

It's a great idea. I do this too sometimes. I heard that this sound is that the Orange OB-1 is "supposed" to sound like, but in the clips people just go for a Rock Fuzz sound.
 
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