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Improve bass or improve amp?

#47
Let's rewind here... you've got a Lakland bass and a Behringer amp, and you're trying to figure out which one needs improvement? :confused: Are you serious?







If you're seriously asking this question, and I can't believe that you are: Ditch the stupid pedals, get a real amp, and you've got yourself a professional-quality, world-class sound. Or you can keep the amp, futz around with the electronics on the bass, and just waddle around from one mediocre/bad tone to another to your heart's content. Your choice.
 
#49
Rusty the Scoob said:
Let's rewind here... you've got a Lakland bass and a Behringer amp, and you're trying to figure out which one needs improvement? :confused: Are you serious?







If you're seriously asking this question, and I can't believe that you are: Ditch the stupid pedals, get a real amp, and you've got yourself a professional-quality, world-class sound. Or you can keep the amp, futz around with the electronics on the bass, and just waddle around from one mediocre/bad tone to another to your heart's content. Your choice.
Click to expand...

Cool. :D
 
#50
Eventually I'm going to improve both, but I've decided to improve the bass for now. I'm not currently in a band and my only playing opportunities right now are playing on one of the worship teams at my church (where I would go direct), playing at my friend's monthly jam nights (where I would play through his SVT4Pro/Ampeg 610 cab combo), or play for my church's junior high (where my Behringer/Hartke frankenamp will definitely suffice). Other than that I'm playing on my own through headphones. I'll get that Carvin amp next year and then my setup will be complete.

Thanks for all of the suggestions, though! :D
 
#51
savit260 said:
Very true.


That may even be sig. worthy. :)
Click to expand...

Perhaps more like a sticky or doctrine. ;)


Anyway, there are 101 things you can do to your bass to change the sound, but what you hear will be what's coming through the amp.

Ever listen to music though stock computer speakers? Of course, we all have. It's compressed, doesn't sound clear when cranked, and most importantly (to us at least) the bass doesn't come through. Plug in some nice speakers or a good pair of headphones and the problem is solved.

Your amp should be able to compliment the range of tone(s) you like. While we can debate tone for days, the wrong amp for the wrong tonal goal only tends to limit the bass tone from shining. Vintage, modern, or mixed, there are amps and cabs for the desired tasks. My Rob Allens, for example, sound wonderful when I run it through my 15" sub sounds weak when I run it through the 4x10 only (bi-amped rig). My EMG PJ slapper absolutely loves the 4x10 and loses bite when I just run it through the 15" sub. I've also felt that a low B can sound very stifled without my 15" sub.
 
#52
I had a Lakland 55-01, was disappointed with the output, sold it after 6 mths. Bought a Carvin LB75AP, played it for about 4 mths then bought a 2008 MIA Fender Jazz V - haven't looked back since. The pups on my 55-01 were cheap off-shore Barts and the pre-amp - well I don't know, I just didn't like the output period. The low B was great, but I don't play every song in low B, I need the other 4 strings and the sound I was getting was very anemic. Some real Barts in there would make a hell of a difference and a pre-amp. As far as your amp, Behringer bass amps suck too me - their simply not what I expect in a bass amp. The Carvin is a good bang for the buck, but you want to be heard and felt - cleanly and most whole heartedly. I've got a Carvin SBR1018 and have been playing out of it for nearly 2 yrs and have never had a problem. Most of the time I play indoors with just the 4x10 cab, for outdoors I use box 4x10 and 1-18 cabs, it's more than enough amp I will ever need. You could would def get by with a BX1200 head w/4x10 cab and be totally satisfied. Just my $.02.;)
 
#53
vinxbass said:
I had a Lakland 55-01, was disappointed with the output, sold it after 6 mths. Bought a Carvin LB75AP, played it for about 4 mths then bought a 2008 MIA Fender Jazz V - haven't looked back since. The pups on my 55-01 were cheap off-shore Barts and the pre-amp - well I don't know, I just didn't like the output period. The low B was great, but I don't play every song in low B, I need the other 4 strings and the sound I was getting was very anemic. Some real Barts in there would make a hell of a difference and a pre-amp. As far as your amp, Behringer bass amps suck too me - their simply not what I expect in a bass amp. The Carvin is a good bang for the buck, but you want to be heard and felt - cleanly and most whole heartedly. I've got a Carvin SBR1018 and have been playing out of it for nearly 2 yrs and have never had a problem. Most of the time I play indoors with just the 4x10 cab, for outdoors I use box 4x10 and 1-18 cabs, it's more than enough amp I will ever need. You could would def get by with a BX1200 head w/4x10 cab and be totally satisfied. Just my $.02.;)
Click to expand...

The pickups and preamp in my 55-01 sound pretty good, but I want this bass to sound great. The active blending on the Audere preamp are going to give me more tones to be had and high end USA made pickups will give the bass a better sound.

I'm with you on the Behringer. This is the second of this model of amp that I've owned. The first one actually sounded pretty good but the preamp on this one is useless. Believe it or not, when I bypass the preamp and drive the power amp with the Hartke Bass Attack pedal (very similar to a Sansamp BDDI) I get a warm, clear, and vintagey type of sound. It does hiss a bit but no louder than an amp cooling fan would sound.

I'm not going to be a professional bass player - I'm really just an accomplished amateur. I think the Carvin BR610 is all the amp I'm probably ever going to need. I used to own an RC210 which put out 600w bridged but the 10's together could only handle 400w. This was a bad design because you had to bridge the power amps to use it as a stand alone combo but I was always concerned that I would damage the speakers. They've definitely made some good changes - the biggest of which is that it puts out 400w into 4 ohms (and the two 10's together are 400w and 4 ohms) and then 600w into 2 ohms. I think I'll eventually get an Avatar 212 as an extension cab and that will be the most I ever need. It's my understanding that the 10's on their own handle the low B just fine.
 
#54
You were all sooooo right!

I bought this yesterday off Craigslist for $400

Yorkville XS400T

lg_xs400tc.gif


Now I'm thinking I'm only going to replace the preamp with an Audere Classic 4-band. The pickups are fine!

Wow, what a great sounding amp!!
 

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