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Jackson Ampworks Bass Amp Poll

Jackson Ampworks Bass Amp Channel Configuration

  • 6SL7 Clean Channel with Separate 12AX7 Dirty Channel

    Votes: 51 77.3%

  • 6SL7 Clean Channel with Gain Boost

    Votes: 15 22.7%
  • Total voters
    66
#122
JacksonAmpworks said:
An excellent question. I think option #1 is where this project would go. I honestly don't if I should bother making a full amplifier in a rack form. Why not just the preamp of the amplifier and let the user either purchase a separate power amp or use their existing amp. From this forum I have had several requests to build just a 2U rack unit. In my opinion, that would be a much more flexible setup.

Your thoughts?
Click to expand...

If'n it were me, I'd start with the standalone head, then add a rackmount preamp next. If these are both successful, then perhaps move on to a rack mount tube power amp and/or head.

Tom.
 
#125
I vote for rack as i use a mesa sus-4 16 space with around 150lbs of gear in it. For such a high quality amp you should not even think twice about spending a good dollar on good protection!

Omg im going to derail this again...

That tube amp...i thought i was buying a monster with me DB728 but that thing what kind of output does it contain!?!



P.S. Brad, man congrats on being the first amp builder that ive ever seen consult actual bassists on a large scale and finding out what the general bass population wants. I tip my hat off to you as its a very valiant thing to do in my book. Keep up the exellent work you are making quite a good name for yourself. I cant wait to see the final product...i may have GAS again once its finished!

-Vince
 
#126
XPshychoticXPyr said:
P.S. Brad, man congrats on being the first amp builder that ive ever seen consult actual bassists on a large scale and finding out what the general bass population wants. I tip my hat off to you as its a very valiant thing to do in my book. Keep up the exellent work you are making quite a good name for yourself. I cant wait to see the final product...i may have GAS again once its finished!

-Vince
Click to expand...

Thanks for the kind words. :) I think the amp will really rock. Once I get the design finalized, I'll let you guys know and we can start putting together an order list.

Thanks again!
 
#128
Just my .02c - late as usual, but I agree with tombowlus about going with the head and then preamp idea, and maybe a tube poweramp follow-up.

On the other hand, to minimize design costs, it might be easier to just design it as a rackmount version, and offer your custom exotic wood case as the rack into which it fits... that way it will pretty much be the same as a head. You could then sell them as a combo, and would probably find another market for the exotic wood rack cases would emerge too!
 
#129
Son of Bovril said:
Just my .02c - late as usual, but I agree with tombowlus about going with the head and then preamp idea, and maybe a tube poweramp follow-up.

On the other hand, to minimize design costs, it might be easier to just design it as a rackmount version, and offer your custom exotic wood case as the rack into which it fits... that way it will pretty much be the same as a head. You could then sell them as a combo, and would probably find another market for the exotic wood rack cases would emerge too!
Click to expand...

Very interesting idea. :)
 
#130
Nick man said:
How about a rack design that had a nice decorative overlay of leather/vinyl/tolex or wood over the majority of the front with only the actual rackmounting structural front exposed just around the holes for the rackmount screws?
Click to expand...
This sounds like an excellent way to kill two birds with one stone!

Give the amp your standard front panel look, but in the proper dimensions that it could be attached directly to a head chassis or rack-mounted.

Traditional looking head, or brand new/old look in a rack mount!
 
#132
I run a line from my TNT bass amp into my Marshall tube head and adjust the reverb as needed. Havn't had any issues yet. My overall Idea of spending 3 grand for a bass head is not only to have killer tone, but have one that is flexible enough to be considered a "SWISS ARMY KNIFE" as well. I'm sure a lot of heavy metal guitarist would love to get their hands on a bass amp with reverb/trembolo etc(versatility).
 
#133
WOOFMAN said:
I run a line from my TNT bass amp into my Marshall tube head and adjust the reverb as needed. Havn't had any issues yet. My overall Idea of spending 3 grand for a bass head is not only to have killer tone, but have one that is flexible enough to be considered a "SWISS ARMY KNIFE" as well. I'm sure a lot of heavy metal guitarist would love to get their hands on a bass amp with reverb/trembolo etc(versatility).
Click to expand...

I'm really surprized. I would have thought that it would have shook the reverb tank and make the CRASH sound that we all love. :p
 
#134
Akami said:
This sounds like an excellent way to kill two birds with one stone!

Give the amp your standard front panel look, but in the proper dimensions that it could be attached directly to a head chassis or rack-mounted.

Traditional looking head, or brand new/old look in a rack mount!
Click to expand...

The only problem with this is that the head would be so deep that it would look bizarre. After thinking this out, listening to the opinions offered here and talking to some friends, I think I'm going to release the head and then release a separate 2U Rack Preamp. I think that will satisfy the greatest number of people.
 
#135
Sorry i'm a bit late but what are the specs up to date for now???

is there a mid control?? an overdrive??

maybe one nice suggestion would be a kind of (don't be scared) mixeable fet/tube preamp in the clean channel, for people asking for a somewhat cleaner sound

an also a blend on the OD channel (maybe already suggested)

i'd love two gain buttons also, and a volume booster

or better, a switch that boosts volume when in clean and boosts gain when in overdrive

So I'd never have to buy pedals again lol
 
#136
JacksonAmpworks said:
The only problem with this is that the head would be so deep that it would look bizarre. After thinking this out, listening to the opinions offered here and talking to some friends, I think I'm going to release the head and then release a separate 2U Rack Preamp. I think that will satisfy the greatest number of people.
Click to expand...

Excellent idea. I can see myself using that pre-amp ALL the time.
 
#139
JacksonAmpworks said:
The only problem with this is that the head would be so deep that it would look bizarre. After thinking this out, listening to the opinions offered here and talking to some friends, I think I'm going to release the head and then release a separate 2U Rack Preamp. I think that will satisfy the greatest number of people.
Click to expand...

No doubt that makes the most financial sense. Although I like bizarre. So it looks like I'd be leaning toward the preamp as well, the rack thing is pretty much a must for me. It will have all of the features being discussed for the head? Channels, blending, footswitch functions? Also, would there be some way to run it into the front of another amp? My Fender doesn't have an effects loop.
 
#140
I'm late in catching this thread, but some brief thoughts that come to mind:

1. Excellent call on 2-channels... if these are foot-switchable, this is very cool.

2. Same for the (i) effects loop, and (ii) 'mute-able' tuner output. Turn these on/off via footswitch is very useful. I would love to be able to patch in/out a high-quality compressor (e.g. Distressor) when I want to via footswitch. And others have already mentioned about the need for silent tuning and bass-swapping, which a footswitchable Mute function combined with a tuner output would allow.

3. Request: foot-switchable volume boost, i.e. increases the signal between the preamp and power amp section. Very useful for solos. I use a high-quality boost pedals placed in front of the amp, but this invariably effects the fundamental tone since you're hitting the preamp tubes harder. The problem with putting a boost pedal in the effects loop is the length of cable that this would require in order to situate the pedal on-stage. A foot-switchable volume boost, where the audio signal stays within the amp, would be very helpful for soloes.
 

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