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Looking for the *right* amp-lows,mids & versatility

K

KingCrimson

Oct 6, 2008
438
21
#1
So I'm stuck, I'm looking for a really good bass cab, something that will be my main gigging and an have a nice tone.

So far my set up is a 75' jazz bass ---- EBS microbass 2 ---- crest power amp -----yorkville 410b and 155b, this was a sweet upgrade from my old ashdown mag 300. The Ebs has a nice tone and the crest gives me all the headroom I want.

Now its time to change the cab. this is where I have a problem. My Yorkville cabs aren't doing it for me anymore. I need something that

-Gets good lows (I really want to get the fundamental of the E)

- Fat tone, like jamerson or pino fat.

- Great mids for rock, punk and metal

- Good slap tone


So far I'm playing in a hardcore punk band with a pick, so I need the punchy mids, and a jazz/funk band so a nice warm tone that also works for slap would be great. In terms of techniques, I'm walking bass, picking, slapping, playing motown lines etc.... you get the picture.


I have been impressed by the tone of ampeg cabs, except for the slap where they are a bit mushy.

I have heard great things about the avatar tb 153, but from some its TOO clean, maybe not the best for things like punk and metal.


I'm not a piccolo player, and frankly I never understood hifi tone for 90% of the situations. I know it is synonymous with slapping, but can I get a well voiced "warm" slap?

Coloration is good, and for the most part wanted, I just want a cab that sounds GOOD.
 
#4
So what is your point? 810 goes what round 50hz? My point against ampeg was the slap tone, and there are ampeg cabs that hit the fundamental. There seem to be enough cabs on the market that can hit 40hz anyways.
 
#5
KingCrimson said:
So I'm stuck, I'm looking for a really good bass cab, something that will be my main gigging and an have a nice tone.

So far my set up is a 75' jazz bass ---- EBS microbass 2 ---- crest power amp -----yorkville 410b and 155b, this was a sweet upgrade from my old ashdown mag 300. The Ebs has a nice tone and the crest gives me all the headroom I want.

Now its time to change the cab. this is where I have a problem. My Yorkville cabs aren't doing it for me anymore. I need something that

-Gets good lows (I really want to get the fundamental of the E)

- Fat tone, like jamerson or pino fat.

- Great mids for rock, punk and metal

- Good slap tone


So far I'm playing in a hardcore punk band with a pick, so I need the punchy mids, and a jazz/funk band so a nice warm tone that also works for slap would be great. In terms of techniques, I'm walking bass, picking, slapping, playing motown lines etc.... you get the picture.


I have been impressed by the tone of ampeg cabs, except for the slap where they are a bit mushy.

I have heard great things about the avatar tb 153, but from some its TOO clean, maybe not the best for things like punk and metal.


I'm not a piccolo player, and frankly I never understood hifi tone for 90% of the situations. I know it is synonymous with slapping, but can I get a well voiced "warm" slap?

Coloration is good, and for the most part wanted, I just want a cab that sounds GOOD.
Click to expand...

Have you tried:
GK NEO 12's?
Or
Bergantino cabs?
Great stuff!
 
#8
KingCrimson said:
Have tried the neos! great cabs, have yet to try the bergs. Will gks be "warm" enough though?
Click to expand...

Depends on your amp.

My GK amps through my GK NEO 412 sound clean and loud.

My Ampeg PF500 through the NEO 412 sounds semi-warm with the gain up pretty high.

My Eden Navigator WP-100 preamp sounds a little warmer with the tube emulator pretty high and compressor set up to keep the highs from being to harsh.

If you can find a Berg NV cab, you get nice warmth and bottom end.
I heard others saying the NV610 being better than the Ampeg 810 sealed cab. I can't really say myself since I haven't played through an ampeg sealed 810, but my NV610 is really a cab that's great in the mix and can really open up.
 
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#10
I too live in a capitalist society. I don't begrudge your choice, but call into question your need for the fundamental in those genres.

Once upon a time I was under the same impression, gimme lows I'm the bassman. When I found my sound contained none as my cabs couldn't produce it I went and got a great big subwoofer that could.

What a disappointment, I ended up highpassing myself so the bottom end didn't turn to mud with the kickdrum.
 
#12
KingCrimson said:
...
-Gets good lows (I really want to get the fundamental of the E)
- Fat tone, like jamerson or pino fat.
- Great mids for rock, punk and metal
- Good slap tone...I have heard great things about the avatar tb 153, but from some its TOO clean, maybe not the best for things like punk and metal...frankly I never understood hifi tone for 90% of the situations. I know it is synonymous with slapping, but can I get a well voiced "warm" slap? Coloration is good, and for the most part wanted, I just want a cab that sounds GOOD.
Click to expand...

IMHO, hi-fi is NOT "synonymous" with anything, it is simply having the clarity, articulation, and wide smooth frequency response to get good lows, fat tone, great mids, slap, and MORE, at a the desired loudness.

A cab that is TOO clean? For me, I don't count on my cab's weaknesses or baked-in humps to be my sound. If I can get the tone I like via my signal chain to headphones, I want to deliver that with my cabinet. An 810 is not my idea of a HPF or EQ section. YMMV
 
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#13
HiFi can mean the cab has the ability to produce whatever you put through it. So it can sound, "punk, country, soul, polka, post industrial, and even metal." :) So you get this setup that sounds just like you want it and the song writer wants a little different tone for this screamer or ballad. You going to roll In another rig or just adjust your hand position and attack?

There's no one way to do anything. I only chimed in because your premise is amiss. The fattest Motown sound can be had with a balanced articulate cab with a high quality tweet. If you're sure you're going to play the same tone and every tune in your group's repertoire is exactly the same then you're good. If you want a versatile rig that grows with you and goes with you anywhere. Look for less built in tone in your cab.

I said there's no one way to do anything. Some folks get their sound at their cab, some their amp, some their pre, some their pres eq., some their bass, some their strings, some their bass's eq., some their hands. Signal chain. Pick your poison. :) Some bassists use combinations of those factors.
 
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#16
Get a PA type EQ and try it with either your current cabs or something designed to give a flat full frequency response. Warmth is due to frequencies. Play with the EQ until you get the tones you want. Also, playing closer to the neck gives a deeper "warmer" "rounder" tone.
 
#18
Check out the specs on a Heritage Ampeg SVT410-HLF. Frequency response: 28Hz – 18kHz. 4 Ohms, 500 watts RMS, 1,000 watts Peak.

EOevC7c.png
 
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#20
Thanks for all the replies! So would that Avatar 153 be a good choice in cab?

I'm also going to check out those gk's and bergs



findthe1 said:
the mesa powerhouse 412 has neo's and will blow the GK away for anything punk or metal.
Click to expand...

412 is way too big, and I doubt that cab would be appropriate for the jazz and funk sound.

I love mesa's for heavy music though.
 

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