Most RELIABLE Bass Head ???

[Gaolee]

I can't say anything about the current Guitar Center Acoustic amps since I have never played through one, let alone owned one. I can say all kinds of things about the older stuff. I'm using a 1968 360 and 361 power plus cabinet that still work just fine and sound great. I understand the power section was submerged at one point (!). I don't recommend this, but it works just fine and sounds like a 360 should sound. I bought a 126 combo when it was about six months old, back in 1981, and I still use it. It had one capacitor and one resistor die in that time. The 320 head I got used (late '70s vintage) has had one problem. The on/off switch wore out, perhaps because somebody was ham fisted with it. I don't really know how it wore out, but I have to put it out there because it happened. All of these have seen plenty of use and abuse. The have been bumped down stairs. Not dropped from a height, but certainly from more than a foot on occasion. They have all been hauled around in the back of a bouncy old van. They have been stored in various places with varying levels of weatherproof-ness. With the exception of the 361, they have all been kept mostly dry, but they have had plenty of opportunity to get misted by condensation. The 360 stack was wrapped in a tarp that flapped around when a rain squall blew through when I was playing outside. No apparent issues. It was also condensed on very heavily during a show when a dense fog rolled into the valley we were playing in. It might as well have been raining. Nobody in that wedding party or in the band got electrocuted, but we all should have been.

So, I would say old Acoustic Control equipment has been solidly reliable for me over the last 30+ years. Peavy probably would have held up just as well, and I'm guessing other brands would have done OK, too. I just don't have any experience with them. At this point, there's not much reason for me to use anything except what I already have.

 

[jmlee]

GK 400RB. Thirty years+ continuous use, many tumbles, and still working flawlessly.

 

[MegaSwing]

I've fixed hundreds, they absolutely do fail. The good news is that the vast majority were under warranty, and Peavey has always been a fine company to deal with as far as tech support.

As a long time tech, nothing is the most reliable in my world. They're all temperamental supermodels (at best) and someone somewhere is gonna be sick of their **** sooner or later. Just enjoy the ride while it's good. Link Removed

I'm okay with that.

 

[birminghambass]

I can tell you what DOESN'T belong on the list...

 

[HolmeBass]

Similar to the last thread like this:

Spare amp. Brand doesn't mater. A spare is more reliable than any single amp. I take a little Eden WTX-260 to every gig and it has saved me twice now.

 

[seanm]

I like to have a Peavey TNT for practice. Not a huge fan of the tone, but good enough for practice. Seem to last forever. My current one needs some work on the one input, but I just use the other. Too heavy to bring home and fix

I hope class D is reliable. My main gigging amp is an iAMP 500C and it is now 11 years old....

 

[Slpbass81]

I would say Ampeg SVT as long as you take it to a tech every 1-2 years to make sure everything is running well. Def no to Markbass as 2 of those have died on me.

 

[seanm]

Similar to the last thread like this:

Spare amp. Brand doesn't mater. A spare is more reliable than any single amp. I take a little Eden WTX-260 to every gig and it has saved me twice now.

I rely on the PA as my backup amp.

 

[Passinwind]

I'm okay with that.

That was the PG version, the Showtime version is a lot more fun.

 

[cfsporn]

I'm pretty sure that I once took my 1001RB down to 2 ohms and it still works brilliantly despite weekly commutes on NYC public transportation.

 

[brianrost]

From my personal experience:

GK 400RB, first generation. Plenty of them still kicking after 30 years.

Peavey...pretty much anything from 1980-2000. They may not be the best sounding amps but they are hard to kill.

Amplified Music Products (AMP) I've owned and gigged with a couple of these (420, 260) for decades without any issues.

Traynor I've only used 70s/80s stuff, no Yorkville. Used one tube combo for over 20 years without even a tube change needed.

 

[cfsporn]

Also I need to mention that I have seen Peavey Mark * amps take abuse that would kill just about any electronic device.

 

[pglaser01]

Perhaps a different way of framing this question could be less subjective....?

Instead of opinion of most reliable amp overall....what would most TB members say is an amp they can think of that rarely (if ever) comes up in posts or threads around here as "it crapped out on me" ????

 

[DwaynieAD]

I think hartkes are reliable as heck, but I absolutely hate the tone.

I love my Gk tone, but have had more than my fair share of problems with them.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I believe RAG posted a long time ago which of their amps was the most reliable. It was the Backline 600.

 

[two fingers]

Yeah this is purely anecdotal but the 400/800RB has got to be high on the list if it isn't on top.

 

[cfsporn]

Perhaps a different way of framing this question could be less subjective....?

Instead of opinion of most reliable amp overall....what would most TB members say is an amp they can think of that rarely (if ever) comes up in posts or threads around here as "it crapped out on me" ????

My very incomplete list of amps I don't recall seeing problem threads with on TB.
GK RB*
Ampeg SVT, SVT-PRO 2-6, Portaflex (the tube ones)
Aguilar (everything)
Peavey (everything)
Mesa (except the M9)
Fender (?)
Yorkville/Traynor

 

[jamzcl]

After gigging for 30+ years, this is my idea of the most reliable head - - 2 heads

With all the affordable, light-weight Class D amps out there with good tone and power it's the only way I go now. So easy to bring out both to a gig and have one as a backup. They get rotated about every other gig.

 

[Stranger Danger]

I’D LIKE TO START (or renew) A DISCUSSION (probably already on this site elsewhere) about the BEST Gigging Bass Amp, in terms of just RELIABILITY. Even the Greatest sounding amp is Worthless if it’s “ Blownin’ Chunks “. I’m not so much looking to trash talk amps with issues (unless it’s to refute a blatantly wrong perception), but more to praise / endorse ones that have stood tall.

I just read this thread:

Hartke LH1000 blowing power fuses | TalkBass.com

Was thinking of trying one of these (Hartke LH1000), but now I’m second guessing after a reading a few of the related threads (NOT trying to “diss” Hartke here, cuz I DON’T know, it’s just what sparked my curiosity).

I have my preferences for RELIABILITY (as noted in my previous posts) which are my Old School Acoustic 370 & Musicman HD-130 (I love to use ‘em & I don’t abuse ‘em). ALWAYS, a Properly Matched load goes a long way towards Reliability. Both have been ROCK solid, but getting tired (going on 40 years and haven’t smoked). Why, you ask, if they are so rock solid, would I be looking at something else? Just getting the hankering to try out a new toy and getting too old to want to experiment., lol.

Let’s hear your preferences & recommendations.

Aguilar Tone Hammer 500.

 

[Corey Y]

Something in the GK RB series would be my pick (400 or 800 probably). Not sure if the new ones are any different, but I had some older models that just never ever quit. A lot of people tout vintage 70's through early 80's solid state amps as being built like tanks, the GK's are the only ones I never had blow up on me.