My Rig Setup - Is there any value in an amp upgrade?

I think you are approaching this from the wrong direction. If you want to sound more Ampeggy, run your rack through an 810 SVT cab. You can make the Sansamp growl if you work with it.

 

Unless you have a specific deficiency and know how to address it, you’re just throwing money away.

There’s nothing wrong with GAS, but be honest with yourself.

 

No such thing as "underpowered" unless your amp just won't go loud enough for the gig. But geez, how loud do you need to play typical venues unless you're in a doom band?

 

Spend all that time achieving a tone you truly like? Keep enjoying it. I found my tonal goal in a relatively big, heavy rig. I will use it til a lighter rig takes its place. I try gear all the time. Nothing is quite like my current rig. So I use it.

I have made some compromises. For portability. I play a lot. And have continued to gig thru most of the issues closing clubs in parts of the country. I am blessed, to say the least. My rig is a Shadow of its former self. Ha! But in weight, only. Where I used to use a 52lb Crown power amplifier, I now use an 8lb Crown power amp. Where I used to use a 65lb 2x12, I now use a sub 50lb 2x12. But my configuration hasn't changed in a long time. Rack, power strip, preamp, poweramp.

I have a couple "backup" amps. For home use and when I want a change in my basic tone. I play in a variety of acts from pop to metal. Sometimes changing things up is fun. But my main rack does the gigs. And its bassic format hasn't changed in a long time. I love the tone and response it gives me. And I wouldn't trade it for the world.

 

Yeah, it's a rabbit hole, trying to find a "better" tone than the one you're happy with already.
You may simply spend lotsa time and money and not find something that suits you as well.
Then again.....

 

To paraphrase; there's a great device for sounding Ampeggy. It's called an Ampeg.

 

If what you have works fine, why change. I used an RBI for quite a while great preamp. If you want to go lighter. Go to a class D power amp and a pedal compressor. (My SKB shallow X-rack with Peavey IPR2-2K weighs about 10lbs) You can use the same speakers if you like. The mixed driver police would probably have you go to (2) of the same cab, but if it sounds good to you that's all that matters.

 

*cough* 6-10 *cough*

 

Sounds like a pretty solid setup. What about the same bass you like but in a different color? Gas is GAS.

 

Nothing wrong at all if you don’t mind the schlep - but there are so many great Amos out there, you could probably reduce your load significantly and use the Sansamp pedal of your choice. You’re right about sending the Sansamp into the Return - things get ugly quickly, even leaving the amp set flat.

 

Lots of good advice here! Make sure to read the posts before mine and twice. The only thing I will add is that a Ampeg B2R is the least Ampeg sounding head out there and is not an upgrade. I owned one and will never touch it again.

 

In my mind if you have such a complex rig, you might just new a better head. Years ago I was in a constant search for the better pedal. Then I thought why not spend more money on a good head and stop chasing a sound. The SVT Pro 3 is a good start, you mentioned that before. I recently got a Verellen Meatsmoke. Realize that's a big upgrade and not everyone can spend that kind of money.

 

Yours already hauling that big rack set up around, another 100 pounds ain’t gonna make a difference..

 

That sounds like a good rig to me. I also have an Ampeg SVT210AV cab that I run in conjunction with a Carvin 15MBE 1x15 cab and that combination of cabs sounds really good to my ear. I run various Ampeg rack preamps and preamp pedals into the POWERAMP IN patch point of an Ampeg B2-RE and that also works well for me. If the Hartke sounds good to you and is loud enough for your purposes, I'd say keep on keepin' on.