Name Your 3 Favorite Amps

[BogeyBass]

Acoustic Control Corporation 370
Sunn Model T 1st Generation
Fender Bassman 100 vintage

 

[Ric Vice]

Ampeg B-15N(C)
Walter Woods MI-400-8
Walter Woods Electrocoustic Ultra

 

[Dan Bass]

Personally, I own a GK 700 RBll that I love!

Would love to know the top three amps that bassists prefer to use?

1 - Mesa Boogie Strategy Eight: 88
2 - Ampeg B15
3 - Mesa Boogie Walkabout 400+

 

[Gaolee]

1. Acoustic 360M
2. Acoustic 360
3. I would like an Acoustic Image Ten2 for the upright. Don't have one, so #3 doesn't count.

 

[groovaholic]

1) GK 700RB-II -- I keep getting silly notions that I want something different, so I'll bring an amp home, and the GK mops the floor with it. Loud, fast, clear, reliable, portable, affordable and available.

2) Peavey Century 200 Series -- old discrete-transistor technology that could use better EQ, but is the quickest, brightest, loudest 100 watts that I've ever heard.

3) Peavey Classic 400 -- the biggest, heaviest tube-amp that was ever manufactured. Wildly impractical for mere mortals, yet worth the effort for how it starts spitting thunder when cranked to gig levels, pushing lows that feel like a full-body massage.

Interesting to read this thread and see the faves of those who seem to have similar taste to mine; those observations have already led to starting a mental "need to check out _____" list.

 

[Mr_O'B]

1) GK 700RB-II -- I keep getting silly notions that I want something different, so I'll bring an amp home, and the GK mops the floor with it. Loud, fast, clear, reliable, portable, affordable and available.

2) Peavey Century 200 Series -- old discrete-transistor technology that could use better EQ, but is the quickest, brightest, loudest 100 watts that I've ever heard.

3) Peavey Classic 400 -- the biggest, heaviest tube-amp that was ever manufactured. Wildly impractical for mere mortals, yet worth the effort for how it starts spitting thunder when cranked to gig levels, pushing lows that feel like a full-body massage.

Interesting to read this thread and see the faves of those who seem to have similar taste to mine; those observations have already led to starting a mental "need to check out _____" list.

I've heard quite a few people state that the 700 rbII is GK's best amp

 

[meatwad]

Ampeg
GK
Aguilar

 

[Li'l D]

Mesa boogie 400 +
Mark bass sa 450
Gk rb 800

 

[Porkchop2]

Hartke HA3500
Hartke LH1000
Older Peaveys

 

[Hot Rats]

Walkabout
Steamliner 600
Shuttle 6.0

 

[John D Harris]

Reiner Studio 1200,
Sonic Farm Tantra,
&
Vanderkley Aurora.

 

[MarshallAC50Stack]

1. Walter Woods/Bag End 2x10. '92 - '15. That was a great head and the cab still shines.

2. Ampeg sb12

3. Vox ac50

I've been thinking though; aren't we all just voting for amps that balance in favor of sucking the least?

 

[username1]

mesa strategy
ampeg svt
gk mbf800

 

[drummer5359]

Ampeg SVT Classic

Ampeg SVT Classic

Ampeg SVT Classic










Just kidding. (Well, sort of.)

Ampeg SVT Classic, I own one and love it, reeeeally love it a LOT.

Ampeg V4B, When having enough power to move furniture is not needed, this is the tool for the job. (For me.)

Ampeg B15N (I've only used one of these personally twice, but worked with a bassist for years that has one. What a great amp!)

 

[bassestkkm]

1. Ashdown ABM series
2. Ampeg B15
3. Acoustic 361 or 371

 

[Fuzzbass]

1. Reiner Amplification Studio 1200 (with OD pedals for dirt when desired)
2. Vintage Ampeg SVT run REALLY LOUD
3. Rack rig featuring SansAmp RBI and SansAmp RPM in parallel. Or maybe swap the SansAmp VT-RM for one of those!

 

[duderus]

1. Bergantino B|Amp
2. GK MB Fusion 800
3. Mesa Prodigy Four:88

Honorable Mention:
GK MB800
Mesa Subway

I have a Prodigy (Play through 2 1x15 powerhouse cabs) and I have been wondering what the Bergantino would fare and with what cabs for R&B/Funk band? Or maybe the Mesa Subway series. I am looking for smaller portable but loud and great tone.

Since you have experience could you maybe lead me to try a certain cab with a certain amp that would suit my needs?

Thank you!

 

[Munjibunga]

I have a Prodigy (Play through 2 1x15 powerhouse cabs) and I have been wondering what the Bergantino would fare and with what cabs for R&B/Funk band? Or maybe the Mesa Subway series. I am looking for smaller portable but loud and great tone.

Since you have experience could you maybe lead me to try a certain cab with a certain amp that would suit my needs?

Thank you!

Well, the B|Amp reproduces exactly what you put into it, only louder. So it won't be voiced like the Prodigy and it won't have that "tube sag." It has very responsive 4-band semi-parametric EQ, and you can get pretty much any tone you like out of it. At 700 watts, it's plenty loud - I play mine through a CN212 and/or an HDN212 and have never needed any more volume than that. If you need really loud, you might want to go with the HDN410 which Jim considers one of the best cabs he's ever designed - volume and tone that kill.

The Subway is another excellent amp, but it has some baked-in low mid boost that bolsters the bottom end a bit for a more old-school vibe. I've A/B'd it at a gig with the B|Amp and it sounded great, but I like having the option to have the low mid bump or not, which you can get with the B|Amp.

I think either would work well for R&B/funk, but the Berg will be more versatile, tone-wise. Either should provide plenty of volume. For those genres, you might even like the HDN212.

 

[bdplaid]

1. Mesa Subway D800
2. Fender Rumble 500 V3
3. MarkBass F1

 

[Rockbobmel]

I only get three (3)? Dang.

1) G-K Fusion 550
2) G-K 800RB/Ampeg V4-B
3) Sunn 2000S/Vintage Ampeg SVT

Snuk two more in on ya.

Got 4 out of 5- Woops Dumped the SVT.. 3 out of 5 Never tried the Fusion...