Name Your 3 Favorite Amps

[Michedelic]

Sunn 200s/Sorado/Sonaro/190B---all essentially the same amp, although the 190B has a SS rectifier and slightly higher wattage. As long as volume isn't an issue(although these hold their own quite well through efficient speakers against the likes of Twins).

Sunn 2000s(and the later 'upgraded' 350B)---not exactly a 200s times two, it has a slightly different front end, and to my ears, preferable(in spite of the hype)to the similarly powered Model T(which I also own).

Sound City 150B---a wild card, if you can get the hiss fixed, the unique tone controls can provide very beefy lower mids. I'm happy to make do with this one as I don't foresee owning a Reeves or 70's Hiwatt any time soon(although in spite of the myths, its design has very little to do with anything DR came up with).

 

[Beavisplaysbass]

An amp that works.
An amp that sounds good.
An amp that didn't break my back.

 

[madbass6]

i finally feel old, when you said " an original real Trace Elliot 600 from the 90s"

Yeah ..
PV is making them now! Just Not the same!!

 

[kosmicwizard]

I've seen a lot of love for the GK 400RBs in this thread...

There's a 400RB III on my local CL in excellent condition for "asking $195", so I googled a bit and got the impression they were a bit weak for live use, at least in a loudish band.

Do y'all play quiet, or am I misinformed?

More important than how many watts your amp produces, having efficient cabs with lots of drivers at a 4 Ohm load is what is important for your volume needs. Cheers.

 

[Teacher]

I'm lovin' all the Sunn lovin'....

 

[slagbass]

1) Mesa Buster (a bit of a schlep and not easy to dial in a sound if the room acoustics are bad but love the tone)
2) Mesa Prodigy (light, loud, flexible EQ and sounds ALMOST as good as the Buster. A gig machine.)
3) GK 150MBE ('cause if you don't need the volume, it's a great "one hand" rig)

 

[shoot-r]

Mesa M-6 Carbine.....
Hartke LH1000.....
G.K. 800 RB.....

 

[tombowlus]

Wow, tough call. So many excellent choices. I suppose I would have to go with the following:

Top 3:
Sadowsky SA200
Trace Elliot V8
Glockenklang Bass Art Classic

There are too many really close honorable mentions to mention...

And since others have mentioned various combo amps, if we were to go down that road:

B15-N
AER amp one
Fender Bassman TV 12

Again, some really close honorable mentions.

 

[Mr_O'B]

Wow, tough call. So many excellent choices. I suppose I would have to go with the following:

Top 3:
Sadowsky SA200
Trace Elliot V8
Glockenklang Bass Art Classic

There are too many really close honorable mentions to mention...

And since others have mentioned various combo amps, if we were to go down that road:

B15-N
AER amp one
Fender Bassman TV 12

Again, some really close honorable mentions.

Tombowlus, your opinion holds a lot of weight on TB!

Amazing how so much diversity exist when it comes to gear!
I also find it interesting that choices aren't made strictly on cost.

 

[meatwad]

Ampeg SVT
Gallien-Krueger RB series
Peavey Mark III

 

[rodl2005]

The 3 I've kept.

FENDER Super Bassman 300
AMPEG V4B
AGUILAR TH500

 

[west al]

Bassman 100T, & Bassman 500.

 

[jimmyjames77]

Well my 3 favorite now are....
1. Peavey Classic 400
2. Carvin B1500
3. Stewart World 2.1 and Demeter 1.5 space preamp.
I've owned a few vintage Ampegs in the past but i didn't know how to achieve the tone in my head then. So they'd probably be up there too.

 

[jimmyjames77]

Dang, I can't believe that I've only owned 2 amps before. I used a Hartke 3500 for almost 20 years. Now I use a Markbass Big Bang.

I envy you.

 

[arai]

Amps I own;
aguilar tone hammer
tc electronic rh 450 and a back line amp I used that really impressed me was an old Trace Elliott. I forget the model but it had a big eq and dual frequency compressor

 

[Mr. Foxen]

Burman Pro2000
Burman Pro4000
Matamp GT200 MK1.
Which works out kinda neat because:

 

[Yahboy]

SuperBassman
V4B
Rumble V3(this only I can affort )

 

[Sav'nBass]

So far my 3 favorites are

GB SL 900
GB SM 9.2
GB S 9.0

Based on amps I have actually owned or still own... I have only owned 9 amps total in my playing life... and 5 of those were Genz ...3 of the others were combos all under 100W and one was an old Acoustic with a 301 bottom... I don't even remember which one it was.... maybe a 450 head..... It did have an equalkizer instead of tone knobs... but what I remember most about it was that it was big and it was heavy like most bass rigs back then. I think I may have a new face though because I plan to get a Magellan as soon as I get my stuff in order but will probably keep the 900.

 

[davkane]

1) SWR Studio 220 - while Bi-amped would run the highs (from my old Kramer xl8) to a distorted guitar amp

2) Shuttle 6.2

3) MB200. Just got this for my daughter to take away to school with her, but I am completely fascinated by this little head

 

[spiritbass]

Shaw B-150, Reeves Custom 225, Mesa Walkabout.