i need a new amp, for a thrash metal band im in, im using an ibanez sr 705 with and a mxr bass overdrive pedal help pls I have a budget of about 2000 aus, for smaller venues
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need new amp
- Thread starter jarod scorr
- Start date
I haven't owned that many amps, and it's hard to advice when the criterias mentioned by the poster two posts above is not mentioned by you.
For all it's worth though, I'll mention a few of those amps I owned that stood out, for better or worse:
- I loved my Ampeg B-15 60 W tube amp (A great warm rounded tone, with capabilities of getting quite aggressive as well), though it would probably be too small for your needs.
- Hated my Hartke 120w solid state Flipback combo, worst bass amp ever! (Sounded dull and uninspiering, wasn't capable of either adding any warmth or aggressiveness to the tone, just plane boring and bland)
- And finally I love my current amp, a Trace Elliot solid state 130W combo (Which I will describe following).
The older Trace Elliot solid state amps can be acquired relatively cheap used, and is great value for the money.
I simply love the sound it is able to produce.
While it is capable of reproducing a wide variety of tones (most Trace Elliots has two pre shape EQ voicing buttons, a graphic EQ, as well as an overall EQ voicing knob that goes from emphasizing the highs to flat to lows), it is really good for a great punchy and defined tone, even with the one 15" mine comes with, although I played another 220W, I believe, Trace Elliot combo that I liked even better since it came with 4 10".
This amp even makes the pickups of my Ibanez Mikro, which are ok, but still leaves some to wish for, sound fantastic.
Also it seems to be able to play crazy loud for the claimed wattage.
My recommendation, without knowing exactly what you are aiming for though, would hands down be an older used Trace Elliot combo or head and a 4 10" cabinet.
For all it's worth though, I'll mention a few of those amps I owned that stood out, for better or worse:
- I loved my Ampeg B-15 60 W tube amp (A great warm rounded tone, with capabilities of getting quite aggressive as well), though it would probably be too small for your needs.
- Hated my Hartke 120w solid state Flipback combo, worst bass amp ever! (Sounded dull and uninspiering, wasn't capable of either adding any warmth or aggressiveness to the tone, just plane boring and bland)
- And finally I love my current amp, a Trace Elliot solid state 130W combo (Which I will describe following).
The older Trace Elliot solid state amps can be acquired relatively cheap used, and is great value for the money.
I simply love the sound it is able to produce.
While it is capable of reproducing a wide variety of tones (most Trace Elliots has two pre shape EQ voicing buttons, a graphic EQ, as well as an overall EQ voicing knob that goes from emphasizing the highs to flat to lows), it is really good for a great punchy and defined tone, even with the one 15" mine comes with, although I played another 220W, I believe, Trace Elliot combo that I liked even better since it came with 4 10".
This amp even makes the pickups of my Ibanez Mikro, which are ok, but still leaves some to wish for, sound fantastic.
Also it seems to be able to play crazy loud for the claimed wattage.
My recommendation, without knowing exactly what you are aiming for though, would hands down be an older used Trace Elliot combo or head and a 4 10" cabinet.
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- Jul 7, 2010
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Go pickup a Fender Bassman 500 w/210 combo....Great sounding and usable to expand and add a cab. It is worth every penny...
For metal, skip the combos. No one here can give you much useful help till you can fill us in on what Cuzzie asked you above.
I beg to differ, while not exactly metal, I played in a very loud 4 piece (a hardcore take on math rock with noise rock influences), with one other bass player beside me, a guitarist (and singer/screamer) playing through a 100W Hiwatt tube amp and a very hard pounding drummer, and I managed without any problems to more than be able to keep up with the rest of the band volume wise with my Ampeg B-15 60W with one single 15".
Even played at small venues without any DI or mic to back it up.
I know it helped some that it was a tube amp and that I pushed it extremely hard, and that my treblely tone also helped me to cut through and for the the amp not going into fart mode, but still, depends on the combo and what tone you are going after.
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@NoiseNinja sure it's not impossible just not likely and therefore not good advice without knowing a lot more about the op's situation, needs, and constraints.
