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Need to equip a dream studio with bass gear!

S

Swiss Frank

Dec 29, 2016
85
58
#1
So I've got a high-end project studio in the works and need to equip it with bass amps and cabs. If costs is kind of no object, what's 1-3 bass rigs I should consider? They need to cover pretty loud jamming in an extremely large and absorptive room, taken out for very small gigs at the lakeside, and record well. Need to cover genres from reggae to rap to mowtown to funk and punk.

Is there some top vintagey Acoustic that's going to do good enough for everything? Ampeg? I love Mesa on the guitar side but are they a great general purpose studio amp for bass? Are these close enough in sound I don't need all three? I assume these should all be tubes but is there a non-tube head people are switching from tubes to? Is there among 2x12 cab with a class-D amp any clear top of the line? I'm hoping to have at least 1 15" or even 18" cab for reggae nights.

Just as an example on the guitar amp side, I've a Mesa Road King, a 1959 Marshal stack, a vintage Fender Twin and AC30. I need one smaller fender to break up like Stevie Ray Vaughn but then Ill be set. Whatever someone is doing, Ill have a good amp. I need to get that for the bass amps too.
 
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#10
IMO:
Amps-
GK 1001RBii/2001 RBii, Mesa D800+/Strategy 888, SVT, and if you want totally ultra clean with volume the Aguilar DB751.
Cabs-
GK 412 (or 2 212s), Barefaced 610/Big Twin II/SuperTwin, and an 810 fridge.

DBX 160a rack compressor, yes rack mounted, absolutely best stupid easy true by-pass $500 (USD) out there IMO for studio.
I play punk/HC/Post-HC and dabble in funk and Ska/Reggae. For the most part in "my" circuit, it's either GK or SVT, combinations of 10's and 12's with slight compression via pedals. You may also want to consider an envelope filter for the dubby/womp womp of some of the reggae styles.
Bag of ear plugs, use it or lose it.
Good luck.
 
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#12
chris_b said:
Get a top DI, compressor and a great sounding P bass and forget the amp and cab idea.
Click to expand...

It's not just for recording, otherwise I'd consider that!

I have a vintage '76 P looks 2/10 playability 9/10 sound 9/10, as well as:
16836430_10212026923209912_2312646723740886909_o.jpg
 
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#13
basscooker said:
Theres a couple each; Ampeg, GK, Aguilar, Fender and Mesa
Click to expand...
Thanks Basscooker. Quite a list though. I'm trying to narrow it down to 1 or 2 complementary rigs.

It's probably clear I have little experience with bass amps. I play enough bass to record demos but record them DI. Instead these amps are for studio users though of course I'll goof around with them. (The basses themselves I think I have covered, along with guitars+amps, keys+amps, and drums and some basic horns.).

But to put it in bass terms, if you were stocking just one bass in a studio space, you'd probably make it a P or a Jazz, either of which can just about do all styles even if not ideal (P not great for funk, J not great for reggae). If you were getting two, you'd probably make it a P and either a J or a Stringray, right? You'd have the dark and bright ends covered.

Likewise in guitar amps, if you had two you'd have to have a Marshall 1959 for dirty, and a Fender Twin Reverb for clean (or another blackface Fender for clean and blues-dirty). If just one you might have to go to a Mesa model that can do clean and dirty.

So of the dozen amps you mention (including submodels of SVT etc.) can you recommend one that simply has you covered from funk to reggae and vintage to modern? Even if it's high-buck, that's fine. Or maybe two complimentary ones, perhaps one better for modern or funk and one better for dark or vintage? I'm happy to get an 8x10 coffin, but also 4x10 and 1x15 for reggae, and use the same head, if the same head works. Also happy to use the head with a 2x12 for outside parties but maybe a a good class-D would be worth considering.

Also: ignoring cost and portability, would you say all the top amps are tube, as they are in the guitar world, or are there some solid state amps a guy with a tube rig might actually move over for sound purposes?
 
#14
Chad Michael said:
Word on the street is that I.E.M.'s are all that is ever needed for anything anymore....

:cool:
Click to expand...

But then you see these documentaries about older studios with analog mixers and great room acoustics that provide the magic mojo that leads to the holy grail great recording session. Even if it's a placebo effect, maybe it's worth it. Buy some amps and let the bass players be happy.

BTW, can I be in your band where money is no object?
 
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#15
When you do use a DI, I humbly suggest this one!

My gear I wish Neve RNDI.jpg


Neve needs no introduction, of course, but his RNDI might be unfamiliar to some. It's active, & requires phantom power, but it is absolutely the best DI I've EVER used. (Check out the specs...)

Also...
Mesa Walkabout Scout (tone machine)
The often overlooked big brother of the Scout, the 2x12 Mesa Venture (it can cover all of your requirements)
SWR Redhead (figure it out, & it really delivers)
Oliver B15 (sounds better than the Ampeg to my ears)
Anything else I would mention has already been covered. Have fun with your studio!
 
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#16
The best recording bass tone I can get comes from multiple sources. (Running 2 cabs/amps) A 410 Aguilar SL cab with an Epifani class AB head, and a Mesa Subway D800 head with a Subway 15 cab. I get the sound equal output and put a mic in the middle of both. I'll use a DI from either head to the console. I'll have a fretboard mic right next to around the 12th fret. Lastly one ambient room mic away and Kinda near the ceiling. I don't think it really matters what brands you're using but definitely some sort of 10" speaker and a 15" speaker.
 
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#17
Swiss Frank said:
Thanks Basscooker. Quite a list though. I'm trying to narrow it down to 1 or 2 complementary rigs.

It's probably clear I have little experience with bass amps. I play enough bass to record demos but record them DI. Instead these amps are for studio users though of course I'll goof around with them. (The basses themselves I think I have covered, along with guitars+amps, keys+amps, and drums and some basic horns.).

But to put it in bass terms, if you were stocking just one bass in a studio space, you'd probably make it a P or a Jazz, either of which can just about do all styles even if not ideal (P not great for funk, J not great for reggae). If you were getting two, you'd probably make it a P and either a J or a Stringray, right? You'd have the dark and bright ends covered.

Likewise in guitar amps, if you had two you'd have to have a Marshall 1959 for dirty, and a Fender Twin Reverb for clean (or another blackface Fender for clean and blues-dirty). If just one you might have to go to a Mesa model that can do clean and dirty.

So of the dozen amps you mention (including submodels of SVT etc.) can you recommend one that simply has you covered from funk to reggae and vintage to modern? Even if it's high-buck, that's fine. Or maybe two complimentary ones, perhaps one better for modern or funk and one better for dark or vintage? I'm happy to get an 8x10 coffin, but also 4x10 and 1x15 for reggae, and use the same head, if the same head works. Also happy to use the head with a 2x12 for outside parties but maybe a a good class-D would be worth considering.

Also: ignoring cost and portability, would you say all the top amps are tube, as they are in the guitar world, or are there some solid state amps a guy with a tube rig might actually move over for sound purposes?
Click to expand...

Pictures or it didn't happen :) I love the challenge of a good studio build...
 
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