Non-Class D Amps Under 25 Pounds

[Loel]

My Gibson GB440 was about 16lbs I believe,wish I'd kept that one.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

Re the last few posts, I am starting to wonder if the thing about the non-Class D amps that keeps people dragging them around is the way they respond, the way they feel, the way they impact our playing--rather than the sound.

I got my amp before class D became common. Then I thought a backup could be good. Looked at them, but got a deal on a Warwick the same as the lead sled I already had for a price I couldn't really refuse... So I've missed the class D boat for the moment.

 

[Munjibunga]

1) "Guess it good that some people like the heavy weight of non-class-d amps. Somebody has to buy the old amps as the market trends towards more modern solutions" by seamonkey.

Some of us like the sound and feel, not the weight. If I can find a 3 lbs amp with the authority and presence I look at I have no problem with lightweight.

2) @Munjibunga: maybe the audience cannot distinguish between a guitar and a bass, but I do, WE do. This is the reason because a place like talkbass exists. If you had the unique goal of pleasing the audience at gigs, well, go plug direct into the supplied mixer and PA or the crappy 20 watts combo onstage and be happy. But I guess it's quite different from reality, isn't it?
Just for being plain simple: I care about my tone and satisfaction, and the audience...F*** the audience! (not quite as extreme...but you get the idea)

Don't get me wrong. I go for the best tone I can get at every gig. The gear I own gets me there. My point is that only I and maybe one bass player in the audience knows that the tone is good. The rest of the audience isn't even hearing the bass as an instrument. The difference in sound between a revered lead sled and a good Class D/neo rig is so slight that even the bass player isn't going to notice.

 

[Munjibunga]

I think it's a little heavier than 25 lbs, but still very lightweight and compact, and it's the best transistor amp (with tube preamp) I've ever heard and used: The Eden WT-550.

The WT-550 is 19 pounds, so it's in the game.

 

[sratas]

Don't get me wrong. I go for the best tone I can get at every gig. The gear I own gets me there. My point is that only I and maybe one bass player in the audience knows that the tone is good. The rest of the audience isn't even hearing the bass as an instrument. The difference in sound between a revered lead sled and a good Class D/neo rig is so slight that even the bass player isn't going to notice.

Your point is correct and at the same meaningless for me...sorry.

If we were here to make our musical choices according to the principle of "the audience doesn't even know bass" you'd better be a cute girl and play naked.

Ok....sorry, i wasn't completely serious....

 

[-Asdfgh-]

only I and maybe one bass player in the audience knows that the tone is good.

I'm pretty sure it goes wider, even if not everyone can articulate it. Plenty of non-bassist musicians can tell, and general audience members, if presented with a grossly bad tone and a good one could tell the difference, I expect. I've heard non-playing jazz enthusiasts debate the sound of DB players.

I think nuances of tone will be lost, though, potentially even before they get to anyone's ears.

 

[Munjibunga]

oo

I'm pretty sure it goes wider, even if not everyone can articulate it. Plenty of non-bassist musicians can tell, and general audience members, if presented with a grossly bad tone and a good one could tell the difference, I expect. I think nuances of tone will be lost, though, potentially even before they get to anyone's ears.

I can agree to the extent that an audience member might think something doesn't sound good, but they generally can't articulate what it is.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

oo

I can agree to the extent that an audience member might think something doesn't sound good, but they generally can't articulate what it is.

Musicians, in my experience, can generally tell (my post wasn't clear) if the bass tone is bad because often they've been in bands themselves. If they've played mostly in brass ensembles they might have less relevant experience than those who have played in rock bands with bass guitars present. Levels of ability to articulate vary.

 

[Munjibunga]

Musicians, in my experience, can generally tell (my post wasn't clear) if the bass tone is bad because often they've been in bands themselves. If they've played mostly in brass ensembles they might have less relevant experience than those who have played in rock bands with bass guitars present. Levels of ability to articulate vary.

It sounds like you come from a community where bands in the scene "support each other" by going to each other's gigs. I'm talking about a general audience not necessarily teeming with musicians.

 

[Sputnik Monroe]

I too always try for the best sound at any and all gigs ... yesterday my load in was from a block and a half away, so it was two neo 1x10s powered by a Mark Bass LM II, with a compressor and OD pedal thrown in the gig bag. I got a great sound using a modified Jazz Bass and the audience seemed to like what they heard. My only point being that you can't duplicate the sound and feel of my 1968 Sunn 200s with matching cab with any other rig no matter how hard you may try, not even close. That rig only goes out for VERY special gigs, as the music we specialize in is from that era, and every band member has the period correct gear for such gigs ( kinda like Beatles tribute bands trot out VOX amps Hofner basses and such) ... Most gigs I go for light weight and modern, it's a compromise, but a necessary one.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

It sounds like you come from a community where bands in the scene "support each other" by going to each other's gigs.

Musicians like to go and see music, I find, to see large groups as well as on a smaller scale, going to each other's gigs. But the latter is as much that a proportion of the gigs locally are smaller ones, and people know each other.

I'd agree that the mass of an audience won't be musicians, though.

 

[Munjibunga]

Musicians like to go and see music, I find, to see large groups as well as on a smaller scale, going to each other's gigs. But the latter is as much that a proportion of the gigs locally are smaller ones, and people know each other.

I get it. I also have gigs where the members of my other band as well as former bands come to see us. But they already know that my tone is going to be boobies.

 

[stretch80]

I've got to add to the love for the Eden Traveler amps -- WT 400 or WT 550. My favorite amp of all time. Anything you plug into it sounds good, plenty of power, 3 band parametric is great for dialing in the room...and must be 15-20 pounds and comes with a shoulder bag.

 

[stretch80]

I too always try for the best sound at any and all gigs ... yesterday my load in was from a block and a half away, so it was two neo 1x10s powered by a Mark Bass LM II, with a compressor and OD pedal thrown in the gig bag. I got a great sound using a modified Jazz Bass and the audience seemed to like what they heard. My only point being that you can't duplicate the sound and feel of my 1968 Sunn 200s with matching cab with any other rig no matter how hard you may try, not even close. That rig only goes out for VERY special gigs, as the music we specialize in is from that era, and every band member has the period correct gear for such gigs ( kinda like Beatles tribute bands trot out VOX amps Hofner basses and such) ... Most gigs I go for light weight and modern, it's a compromise, but a necessary one.

Sunn 200S! (Sigh) I had one of those long ago. With matching 2 x 15 cab?