Obscure bass amps...

[Grissle]

Although Hiwatt isn't very obscure - check out the build location. They were only produced in CA for a few years until the name was spun off again. The early CA heads (this included) were assembled with the parts shipped over from the UK.

In fact, Modesto , Ca. (where George Lucas was born and raised) I know because I worked there for a little while. It didn't last long there unfortunately.😢

 

[frankieC]

A couple that I used to own....

Silvertone 1483. My first REAL bass amp.

Standel Artist XII - My first real "Solid state mistake".

Baldwin B1 - My second real "Solid state mistake".

Vox Essex Bass amp - My third real "solid State Mistake".

Sunn 200S - My return to tube amp sanity!

 

[frisbieinstein]

I had a Guild Thunderbass amp for a year or two in the early '70s. Check out that master volume knob. I distained it then, but it sure has a retro cool look.

Ho, the local guitar shop had one of those. It was an acoustic guitar shop so they had a quite weird selection of electric stuff. Magnatone amp, Kay bass, Fender Bronco.

The most obscure amps of which I'm aware were the monstrous tube amps Fender and Coral made in roughly 1970. I never saw them in real life, and wonder if they ever shipped.

 

[frisbieinstein]

I saw this oddity while browsing at a local music store...

Never seen anything like it, but I thought it was ironic how it's labeled a "Tube Bass Amp" and right below the name says "solid state electronics" -- but I guess "Tube" refers to the shape, in this case.

That's gotta be for automobiles.

 

[60bass]

You aren't kidding about the rat's nest.

That brings back memories some good some bad lol

 

[frisbieinstein]

A couple that I used to own....

Damn, I had three out of those five amps. Talk about coincidence....

 

[frankieC]

Damn, I had three out of those five amps. Talk about coincidence....

lmao.... Which 3?

 

[P Town]

Eros.

More photos, (definitely worth a look) here: Link Removed

The music store we used to buy gear from in the 1970s in Waukesha Wisconsin was called The Combo Spot. The owner of the shop, Dave Tews was an electrical engineer, and violinist, who designed, and built Eros amps, and speaker cabinets. He incorporated Dynaco home audio, (which were available as DIY kits) transformers, and pre-amp circuitry. The speaker cabinets were large, and very heavy. They sounded great. I would love to have one.

 

[PBFACTOR]

I had a peavey pro 2000. 2000 watt class d amp.

 

[BassmanPaul]

In fact, Modesto , Ca. (where George Lucas was born and raised) I know because I worked there for a little while. It didn't last long there unfortunately.😢

I don't consider a Hiwatt amp as obscure personally, i own the 4xKT88 version. however if you stood that Sunn cabinet on it's end you'd get more milage out of the system. Vertical drivers have much better dispersion.

 

[MatronMother]

You aren't kidding about the rat's nest.

OUCH!!! GEEZ thats uglee! Got to get mine in sooner then later. Luckily I have only really played it minimal. Will say this, REAL smooth and warm bottom end. Dont care at all for it when it breaks up. May need to get some different tubes put in 'er. I really want the OR120 overdriven sound but am a cheap sod.

 

[Michedelic]

My first amp, a Kalamazoo Bass 30. Got it used in 1970 for $20. Sounded like total ass.

Ooh yeah, had one of those, purchased at a rummage sale for $50 in 1969. The "30" is a bit optimistic; the power section was two EL84 equivalents. Used it as a practice/rec room jam amp primarily, sealed cab, very heavy. For a while, I paired it with a Sunn Sorado(budget 200s rig), stacking it in between the head and the 2x15", and running it all as a proto-biamp tower. Aesthetically, it matched the Sunn except the B30 was just a wee bit wider than the 15's cab. The fold-out controls in the back were so funny---the on/off switch was on the treble control knob. As with many smaller tube bass amps of that time, it made for a great guitar amp with Stones/Faces/Crowes grit when cranked.

 

[Catanova]

This thread kicks ass! I have spent years collecting and enjoying vintage tube amps...

The Contessa CA-15 runs on two 6v6 and two 12ax7 and a 6ca4 rectifier. This is my go-to practice amp for bass at home. It is not well documented but "Hohner" may have commissioned it. I have also seen similar amps built with the "Natural" badge.

This bass amp kicks ass in a lower/mid volume situation, it really has a nice bass tube warm overdrive tone...

Tried to post pics of the amp/guts but TB won't accept the filesize of my pics

 

[TomStuart]

I picked up this earth sound research bass traveler bt-2000 tonight for 100.00. Looks brand new! Has a couple scratchy pots but sounds stellar.

 

[lowphatbass]

I picked up this earth sound research bass traveler bt-2000 tonight for 100.00. Looks brand new! Has a couple scratchy pots but sounds stellar.

Looks like my old Peavey Basic 60 on steroids! Nice.

 

[nysbob]

Speaking of obscure, there's an Ampeg from the late '60s/ early '70s you almost NEVER see or hear about...the SBT.

It was a similar concept to the original Acoustic 360 - a preamp only head & powered cab - but in the case of the Ampeg it was a powered 2 x 15 box. I played through one for a summer tour with Johnny & the Hurricanes when I was 17...it was a decent rig.

 

[Easy8]

Guitar player I work with has one of these.

And one of these.

He's also got an Old Kraftsman hollowbody bass from the 60s that sounds amazing with the Magnatone.

 

[Gaolee]

Here's another tuned tube amp. I have never seen one, but if this doesn't qualify as obscure, I'm not sure what does.

[EDIT] This looks like the same thing as Groovaholic posted. Whatever it is, I would sure like to hear what it sounds like.

 

[dougazbass]

Hilgen Basso Grande

 

[dincz]

Acetone - forerunner of Roland

150W power amp mounted inside the cab - the head was just a preamp. I never thought it might become collectable and cut the preamp chassis down to rack width and relocated PCB's to make it fit in a rack case with a 300W mosfet power amp.