I've owned many but always come back to my faithful Mesa Mpulse 600. With that said, the Strategy is my pick.
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Either the all tube 300W SVT (no explanation needed IMO) -or- the Fender Super Bassman. Same 300W of classic 12AX7 + 6550 goodness - but 20 lbs. lighter than the SVT.
Truth is, all those monster all-tube amps sound great. If they have a "heart of glass" they get my vote. I cut my teeth and grew up with that sound. So to my ears, that will always be what a bass amp should sound like.
Truth is, all those monster all-tube amps sound great. If they have a "heart of glass" they get my vote. I cut my teeth and grew up with that sound. So to my ears, that will always be what a bass amp should sound like.
The Fender Super Bassman
Sounds as good as any SVT I've had plus that it does 8 ohm means I often use it with just one 15. Sounds great! Plus 20lbs lighter than the SVT can't hurt neither.
I can't fault it.
Sounds as good as any SVT I've had plus that it does 8 ohm means I often use it with just one 15. Sounds great! Plus 20lbs lighter than the SVT can't hurt neither.
I can't fault it.
I'm a big fan of the Fender Super Bassman (and Sunn 300T, same thing). There's just a certain "something" about it. A roundness that, while it can be attained from almost any of the others mentioned, seems to just ooze out of the Bassman at all settings.
That said, I'd rather have the 3.5lb Mesa head. Even if it only gets you 80% of that sweetness (and let's be real, it goes well beyond that) it's doing it at a tiny fraction of the weight and can fit in a large gigbag pocket.
Solid state and hybrids have proven their place, especially in today's builds. To say otherwise is typically just posturing.
That said, I'd rather have the 3.5lb Mesa head. Even if it only gets you 80% of that sweetness (and let's be real, it goes well beyond that) it's doing it at a tiny fraction of the weight and can fit in a large gigbag pocket.
Solid state and hybrids have proven their place, especially in today's builds. To say otherwise is typically just posturing.
Voted for ..and rock. A fender sb300. Had the option to buy an svt cl....chose the sb300 for it's versatility. Absolutely awesome mp
My votes go to the Mesa Strategy, then maybe an SVT-4 Pro, then an SVT classic or Fender Bassman, then the Prodigy, then the DB-751. The Bassman is much more versitile than one would expect, but I think Mesa has an edge on tone and reliability. The Strategy is just a sick amp. The Ampeg and Mesa stuff can all achieve similar tones so it comes down to power and features, and there I think the Strategy wins.
Kind of hard to believe a "big amp" thread without mentioning the Acoustic 360 and 370 with their big 18" folded horn cabs.
Depends on what style you play and what you want to achieve. I own a Verellen Meatsmoke and it is hands down the best sounding amplifier I have ever played through for the style of music I play. To one person the sound of an SVT or Orange will be what they want, but it may not be another person's sound.
Ask yourself how do you want it to sound. Do you want grindy saturated overdrive, slight bark, smooth and fat, or a jack of all trades type of amp? It is quite an investment in money and weight, but unless I don't have another bamdmate to help me cary it or my arms fall off I'm never giving up that tone.
I used to not believe the hype surrounding tube amps until I lived with one for a while. There really is something unquantifiable about the way those things sound. Good luck.
Ask yourself how do you want it to sound. Do you want grindy saturated overdrive, slight bark, smooth and fat, or a jack of all trades type of amp? It is quite an investment in money and weight, but unless I don't have another bamdmate to help me cary it or my arms fall off I'm never giving up that tone.
I used to not believe the hype surrounding tube amps until I lived with one for a while. There really is something unquantifiable about the way those things sound. Good luck.
Here's my fave. As a stalwart Hiwatt man for decades, this was my gass killer.
I've owned 4 tube heads. First was the Fender Bassman 300 Pro (looked like the Sunn Model), Traynor YBA200, Traynor YBA300 and now the Ampeg SVT-VR
Verdict;
Bassman in that design was super awkward to carry but was a workhorse.
Traynor YBA-200 - it was awesome, should NOT have got rid of that thing, weighed like nothing and sounded good.
Traynor YBA-300 - doesn't sound as good as the 200, could be because of the 6L6 tubes rather than KT88's.
SVT VR - has that mid heavy tone. takes pedals awesome. Weighs the equivalent of a small elephant. So much so my back is kinda messed up and I'm only 25!
Verdict;
Bassman in that design was super awkward to carry but was a workhorse.
Traynor YBA-200 - it was awesome, should NOT have got rid of that thing, weighed like nothing and sounded good.
Traynor YBA-300 - doesn't sound as good as the 200, could be because of the 6L6 tubes rather than KT88's.
SVT VR - has that mid heavy tone. takes pedals awesome. Weighs the equivalent of a small elephant. So much so my back is kinda messed up and I'm only 25!
I'm all about the Aguilar DB751.
Those things are super loud, and the preamp can be shifted so many ways. Also, it takes pedals really well.
That's one amp that if I had a budget & roadies, I'd be carrying a rack full of those and an array of cabinets.
Those things are super loud, and the preamp can be shifted so many ways. Also, it takes pedals really well.
That's one amp that if I had a budget & roadies, I'd be carrying a rack full of those and an array of cabinets.
I voted SVT but it's too much amp for most of my gigs. I use my B25B and V4B more often, but yeah.
If I HAD to choose between anything above, I chose the Mesa Eight88. What an amazing amp!! I actually have an Electric Power Unit and I love that amp. It’s prefect for what I do and for my band. However, now that I have had it for a few years, if I could do it over again, I just might have sprung for the Mesa Eight88. It’s got all the options like a DI, more EQ, all those bells and whistles in a KT88 powered beast. What more would you ever need?!
#SVTkiller
#SVTkiller
I chose the Mesa 8:88: eight KT88's = glorious powerful tone!
If it wasn't that, then I would have gone with a Verellen.
If it wasn't that, then I would have gone with a Verellen.
The fender super bassman is a different amp from the sunn 300t. You're thinking of the fender 300 pro.. and yeah .. it's the best amp made!
