Old Gear vs. Modern Bass Tech

[Mastermold]

 

[Pings Bass]

What about vintage basses with modern class D amps and lightweight cabs ?

I play a 1938 Kay through a micro head and a neo cab

 

[Lowbrow]

I started playing live in 1975. Modern amps are way better in just about every way that makes sense to prioritize.

 

[micguy]

My basses aren’t “vintage”, but they are passive, so not too “modern”. As far as anps, i don’t use any - al my gigs (I play quite a few) are ampless. That part is “modern”.

 

[mambo4]

There's some irony in there about these new threads being vintage already.

I think a lot of TB'rs are stuck in the "Old vs New" threads they liked in high school.

 

[Lava]

Old basses, new amps.

 

[HelpImaRock]

I don't care for vintage anything. All of my basses except one were made this century. They sound good and play well. That's all that matters.

 

[TTA]

Do you prefer classic, vintage basses and amps, or the latest modern tech? I’m curious how people balance nostalgia, tone, and playability in their setups.

both?

Vintage is cool, and i love the mojo but my modern rics i would chose over vintage for true playability.

and “modern” dingwalls are incredible. they are what really did it for me to see modern as superior.

amps i love tubes. most of what i have are modern tube amps. got a 70’s v4b but again the modern versions i would pick first (size/weight/reliability).

all my cabs are modern so no comment there. i guess my traynor 1510 is now about 20+ years old though.

 

[urkel3000]

Lil mix of both

 

[ClassicJazz]

Actually at a gig right now sporting my Fodera through a carbon fiber cabinet. Can’t get any more modern than that!

 

[ClassicJazz]

But other nights I sport my ‘72!

 

[chris_b]

For the last 10+ years I've been playing Mike Lull and Sadowsky 5 string basses through Aguilar D Class amps and Barefaced 112 cabs. Everything I play now was bought because it sounded better than the last one. I'm very happy with my tone.

 

[Kindness]

My favorites are "new" basses and vintage amps. I also like a mix of new and vintage cabinets. If I had to pick one combination, it would be a new (vintage-styled) Serek bass, through a modern pedal board, into a 1960s Sunn amp, into a modern full range cabinet.

But I will play and love everything.

 

[humbuckaroo]

Vintage. Passive Precision and active Stingray with an Orange A/B analog head. I have no patience for today's digital nonsense.

 

[shadven]

I play vintage basses and modern MESA amps/cabs. But, I love my Ampegs ((SB-12, B-15, B-18). When I go on tour I bring two Fender basses and two MESA heads / I play them through any cab supplied. The amps are light, powerful and dependable. The basses are perfect .

 

[retslock]

Do you prefer classic, vintage basses and amps, or the latest modern tech? I’m curious how people balance nostalgia, tone, and playability in their setups.

I've always preferred Precision style basses and simple gear but amps and cabinets are much lighter now so my older heavy stuff has mostly gone. I still have a Music Man HD130 head that I just got serviced and will be sold.

 

[J Wilson]

Don't miss it.

Don't miss it.

Don't miss it.

I really missed these.

This too.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

I love modern class D amps and lightweight cabs, but not a fan of computerized gear that requires firmware updates.

I work in IT. It makes me nervous about obsolescence. One of my mixers is now inoperable on Windows 11. Thank goodness for Linux.

 

[DJ Bebop]

You ever tried using a Sunn Coliseum for bedroom practice?

Yes!

That was my first foray into soild state vs tubes and my fall down the rabbit hole of Sunn for a while.

 

[Iristone]

I like both, and that's why I own both types of basses (not actual vintage expensive basses, but of the same design). With electronics I like the reliability and flexibility of current technology, but I often dial them in for a vintage tone when I feel like it.