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Only one, but...

Which head?

  • Total voters
    82
F

f.c.geil

May 12, 2011
3,381
265
#1
I am about to buy a new rig, and expect it will be my last. This one would be for some recording, gigging (sometimes the only source for bass, but generally only stage monitor), practice, and rehearsal. I want a valve amp this time around, so I limited the choices to only those. I don't mind having two cabs, one for most purposes, and both together when I need to be loud, but I really only want one head. So, if you could only have one bass rig for everything, which one would it be?

Feel free to mention the cab(s) you'd use with the head you chose.
 
#3
I bought a Fender Studio Bass amp brand new in 1979 and used it for everything. It was my only amp. Totally reliable, it never let me down. I used it to gig and also recorded three albums plus tons of live recordings to tape. I sold it in 2005 to my best friend for his new studio where it resides to this day.

Today I'd choose either the Fender Bassman 100t or Super Bassman.

I myself now play Fender Rumbles; a 75 Combo, and 350 head + twin Rumble 112 Neo cabs.
 
#6
I have three ampeg tube heads, but the most versatile and my usual go-to is the V4B. Plenty of gas to get a room rocking through a pair of 15"s, but switchable impedance so it works well when you don't that need that much volume for recording or rehearsal. I use either one or two single 15" cabs loaded with JBLs.
 
#9
tekdiver500ft said:
I am about to buy a new rig, and expect it will be my last.
Click to expand...

Ha! Famous last words.

In an ideal world, B15, V4B, and SVT because one amp can not fill all rolls if you want to push it into power tube distortion. Failing that, a pedal can get you most of the way there with an amp set clean.

The choice can't be made solely on emotion. There are practical considerations. You need to balance how ofter you need it loud, fairly loud, and really loud. A V4B with a smaller cab and an 810 is a good compromise. If you need an SVT on rare occasions, rent one. Nothing can beat a B15 in the studio.
 
#10
How loud you need to gig?

For me, a B15 would be a "lifetime amp", but I couldn't gig with one.

I haven't heard the Ashdowns. They might be fantastic, but I just don't know. An SVT woukd obviously cover everything but it might be way more than you need. There's also some "cool factor" to the other amps. SVT's are no big deal, you see them everywhere.
 
#12
My choice is the new V4B Reissue through a pair of the new SVT 212 AV cabs. It might not be as loud as the SVT Classic but is more versatile and has a better tone JMHO. I'll be pulling the trigger on the V4B and 1 SVT 212 AV cab real soon and will be adding the 2nd 212 pretty soon after.
 

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