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Poll: best amp brand
- Thread starter Doug4321
- Start date
Literally impossible to choose due to so many factors in certain companies... so CARROTS is it!
- Feb 8, 2021
- 153
- 437
- Disclosures
- Endorser of EBS Amplification, Neotech Straps
There was no overall best for me among many brands of amps over the years. . Down to one for the past 5 years. For warm distinctive tone, and big nostalgia factor, Marshall Superbass 100w is the one for me.
There is no best. It depends on the application. I love my Ampeg B15 but I also love my Phil Jones BG400 and Eden Navigator. I used my Eden heads for all my events but now they are a backup since I have been using the Phil Jones for all my events now. The Ampeg is strictly for tracking at the studio. I don’t own Mesa but they are very well built and sound great and someday may grab a Carbine M6.
If I were you, I’d have skipped the doofy poll and just asked the questions. Those are actually legit questions.
And the answer is “it depends but generally there are some similarities within a brand’s lineup.” Since I know Ampegs better than most other product lines, I’ll speak on them. The current lineup has some differences in tone stacks and topology, but they do have some commonalities based on the sounds of the B15, SVT and V4B. They were making a few outliers for a while that ended production 10 years ago (the B2/SVT without any super valves series), and the cabs do vary, sometimes drastically. But the general vibe of current amps is based on one of their big 3 tube amps.
Other companies I know less about, but while I think some do try to make amps similar to other successful amps they have, you can’t always be sure they’re not going to throw a surprise out there.
Yes, and more: EBS and Eich too..Berg, Quilter, Traynor, GR, Trickfish, Trace...just for starters.
Honestly, i tried GR Bass heads / cabs / combo's 6 months ago, the sound is interesting and alright.. modern sound.. But the build quality isn't that good. For example: the knobs, the potentiometers, the metal of the heads and the logo on the cabs feel really (toy-like) cheap, i think it's about the same build quality as fender rumble series. But yes, in terms of sound, the GR Bass products are higher quality then Fender Rumble series..
Besides that, it's hard to pick a favorite if you have not tried them all.
I've used / tried markbass, trace elliot, ampeg, ebs, eich, ashdown. Of those: Ampeg, Ashdown and Eich are my favorites in terms of sound and build quality.
Using an Eich BC112 right now.. Maybe somewhere in the future i swap it for a lightweight 15" combo, i love the mids of a 15". If anyone knows a 15" combo under 18 kg, let me know
Of course Mesa Boogie will win, this forum is Mesa Boogie and Ampeg biased. (and yes, for a reason probably)
An interesting question to ask is: What kind of bass you used and what amp you use? I noticed lately that for example jazz bass players tend to pick different amps then precision bass players, probably because of the 'sound' nature of the basses they use. Also it depends on the genre of music you play, so is there really one best brand + bass combination? I think not.
An interesting question to ask is: What kind of bass you used and what amp you use? I noticed lately that for example jazz bass players tend to pick different amps then precision bass players, probably because of the 'sound' nature of the basses they use. Also it depends on the genre of music you play, so is there really one best brand + bass combination? I think not.
I've voted Mesa though I actually use my markbass rig more as we play very small rooms most of the time. Been using Mesa for years (at least 20) and always loved the sound. However, they score over any other company I've dealt with purely for their customer service. My first Titan was bought 3rd hand and displayed the well documented thermal shut down fault. Despite me being the 3rd owner and the amp being more than 5 years old, Mesa shipped it to Petaluma from Glasgow at their expense and carried out the various power supply and casing changes FOC.
Graeme
Graeme
I honestly believe it depends on what I own at any given time. Of those I've USED, I'd place several up at the top, including mesa. But it's rare that I find an amp that is not able to do what I need from it, although it does happen. Ashdown and GK have a certain default tone that I've found it is difficult to get away from.... and even though I've owned amazing gear from amazing amp brands like them, I no longer own those brands.
So I voted for Genzler, and for Other. I am voting simply on what I keep finding myself using in my life and enjoying the most.
Why? Because of all the musical instrument amps I've owned, including both guitar and bass amps, there are two brands that I've KEPT for years and years and years and continued to find amazing and loved without thinking that I was missing anything: Genz-Benz (yep I'm still pre company renaming/change-up) and yorkville/traynor. I have loved Ampeg many times over the years, but I have changed my tone somewhat in recent years and the ampeg tone stack's default centered eq is a tone that is great, but not what I'm looking for these days (that's based on the PF series class d heads that I used, and loved, last decade extensively).
My current bass head is an old yorkville. I just can't get away from the brand.... they keep on delivering way more than they ought to for the price. Still kicks butt. I'm not wealthy and have to be cautious what I spend on amps, and as a bassist I ensure that my instruments via DI can deliver the tone I want without an amp. But, when I'm rehearsing with my bands and practicing, I want my amps to sound a certain way. I also love their various 210 bass combos.... so much better than they should be.
And my primary guitar combo is a Genz-Benz El Diablo 112. Truly the best, most versatile, greatest sounding amp I ever came across, without unreliable digital controls that wear out over time, all tube, and louder than my kids when the internet goes out. I've also used Genz-Benz bass heads that were AMAZING and I can't imagine any reason to want anything more.
If I win the lottery and have money left after paying everything off, my default head to buy would be Mesa, because I've used them and found them excellent and very comprehensive, but I would take the time to try the newer Genzler stuff first AND the newer yorkville/traynor stuff first to see where everything was at.
So I voted for Genzler, and for Other. I am voting simply on what I keep finding myself using in my life and enjoying the most.
Why? Because of all the musical instrument amps I've owned, including both guitar and bass amps, there are two brands that I've KEPT for years and years and years and continued to find amazing and loved without thinking that I was missing anything: Genz-Benz (yep I'm still pre company renaming/change-up) and yorkville/traynor. I have loved Ampeg many times over the years, but I have changed my tone somewhat in recent years and the ampeg tone stack's default centered eq is a tone that is great, but not what I'm looking for these days (that's based on the PF series class d heads that I used, and loved, last decade extensively).
My current bass head is an old yorkville. I just can't get away from the brand.... they keep on delivering way more than they ought to for the price. Still kicks butt. I'm not wealthy and have to be cautious what I spend on amps, and as a bassist I ensure that my instruments via DI can deliver the tone I want without an amp. But, when I'm rehearsing with my bands and practicing, I want my amps to sound a certain way. I also love their various 210 bass combos.... so much better than they should be.
And my primary guitar combo is a Genz-Benz El Diablo 112. Truly the best, most versatile, greatest sounding amp I ever came across, without unreliable digital controls that wear out over time, all tube, and louder than my kids when the internet goes out. I've also used Genz-Benz bass heads that were AMAZING and I can't imagine any reason to want anything more.
If I win the lottery and have money left after paying everything off, my default head to buy would be Mesa, because I've used them and found them excellent and very comprehensive, but I would take the time to try the newer Genzler stuff first AND the newer yorkville/traynor stuff first to see where everything was at.
I play through an Ampeg PF 500 and I like it. When I got it I really wanted an Aguilar Tone Hammer 500. It sounded so nice in the store. Unfortunately it was a little too expensive at the time.
D
