Prog Rock Amps

[Mr. Foxen]

There are a fair few Hiwatt copies of varying accuracy being made currently. Vintage Hiwatt prices are going a bit mental. I have a few old Hiwatts so I keep an eye on prices. Reeves and Mywatt are two, but many custom amp builders, like Dunwich amps, can make you a Hiwatt style amp. PA stuff will be cheaper, but anything with a well known name that will be recommended will be pricier than finding an unknown of equivalent quality. Thing with Hiwatt is they were top quality and its hard to find anything as well made, old Fenders and such were a bit cruder, so a modern custom might well be better made.

 

[dukeorock]

I listened to tons of prog as a kid...lots of Rics, Marshalls and HiWatts.

I would think a Streamliner and a good hi-fi cab would cop the Rutherford thing nicely

 

[kentiki]

A PA rig?

I used a Marshall Super PA from the early 70s to mid 80s (when I quit playing). Most of them are just guitar/bass heads with additional inputs. Often you can pick them up cheaper than the bass amp version.

 

[BlueTalon]

The limitation that any particular amp is better for any particular genre exists only in your mind.

Yeah, that was my response too. The amp is integral to the sound a bass player produces, and it's up the the bass player (and his band) to determine what tone best suits them, and therefore what amp will do the job the best. But genre-specific? Not only have I never heard of that, I can't even wrap my mind around the concept.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Yeah, that was my response too. The amp is integral to the sound a bass player produces, and it's up the the bass player (and his band) to determine what tone best suits them, and therefore what amp will do the job the best. But genre-specific? Not only have I never heard of that, I can't even wrap my mind around the concept.

Kind of like: "What's the best (fill in the blank) for METAL?"

 

[winegamd]

I would think a Streamliner and a good hi-fi cab would cop the Rutherford thing nicely

Totally agree, and you could probably have both for the price of a vintage amp.

As for genre specific, that is not what is being discussed. The OP just wanted to know what was used, so he knew where to start. No one is saying they are the be all end all, just what was used for the notable tones of the time. Besides, if you want that rick through a bassman sound it is much easier to start with that, than using a Fodera through an iAmp and trying to arrive at the same tone.

 

[jeff7bass]

Jon Camp of Renaissance really blew me away with his Ric plugged into a pair of Acoustic stacks, all 15's (four) I think. Prog Heaven.

 

[dukeorock]

Jon Camp of Renaissance really blew me away with his Ric plugged into a pair of Acoustic stacks, all 15's (four) I think. Prog Heaven.

Gosh, I saw them a hundred years ago...he did have a good bass sound

 

[dukeorock]

Kind of like: "What the best (fill in the blank) for METAL?"

The guy happens to like a sound from a certain era...

I get the 'best bass for...' thing, but just jumping all over people who ask honest questions doesn't seem to be the way to go either, sorry

 

[Maleikbassist]

Totally agree, and you could probably have both for the price of a vintage amp.

As for genre specific, that is not what is being discussed. The OP just wanted to know what was used, so he knew where to start. No one is saying they are the be all end all, just what was used for the notable tones of the time. Besides, if you want that rick through a bassman sound it is much easier to start with that, than using a Fodera through an iAmp and trying to arrive at the same tone.

Hmm interesting. This Streamliner seems like a good idea. and How another suggested the Streamliner plus a "Good Hi-fi" cab would do good. My next question is what is required to make a "Good Hi-Fi." I guess my next question would be, what is a hi-fi cab?

 

[Maleikbassist]

Probably should've mentioned this earlier, but I also want something that'd be good for a clean tone. One that I could play some Chili-Slap on..... If there is such existence of a Prog/Chili amp, what would it be?

 

[Hobobob]

Probably should've mentioned this earlier, but I also want something that'd be good for a clean tone. One that I could play some Chili-Slap on..... If there is such existence of a Prog/Chili amp, what would it be?

Streamliner all the way. Prog grind? Hit the gain switch and goose the high mids. Clean? Hit the switch again and set the knobs to 12:00. You won't be disappointed by that amp.

 

[dukeorock]

Probably should've mentioned this earlier, but I also want something that'd be good for a clean tone. One that I could play some Chili-Slap on..... If there is such existence of a Prog/Chili amp, what would it be?

The Streamliner is a pretty great 'all around' amp, IMO
Ampeg PF500 gets a lot of love as well

A 'hi-fi' cab would typically be a 2-3 way design, vertical array, with one or two really strong woofers, a dedicated mid driver and a horn. Extremely full range and clarity for days

 

[dukeorock]

Streamliner all the way. Prog grind? Hit the gain switch and goose the high mids. Clean? Hit the switch again and set the knobs to 12:00. You won't be disappointed by that amp.

+1

 

[chaosMK]

I am pretty sure the Mesa 400+ will get you there, if not present an improvement to those old school tones. Add a VT or BDDI and you can get great tones for any genre.

 

[dukeorock]

I am pretty sure the Mesa 400+ will get you there, if not improve those original tones.

One of my all time favorite amps! Those things are so great...

The beauty of a Streamliner is the super lightweight vs performance, but if weight isn't an issue...400+ would be sweet.

I had a chance to play the yet to be released Mesa Strategy...oh my goodness...seriously cool amplifier!

 

[Liggins]

I run a Pod XT pro into a Crown XTi1000 and a Barefaced Big Twin T, I get to use the tone from all these amps.... but it's a bitch to programme if you're not used to using one in the studio, which I am...

Being able to switch from a Mesa 400+ through a 2x15 to an SVT and 8x10 to a Marshall Super Bass or a Hi-watt 200 is very useful indeed. I play 5 string fretted and fretless.

 

[zon6c-f]

1) Double cab Acoustic 371; CABS: 301 folded horn.

2) Double cab Sunn Coliseum or Coliseum 880
CABS: 1-18VH Folded horn.

Use any Electric bass with fresh round-wound strings. Use a pick and either of these vintage bass amps and YOU ARE PROG READY for life.

 

[zon6c-f]

Use preamp of your choice through dedicated power amp..many to choose from.

Incorporate a Parametric Equalizer.

3rd alternative cabs: Jbl 'Sugar Scoops'.

Again, bass with fresh rounds and a pick.

 

[AuntieBeeb]

When I think of the term "progressive rock" or "progressive music" generally, I think not of a style, genre or sub-genre frozen in time forever, but as a philosophical and conceptual approach to making music that is by its nature forward-looking and envelope-pushing. Because that is the nature of progression.

MM

Hell yeah. Surely pigeonholing a genre according to a set of qualities that define "progressive rock" defeats the point of "progressive rock!" The whole idea of being "progressive" is to experiment and try out new things, to challenge both the musicians and the audience.

Unfortunately, it makes life easier for modern music journalists if they can dismiss "progressive rock" as all sounding like ELP's most bloated and overindulgent efforts and therefore deeply uncool and wasn't-it-a-good-thing-that-punk-came-along-and-blew-it-all-out-of-the-water.

In reality, as well as there being a number of great artists out there today who still happily admit to making "prog rock," there are other great artists who are making music that's wonderfully off-the-wall - and are surely "progressive" in that respect - but simply don't get labelled as such because music journalists don't like to use the term. Radiohead, The Flaming Lips and Bjork all spring to mind as famous examples.