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Question for blues, Americana players
- Thread starter SJan3
- Start date
I do have a lot of options, but that was because I used gig money to keep getting better and better stuff. My '65 Jazz through my Standel MCIIb/SAM30b amp was as good as it got back in 69-71 or so, right alongside the acoustic 360/361 and the "new" Ampeg SVT. It used a powered bass reflex 215 cabinet and the lightweight head was just the preamp. It was just 200-watts back then, which was a lot at the time. The acoustic 360/361 also used a 200-watt powered cab though it used a single folded horn 18" speaker. Also had the Shure 565sd mic back then, which was the predecessor to the SM58. During the early 70's that was top-of-the-line gear for bass.
Then it was all stolen and I didn't get another amp until 1997 after all three kids had grown up and moved out. Gigged a little bit then but gear went quiet in 1998 when I got transferred from CA to VT. Didn't start gigging regularly until 2006 when I was transferred to VA. but then kept buying better and better gear as I made money gigging. In 2008 I bought my first Eden amp and learned what clear, clean tone sounds like. In 2010 bought my WT500/800 directly from David Nordschow (aka: David Eden) after he left Eden to found DNA). It's the amp he used to design all the Eden cabs from 1999 until he left in 2009. It actually made my acoustic B410 and GK115bpx sound good together. Finally in 2015 I bought my DNS-410 cab which I though was going to be the last cab I'd ever buy...boy was I wrong!
I moved to Washington State in April of 2015 and my DNS-410 arrived two days before we left our place in Virginia. With my 800-watt Eden amp and that DNS-410 (handles 1400-watts rms), I thought I could play anywhere. Then found out that small venues would not even let me roll in my 410 and made me use some usually crappy 112 combo. So I bought my Eden EX-112 cab and later bought a low-powered (225-watts) Eden amp to go with it. In 2019 I was accepted into the DNA Endorsing Artist group and bought my DNS-210 to use at medium-sized venues. Worked out that it handles even large venues with nary a problem.
If I knew then what I know now, I would have bought one DNS-210 cab first and then bought a second one when I played outdoor venues s and music festivals. Oh well, live and learn. I absolutely have great gear now and even though I might have a lot by comparison to what I had 19-years ago, it all has a purpose and all sounds great. I ended up donating my acoustic B410 and GK115bpx cabs to a local church, so I only have good stuff left now!
Truth be known, for most of my gigs I use the DNA-800 amp into my DNS-210 cab and that's more than enough indoors. I do set it up on an amp stand when just using the 210.
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That's what I'm playing, and honestly, about anything works. It's a very forgiving genre for bass tone, if anything better to blend well with the drums and sit in the mix.
I play through a GB Shuttle 6 and Berg 112, but I've used several different backline rigs with good results too. Generally I eq for more low mids and turn down the treble if it's a bit sharp, otherwise it's mostly finger tone.
I play through a GB Shuttle 6 and Berg 112, but I've used several different backline rigs with good results too. Generally I eq for more low mids and turn down the treble if it's a bit sharp, otherwise it's mostly finger tone.
You and I had some similar gear over the years. I also had a 360/361 then an Ampeg fridge powered by a GK head. Then I found EDEN in 1996 and it kept me very happy until 2009 when my WT400 started acting up. I then went MarkBass, Genzler, Quilter and now Aguilar and Mesa heads with Aguilar SL112 and MarkBass 121HR.I do have a lot of options, but that was because I used gig money to keep getting better and better stuff. My '65 Jazz through my Standel MCIIb/SAM30b amp was as good as it got back in 69-71 or so, right alongside the acoustic 360/361 and the "new" Ampeg SVT. It used a powered bass reflex 215 cabinet and the lightweight head was just the preamp. It was just 200-watts back then, which was a lot at the time. The acoustic 360/361 also used a 200-watt powered cab though it used a single folded horn 18" speaker. Also had the Shure 565sd mic back then, which was the predecessor to the SM58. During the early 70's that was top-of-the-line gear for bass.
Then it was all stolen and I didn't get another amp until 1997 after all three kids had grown up and moved out. Gigged a little bit then but gear went quiet in 1998 when I got transferred from CA to VT. Didn't start gigging regularly until 2006 when I was transferred to VA. but then kept buying better and better gear as I made money gigging. In 2008 I bought my first Eden amp and learned what clear, clean tone sounds like. In 2010 bought my WT500/800 directly from David Nordschow (aka: David Eden) after he left Eden to found DNA). It's the amp he used to design all the Eden cabs from 1999 until he left in 2009. It actually made my acoustic B410 and GK115bpx sound good together. Finally in 2015 I bought my DNS-410 cab which I though was going to be the last cab I'd ever buy...boy was I wrong!
I moved to Washington State in April of 2015 and my DNS-410 arrived two days before we left our place in Virginia. With my 800-watt Eden amp and that DNS-410 (handles 1400-watts rms), I thought I could play anywhere. Then found out that small venues would not even let me roll in my 410 and made me use some usually crappy 112 combo. So I bought my Eden EX-112 cab and later bought a low-powered (225-watts) Eden amp to go with it. In 2019 I was accepted into the DNA Endorsing Artist group and bought my DNS-210 to use at medium-sized venues. Worked out that it handles even large venues with nary a problem.
If I knew then what I know now, I would have bought one DNS-210 cab first and then bought a second one when I played outdoor venues s and music festivals. Oh well, live and learn. I absolutely have great gear now and even though I might have a lot by comparison to what I had 19-years ago, it all has a purpose and all sounds great. I ended up donating my acoustic B410 and GK115bpx cabs to a local church, so I only have good stuff left now!
WHEW, I'm out of breath!
A Jack Casady bass with Thomastik Infeld Jazz flats, and a small Aguilar Tone Hammer head and a SL 12 inch has worked well for me.
I have a PF20T/PF112HLF as my house/studio amp. The tone is glorious
GK 800RB and a Bag End 15 I have used this on all kinds of gigs, at large outdoor amphithears I add a second cabinet. The EQ on the old GKs is so easy to dial in I very rarely do much knob twisting. For large 10,000 plus gigs I used to use an Acoustic 360
I run this bass (sans cat)…
Into this amp and speaker cabinet…
Into this amp and speaker cabinet…
Nice rig. I'd bring the cat too. Looks capable of seeing you get paid correctly.
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Easy fella. He CAN get decent sound. He just can't get his sound and that's extremely subjective. He's not happy with the performance of his gear and feels he can do better elsewhere. There's no question in my mind that the inherent tone of certain gear provides a signature sound that works for some and not for others. And he is not bonding with his rig. I've certainly had that happen over my many years as a player. He doesn't need lessons, he does not need someone to show him how much tone control is in his hands. And I think it's arrogant if you to suggest otherwise. He's a 69 yr old experienced player. Are YOU going to show him the "proper way" to get better tone from his hands?
I think not.
Well, that's a bit simplistic. If you had a choice, what would you bring? Those who are suggesting that it doesn't matter what gear you use are likely happy or not overly concerned with what they've got, and that's great.
Other players are more discerning.
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Yeah true. Unless someone is paying me well to NOT used my preferred instrument I just use what I like for most any genre. In my case a passive jazz bass with broken in rounds is my go to for just about anything. Amp wise I use a GK 700rb-ii into a relatively lightweight (60lbs~) Fender 410 cabinet. I'd use a smaller amp but my band leans into the rock side of Americana so I like the added headroom.
I would use one of my two PBasses. One has LaBella Flats and the other is a P/J Bass with GHS Pressurewounds. My Amp is a Genzler Magellan 350 into two BA10-2-S2 cabs and I use a 4 on the Floor OD to add some grit and harmonics to emulate an Ampeg B15N. I can't suggest anything better than what I use.
No insult intended. I've probably been playing as long as your friend while continually working to refine how my touch can alter tone. Fair to say it's been a lifelong obsession so I probably do something to pass along. I threw the idea out there because it's the first thing that comes to mind when someone with a good bass and a decent amp isn't happy with their sound. Sorry you read this as arrogant.
I play the same kind of music as your friend and use a Quilter BB800 or a Mesa D-350 with a Bergantino NXV112 or Barefaced One10T without tweeters. It could be anything decent though. A Noble preamp and flats (Galli Synthesis nylon core flats on a P lately) are integral to the sound. There's a parametric EQ (mostly for the acoustic bass) and a compressor too but I could live without those. If I had to pick just one amp and cab with nothing else it would be the Berg and the Mesa hands down. The Mesa is one of the easiest to use, best sounding amps I've ever played and the present mids of the Berg is a combo that works for me to get a big fat sound that's still well defined in a stage mix. If that's more the kind of answer you were after I hope it helps.
