Recommend some Class D heads to try

[Frank77]

Quilter BassBlock800.
Plug and play. Warm, tight, punchy.
Doooo eet!

What he said. The Bass Block is an amazing amp.

 

[Al Kraft]

Based on your tone goals I think the Mesa Subway (D-800/800+) and Aguilar TH500 are excellent short list candidates. I own and use both.

 

[gjbassist]

I will second the TC Electronic RH450 or 750.
Great overall tone and the tube tone does a great job of adding some grit and warmth. Nice compressor and the presets a a great feature too!

 

[InhumanResource]

Being an old fart, I love the development of all the new mini and micro heads. I've been using my Little Mark II for years; it's never let me down, and truth said I've been pretty happy with the tone. But gigs are down this month, spring is coming, and I'm a little bored, which means it's time to screw around with my gear. I might as well try some new heads to see if there's something I'm missing.

I play flats about 60% of the time, and even my roundwound tone leans old school (think seventies). Looking for warm, tight, and present. Probable candidates would be a Mesa Subway and an Aggie Tone Hammer. I would try Ampeg, but I just don't trust their build quality any longer (am I wrong?). Anything else I ought to be looking at?

Track down a Genz Benz streamliner.

 

[trailer]

I've enjoyed playing through a pf 500 for around 3 years...cheap as hell, good tone, zero failures, plenty of power and easy to carry. I'm looking at getting a quilter or pf 800 now because I want to upgrade.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Quilter Bass Block 800. Pat Quilter is the "Q" in QSC. You can get one for $800... then decide what to do with the $200 in change. Under 4 lbs., 800w @ 4 ohms, simple to operate. Made in the USA.

I've gigged mine going on a year and a half and it has never ceased to amaze me no matter what I throw at it. Of the current crop of amps and suggestions, my second choice would be another BB800... regardless of the price of the competition.

 

[edencab]

I always like to pop in with the Traynor SB500h or 200h
Traynor Amps
check the specs.......made in Canada (Traynor makes Yorkville gear, for those who know PA systems) ...seriously loud, built like a tank....lightweight

 

[Wasnex]

If it helps, I’d be all over a Mesa M6 Carbine if it weren’t for the weight, size, and to a lesser extent the expense.

I have seen several posts that suggest the GK MB Fusion series has a similar sound and feel to the Carbines.

 

[Artman]

I'm considering trying out a Bugera Veyron M. They have received a bit of praise around here.

 

[Doug Parent]

Subway no looking back.

 

[SJan3]

Being an old fart, I love the development of all the new mini and micro heads. I've been using my Little Mark II for years; it's never let me down, and truth said I've been pretty happy with the tone. But gigs are down this month, spring is coming, and I'm a little bored, which means it's time to screw around with my gear. I might as well try some new heads to see if there's something I'm missing.

I play flats about 60% of the time, and even my roundwound tone leans old school (think seventies). Looking for warm, tight, and present. Probable candidates would be a Mesa Subway and an Aggie Tone Hammer. I would try Ampeg, but I just don't trust their build quality any longer (am I wrong?). Anything else I ought to be looking at?

Based upon your love for the Markbass(I love mine too), you might consider the Aguilar AG700. A similar format to the Markbass, warm but not sloppy and plenty of grunt.

 

[Djadja]

Do check out the Genzler Magellan’s. There are lots of good choices out there these days and when I bought my last head I thought about many of the ones mentioned in this thread plus a few others. Ended up with the Genzler 800 and just ordered a 350 last week.

I’ve owned a couple of Genz Benz Shuttles and have played a bunch of aggies and Ampeg in backlines. The Genzler simply hits harder than any of them. The EQ is very flexible and the contours give you even more flexibility. The DI is top quality. If you want grit, the 800 has a dirty channel that sounds great. If you don’t need that and the lower wattage works for you, the 350 would save you a bit.

 

[Maxfenderbass]

Aguilar TH500

 

[pudgychef]

What kind of power are you needing? I've got a TE elf I run through a 212 cab at 8 ohms, or a 410/212 cab at 4 ohms, and it's suprisingly loud. Loud enough for a rock band with a heavy hitting drummer and the DI sounds great. It's got a nice beefy thick sound that works great with my p basses. I play pretty hard and don't activate the limiter, as some complain about, but I don't run any effects through it either. When I'm feeling lazy and don't want to drag out a lot of gear I grab this one.

It's 300 new and fits in the palm of your hand. It's the latest of the bare bones micro amps.

May not be for everyone, but it delivers a nice thick clear sound with a touch of tubey warmth. It's my backup amp, but it sounds as good as my regular amp, which is 200 watts at 4ohms as well.

View attachment 2939846 View attachment 2939847

I am also currently playing a TE ELF - I love mine. Pbass, Stingray and Bongo all play well with it, warm, responsive. I also like the Rumble heads...sound great.

Trickfish of any interest? I would love to try one as well as the Quilter.

 

[Wicked G]

Do check out the Genzler Magellan’s.
I’ve owned a couple of Genz Benz Shuttles and have played a bunch of aggies and Ampeg in backlines. The Genzler simply hits harder than any of them.

Ain't that the truth. Many people like to talk about punch and slam in amps that in all honesty don't really have it, the Genzler Magellan 800 has it in spades. That amp actually slams the stage. Awesome feeling.

 

[wes stephenson]

The Quilters are REALLY nice and pretty simple

 

[devnulljp]

What kind of power are you needing? I've got a TE elf I run through a 212 cab at 8 ohms, or a 410/212 cab at 4 ohms, and it's suprisingly loud. Loud enough for a rock band with a heavy hitting drummer and the DI sounds great. It's got a nice beefy thick sound that works great with my p basses. I play pretty hard and don't activate the limiter, as some complain about, but I don't run any effects through it either. When I'm feeling lazy and don't want to drag out a lot of gear I grab this one.

It's 300 new and fits in the palm of your hand. It's the latest of the bare bones micro amps.

May not be for everyone, but it delivers a nice thick clear sound with a touch of tubey warmth. It's my backup amp, but it sounds as good as my regular amp, which is 200 watts at 4ohms as well.

View attachment 2939846 View attachment 2939847

I had a long love affair with Trace Elliot since the 80s. Would love to try one of those cute little amps. Does it sound anything like an old British made TE?

 

[WHLownotes]

I bought an Ampeg BA 210 v2. Unfortunately it puts out a lot of hiss and crackle through any connection to the sound board (built in direct or external direct box). Other than that it’s nice, but I won’t recommend the BA -V2 series. (If Ampeg wants to give me schematic and layout files I’ll see if I can find the problem...).

 

[JGbassman]

I had a long love affair with Trace Elliot since the 80s. Would love to try one of those cute little amps. Does it sound anything like an old British made TE?

From what I've read yes they do have that dna built in. I have never owned any other trace gear so I can't say firsthand, but I do like the sound it produces through my cabs, which are GK neo 410s and 212s

 

[pudgychef]

Ain't that the truth. Many people like to talk about punch and slam in amps that in all honesty don't really have it, the Genzler Magellan 800 has it in spades. That amp actually slams the stage. Awesome feeling.

would love to try one.... and really like the look/idea of their array style cabs