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Rethinking my rig

Willy B

Willy B

Aug 30, 2013
656
419
Raleigh, NC
#1
At a friend's house last night, I plugged my Schecter Hellraiser Extreme-4 into his ~15 year-old Ampeg BA-115. I thought it was the best that particular bass has ever sounded- way better than through my current head, a Mesa Walkabout which, I have paired with various cabs, currently a Hathor 1203. Not quite sure how to explain this- maybe no explanation is needed and I should just let my ears guide me.

Now I am trying to figure out where to go from here. I want that tone but, I don't think the combo would cut it for the band I'm in. Perhaps I should replace the WA with an Ampeg head?
 
#5
rodl2005 said:
It's GAS! You'll likely want the "new" tone, then miss the WA tone, dont sell the WA!
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Yeah, you may be right. Maybe I'm just never satisfied.

RickenBoogie said:
GAS is a terrible thing, and the Walkabout is one of the most beloved amps around. Don't do anything you'll live to regret.
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Ok, that's two for "don't sell the WA" - it'd be crazy, right? I see you guys are trying to talk some sense into me, so I won't do anything irrational or impulsive. Sticking with the WA for now. I was thinking that my Schecter just didn't get along well with the WA for some reason, and so was looking to change basses, not amps. But that bass really came to life through the BA-115. Same thing when I played it through another friend's Hartke LH-1000/HyDrive 410. Maybe it's just GAS, like you say.

B-Bake said:
Hear it with the band first. If possible... I know that's cliché But whenever I took my alone sound to the band... It was always a bad fit. Struggles for volume, not cutting, idk
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Anytime I set eq at home, it immediately goes out the window once I take it into a band setting. And that may be a factor in what I heard last night- I was playing quietly with a drummer and guitarist who know how to play at a reasonable volume. In the band, the drummer hits harder and I have to compete with two guitarists who are always too loud. The Ampeg seemed louder to me than the Mesa usually does but perhaps that is the reason. In band rehearsal, I usually have the Walkabout and a 1x12 so, it can be difficult to hear myself. I'll be adding a matching 1x12 soon- that should help but, I've been toying with the idea of a higher wattage head, in the 500-800w range.
 
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#6
Willy B said:
At a friend's house last night, I plugged my Schecter Hellraiser Extreme-4 into his ~15 year-old Ampeg BA-115. I thought it was the best that particular bass has ever sounded- way better than through my current head, a Mesa Walkabout which, I have paired with various cabs, currently a Hathor 1203. Not quite sure how to explain this- maybe no explanation is needed and I should just let my ears guide me.
Now I am trying to figure out where to go from here. I want that tone but, I don't think the combo would cut it for the band I'm in. Perhaps I should replace the WA with an Ampeg head?
Click to expand...

I have a similar situation, I've been using a Mesa Prodigy or a Hartke 5500 for my gig rig, but the bandleader thinks my Ampeg BA-115 combo sounds better than any of my other gear. He may be full of beans, but the BA-115 DOES sound very good to my ear, too. I'm starting to think in terms of Ampeg power.
 
#7
eldorado2001 said:
I have a similar situation, I've been using a Mesa Prodigy or a Hartke 5500 for my gig rig, but the bandleader thinks my Ampeg BA-115 combo sounds better than any of my other gear. He may be full of beans, but the BA-115 DOES sound very good to my ear, too. I'm starting to think in terms of Ampeg power.
Click to expand...

Yeah that sounds absurd, I couldn't believe my ears either. The BA-115 is great at what it does though. It has made me Ampeg-curious I guess you could say. I don't have any experience with their heads, however.
 
#8
In my experience, most guitar players(at least middle aged, like myself) almost always love Ampeg. I think it's just what they are accustomed to. No matter what amp I play through, seems like their favorite is almost always my little Ampeg B-100R combo. They also probably favor it because They can overpower me, volume-wise. They don't like no stinking bass stepping on their toes.
 
#9
I sure ain't saying the Ampeg sound isn't great- heck, I've got me some and love it! I'm also not saying don't grab it/ another Ampeg. I'm just saying don't sell the WA.....I did and I regretted it , and bought another.

Sure the WA sounds great with a Passive P bass or Jazz and I think it sounds best like this, again I'm not saying that active basses can't sound great thru it either. Just my fave is passive P & Js thru it.
Just try experimenting. Try some friends basses if that's possible. Try them thru the WA and thru the Ampeg. Try the Ampeg with yr band if possible. As stated above, tones from when playing quietly solo are VERY different to what sounds good in a band setting.
 
#11
rodl2005 said:
I sure ain't saying the Ampeg sound isn't great- heck, I've got me some and love it! I'm also not saying don't grab it/ another Ampeg. I'm just saying don't sell the WA.....I did and I regretted it , and bought another.

Sure the WA sounds great with a Passive P bass or Jazz and I think it sounds best like this, again I'm not saying that active basses can't sound great thru it either. Just my fave is passive P & Js thru it.
Just try experimenting. Try some friends basses if that's possible. Try them thru the WA and thru the Ampeg. Try the Ampeg with yr band if possible. As stated above, tones from when playing quietly solo are VERY different to what sounds good in a band setting.
Click to expand...

I'm going to stick with the WA for the time being. Once I'm in a position to buy a second head, I'll try something else- not going to sell the WA unless something else supplants it. I assumed that passive Ps and Js are the best match for the WA which, is why I've considered picking up one of those instead of trying to find a head that suits the Schecter.

Also, maybe I wasn't clear in the OP but, when I played through the Ampeg, it was with drums and guitar, not just solo. It would be nice to try the BA-115 at a band rehearsal though, just for comparison.

Marial said:
Have you played your bass through the BA115 in multiple rooms or just the one? The space you're in can really make a difference.
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Just the one- good point. I think a lot of the trouble I have with my current rig is the room my band rehearses in and the fact that we're way louder than we need to be.
 
#12
Willy B said:
Just the one- good point. I think a lot of the trouble I have with my current rig is the room my band rehearses in and the fact that we're way louder than we need to be.
Click to expand...

I was just talking with my brother about this. I tested out an Aguilar combo a number of years ago at Bass Northwest and it sounded phenomenal at the shop, but when I brought it home and had it at the studio is was all kinds of wrong for what I was going for and I promptly returned it. In talking with one of the (now former) owners of the shop, their space has some sonic properties that definitely benefit the sounds of their wares.
 
#13
Yes the WA does struggle with a single 12" in a big room. ..even if not that loud. Give the WA more speakers and it kills. Has a very adjustable EQ too.
That said. There is an undeniable richness to the Ampeg sound. I'm sure you'd get most of that with yr same high quality speaker cabs and an Ampeg head rather than combo. Gives you a lot more options. Either the PF range or the lovely V4b
 
#15
I remember when I first plugged into a WA combo at GC with a Stingray Roasted maple/ash body, slapped those strings and thought HOLY EFFIN' SHIZ this thing sounds great! Ive never felt that way about Ampeg. Everytime after that Id plug into a WA and just felt that it sounded "right" That is truly a magical little head. Dont sell, unless its to me.
 

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