Hey there guys! 1st post after finding this great site! Uncovered my old amp in the basement yesterday...It's a ROAD amp with 1-18 in it. Made by Road Electronics FT. Scott Kansas. Has anyone heard of this company or these amps? Also, I haven't kept up with gear, way-back-when an 18 inch speaker was this bass player's dream. Now I see speaker cabs filled with 10s (did I even see 5s?). Would you guys recommend that I go amp and cabinet hunting for best sound? Playing 75 Rick, 73 F Jazz, 77 fretless P. Thanks, and glad to join the group! BigBud
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ROAD 1-18 amp
- Thread starter BigBud
- Start date
Welcome to TalkBass BigBud. There doesn't seem to be much info around on Road Amps.
The top few items in this list have a bit of info:
http://www.google.com/search?source...DMUS_enUS221US222&q=Road+Electronics+Bud+Ross
As far as recommending an amp and cabinet, a little more info from you would really help us:
How does your current Road combo sound? (what dont you like about it)
What will you be using your bass rig for? (loud heavy metal band, low volume solo practicing, etcetera)
Whats your bass tone preference? (clean-modern type, vintage sounding fuzz-bass, possibly something in between, etcetera)
What bass are you using?
And finally whats your budget and location?
The top few items in this list have a bit of info:
http://www.google.com/search?source...DMUS_enUS221US222&q=Road+Electronics+Bud+Ross
As far as recommending an amp and cabinet, a little more info from you would really help us:
How does your current Road combo sound? (what dont you like about it)
What will you be using your bass rig for? (loud heavy metal band, low volume solo practicing, etcetera)
Whats your bass tone preference? (clean-modern type, vintage sounding fuzz-bass, possibly something in between, etcetera)
What bass are you using?
And finally whats your budget and location?
Anderbass, Thanks for the reply. The Road sounds fine, it's just that it and it's technology are ancient and I seldom get out of the basement to hear anything to compare it to. Again, I imagine I am missing some sweet sounds by running only 1-18. Wrong?
Playing on a 75 4001 Rick or 73 Fender Jazz. If I can find anyone out here in the sticks to jam with, South of Kansas City, I'll probubly be playing classic rock, country, maybe a small measure of jazz. Budget is moderate, but I can save up for most anything I might need. Trade etc.
Sound? Don't know....combination of what you mentioned I would guess. Clear distinct notes but with a growl when wanted. Gonna bide my time practicing here in the basement then break out this coming year when I give up a job that drains me daily (Both are New Years resolutions). Can't see putting the music off any longer......
Thanks, Bud
Playing on a 75 4001 Rick or 73 Fender Jazz. If I can find anyone out here in the sticks to jam with, South of Kansas City, I'll probubly be playing classic rock, country, maybe a small measure of jazz. Budget is moderate, but I can save up for most anything I might need. Trade etc.
Sound? Don't know....combination of what you mentioned I would guess. Clear distinct notes but with a growl when wanted. Gonna bide my time practicing here in the basement then break out this coming year when I give up a job that drains me daily (Both are New Years resolutions). Can't see putting the music off any longer......
Thanks, Bud
- Mar 9, 2005
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Glad to have you join the club. There's alot of us old farts, coming out again, after the kids have left the nest, with a longing to play music again. I'm one also. Good luck!! This site will help you drain your wallet on getting THE tone thats in your head, thats a fact. Choose wisely grasshopper.
I am an old stinky fart.
I remember the Road amps from way back when(mid 70's maybe?). I played my Alembic through one of them and remembering them sounding great. I didn't actually own one, but was messing around with them in the store. But, that was then. There were not many bass amps to choose from like today. I am curious as to how they would go against todays amps. There was a music store here in New Orleans that sold Road exclusively. There were lots of them running around down here.
I remember the Road amps from way back when(mid 70's maybe?). I played my Alembic through one of them and remembering them sounding great. I didn't actually own one, but was messing around with them in the store. But, that was then. There were not many bass amps to choose from like today. I am curious as to how they would go against todays amps. There was a music store here in New Orleans that sold Road exclusively. There were lots of them running around down here.
I love Road amps and cabinets. built to survive an atomic blast ! mine sound great but I also use tens as well
I'm borderline old fart the more deaf I get the more volume I need heh heh. the first pic has a Yorkville 400b runing the tens and Road 440 running 2 of th 18s
the second pic is what I'm using now a Crown 1200 power amp with an Alembic F-1X preamp
I'm borderline old fart the more deaf I get the more volume I need heh heh. the first pic has a Yorkville 400b runing the tens and Road 440 running 2 of th 18s
the second pic is what I'm using now a Crown 1200 power amp with an Alembic F-1X preamp
Attachments
The 18s in the Road cabinets were EV SROs.Back in the 70s I went to see some friends of mine playing in a small bar and the bass player,Larry Darnell, had a Road amp with one of the 18 cabinets and an old P bass.It was shaking the place and I remember thinking that it was the first time I'd heard an 18 inch speaker sound that good that wasn't in a folded horn cabinet.I thought they were pretty cool.
Does the combo allow for an extension cab? If it does, what the power rating and impediance that it will support? If you are looking to get a fuller or quicker sound, a second cab may be a way to go.
I myself am a BIG fan of 18s, but I generally don't care for them by themselves. So I like a smaller size of speaker to go with them to add extra punch. I currently run a 4x10 with my 18 and I am very, very happy. You could look at running a 2x10, a 4x10, a 1x12, or a 2x12 as a second cab (if the amp allows it. These days, cabs come in all kinds of sizes, 5", 8", 10", 12", 15", 18" and more!
Good luck!
I myself am a BIG fan of 18s, but I generally don't care for them by themselves. So I like a smaller size of speaker to go with them to add extra punch. I currently run a 4x10 with my 18 and I am very, very happy. You could look at running a 2x10, a 4x10, a 1x12, or a 2x12 as a second cab (if the amp allows it. These days, cabs come in all kinds of sizes, 5", 8", 10", 12", 15", 18" and more!
Good luck!
I had a rig similar to the one in Lindooms pic except I had 2- 412 Road cabs with my SVT 810 on top powered by a mid 70's SVT head.Absolutely killer sound!! These things seemed to have all disappeared off the face of the earth.You're right about them being tough! I dug up my receipt for them, 4-28-78,and I used them relentlessly until I believe it was 84 when I picked up the new Peavey Max with the 1810 tops and 118 subs,2 of them,It was SICK! Those Road cabs still looked great when I sold them to someone else.Do you remember them being used on American Bandstand when the bands lip synched? BTW,my SVT receipt was with it also, $860 out the door! My how things have changed!
i love my road 440 head more than other i have owned.
I play 3-5 nights a week all over the usa, and the head has yet to let me down.
i use mine with a 410 and 115.
I play 3-5 nights a week all over the usa, and the head has yet to let me down.
i use mine with a 410 and 115.
That line-out jack is a preamp level output (not speaker level). Its a much lower-level signal that's used to input a secondary poweramp that would then power an extension cabinet. It could also be used to connect to the venues PA system or a recorder.
Doug Parent
Supporting Member
Yep, the Road single 18 I had was loaded with an EVM18 series II 200 watt driver. The usable freq range on the driver was supposedly good up to 4khz, and I recall it was a very punchy good sounding cabinet that was very well built. Toss a 1-12 cab on top of your choice and rock out.
I gave away a Road 4x12 to the guitarist in my last full time band.
I had an awesome 4x12, and the Road was OK, but it was just OK and it was ungainly heavy. The band split up a few months later. I should have given him my 2x12 and kept the 4x12.
Oh well.
I had an awesome 4x12, and the Road was OK, but it was just OK and it was ungainly heavy. The band split up a few months later. I should have given him my 2x12 and kept the 4x12.
Oh well.
Just bought a Road 1-18 Bass combo amp. Yea, my wife really loved helping me get it into the back seat of our Ford Focus! I plan on setting up a blog/ website for the amp since there isn't much information on the net. PM me with any information you may have.
i had a Road head with a 18/210 cab. way too big for me and it felt underpowered for what it was.
I bet in the 70's that rig would have been 'tha she-yit' for that big SS sound, but I traded it for my acoustic guitar. Easily the best trade I've ever made.
I bet in the 70's that rig would have been 'tha she-yit' for that big SS sound, but I traded it for my acoustic guitar. Easily the best trade I've ever made.
