Stoner/Doom Bassists Thread, Part 90: Maxed Out

[mbelue]

@Batsquatch
As others have stated the gk 800rb is a fantastic SS amp. They can use 3 8ohm cabs at once for maximum doom. 1 on it's 100w output and 2 in its 300w output.

It's little brother 400rb is a great option too. 200w into 2 8ohm cabs.
As long as it is the original series not the later 400rb-ii or later. Their preamp is different and not as friendly IMO with very hot inputs. The pad function neuters the tone in my experience. Same goes for the 700rb and 1001rb. Not my cup of tea.

Peavey Firebass 700 can be found super cheap and are reliable and sound fine. Not incredible but they take pedals well and are good down to 2 ohms. That's 4 8ohm cabs if you're keeping count.

Matter of fact lots of Peavey amps do the 2 ohm thing. The Mark series is a great example. They go cheap too. Some of the early ones are lower wattage output but sound great driven hard.

If it sounds like I keep harping on number of cabinets sorry but I didn't catch what cabinets you'd be using.

 

[deathness]

I like fuzz so plenty of clean is good. LH amps lack mids imo. I had the lh1000

Yeah the fender tone stack is a deal breaker for some. Hard to squeeze more mids out of it if what is there at flat (2-10-2) isn't enough for you. The plus side of those amps is a lot of girthy power for cheap.

 

[Batsquatch]

@Batsquatch
As others have stated the gk 800rb is a fantastic SS amp. They can use 3 8ohm cabs at once for maximum doom. 1 on it's 100w output and 2 in its 300w output. Old ampeg 810 he. Beat to hell but still sounds great

It's little brother 400rb is a great option too. 200w into 2 8ohm cabs.
As long as it is the original series not the later 400rb-ii or later. Their preamp is different and not as friendly IMO with very hot inputs. The pad function neuters the tone in my experience. Same goes for the 700rb and 1001rb. Not my cup of tea.

Peavey Firebass 700 can be found super cheap and are reliable and sound fine. Not incredible but they take pedals well and are good down to 2 ohms. That's 4 8ohm cabs if you're keeping count.

Matter of fact lots of Peavey amps do the 2 ohm thing. The Mark series is a great example. They go cheap too. Some of the early ones are lower wattage output but sound great driven hard.

If it sounds like I keep harping on number of cabinets sorry but I didn't catch what cabinets you'd be using.

ampeg 810 he. Beat to hell but sounds great.

 

[PaulWeapon]

What about a tone hammer 500? Anyone jammed one?

Picked one up recently but haven't done anything with it yet. I also don't care for its overdrive, but I use pedals for that anyway.

I wish I had a chance/reason to crank it...

 

[Batsquatch]

After a Laney pro tube 100 plus re-rubbed, reverend V, and a poopie load of pedals this is still in range. I’ll call the store and see what exactly “fair condition” means. 300 watts tho. Is this gonna be loud enough thru an 810?[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[cornfarmer]

Good price. 300w is plenty with the right cab.

I brought home a Peavey Classic 400 today and it's completely overkill, but I like it.

 

[br1qbat]

Hey, what are some affordable ss amps y’all are playing thru? I’m a guitarist back on bass and I sold all my stuff. Drums and Mesa half stack are the other volume dealers

Just got a gk 800rb. I'm not in love with it. Plenty dig it, it's a classic. I'm gonna flip it for what i paid for it. This one is in excellent shape, and in a gator rack box.

I'm gonna stick with my ol' trusty trace elliot rah300-gp12. Those are loud and cheap on the used market for what was a high end SS amp 20-30 years ago. They are LOUD for the watts, clean, flexible due to the graphic eq and sound boss with pedals.

 

[Batsquatch]

Just got a gk 800rb. I'm not in love with it. Plenty dig it, it's a classic. I'm gonna flip it for what i paid for it. This one is in excellent shape, and in a gator rack box.

I'm gonna stick with my ol' trusty trace elliot rah300-gp12. Those are loud and cheap on the used market for what was a high end SS amp 20-30 years ago. They are LOUD for the watts, clean, flexible due to the graphic eq and sound boss with pedals.

But what sucked about it?

 

[Novarocker]

But what sucked about it?

My first guess is the baked in tone. Most common reason I hear people not in love with GK or Ampeg stuff is not liking the bake. I like em myself, I like others more though IME.

I love the great pushed sounds you can get from the older Peaveys and through an 810, you should have no problem being loud enough with even 200w.

I found it too muffled, but plenty of power.

New Fu Manchu is out, and bad ass.

I'm loving their last couple albums.

 

[Batsquatch]

I found a peavey alpha bass for an insanely low price. I called the store and they say it’s totally functional. It’s like 160 watts and that may not doom. Anyone played one?

 

[kleinenenten]

My GK may have a slight baked in tone, but I feel it’s incredibly flexible. I couldn’t imagine someone not being able to find their tone. Maybe I’m biased, though. Love my GK!

 

[cornfarmer]

I found a peavey alpha bass for an insanely low price. I called the store and they say it’s totally functional. It’s like 160 watts and that may not doom. Anyone played one?

That's a tube amp right? Probably underrated like Peavey tends to do. I would try it first if you can. Looks good on paper though.

 

[mlove]

GK RB800 classic workhorse. sounds great

+1 on GK. Never owned anything by them but played a couple. If i was on a "more" limited budget I wouldn't hesitate to rock a GK RB head.

 

[br1qbat]

But what sucked about it?

Didn't suck at all! I just love my trace to death.

 

[dukeorock]

Snagged this Sunn Coliseum 300 at a pawnshop yesterday...really liking it so far

 

[cornfarmer]

^ How is the tone stack/EQ on that? I've only had a Sunn Sorado and the Beta Bass, which are completely different animals. The Beta's EQ had to really be cranked to get any low end out of it.

In other news, I started tearing down the 400 to recover the case, that rat fur had to go. Also I'm getting rid of the fan and the stupid piece of wood they put in the front grill so I can show off all the tube-ness.

 

[Batsquatch]

I’m thinking about playing guitar thru that alpha bass I have coming to me thru ampeg 810 and Laney aor protube 100/ Splawn 412 with v30’s and gubners. Should be loud as shag. Looking to keep low end without bass player. On the other hand if I play bass thru same set up am I risking effing up my 412 cab? That would suck

 

[cornfarmer]

I think playing a bass through a guitar cab/setup is going to either suck, or be passable at best.

 

[eyeballkid]

The 412 WILL SUFFER if it's a guitar cab.

 

[br1qbat]

The 412 WILL SUFFER if it's a guitar cab.

Agreed. I have a 4x12, but its a bass cab. Id run the 8x10 only. A geetar 4x12 may blow a speaker with bass especially at doomalicious volumes.