For that purpose wouldn't you want an effects return so you have the option of bypassing the onboard preamp?
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Stoner/Doom Bassists Thread, Part 90: Maxed Out
- Thread starter Korladis
- Start date
For that purpose wouldn't you want an effects return so you have the option of bypassing the onboard preamp?
@Andsvara, I have a pretty damn good experience with toneprint if that amp has it. Their amps sounded decent the few times I've tried one at a store. I would be wary of the wattage, they've been known to mislead. Not saying these amps are, but their amps are something I'd always want to try first before buying, especially for SPL.
I believe it's Solid State (SS) not steady state. I could be way wrong. Just in case it confuses anyone. Also, Class D is not digital power just in case you've read that myth. Hybrid means the preamp and power amp likely have different classes of power. Frequently I see amps with a tube preamp and SS power amp (most often class AB or D).
What the other guys said is great advice, especially for at home jamming. The benefit of the sansamp (or many preamps) too, is that it has a DI, so if/when you gig or record, you have a back up in case your amp dies on ya.
Darkglass seems to be great stuff, versatile from what I've heard.
I believe it's Solid State (SS) not steady state. I could be way wrong. Just in case it confuses anyone. Also, Class D is not digital power just in case you've read that myth. Hybrid means the preamp and power amp likely have different classes of power. Frequently I see amps with a tube preamp and SS power amp (most often class AB or D).
What the other guys said is great advice, especially for at home jamming. The benefit of the sansamp (or many preamps) too, is that it has a DI, so if/when you gig or record, you have a back up in case your amp dies on ya.
Darkglass seems to be great stuff, versatile from what I've heard.
Random question - a few years ago, I remember hearing about a then-new crossover distortion that seemed to be really cool. It split the signal into hi/lo channels, allowing you to distort each as you preferred, then combine them in the end. Seemed really cool at the time. Is it still around? Anybody know what happened? I can't for the life of me remember the name, but the pedal was red and pretty large to accommodate all the knobs. Not sure why I'm thinking of it now, but now I won't be able to stop thinking about it until I figure it out...
That's it! Seems like the company no longer exists? None of their website links work, and their FB page hasn't been updated in years. Odd - I remember it was highly regarded, at least when I was following it. Strange. Still sounds good in the videos I've seen.
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Thanks for weighing in-So (pardon my ignorance here)-But what exactly is the difference between Solid State and Steady state???…
I thought initially that the Ampeg SVT 1000 was similar to a Mesa Subway in that it was a non-tube amp…After reading that it was a hybrid that kind of confused me…
There is also the Ampeg PR-800 that is listed as a Solid State (maybe that’s what I’m after???)…
My knowledge of amps/cabs/ohms is still pretty insufficient…
For context on what I’m looking for…
I want at least 500 Watts (preferably more, but that’s the minimum Wattage I’m after)
I really dug the sound of the Ampeg I tried (which I’m pretty sure was the 1000 I referenced above)…
I know they are known for their tube amps, but I’m totally fine using a non-tube amp that sounds similar or generates a similar sound…
From what I’ve read on tube amps (which is admittedly not much)-They sound great, but they are turbo heavy and potentially need more repair (or they are more “fragile”) so I’d actually prefer a non-tube amp (sorry I keep using non-tube as a term-Not knowing the difference between steady state and solid state I’m trying to use something to specify I’m not after a tube amp)…
As much as I love a “vintage” bass sound and would think it would come in handy in a Doom/Stoner Metal setting, it’s not a requirement especially since it’s my understanding that a pedal can do produce a myriad of sounds before it ever hits the amp…
I’m also more concerned with overall quality and reliability…
On things like cars, electronics, etc-I would rather have something that works and I know I can count on/rely on over something that is potentially a bit “cooler” to look at, but constantly breaks down or seems unreliable (it’s one of the reasons I bought a Toyota for my last automobile over a Dodge Challenger…
I really wanted a Challenger bc that car is freaking cool looking, but I have it in my mind that Dodge as a brand are typically less reliable than Toyota of Honda (it also snows a lot where I live so I chose an SUV over a sports car anyway…Admittedly I may have some cognitive bias here bc at one point in my early 20s I drove a Chrysler that had some cool features, but ultimately it had a ton of mechanical issues so I have it in my mind that Japanese cars are typically more reliable than American cars…That may or may not be the case especially as I think American cars had to improve their overall quality to remain competitive…
Please don’t misunderstand this “assumption” too much-I’m aware that all electronics and machines are susceptible to breaking down or needing repair regardless of the brand…
Some issues are due to unreliable parts, poor design, or just general operations management issues (no supply chain/factory is perfect and even really good ones can still make lemons whether you’re talking about amps, cars, or smartphones)…
So (pardon the economic digression)-I’m looking for something that checks the box of being reliable and pretty high quality and is somewhat reasonably priced (I would prefer to stay under $1200 or $1000 for the head)…It doesn’t necessarily need to be built like a tank (that would be my first choice), but I would prefer something that’s a bit more durable…
I had been looking at Orange for a while, but I feel like Ampeg, Mesa, or even the Darkglass is probably more my speed (or more in line with what I want out of an amp head)…
Would be open to addition suggestions bc I definitely haven’t decided what I want in that department…
Thanks! \m/
Edit: I found this article which gave me some clarity…From re-reading this article (it had been several months since I last read it), I definitely want a Solid State: Solid State Amps vs Tube Amps for Bass (Ultimate Guide) - Tone Topics - Dedicated guitar site with everything guitar gear, how-to guides, tutorials, reviews for all guitar players.
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From what I understand steady state is referring to when a circuit is in equilibrium. Solid state refers to the parts of a circuit, which would be different from a tube powered circuit. So really they aren't comparable in the way that tube compares to solid state. From what I understand both a tube powered circuit and a solid state circuit can be in "steady state". If I'm wrong someone please correct me as I am a super layman when it comes to electronics.
No opinions as far as everything else goes lol but I hoped that helped.
For what it’s worth, I have owned a lot of tube and solid state amps. The talk about reliability and maintenance with tube heads is extremely overblown. I have been using my Ampeg V4B reissue for around 8 or 9 years and haven’t had to touch a thing. I haven’t had problems with any other tube heads either. I have toured around the country, mostly in hardcore bands, and the only problem that I have had with any amp was breaking the plastic input jack on a GK head and that fix cost a few dollars. I feel like if you are reasonably careful with your gear and don’t do anything stupid most gear will work just fine for a really long time.
Hear hear. I own mostly 70's tube amps, and the things I do to them at home make me surprised they haven't crapped out in any way yet. I don't take them outside mainly because they're old, but every so often I can't help myself
I lust for those V4B reissues, they sound more alive in the mids than older ones IMO
I either need a new tech or need to figure out what I'm doing wrong. I've blown the power tubes on two V4's, a Sunn 300T, and a Bassman 300 Pro. I also had a wire coming off of the power tubes melt in a Mesa 400 (non-pro).
A guitarist I'm playing with has a steamboat (a local boutique amp company here in Houston). Dude would leave his amp on for hours nearly every day and has had that amp for 5 years or so and only just now blew a power tube. As far as I can tell whether or not you'll have tube amp problems is a crapshoot in a lot of cases. @thombo do you make sure your tubes are biased relatively often?
@ConfoundedBridg, I'd bias about once a month and never had too much drift in any of the amps, know what I'm doing w/ ohm matching, and made sure the impedance of the cabs aligns with what was actually in the cab. I am also an avid user of high quality surge protectors. I am just an unlucky person 
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Unlucky indeed. I'll use the powers vested in me by my Irish heritage to telepathically send you some luck because that's rough.@ConfoundedBridg, I'd bias about once a month and never had too much drift in any of the amps, know what I'm doing w/ ohm matching, and made sure the impedance of the cabs aligns with what was actually in the cab. I am also an avid user of high quality surge protectors. I am just an unlucky person
Loved my GK. The cabs are freaking solid too. Still have one of their 4x12s. I'll add Quilter here too. Has some of its own character, but if you just want small light huge power pedalbplatform, hard to go wrong.
Also, new Practice space imminent!! A local place has finally had an opening for a small but awesomely secure, etc room for not much dough. Gonna sign a lease very very soon.
Ha!!! As a bearded, freckled, blue-eyed, SPF 100 wearing guy w/ Mc at the beginning of both parent's last names, whose only genetic predisposition is to get yoked up and plow fields, you'd think I'd have more than enough luck to go around. Honestly though, looking at Irish history, there isn't a whole lot of actual luck... Catholic imperialism, feudalism, English imperialism, famines, civil war... Yeah, I'm done with tube amps, ha!
Tube vs SS, I've had both. I never owned a tube amp over 100w mind you... But I generally want clean and loud [and let pedals cover the dirt] so its SS all day for me. Unless its 300w+, a tube amp can't put out enough clean low end for my tastes.
The other is just weight and/or ease of moving around SS vs tube amps. Big Iron tube amps 100w-300w+ gonna be heavy and comparatively large. The Quilter is 800w and tiny.
I found the Quilter felt tubey in its response if that makes sense. And the amount of raw clean low end is a huge plus. I've used it as my only amp too so I can say it handles pedals extremely nicely.
Of course, my band has transitioned from trio to a bass/drums duo, so I'm an outlier/weirdo needing to fill a lot of sonic real estate. For that situation, there's no greater joy than running a biamp set up.
So again the weight thing isn't as big a deal [as I'm carting around 2 4x12s regardless] but I love my Peavy Standards or Marshall Mosfet [into an ancient Peavey 4x12] as well as a Mountainking and Superfuzz to handle the dirt side. The Quilter and GK412 is all boom in the room, plus adding a little clarity to the wall of fuzz.
That said I only got rid of my Marshall Superbass clone because I didn't think I would be biamping.... and I do miss it, even if the Peaveys overdrive very similarly into Lemmy territory. Imo, etc. I have and would've glady gigged it with no worries about reliability.
Obligatory rig pic: [other peavey not in the pic, but identical]
The other is just weight and/or ease of moving around SS vs tube amps. Big Iron tube amps 100w-300w+ gonna be heavy and comparatively large. The Quilter is 800w and tiny.
I found the Quilter felt tubey in its response if that makes sense. And the amount of raw clean low end is a huge plus. I've used it as my only amp too so I can say it handles pedals extremely nicely.
Of course, my band has transitioned from trio to a bass/drums duo, so I'm an outlier/weirdo needing to fill a lot of sonic real estate. For that situation, there's no greater joy than running a biamp set up.
So again the weight thing isn't as big a deal [as I'm carting around 2 4x12s regardless] but I love my Peavy Standards or Marshall Mosfet [into an ancient Peavey 4x12] as well as a Mountainking and Superfuzz to handle the dirt side. The Quilter and GK412 is all boom in the room, plus adding a little clarity to the wall of fuzz.
That said I only got rid of my Marshall Superbass clone because I didn't think I would be biamping.... and I do miss it, even if the Peaveys overdrive very similarly into Lemmy territory. Imo, etc. I have and would've glady gigged it with no worries about reliability.
Obligatory rig pic: [other peavey not in the pic, but identical]
Pasty white Irish FTW. Hell, my name is Patrick and I too don't tan, AND I have leprechaun porkchop sideburns to boot.
Yeah a weird stereotype for sure all that considered lol
