Stoner/Doom Bassists Thread, Part 90: Maxed Out

[scabpicker]

I still smoke cigarettes, but I think I'm going to have another go at quitting soon.

I haven't smoked in our actual practice room for around 20 years or so, though. I made a trip to Vegas last summer, and when people saw me smoking outside they'd often remind me that I could go into the casino and smoke in the air conditioning. No thanks, smoking inside is weird to me now. And yeah, it's weird that it used to be normal. My first job at a grocery store as a kid included emptying the ash trays that were at the end of each aisle - and people still put their butts out on the floor.

 

[Andsvara]

I'd like to get a new Bass head for my Alternative Rock and Stoner/Doom projects. I'm not too happy with my Darkglass Microtubes 500 v2. It's a fine amp, but I only seem to use the clean channel with pedals and ignore the drive channels (too fizzy to my ears). I'm interested in two amp heads and would love to hear your (the stoner family) opinions!

- Ampeg PF-800: Only clean as well and I'd make it dirty with my Russian Muff and the Rattler (Rat with clean blend). But I really like that vintage, full Ampeg Sound.

- Orange OB1-500: I like the blend between the clean channel and the drive channel. There are some great videos online, however, I also read some concerns about the drive being too fuzzy and the clean channel not being loud enough.

I play mostly P-Basses with Geezer-PUs from E- to C-Standard, flats and rounds. My main cab is an Ampeg SVT-HE 4x10 (500 W), sometimes I add a cheap Harley Benton 1x15 (250 W).

 

[bobomatic]

I'd like to get a new Bass head for my Alternative Rock and Stoner/Doom projects. I'm not too happy with my Darkglass Microtubes 500 v2. It's a fine amp, but I only seem to use the clean channel with pedals and ignore the drive channels (too fizzy to my ears). I'm interested in two amp heads and would love to hear your (the stoner family) opinions!

- Ampeg PF-800: Only clean as well and I'd make it dirty with my Russian Muff and the Rattler (Rat with clean blend). But I really like that vintage, full Ampeg Sound.

- Orange OB1-500: I like the blend between the clean channel and the drive channel. There are some great videos online, however, I also read some concerns about the drive being too fuzzy and the clean channel not being loud enough.

I play mostly P-Basses with Geezer-PUs from E- to C-Standard, flats and rounds. My main cab is an Ampeg SVT-HE 4x10 (500 W), sometimes I add a cheap Harley Benton 1x15 (250 W).

Probably a different direction than you were thinking about but I went preamp/power amp. I came to the realization that I got the majority of my sound came from my board anyway… so why not go for clean power? I know skippy damn well I wasn’t getting 1550w for a little over $400 from a conventional bass head…

 

[cornfarmer]

- Ampeg PF-800: Only clean as well and I'd make it dirty with my Russian Muff and the Rattler (Rat with clean blend). But I really like that vintage, full Ampeg Sound.

Does not cOmpUtE.....will an Ampeg PF do 'vintage, full Ampeg Sound'? Having played a Micro VR, a PF-350, a standard Classic SVT-CL and my own early '70s V-4B within the same general time frame, I'd say NO.

It might get close enough for you, and seeing how you're in the EU I know the choices are limited and exorbitantly expensive at times. If you want a high powered class D head and can get one, I thought the Quilter Bass Block 800 mopped the floor with any of the Ampeg PF stuff. It does loud and it has the heft of an old led sled. The PF's sound anemic in comparison.

Otherwise I'd just try to find a Peavey or similar solid state head with the most watts possbile.

 

[Andsvara]

I once owned an Ampeg PF-350. To my ears it had a vintage voicing compared to the Darkglass.
Peavey can be difficult in Europe i guess.

 

[davedamage]

I would think that almost anything is going to sound more vintage than the Darkglass stuff, but my experience has only been with the pedals and plug ins. If those are your two main choices, do you have anywhere you can test drive them? Also, a more efficient cab may be the answer. Back when I bought my full stack, I a/b'd the SVT hlf-410 and he-410 and they were night and day different. I ended up going with the hlf and it is a beast. I would love some lighter cabs, but I've never heard a 410 with the massive sound of the hlf.

 

[kleinenenten]

No idea about availability in Europe, but I am an unabashed GK fan. I also get my dirt from pedals. But GK rates their gear conservatively, so it sounds like it's louder than other amps. They're also tanks, and have great, flexible EQs. The 700RB-II is my favorite amp ever (at least so far...), and I don't expect that to change in the near future. For reference, I could get the Darkglass Microtubes Amp to sound mostly like a GK, but the GK still won out. The fizz of the Darkglass eventually got me. (Not the amp - I was demoing that in a store. But the pedals eventually stopped doing it for me.)

 

[Will_White]

Probably a different direction than you were thinking about but I went preamp/power amp. I came to the realization that I got the majority of my sound came from my board anyway… so why not go for clean power? I know skippy damn well I wasn’t getting 1550w for a little over $400 from a conventional bass head…

What power amp are you using?

 

[bobomatic]

What power amp are you using?

Crown XLS1502. Pretty damn sweet. 8.6 lbs and fits in the dusty side of a double gig bag. Better power to weight ratio than the space shuttle.

 

[NordicBard]

I run a MATAMP GT120 Preamp clone into a Bergantino IP310 (Speaker can with power amp built in). Could not ask for more - Been shuffling pedals lately, but finally found my missing piece (A phaser).

Still need to find a simple comp/limiter as I change from fingers to pick 'alot' and would like to keep the volume difference at a minimum.

 

[br1qbat]

I'd like to get a new Bass head for my Alternative Rock and Stoner/Doom projects. I'm not too happy with my Darkglass Microtubes 500 v2. It's a fine amp, but I only seem to use the clean channel with pedals and ignore the drive channels (too fizzy to my ears). I'm interested in two amp heads and would love to hear your (the stoner family) opinions!

- Ampeg PF-800: Only clean as well and I'd make it dirty with my Russian Muff and the Rattler (Rat with clean blend). But I really like that vintage, full Ampeg Sound.

- Orange OB1-500: I like the blend between the clean channel and the drive channel. There are some great videos online, however, I also read some concerns about the drive being too fuzzy and the clean channel not being loud enough.

I play mostly P-Basses with Geezer-PUs from E- to C-Standard, flats and rounds. My main cab is an Ampeg SVT-HE 4x10 (500 W), sometimes I add a cheap Harley Benton 1x15 (250 W).

Quilter. Small, but loud af, simple, and super pedal friendly.

 

[YawningJorin]

hope you're all well <3

spring is coming, I'm so happy

 

[Novarocker]

What's kickin peeps? Been crazy busy with life stuffs, but been getting bit more by the creative bug. Stoked for the next 6 months.

Funny to hear all the talk about smoking/drinking etc. I've cut back significantly myself recently as well. Even prefer the NA more often now. Can't believe how good many of em taste and they don't feel as heavy as pop either. Got some funny stories about cigs too, glad I kicked that and only bum one here and there every once in a great while. Not sure why I still do. Probably impulse to be frank, I have horrible impulse control...

BTW the latest Idiotbox mystery drop is wicked. It's so up my alley. Very HM-2/3-esque IMO, granted I'm pretty new to HM sounds. @scabpicker, you end up with this one?

@NordicBard that's awesome, you build it? Always wanted to try a Matamp or old Orange.

 

[bobomatic]

What's kickin peeps? Been crazy busy with life stuffs, but been getting bit more by the creative bug. Stoked for the next 6 months.

Funny to hear all the talk about smoking/drinking etc. I've cut back significantly myself recently as well. Even prefer the NA more often now. Can't believe how good many of em taste and they don't feel as heavy as pop either. Got some funny stories about cigs too, glad I kicked that and only bum one here and there every once in a great while. Not sure why I still do. Probably impulse to be frank, I have horrible impulse control...

BTW the latest Idiotbox mystery drop is wicked. It's so up my alley. Very HM-2/3-esque IMO, granted I'm pretty new to HM sounds. @scabpicker, you end up with this one?

View attachment 5033770

@NordicBard that's awesome, you build it? Always wanted to try a Matamp or old Orange.

Getting ready to headline a Stonerfest this Friday (leave it to stoners to do it a day late…) Should be a killer show aside from humping the 610 up the venue stairs.

Switched to a pre/power setup and wish I did it sooner. 1550 watts is intoxicating. Not even so much the sheer loudness but the push behind every note… and the low end. Oh, the low end. I picked up a Tech 21 q-strip as a pre, stupidly flexible to the point of surgical. Me likes. Just makes the Damnation into Damnation behind it sound so much more immense. I’m in one of those weird places where I have no GAS at all.

 

[Sascha Erni]

Very short update on the Master Effects Super Two Hundred:

It dooms.

That is all.

 

[scabpicker]

BTW the latest Idiotbox mystery drop is wicked. It's so up my alley. Very HM-2/3-esque IMO, granted I'm pretty new to HM sounds. @scabpicker, you end up with this one?

Nope, not yet, at least. I bought the Bass and the Guitar version, though. So he may be waiting till he's done with both before they ship. Is that the guitar or bass effect?

 

[Novarocker]

Nope, not yet, at least. I bought the Bass and the Guitar version, though. So he may be waiting till he's done with both before they ship. Is that the guitar or bass effect?

I think it's the last one from last year. I went for the bass one for the latest from this year.

Wait did, he do a guitar and bass for the end of last year? Lol I haven't kept track of squat, besides that about when he delivers one, he's putting up the pre order for the next.

 

[scabpicker]

Wait did, he do a guitar and bass for the end of last year?

I don't think so. I think he was still doing pedals/noiseboxes up to the end of last year. I actually seemed to have missed the order for the last of the mystery pedals/noiseboxes from last year - and the mild/wild divide of last year means I have only half of the pedals, I think. Oh well, more use for the Reverb alert. I think I may have bought your Showdown, btw.

 

[Novarocker]

I don't think so. I think he was still doing pedals/noiseboxes up to the end of last year. I actually seemed to have missed the order for the last of the mystery pedals/noiseboxes from last year - and the mild/wild divide of last year means I have only half of the pedals, I think. Oh well, more use for the Reverb alert. I think I may have bought your Showdown, btw.

Yep, on a wood "side table" was mine. I think you'll dig it. Should have thrown a heads up to you all that if you see stuff of mine up there to just reach out to me and we can both avoid all the lame reverb fees.

I think I went all out on that offering and got the noisemaker and both wild n mild. The noisemaker was solid, but I preferred the drunk Droid and I don't know how often I'd need different noisemakers haha.

I think it's so awesome how he does the program. Each one of em, though collectible, are meant to be used. So I never have hesitation moving one along if I think it'll probably spend most it's time with me on a shelf. I've kept atleast 2/3rds of the releases. And I regularly use most all of em.

 

[J-Mags]

Quilter. Small, but loud af, simple, and super pedal friendly.

I've known quite a few doom bass and guitar players who use Quilter, either by themselves, or as backup for various 70s behemoths that don't always work. I had one of their early model guitar heads, and it sounded awesome (on guitar).

I have a Darkglass A/O, and a Vintage Microtubes pedal, and I agree with OP about the fizziness, although since I've gotten a wet/dry loop, I think that it's kind of a given when mixing any kind of higher gain dirt with a clean signal, the dirty signal sounds kind of weak unless it's dominant. I've learned to get a more solid sounding signal using a Sansamp as a flat boost, but really I use a Markbass head more often (sometimes with added dirt), even though it's underpowered.