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Suggest an amp for a P-bass...

#41
True, if I were to have the exact same volume, I'd prefer a larger amp quieter than a small amp louder.

I think Mike's main point was about overamplifying and getting a good mix for the overall performance.

And also very true that the P-Bass is versatile in that in sounds good for almost anything out there.

Also very true that if a P-Bass sounds bad through an amp, it's probably a crappy amp.

The OP was asking what would match well, and as much as I agree almost every amp should sound good, I give the Ashdown the edge overall in terms of its sonic qualities marrying the P-Bass, and its portability, etc.

Of course, it matters what style of music you're playing. If you're gonna be playing ultra modern fusion or smooth jazz, maybe the P bass through an SVT or Ashdown won't be optimal, but overall, it should work for most styles of music.

A P-basse just sounds like a good BASS, doesn't it? There's no ambiguity that it's a bass and nothing else!
 
#47
JustOpenYourMind said:
I play through an all-tube SVT and I could not get a better sound for the kinds of music I play.
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No way! I never would have guessed you had an SVT! :eek:

Handyman said:
It'll help if you give us some idea as to what sort of sound you are looking for, how much power you'll need, and your budget. Otherwise this will just turn into a "what's your personal favorite amp" thread.
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Nice idea, but way too practical. Besides, EVERY amp thread on talkbass turns into a "what's your personal favorite amp" thread, or probably more accurately; a "what amp do you think is the greatest in order to rationalize the fact that you actually spent your own money on it" thread.
I thought that was the forum rule regarding equipment threads...:confused:
 
#48
EricF said:
What's your budget? What kind of sound are you looking for - modern and articulate, vintage and growly, something else?

To me, a P bass into an all-tube Ampeg with an 8x10 cab is sonic bliss.
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+1, tube ampeg amp + p bass and fresh strings = the best tone in earth

but if you are not using a nice tube amp i suggest you a 15" for maximum punch
 
#49
Ditto!---B100R all the way for an affordable combo!

If you're looking for a very classic sounding combo that sounds killer with a P for a vintage vibe that won't break the bank, try a B100R.
Surprisingly loud, room-filing 100 watts too. Very vintage vibe.

I use it for recording sometimes with great results too.
 
#52
Yeah, I'm really swayed by the B100R combo. Looks killer, and available at a good price too. I also like the look of the SVT Mini Stack - is cute the right word? I've just got major GAS for a p-bass recently and have acquired one for eBay, so really want to get that authentic tone down without breaking the bank. Got the flat wound strings, Labella blacks, but I'm waiting on some hardware replacements to finish the bass off, then I'm good to go.
 
#53
drnknmstr said:
Has anyone read Mike Visceglia's article on over-amplifying on stage? He really argues a great point about not using so many speakers in a realistic situation. I know it sounds great and huge, but from the context of a stage setup, it'd really cause some problems. Though really, I rarely do see 8x10s in most regular gigs, anyway.

I personally try to have everything in one trip from the car to the stage.

I guess it depends on what city you live in anyway. A guy in San Francisco will have different needs to say a guy in Nashville.

But yeah, the Mike Visceglia essay on sound setup really changed the way I set up my rig. I met him at Bass Player Live and we had a great chat about it.

Some bands of mine have minimized the clutter on stage and it really made a huge difference in our FOH sound and now everyone can hear the vocals and finally get a good mix.

But I do concur that there is nothing quite like feeling that air move a la SVT :) Unfortunately, it's something I've given up in terms of my personal big picture as a local Los Angeles gigging player.
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I would be very interested in seeing this article you're referencing. I agree that there is "over amplifying" and I would love to read more about it from other pros. When we are doing riders for our travelling gigs, I never specify more than a 4*10 cab and approximately a 400W head. If it further underscores the point, I will mention I've played a number of rooms in which MORE cab and more amp would have made things even more of a sonic mess that they already were, due to the terrible acoustics of the venue which no soundperson or band member could change. Sure, you can just turn it down, no matter how big the rig is, but that doesn't negate the existence of "over amplifying."
 
#54
I believe in the over-amplifying thing, but I also believe there's such a thing as under-amplifying, too. I don't like the pristine thing. I like an amplified sound that has some meat on its bones. If you're too quiet, you don't get the warm fuzzies of a cushy bottom end onstage.
 
#55
OK, I've been looking for a one hand portable rig to in-and-out into my church on Sundays...We have a pretty good PA so just need the nice groove sound on stage to promote my best playing...I'm really thinking about picking one of these Ampeg B100R's....

Are there some made in USA verses some made in China?
 

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