TC Electronic RH750 ???!??

[Munjibunga]

FWIW, Markbass and I believe Ampeg benched pretty close to spec when tested by BGM. Tom will no doubt provide more details.

Just askin'. I still have a hunch.

 

[GrowlerBox]

Just askin'. I still have a hunch.

Do tell

 

[Jarrett]

So have you researched which companies produce amps with "honest" power ratings? Maybe TC just has the misfortune of being the latest to be reviewed by Bass Gear. I have a hunch that you'll find quite a number of amp manufacturers who puff up their power ratings.

I just know that TC and Genz Benz are dishonest about their specs. Each in their own way. I've had good luck with the Carvin stuff, but it doesn't sound as good as RH750.

 

[greenboy]

That'd come down to personal opinion, but I don't understand all the hand-wringing. Crap or get off the throne.

 

[Jarrett]

Crap or get off the throne.

Heh, thanks for the input

 

[greenboy]

Just trying to sound like a hard guy at least one day a week ; }

 

[tombowlus]

FWIW, Markbass and I believe Ampeg benched pretty close to spec when tested by BGM. Tom will no doubt provide more details.

I think I posted a list in the other thread of manufacturers whose heads tested very close to their stated output. Off the top of my head, that list would include:

GK
Mesa/Boogie
Ampeg
Carvin
Markbass
Reeves
Hartke
Phil Jones
Orange

 

[Vic]

I think I posted a list in the other thread of manufacturers whose heads tested very close to their stated output. Off the top of my head, that list would include:

GK
Mesa/Boogie
Ampeg
Carvin
Markbass
Reeves
Hartke
Phil Jones
Orange

So given Jarrett's question, spec'ing form factor and something that's at least close to the RH sound, would you suggest Markbass or maybe one of the new Ampeg class D products? Seems to me those are the closest thing. Maybe Carvin, although while that's not "modern", they're not really "classic" either. Great amps for me for test purposes tho... because they're so nominally voiced... pretty median tone... works for me.

Problem is, I don't think any other product really cops that TubeTone/APM behavior in that form factor. So if that's important, Jarrett, you may have problems finding another amp you'll be as happy with.

 

[greenboy]

Maybe Carvin, although while that's not "modern", they're not really "classic" either. Great amps for me for test purposes tho... because they're so nominally voiced... pretty median tone... works for me.

Good ones to learn about EQ with too, because there's not some hidden default baked in EQ that confuses issues. Kinda like SR where a decent op can use any brand of graphic or parametric to do what he wants without wondering *** is bollixing up what worked before when he wanted a certain kind of bite or whatever.

 

[Eublet]

IME, the LMIII can something like an RH450 if you just cut the bass every so slightly and roll back the VLE to around 10 o'clock. It's not going to react like the RH heads at all, but I think it's in the ball park tonally. Put a VT Bass (run clean or dirty) in front of it for a bit of that simulated tube compression and you have a wonderful sound IMO.

 

[Vic]

Good ones to learn about EQ with too, because there's not some hidden default baked in EQ that confuses issues. Kinda like SR where a decent op can use any brand of graphic or parametric to do what he wants without wondering *** is bollixing up what worked before when he wanted a certain kind of bite or whatever.

Exactly. I have to say I really dig their BX amps for gigging amps but where they've really helped me most is with my reviews.

 

[Eublet]

Not to take things too far off topic, but I seem to recall some QA issues with those BX heads early on. All resolved I assume?

 

[Vic]

Not to take things too far off topic, but I seem to recall some QA issues with those BX heads early on. All resolved I assume?

I believe so.

 

[Munjibunga]

I think I posted a list in the other thread of manufacturers whose heads tested very close to their stated output. Off the top of my head, that list would include:

GK
Mesa/Boogie
Ampeg
Carvin
Markbass
Reeves
Hartke
Phil Jones
Orange

Thanks Tom. So maybe my hunch is misguided. Did you have many that undershot the runway?

 

[Eublet]

I believe so.

Cool. The features on those heads are very attractive, and at that price, just wow. I've thought about picking one for a while. Might have to do it.

 

[tombowlus]

So given Jarrett's question, spec'ing form factor and something that's at least close to the RH sound, would you suggest Markbass or maybe one of the new Ampeg class D products? Seems to me those are the closest thing. Maybe Carvin, although while that's not "modern", they're not really "classic" either. Great amps for me for test purposes tho... because they're so nominally voiced... pretty median tone... works for me.

Problem is, I don't think any other product really cops that TubeTone/APM behavior in that form factor. So if that's important, Jarrett, you may have problems finding another amp you'll be as happy with.

Well, it's a bit larger in form factor, but yes, the SVT-7Pro is worth checking out. It will do a warm, round, mid-forward tone, but it will also do a quick, slightly scooped, dynamic clean tone.

 

[tombowlus]

Thanks Tom. So maybe my hunch is misguided. Did you have many that undershot the runway?

TC and Genz-Benz are all that come to mind.

 

[willsellout]

I must have missed the Genz Benz issue. I'm surprised to their output lacking. I've had 3 separate GB amps (GBE1200, Shuttle 6.0, Neopak 3.5) and they all had plenty of juice for my applications. Granted I'm not a person who plays stadiums (or at all lately). May I ask what the consensus was for the GB amps?

 

[Jarrett]

May I ask what the consensus was for the GB amps?

I haven't read any reviews of the Shuttle 9.0, I just did in house comparisons with my other amps such as a Trace Elliot AH350SMX (350 watts) and Carvin BX500 (500 watts) and the supposedly 900 watt Shuttle 9.0 was not as powerful as those two. When I posted that on TalkBass I caught major flack from the builder and supporters. They were nice enough to send me another one out to A/B with to see if I had received a bad Shuttle 9.0. Nope, they were exactly the same. I was pretty much labelled a kook at that point. Glad to hear that it appears a test was done since then that might validate my sanity

Also, there is another amp maker uses the same power section as the Shuttle 9.0 and calls their amp a 500 watt platform because apparently that's what the power section is rated at by its manufacturer.

Back on topic, the RH750 "feels" louder than my BX500 and definitely louder than the Shuttle 9.0. I think anyone that is thinking about a Shuttle 9.0 really owes it to themselves to check out the Carvin BX500. Half the price or less, louder, more features and sounds better, imo.

 

[Jarrett]

You know the funny thing, I hold less resentment towards GB for putting out a 500 watt amp and claiming it was a 900 watt (because of their great customer support) than I do towards TC for putting out a 236 watt and claiming it was a 450 watt when reviews say it feels like a 500-600 watt amp. Using that reasoning, I should probably be a little less upset with TC than I am with GB. Not to mention I have been using the RH750 to transcribe this week's set lists for the last three hours and it sounds great