TecAmp amplification club.....is there such a thing yet

[MKA]

I feel the eq-section of my puma 500 is a work of genius. It is really about "tone shaping" and not just about cutting or boosting certain frequences. Bass control can give you extreme reggaetone, lo mid adds some serious punch, hi mids are super useful for adding "softness" (cutting) or grind (boosting) to your sound. And the hi is all about the "sheen" or sparkle that many people associate with tube amps. This combined with the taste knob gives you some serious versatility. I think I've heard the phrase "musical eq-section" a hundred times but never really realised what it means until now. I like it!

 

[ursus]

I feel the eq-section of my puma 500 is a work of genius. It is really about "tone shaping" and not just about cutting or boosting certain frequences. Bass control can give you extreme reggaetone, lo mid adds some serious punch, hi mids are super useful for adding "softness" (cutting) or grind (boosting) to your sound. And the hi is all about the "sheen" or sparkle that many people associate with tube amps. This combined with the taste knob gives you some serious versatility. I think I've heard the phrase "musical eq-section" a hundred times but never really realised what it means until now. I like it!

+1

 

[phillybass101]

I would think the Puma would kill with a nice ash/maple jazz. I don't happen to own a nice jazz bass at the moment, perhaps i need to fix that

I am a jazz bass guy so my opinion is somewhat biased. I think you either love em or don't. But a PUMA 3/5/9/1000 and a Jazz Bass are a killer combo IMO. Jazz basses have a nice low mid bump and the PUMAs have a nice clean and clear low mid bump. Funny though I haven't played a 5 string jazz where I like the B string . If you like jazz basses, every player should own at least one. I am also biased toward ash body/maple neck/maple board. Excellent punch and slap tones.

 

[phillybass101]

to all of you out there that want to compare an Eden, or Aggie or any other top of the line amp to a puma it's an apple to oranges comparison. this is a newer more modern sounding amp voiced quite differently. If you want the Eden sound buy and run an Eden. If you want the ampeg or aggie sound buy one of those. Don't buy a puma and expect to make it duplicate the eden, aggie, ampeg or any other manufacturers sound. This is a different animal. I went with the PUMA 500 because I didnt want to sound like anyone else around where I live and play or anyone running any of these other amps. To help with this think of how different Marleaux basses or Human Base basses sound vs the norm. Or how different delano pickups sound vs the norm. This is a new bass sound where we can not only be heard but understood. If you want to cut through the mix and have your tone come through with it then this is a bass head to consider. If you want to sound like everyone else. Get what everyone else has or keep one of those bass heads handy for when you want to sound like everyone else. I now have two backup heads a classic Trace Elliot GP7 SM 300 ( a professional standard of choice for ahwile) and a SWR working man's 4004 (practice amp). When I gig however. I'm running the PUMA 500 and I know I'll be heard and my tone will come through. No longer just boom booming the room.

 

[KJung]

I am a jazz bass guy so my opinion is somewhat biased. I think you either love em or don't. But a PUMA 3/5/9/1000 and a Jazz Bass are a killer combo IMO. Jazz basses have a nice low mid bump and the PUMAs have a nice clean and clear low mid bump. Funny though I haven't played a 5 string jazz where I like the B string . If you like jazz basses, every player should own at least one. I am also biased toward ash body/maple neck/maple board. Excellent punch and slap tones.

+1 Excellent combination! Glad this head is working out for you.

The closest sounding head to the Puma500 on the market IMO is the Markbass F1/F500, although the Puma is still a bit more pure and totally clean.... virtually no midrange distortion at all. Punchy, quick feeling, great EQ, big but controlled low end, and a totally clean top end that is great for a 70's J sound (without the extra upper treble sizzle/goosing like the EBS heads)

 

[nostatic]

I just got my Puma 500 and S212 and took it to rehearsal tonight. Dense mix (Steely Dan tribute band) and also took my TH500 head for reference. I've been gigging Berg AE210s mostly, though I've used an Aggie SL112 of a couple of recent gigs. The goal for the S212 was to cover larger shows as a single 210 can sometimes not quite have enough heft for larger rooms. I have a pair of them that I run vertical, but I haven' done the 2-12 experiment yet so I figured this was a good candidate as it is a hair under 40lbs (my personal upper limit for a cab).

Before rehearsal I tried the headphone jack - nice feature that I'll end up using for late night 'shedding as I can run my ipod touch or phone into it as well and use iRealB backing tracks. That initial try impressed me a lot with the preamp tone, especially the "taste" knob. That thing may be the magic Rob Allen tool for perfectly balancing an RA with another traditional bass.

At rehearsal I swapped between heads and basses (Sadowsky PJ4, Fodera PJ4). I didn't fiddle with eq much as I tend to run as flat as possible. The Puma has a nice even sound and the taste knob takes the head in totally different places. Go dry with the Fodera and you can quickly get into Wooten tone territory. Go the other direction and you're passive P-bass through a wooly Ampeg. Quite potent circuit.

When I switched to the TH500 I found more mid punch (again, flat eq), and a little less open. Both sounded great through the cab. I'm traditionally not a 12" kinda guy but this one is in the running. A lot of heft in the sound. I didn't mess with the tweeter knob much - in a mix with 2 guitars, keys, 2 saxes, 3 vox and a loud drummer I'm just trying to find a sonic slot and do my job. Tomorrow I have a trio + vocal hit and I'll have a lot more space playing a room I know pretty well. Should be interesting. I'm hoping the Puma gives me the slightly more even "hi-fi" sound while the TH500 goes mid-forward vintage. I'm betting I can eq the Puma to get close to the TH500.

Not sure on the S212 vs the AE210 (I have a pair of them). I traditionally like 10s for the midrange definition and punch. The S212 sounds nice though and it has a lot of grunt if you want it. The only downside is I don't really like the handles. I wish it had a traditional inset handle and was positioned so I could one-hand carry the cab like I can with the Bergs. But 2-handed carry is easy as it is under 40lbs. Just force of habit.

Hopefully I'll end up with Puma 500 and TH500 as heads (maybe keep my TH350 as my emergency backup that stays in the car), and likely keep both the S212 and the pair of AE210s. Then I just need a good single/small/lightweight cab for smaller gigs and hoping the TC112 will fill that role. I like the sound of the SL112 but not the form factor. And not sure I want to pay top dollar for a Tecamp XS112.

 

[Oddtime]

Fellow TB'ers:

I am a new member here since last November and currently enjoying my education with all the knowledge and wealth of information on this site.

Got the bass bug bad about a year ago after playing drums and percussion for thirty-plus years and I am in deep! I now know I should have started playing bass earlier. However, it is never too late to allow passion for another instrument to grow and flourish. The back-line is the only place to be!

Therefore, I am currently ready to dig into my first "real" rig for the jazz bass I have and after careful consideration and too many nights reading this forum and multiple reviews, I am looking at going with a TecAmp Puma 900 feeding power to a Bergantino HD212.

As I am a beginner (although progressing rapidly), any advice on this combination would be greatly appreciated. The 900 is my first choice and wondering if the Berg Cab will be a good compliment. All the research I have been doing tells me yes however, perhaps some of you have actual experience with a similar set-up. Music influences and tastes are all over the map, my ears are too open for my own good!

I am self-confessed gear addict on multiple levels and currently have therapists in two states on call 24/7 to help me with my problem. So, I feel it is a natural extension to start my bass GAS in good form to set a solid pace for the future.

Thanks in advance for any advice - I have thick skin, let it roll!

 

[goldsmithr]

.

 

[monsterthompson]

Odd time, can't comment on that speaker combo.

I also must admit that I'm on temporary hiatus from the "club" since I'm currently without my Puma
. . .
But I am waiting on the Black Jag 900 to get here =D

I loved the Puma so much that I couldn't resist the Jag.

I'll admit, my decision was driven by my recording expeience with the Puma. For recording, the extra flex in the EQ should make it a more powerful tool for using the three very different sounding basses I currently have. Two of the basses I have, I'm holding on to primarily for recording (Dingwall ABZ5 and Warwick Corvette$$). Live, my Nash PB63 rocks my world and sounds great direct into the Puma with little EQ needed. The Dingwall is a bit trickier for me and the bands I'm currently playing in. Fortunately, I have the cash to make this extravagant luxury decision, so I'm going for it.

 

[nostatic]

Fellow TB'ers:

I am a new member here since last November and currently enjoying my education with all the knowledge and wealth of information on this site.

Got the bass bug bad about a year ago after playing drums and percussion for thirty-plus years and I am in deep! I now know I should have started playing bass earlier. However, it is never too late to allow passion for another instrument to grow and flourish. The back-line is the only place to be!

Therefore, I am currently ready to dig into my first "real" rig for the jazz bass I have and after careful consideration and too many nights reading this forum and multiple reviews, I am looking at going with a TecAmp Puma 900 feeding power to a Bergantino HD212.

As I am a beginner (although progressing rapidly), any advice on this combination would be greatly appreciated. The 900 is my first choice and wondering if the Berg Cab will be a good compliment. All the research I have been doing tells me yes however, perhaps some of you have actual experience with a similar set-up. Music influences and tastes are all over the map, my ears are too open for my own good!

I am self-confessed gear addict on multiple levels and currently have therapists in two states on call 24/7 to help me with my problem. So, I feel it is a natural extension to start my bass GAS in good form to set a solid pace for the future.

Thanks in advance for any advice - I have thick skin, let it roll!

Well, you're certiainly not starting out with crappy gear

Just set the Puma flat, plug in and play. The Berg should have plenty of beef. In my brief foray with the Puma head I think you don't have to fiddle much to get a good sound. Set the taste and eq knobs all at noon and go at it. If the room is boomy with a lot of low end resonance, cut some bass. If you want to experiment with different tone, just move the taste knob around a bit.

The input seems to have a lot of headroom so I'd say put the preamp gain around noon as well, then just adjust the master for overall volume. Also realize that what sounds "great" when you're playing by yourself will sometimes (often?) either disappear or sound lousy when you're in a live band situation. In general, mids are your friend in a mix. Boosting the bass to "get heard" usually doesn't work and annoys your bandmates.

Beyond that, if you dig bass, I agree it is never too late. But find a good teacher so you don't ingrain bad habits. At age 50, after playing stringed instruments for 40+ years, I essentially "started over" on bass with a great teacher (Ant Wellington). I wish I'd done the work with the teacher decades ago...

 

[Christian Houmann]

I really dig my Bonafide

 

[Oddtime]

Well, you're certiainly not starting out with crappy gear

Just set the Puma flat, plug in and play. The Berg should have plenty of beef. In my brief foray with the Puma head I think you don't have to fiddle much to get a good sound. Set the taste and eq knobs all at noon and go at it. If the room is boomy with a lot of low end resonance, cut some bass. If you want to experiment with different tone, just move the taste knob around a bit.

The input seems to have a lot of headroom so I'd say put the preamp gain around noon as well, then just adjust the master for overall volume. Also realize that what sounds "great" when you're playing by yourself will sometimes (often?) either disappear or sound lousy when you're in a live band situation. In general, mids are your friend in a mix. Boosting the bass to "get heard" usually doesn't work and annoys your bandmates.

Beyond that, if you dig bass, I agree it is never too late. But find a good teacher so you don't ingrain bad habits. At age 50, after playing stringed instruments for 40+ years, I essentially "started over" on bass with a great teacher (Ant Wellington). I wish I'd done the work with the teacher decades ago...

Nostatic,

Thanks for the guidance here, most importantly the need for proper instruction. I live/commute between two different states and finding good instructors that are flexible with teaching schedules is very difficult. Unfortunately, once you find an opening, most instructors would prefer that you are consistent so that they can maximize their teaching income and keep slots filled which, I can certainly appreciate. I had the opportunity to take a few lessons with a real pro and he through me into modes and reading right off the bat. I did not get it at first however, things are really starting to make sense.

Yeah, I am not fond of crappy gear and definitely subscribe to the "do it right the first time" philosophy so there are no excuses later.

I'll try the settings you recommended when I get the rig and post up my assessment.

Cheers.

 

[nostatic]

I really dig my Bonafide

I like the idea of that head. I'd settle for footswitchable taste knob though. That would be cool imho.

 

[phillybass101]

As a new owner of a PUMA 500 I'd like to add that this thing has it's own voice. It's a new refreshing voice clean and clear. I too made the mistake of trying to make it sound like every other bass head I have owned. It's a great feeling to just set everything flat and go for it. I'm glad I made the move. It's hard for bass players to 'hear' themselves and feel it on stage. Often when we get that right feeling on stage, we're booming the room and it doesn't sound the same out in the audience. In my limited experience with my new amp, I think I'm on the right track to a happy medium. Good stage sound, and good sound in the room.

 

[melodiaopus]

I got my PUMA 1000 yesterday, but I haven't had the chance to play it through my Bergantino HT322 since it is at my practice space. Hopefully today I can get over to the space and test this bad boy out. I always get nervous testing out new heads, especially ones I have never played through before.

 

[nostatic]

bah - just do what I do. Take it to a gig right out of the box

I gigged the Puma 500/S212 combo last night at a room I've played a number of times before. We had a sub on keys and no sax so it wasn't an "ideal" night as I had to be paying attention to things so dialing in a sound was another thing to keep track of. After the gig I came home and did an A/B/C with heads and cabs that I currently have.

I like the Puma 500 head a lot. I was barely at 9:00 and it was plenty loud. The taste behaves a little different in a band mix than solo, at least in my hands. It also depends on the bass. But the head has a more open sound than my TH500 so that pair will be the 1-2 punch depending on the gig.

The S212 is a very nice cab, but I'm now 0-5 on really liking a box loaded with 12" speakers (from 4 different brands). It is plenty loud and has a lot of booty. Probably a bit too much for my taste which seems to deviate from most people. My Berg AE210s remain my fav for sound and for form factor/portability. But again, I'm picky about form factor and have needs/wants that probably are different from some players. I like to be able to one-hand carry a cab, and I can do that with the Bergs (I carry and run them vertical).

The S212 is a beautiful cab though, really well built, light (40lbs), and fills a stage well. I'm just more a fan of a cab that is a bit thinner in the low mids and also in a perfect world, I like a shallow (front to back) cab for stage placement. No knock on the S212, as I haven't bonded with 12s from Berg (2 different models), GB, GK, or Aggie (though the ultra light weight of the SL112 has kept it in the rotation so far). If you like 12s, you likely will *love* the S212.

pics or didn't happen...

 

[melodiaopus]

I too, have been a fan of either 210 or 410 but have found that I couldn't get a clean boomy tone of the 10's. I like a clear and musical boom tone from the lowend, but at the same time I want a tone not a frequency out of my low-end. I had this problem with my Epi head. I got a lot of dark low end tone which wasn't what I was after. I wanted a more clean low tone that rattles when I need it to, but at the same time you can hear a clean crisp tone. I seem to lose a lot of my volume when I get around to playing the D and G-string on my Warwick Thumb BO $ 4 stringer. I know my bass can shine, but I haven't found that amp/cab combination that really lets out the beast of my bass.

 

[nostatic]

If you want a nice round low end then the 12s are great for that. I'm after a different target, especially with my Rob Allen. In that case I want really fast mid range response, and I seem to get a bit more of that with my Berg 210. I'm giving up low mids though, so like every other choice, there are compromises and you need to figure out what is most important.

 

[phillybass101]

I run a 2x12 and it takes some getting used to. not as high end as others have mentioned but the more I gig with it the more I'm getting used to it. My next move is the get another cab. I have my eyes on a Glasstone Lil G. 31lbs 2x12 compact cab 1200 watts RMS and it is alot cheaper than a berg, tecamp, eden, or whatever. For the price of the tecamp, you could probably get two LIL G's

Here's my boy Malcom Hall playing a custom Brubkaer KXB-6 through his.

"Funky Reggae" by I&I Riddim (live at Tim's Rivershore)


My PUMA 500 and the LIL G will be the hookup for me. One trip load in. one trip out.

 

[monsterthompson]

Plugged into my Mesa M6 today, since I'm now Puma-less and the Jag is still in transit. I miss the TecAmp sound. The Mesa is good, but a bit harder to dial in. With the Puma, the sound was there and the EQ fine tuned it. The Mesa controls are much more interactive: bring the gain up, need to drop the bass; want a warmer sound, roll back the treble and fiddle with the mids, and need to adjust the bass again; tweak the mid-voicing and everything goes out the window. The master is also not for the subtle, it is off or cannon. As my ears and eq experience have grown, it makes things a bit easier to figure out with the M6. However, the Puma required much less "figuring" to get things there. The Puma also had an intangible voicing difference that felt more at home for playing some more traditional rock/soul/blues stuff. No hate for the M6, but my Puma experience with the Puma has changed how I hear it. I can't wait to see how the extra eq options on the Jag 900 work.