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TFB vs WT800B

Chef

Chef

In Memoriam
May 23, 2004
41,814
18,945
65
Columbia MO
Disclosures
Staff Reviewer; Bass Gear Magazine
#1
I've had both of these amps for a long time now.
I've used the TFB for everything for quite a while now, so last night, just out of spite, I used the wt800b and schro 410.
Man, I'm just too used to the TFB I guess.
The eden was just wooly,mushy and bottom heavy compared to the TFB.
I missed the timbre control! Once you have a base-line eq for the room, you can just roll timbre one way or the other when switching axes.
I also have a Navigator/QSC-PLX rig I haven't used in a long time.I hope the qsc tightens that up the "as percieved by me mush and wool,'' but it's been so long since I used it I can't remember. Also, the stage we were on last night just sucks sonically, so I know that was a contributing factor.
At any rate, if those two don't come around to my liking a little more in the next few gigs, I guess I'll flip 'em.

I've got a Carvin B1500 en route...The Carvin ought to cover the big power jobs and run two cabs when needed, and do it tighter than the Eden stuff-if indeed the Nav/QSC proves to be "as loose" as the 800B seemed last night. Again, I know that particular stage bites it sonically and that it was a contributing factor...so I'll need to drage to two Eden bits out to some other joints before I call it quits with them.

Just as a TFB aside, the "new" 1981 G&L L2Ke I got is one hot mutha...it's tripping the input clip light at about 2.5...:eek:
 
#2
After many years of playing the EdenWT line, and now almost two years into using the Thunderfunk, I would agree with the above. However, personal taste... there are lot's of guys who love that little bit of warmth and give in the low end, and I've heard plenty of WT800/410XLT rigs from the audience that sound amazing.

However, for where my tone goals are now... I'm with you... the TF is awesome, plenty loud for 90% of any gigs that are out there, light, small, and of the highest quality. Throw in that you can easily communicate with the producer of the amp, and that's a very nice package:D

Edit: One thing is that I never thought the Eden heads matched up very well with the Schroeder cabs. I have a buddy with a WT800 bridged into an Ep410UL, and it is KILLER... like a warmer, somewhat louder Thunderfunk. I still prefer the TF... but that combination is pretty cool!
 
#5
KJung said:
After many years of playing the EdenWT line, and now almost two years into using the Thunderfunk, I would agree with the above. However, personal taste... there are lot's of guys who love that little bit of warmth and give in the low end, and I've heard plenty of WT800/410XLT rigs from the audience that sound amazing.

However, for where my tone goals are now... I'm with you... the TF is awesome, plenty loud for 90% of any gigs that are out there, light, small, and of the highest quality. Throw in that you can easily communicate with the producer of the amp, and that's a very nice package:D

Edit: One thing is that I never thought the Eden heads matched up very well with the Schroeder cabs. I have a buddy with a WT800 bridged into an Ep410UL, and it is KILLER... like a warmer, somewhat louder Thunderfunk. I still prefer the TF... but that combination is pretty cool!
Click to expand...
Thanks for throwing that edit in there Ken! The WT800B arrives tomorrow.
 
#11
Chef said:
I've had both of these amps for a long time now.
I've used the TFB for everything for quite a while now, so last night, just out of spite, I used the wt800b and schro 410.
Man, I'm just too used to the TFB I guess.
The eden was just wooly,mushy and bottom heavy compared to the TFB.
I missed the timbre control! Once you have a base-line eq for the room, you can just roll timbre one way or the other when switching axes.
I also have a Navigator/QSC-PLX rig I haven't used in a long time.I hope the qsc tightens that up the "as percieved by me mush and wool,'' but it's been so long since I used it I can't remember. Also, the stage we were on last night just sucks sonically, so I know that was a contributing factor.
At any rate, if those two don't come around to my liking a little more in the next few gigs, I guess I'll flip 'em.

I've got a Carvin B1500 en route...The Carvin ought to cover the big power jobs and run two cabs when needed, and do it tighter than the Eden stuff-if indeed the Nav/QSC proves to be "as loose" as the 800B seemed last night. Again, I know that particular stage bites it sonically and that it was a contributing factor...so I'll need to drage to two Eden bits out to some other joints before I call it quits with them.

Just as a TFB aside, the "new" 1981 G&L L2Ke I got is one hot mutha...it's tripping the input clip light at about 2.5...:eek:
Click to expand...
"wooly" and "mushy" are exactly how I hear WT heads too.

I'm still getting use to my ThunderFunk. Taking some time to adjust to the tone. I like it, but I have to settle into it.
Anyone else have any idea what I'm talking about, or am I going this one alone?

Granted, I haven't gigged with it, just home practice levels.
 
#12
gkbass13 said:
mac, everytime i read one of your posts i daydream of playing through epifani setups with a garrison 5er...drool a little...then snap back to reality. hope all is well!
Click to expand...

It's a deep, thick and very articulate set up. It's nice to know that it makes someone else beside me that dreams about it. :p

Sorry to say that I won't be able to play it or even gig for at least 8 weeks. I finally go in for surgery Jan. 24 to have the tumors removed, it'll be an open chest surgery. I've been waiting 3.5 years for this moment. Most people don't walk away from a stage 4 cancer, but the Lord has been by my side everyday and blessed me with a new life.

Gruuve asked me to ask the Garrison 5 if it wanted to go to Tennessee while I was laid up but it said "please don't send me to a guy who can't even spell Groove right." :hiding: :D

Sorry for the derail.

Thanks gkbass for the good thoughts. It's times like this that I've drawn my strength from.

Gary
 
#13
Modern Growl said:
"wooly" and "mushy" are exactly how I hear WT heads too.

I'm still getting use to my ThunderFunk. Taking some time to adjust to the tone. I like it, but I have to settle into it.
Anyone else have any idea what I'm talking about, or am I going this one alone?

Granted, I haven't gigged with it, just home practice levels.
Click to expand...

IMO... until you've had a piece of gear on at least 4 or 5 gigs in various rooms, it's almost impossible to determine what it sounds like. However, lot's of different tones out there.... that's why some play SVT's cranked, and others use Millenia mic pre's with 2000 watt power amps into PA speakers:D

The TF seems to line up exactly with how you describe the tone you want, but it is a rather unforgiving amp and is surely not for everyone. Also, while I would guess that the TF would sound great with the EdenXST, I'm not sure... some combinations work and some don't.

However.... get it cranked up a little and see what you think!

K
 
#14
Hi-jacking the thread a little... would you say that the DB750 is as "woolier and mushier" than the WT line, as the WT line is compared to the TFB? Got a WT550 at the moment and both of these amps are in my list for my next amp purchase.
 
#15
KJung said:
After many years of playing the EdenWT line, and now almost two years into using the Thunderfunk, I would agree with the above. However, personal taste... there are lot's of guys who love that little bit of warmth and give in the low end, and I've heard plenty of WT800/410XLT rigs from the audience that sound amazing.

However, for where my tone goals are now... I'm with you... the TF is awesome, plenty loud for 90% of any gigs that are out there, light, small, and of the highest quality. Throw in that you can easily communicate with the producer of the amp, and that's a very nice package:D

Edit: One thing is that I never thought the Eden heads matched up very well with the Schroeder cabs. I have a buddy with a WT800 bridged into an Ep410UL, and it is KILLER... like a warmer, somewhat louder Thunderfunk. I still prefer the TF... but that combination is pretty cool!
Click to expand...

If their is one thing I agree with you almost completely on it's the comment that Eden heads (ecsp/ those with tube pres) don't like schroder cabs. With the smaller to mid sized Schroeders the natural mid bump of the Edens and the "mid projector" design of the Schroeders morphs your rig into a blanket covered mush sound. I have not experienced the larger Schoeders with my Eden. But my general recommendation is if you dig schroeders stay away from Eden heads. As far as the Eden vs. the Thuderfunk, it really depends a ton on personal taste, if your tone desires lean toward old school (60's J Bass) I'd pick the Eden. If your a 70's J player or into modern hi-fi I'd go with the T'Funk. But BOTH are very versatile and can do the others role fairly well. I love my Eden 550WT, but wouldn't hesitate to use a T'funk for most of my gigs, I would just have to tweak it more. Ken and I have about two hours of A/B testing between these two amps. The Eden is kinda of an modern (sounding) SVT, and the T'Funk is kinda a warmer SWR.
 
#16
Dragonlord said:
Hi-jacking the thread a little... would you say that the DB750 is as "woolier and mushier" than the WT line, as the WT line is compared to the TFB? Got a WT550 at the moment and both of these amps are in my list for my next amp purchase.
Click to expand...


I switched from the DB750 to the WT550 and if an amp can be "too woolly" the big Aggie tilts that way. I found I loved the natural warmth at lower volumes (it's still the best amp I've ever heard at practice volume levels) but in big rooms, I had to really do a ton of tweaking to keep it from getting lost. The 750 is in my mind a "cleaner" SVT and kills for old school (think pino w/J Mayer) style playing, but I have a tough time picking out Pino's lines, hence the problem. I prefer a bit more definition and the Eden gives me that without losing the warmth.
 
#17
burk48237 said:
I switched from the DB750 to the WT550 and if an amp can be "too woolly" the big Aggie tilts that way. I found I loved the natural warmth at lower volumes (it's still the best amp I've ever heard at practice volume levels) but in big rooms, I had to really do a ton of tweaking to keep it from getting lost. The 750 is in my mind a "cleaner" SVT and kills for old school (think pino w/J Mayer) style playing, but I have a tough time picking out Pino's lines, hence the problem. I prefer a bit more definition and the Eden gives me that without losing the warmth.
Click to expand...

Couldn't have said it better myself. I had the same exact issue with the DB750.
 
#18
Last nights gig:
As previously mentioned, I had not used my eden wt800b for some months (and schro 410), and figured with a carvin b1500 on the way, I needed to try it to see if it still made the cut. I brought that new to me 1981 L2Ke.
It was not a happy combination...but, the stage I was on is a notorious sucking hole of death, and unmanagable-what led me to the Schro 410 to begin with because it cuts so well...
The L2Ke was just too thick and I switched to the Reverend 5L and was more or less ok...but I was still not happy with things, and i thought the eden was to blame.
Coupla of things...I run my pups as high as I can get 'em without fouling on the strings...and that stage sucks.
That pup philosophy does not work with that L2Ke. I took it to my job last night, and significantly lowered the neck pup. I hadda bring the g string (ha!) pole pieces up a tad to balance the g-string back in, but the eden and schro 410 was back to being the big motown powerhouse I remember liking...before i bought the TFB 2 years ago.
The other thing I did was set enhance at a little under half: counter intuitive, and a lot of people hate that, but it really takes the wool out of the eden.
I don't want to chuck it like I did after wednesday night.
Ken, I took the Navigator/QSC rig as well, and it is a little tighter than the 800b, but it's still not as fast and clean as the TFB. Again, enhance set a little higher than most folks will with an eden. And the tube grit control: forget it. Maybe I need to change the pre-tube on the Nav to something cleaner, but man, turning the tube control up on that just ain't for me...

The other bass I brought, a new to me G&L SB2 is a great bass, much brighter and harder cutting than the L2Ke...sweeeet.
 
#19
Chef said:
The other bass I brought, a new to me G&L SB2 is a great bass, much brighter and harder cutting than the L2Ke...sweeeet.
Click to expand...
Glad you're digging it Chef, she's a beaut for sure.

I own/have owned both amps.

I think one of the best tips I read about the WT800 was from Ivan Mike.
If boosting bass, also cut a corresponding amount at 31hz using the parametric. It sounds counterintuitive, but it definitely keeps the low end tighter.
 

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