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That big warm 70s fuzz sound

K2000

K2000

Nov 16, 2005
1,600
124
Brooklyn
#1
I'm into 70s stoner type rock... I dig the Geezer Butler type sound (first 4 Black Sabbath albums). I'd even add a little extra fuzz into the mix (i'm not a retro purist, that's just my ideal sound).

I currently have an Earth 2x15 black tuck & roll cab, which booms and thuds nicely. It's delightfully cheezey. I have a ZVEX Woolly Mammmoth on the way via Ebay. My head situation is currently a bass pod going into a solid state PA amp... I need a head!

I am interested in a matching Earth B2000 head (cause I think it would be cool to have a matching set) but it turns out they only pop up once in a blue moon, and may be underpowered (unless I run 2 amps...?)

Which heads excel at 70s fuzz rock?

I had a line on a Peavey Classic 400 but the weight scared me and I choked. I also get nervous about spending over 1000 dollars for an amp via the internet. I will work on that.

Which amps are good for 70s fuzz rock? I'm afraid the amps that sound warm and fuzzy are generally underpowered. Hit me with your suggestions, I am familiar with many of the standard options but maybe I am overlooking something. Hopefully an amp that is not incredibly rare (Earth B2000, Fender Bassman 135, Trace Elliot V4, V6, V8 etc).

I wonder if I could run a smaller tube head (Ampeg V4B) and then just add a second head/second cab whenever I need more watts? I asked this here once before... 100 watt bass stack with an added 100 watt bass stack, is that equal to the sound pressure of 200 watts?
 
#3
I'm trying to get away from the rack setup. I keep hearing the heavy rock players say that these setups don't match the vintage tones of an all tube head.

I might go with a preamp in the near future, just as a stop-gap way to stop using the Pod. Ideally, I want a real tube head, or something that sounds exactly like it.
 
#6
If want the old sound.. there are only two amps to look for in my honest opinion.. Ampeg or Sunn.. nothing else. You will get more bang for your buck with the Sunn stuff.. I use right now a Sunn Spectrum I head.. yes it is only a 40 watt head and two (Fender) Sunn 15 cabs. The speakers are only 80 watts apiece, butt it is very effecient. I only need the amp on 3, the set up is loud enough.. You may want to look at any of the 60 watt Sunn heads, to which there are plenty of, or if want.. get a 2000S head, which is supposed to be 120 watts. In fact.. there are two of them on the Bay now for sale. The amps that everyone fights over are the old ModelT's and 300T's, and of those two, i would get the first generation Model T.

randy
 
#7
Look at the Traynor yba200. Here is a new 200 watt all tube amp with a 2 yr no fault warr. for less than $700. I started playing in the 60's and I'm still lugging around the bigger stuff. Just for sh!ts and giggles, borrow a Tech 21 Bass Driver DI and replace your POD with it. I've got an older POD Pro and I also have the BDDI. I prefer the fuzzy overdrive of the BDDI to the POD. (jmho)
 
#8
The Traynor yba200 is a good bet ... as is the Ashdown ABM EVO II stuff if you want a modern head with an old sound.

Old Kustoms come to mind of course ... and a little known factoid ... the really early Peavey 300s are virtual clones of Kustom 200s ... This from a music store owner I know who sold all of them "back in the day" and has forgotten more of this stuff than I'll ever know ... As he tells it both Kustom and Peavey bought surplus electronics back then, including old military stuff. Depending on what parts they had in the bin that day "some" of these old rigs can sound great in that old skool way. I have one of the old Peaveys and won't trade it for anything. Moral ... listen to them first ... some definatly have the vibe ... some don't.
 
#10
Jazz Ad said:
You, sir, are looking for an Acoustic head, specifically an Acoustic 360.
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Click to expand...

I whole heartedly agree with that statement. I use an Acoustic 360 with an Acoustic 300 power amp into my Ampeg 8x10, and run it with a Marshall Guvnor (terrible sounding fuzz pedal for guitar but amazing for bass) and I get the thickest thunder tone that would be perfect for what you're talking about. Just put the treble half way up, the bass all the way up, the variamp on setting 3, effect all the way up, and play. It's badass.

I'm jealous of the Zvex you're getting.
 
#11
I don't know what gave you the impression that a Bassman 135 is rare. They're around, and much, much more common than any of the Trace stuff.

You need one of these (or a Super Bassman, or a Bassman 135):

Bassman.jpg
 
#12
Good suggestion on the SunnO))).

But in my opinion the king of stoner rock is the 'ole SVT.

Lately i've been playing a lot of "stoner rock"(hate that term, by the way- it's just good rock and roll to me.... and no, i'm not prude) I use my Mesa 400+ but I find myself using my Homebrew Hematoma pedal ALOT to get "that" stoner sound.

By the way, I think you have the perfect cab for it.
 
#13
Marshall Guv'nor ...

As I'm always searching for a better pedal than my Big Muff USA, I think I'll be trying this one soon.

By the way, anyone tried both and can give me a review ?

Thanks for the hint :smug: .
 
#19
I love my "60-watt" Sunns (I put them in quotes because they sound WAYY louder than 60 watts). I got each head for roughly 200 bucks each, and my guitar player always complains i'm too loud (even when I only use one, and he's using a cranked 50 watt amp)!

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Clips of the Sceptre & 2x15 can be found here. :bassist: I have a feeling it might be what you're looking for.
 

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