The Best Amp

[BurningSkies]

The best amp head is the one that crushes my enemies, sees them driven before me and allows me to hear the lamentation of their women.

 

[HolmeBass]

I voted Aguilar DB 751. But I don't really have any experience with it. I did try out a DB 750 in a music store a few years ago and just loved it, but couldn't afford it.

You're missing the Mesa Bass 400+, which is excellent.

My main rig is now a Mesa M-2000! It is pretty sweet, but I can't agree that it's the best bass amp ever. It is very good, especially for the prices you can get them at nowadays.

 

[staindbass]

The best amp head is the one that crushes my enemies, sees them driven before me and allows me to hear the lamentation of their women.

hahaha ! i saw that somewhere earlier today... i wondered "what kind of band is he in?"

 

[BurningSkies]

hahaha ! i saw that somewhere earlier today... i wondered "what kind of band is he in?"

Some kind of doom band?

...or maybe it's a polka kind of thing...

 

[staindbass]

i suddenly think thats a line from a movie. conan the barbarian?

 

[BurningSkies]

i suddenly think thats a line from a movie. conan the barbarian?

You are correct, sir.

 

[handofseven]

That's like saying, 'there's no bad pizza'.

I meant nothing of the sort.

I'm not sure how you interpreted my comment to mean that...

 

[rockstarbassist]

Yes.

 

[Rockmusician]

I have had bad luck with newer Ampegs. I have a GK1001RB-II that sounds great but when I hear the exact sound that I want, it is usually from an Eden or EBS head and cab.

 

[RickenBoogie]

Well, there is no "best amp" obviously, but we all have our favorites. Mine are, (in no order) Mesa Walkabout, Mesa Buster, Ampeg V4BH, Ampeg B15R, (yes, the reissues), and then maybe round it out with the Mesa Big Block 750.

 

[rodl2005]

IME, the best heads are the free ones. Back to the OP: None of my favourites are on your list! I demand an update!

Ampeg SVT (Vintage/SVT-VR/SVT-II non-pro)
Traynor YBA-3
Ampeg V4B
Mesa 400+
Mesa WalkAbout
SWR SM-400

This looks like a pretty good representation of my thoughts too.
I haven't tried the Traynor YBA-3, so can't put that in as my 'best' & so I'll add my old '77 Eminar (Aus) PA head. I regret getting rid of that. 6x6CA7's & NEVER missed a beat. (unlike myself). As it was designed as a PA amp, it definitely wasn't set up to overdrive-looking back, I s'pose a quick pre amp tube swap, may have changed that - but it was superb for clean all tube sweetness.
Dang, I got talked into selling it for a 3 pro. :-/

 

[Marginal Tom]

I voted "other." My favorite amp is a Markbass Little Mark Tube. It's the "best amp" for me, based on my needs and the venues and types of music I play. If I brought a big tube head and a 610 or 810 to a gig, I'd drown out the rest of the band.

But I realize that my amp isn't the best amp for every bassist, venue or style of music.

 

[Korladis]

Other. If money were no object, I'd get a completely custom amplifier.

I use a Mesa D-180, though, and think the Ampeg SVT, SVT-CL, SVT 2 Pro are pretty cool as well, as is the Sunn 2000S.

 

[BartmanPDX]

The best amp head is the one that crushes my enemies, sees them driven before me and allows me to hear the lamentation of their women.

This. Classic Conan.

Specifically, the best amp I've ever played through was a Sadowsky SA200. But I'd rather haul my M9.

 

[joeydavidson]

I just watched Conan the Barbarian (& Destroyer) recently so I was trying to figure out where I heard that quote too.

 

[SactoBass]

I chose 'other'

I like tube amps with big iron transformers

I'm with AwkwardLoudness on this one! Once you get a taste of big tubes and big iron, nothing else compares.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Walter Woods Electracoustic Super
Markbass F1
Traynor YBA-3
Sunn 2000S
Marshall 1987

If money was no object I would go nuts trying to choose the best.

 

[Energy]

The statistics show that there must be quite a bunch of great amps missing in the list.
Sure enough, I had to choose "other", too. Of the amps I played (not owned), the Mesa 400+ was the best. Second would be a vintage HIWATT Custom 200.

 

[Braddock]

I vote for any Ampeg all tube SVT, I like them all so much it's hard to pick a favorite. Also there is an ongoing battle in my head between the sounds of the single volume knob models vs. the master volume knob models, that doesn't make it any easier lol. I guess if I have to put my 5 down then here they are:

1. Ampeg SVT
2. Ampeg SVT-VR
3. Ampeg SVT-II
4. Ampeg SVT-2 Pro
5. Ampeg SVT-CL

 

[BeanzCorp]

Gallien Krueger fusion 550 EASILY