- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,516
- 19,950
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
Think of it as "harmonic coloration." When it's really good (as it is in the Reeves), I like to use the phrase "sonic texture."
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The Official Reeves Bass Amp Thread
- Thread starter SactoBass
- Start date
Think of it as "harmonic coloration." When it's really good (as it is in the Reeves), I like to use the phrase "sonic texture."
Dave "Thunder" Funk. Very well-written and easy to understand. If you want to know more about how they work and how to mod tube amps, this is an excellent reference.
I've never posted in this thread, but I have been dreaming of owning one of these amps for a few years. I've been putting it on every Christmas/Birthday/etc list as a joke, and everyone I know knows I won't shut up about it.
My dream finally came true thanks to TBer xsubs. I checked out the amp through a Reeves 1x15 (and at point, 2 1x15s), and it was incredible. I purchased the amp as a Birthday gift to myself.
I had a lead on an Ampeg V4 for $450, and went to check this Reeves out thinking to myself "contain yourself, don't hype it, it probably won't be that special, get the Ampeg and save some cash." I could not have been more wrong!
My all tube experience is limited, and mostly comes from playing guitar combos (Laney, Boogie, Fender) or using my bass cab as an extension speaker for those combos. I've also got an Ashdown LB30. Nothing I've played through can possibly compare to the Reeves. I've been a pretty diehard GK user from the time I started playing, but this just takes my tone to an entirely new realm.
Just purchased a Lava y cable and will be getting a studio slips clamshell case for it.
Enough of my boring story, here it is, in all its glory!!!
I have NOT played it through the 4x10s yet, as I had a gig tonight, but I will beat the snot out of that cab tomorrow.
I'm seriously considering picking up a pair of Reeves 1x15s, but I JUST put a Fearless 1x15 on order from BNA Audio, and have to see how that measures up before I can add any more cabs to my arsenal. Bummer
My dream finally came true thanks to TBer xsubs. I checked out the amp through a Reeves 1x15 (and at point, 2 1x15s), and it was incredible. I purchased the amp as a Birthday gift to myself.
I had a lead on an Ampeg V4 for $450, and went to check this Reeves out thinking to myself "contain yourself, don't hype it, it probably won't be that special, get the Ampeg and save some cash." I could not have been more wrong!
My all tube experience is limited, and mostly comes from playing guitar combos (Laney, Boogie, Fender) or using my bass cab as an extension speaker for those combos. I've also got an Ashdown LB30. Nothing I've played through can possibly compare to the Reeves. I've been a pretty diehard GK user from the time I started playing, but this just takes my tone to an entirely new realm.
Just purchased a Lava y cable and will be getting a studio slips clamshell case for it.
Enough of my boring story, here it is, in all its glory!!!
I have NOT played it through the 4x10s yet, as I had a gig tonight, but I will beat the snot out of that cab tomorrow.
I'm seriously considering picking up a pair of Reeves 1x15s, but I JUST put a Fearless 1x15 on order from BNA Audio, and have to see how that measures up before I can add any more cabs to my arsenal. Bummer
Can someone elaborate on using the Y cable to run both channels at once? So you get an actual blend of normal and bright and use both volumes? Do you get more preamp distortion?
I've never posted in this thread, but I have been dreaming of owning one of these amps for a few years. I've been putting it on every Christmas/Birthday/etc list as a joke, and everyone I know knows I won't shut up about it.
My dream finally came true thanks to TBer xsubs. I checked out the amp through a Reeves 1x15 (and at point, 2 1x15s), and it was incredible. I purchased the amp as a Birthday gift to myself.
I had a lead on an Ampeg V4 for $450, and went to check this Reeves out thinking to myself "contain yourself, don't hype it, it probably won't be that special, get the Ampeg and save some cash." I could not have been more wrong!
My all tube experience is limited, and mostly comes from playing guitar combos (Laney, Boogie, Fender) or using my bass cab as an extension speaker for those combos. I've also got an Ashdown LB30. Nothing I've played through can possibly compare to the Reeves. I've been a pretty diehard GK user from the time I started playing, but this just takes my tone to an entirely new realm.
Just purchased a Lava y cable and will be getting a studio slips clamshell case for it.
Enough of my boring story, here it is, in all its glory!!!
I have NOT played it through the 4x10s yet, as I had a gig tonight, but I will beat the snot out of that cab tomorrow.
I'm seriously considering picking up a pair of Reeves 1x15s, but I JUST put a Fearless 1x15 on order from BNA Audio, and have to see how that measures up before I can add any more cabs to my arsenal. Bummer
Great story - thank you for sharing! My favorite part was you putting it Christmas and birthday gift lists.
Nothing wrong with dreaming big! I haven't had an all-tube amp since the late 70's/early 80's. I had a V-4 for a while. I traded a mic to the singer in our band for a Fender Super with all four 10's blown. I made a new baffle for it, sealed the enclosure, and mounted a JBL 15 in it. I used it as a bass monitor for our guitar player. I'm looking forward to taking delivery (near the end of this coming week) of one of Mike Arnopol's new 110 Flex speakers. I'm thinking that it'll be taking me to 'another level'. 
I hope you enjoy your Reeves as much as I do mine!
You pretty much summed it up. You can use the bright and normal channels like an additional tone shaping device, but you don't really get more preamp distortion, if anything splitting the signal actually will drive the individual front end stages a little less hard than the bass plugged into just one of them.
However, if you drive both preamp stages hard you are hitting the driver (and susequently the output stage) harder.
So if anything gets hairier it won't be the preamp.
It's not a dramatic difference as far as dirt, but as I mentioned I find it a useful tool for subtle tone shaping.
I had two Y cables made, one jumpering the inputs and one splitting the stereo output of my Ric; bridge pickup to bright, neck to normal, and almost always have one of the splitters in both the C225 and C400 when gigging.
Great story - thank you for sharing! My favorite part was you putting it Christmas and birthday gift lists.
A TON of my heroes have used Hiwatt (John Wetton, Phil Lynott, Peter Hook, JJ Burnel, etc) so this is truly a dream come true for me. I'll definitely be enjoying this amp. I just hope the fEARless will be all I think it will. That Reeves 1x15 set the bar pretty high.
Would you mind describing your experience a bit more with this? I have a Ric and was planning on doing one or both of the above at some point. I would love to hear how it works for you. Thanks!
I've been lucky to have played and still own the following: 71SVT, 68 Marshall 100watt bass, Marshall JCM 800, Eden VT-300 , EA I-Amp 400, Thunderfunk 550 and 750 and now a Reeves 225 with Reeves 4x10 cab!
Best tube amp without a doubt the Reeves, sounds great any volume and gives you that organic warmth without
breaking up or needing a sweet spot
Best tube amp without a doubt the Reeves, sounds great any volume and gives you that organic warmth without
breaking up or needing a sweet spot
I just got a Ric 4003 too. If I use two cables and run each to both channels on the amp, is this worthwhile?
Has anyone tried the Custom 100 with bass? I'm curious whether it might do better for slightly more dirty tones.
The bright channel of my C225 is making my ears very happy. I brought the four-string Super J/P and soloed the precision pickup in active mode. I started off in the normal channel for the first song, but switched to the bright channel for the rest. Diggin' it... 
The bright channel of my C225 is making my ears very happy. I brought the four-string Super J/P and soloed the precision pickup in active mode. I started off in the normal channel for the first song, but switched to the bright channel for the rest. Diggin' it...
Surprisingly the bright channel is the fat channel with bass at 12-1 with a P bass. Normal is the growl channel.
Yup - that's where my bass knob is. It would be even nicer if the sympathetic rattle in the wall near me could be remedied, but I'll live...
RAS (Reeves acquisition syndrome) attack! It's going to be a bit long than I had anticipated before I can order
RAS (Reeves acquisition syndrome) attack! It's going to be a bit long than I had anticipated before I can order
Yeah, but RAS is a proven cure for Amp Switching Syndrome...
Sounds magnificent through two Sunn 200S cabs.
About that Reeves 410, jphillauren, how does it sound relative to other 410s?
About that Reeves 410, jphillauren, how does it sound relative to other 410s?
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,516
- 19,950
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
Thanks for the link, Tom; I apologize for not going through the whole thread last night before posting my question.
Reading through the posts reminds me of my own introduction to the Reeves story via edbass on the Sunn Forum. I love my 200S and 2000S heads, and the Reeves has the presence and power of the 2000S but more articulation. A winning combination in my book!
Your review of the Reeves 410 was just what I wanted to know. I'm still fond of the 15" sound, which my JBL D-140s provide quite well. I have an Aguilar DB410 for a more contemporary sound when I need it, but it still has some depth to it.
Thanks again!
Reading through the posts reminds me of my own introduction to the Reeves story via edbass on the Sunn Forum. I love my 200S and 2000S heads, and the Reeves has the presence and power of the 2000S but more articulation. A winning combination in my book!
Your review of the Reeves 410 was just what I wanted to know. I'm still fond of the 15" sound, which my JBL D-140s provide quite well. I have an Aguilar DB410 for a more contemporary sound when I need it, but it still has some depth to it.
Thanks again!
In case anyone has been curious about the reliability of the ElecroHarmonix output tubes in the C225, mine are still cooking along quite nicely. And yes, I am still thoroughly enjoying sounding better than ever thanks to Tom Bowlus for the 'steer' to Reeves, Mike Arnopol for the amazing Flex 110 speaker system, and Sheldon Dingwall for crafting the most perfect instruments on the planet for me. 
