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This old fool needs it simple

#21
Chef your link gives me the following message.

Sorry - no matches. NOTE, that the forum search ignores words that are under 3 characters long, or extremely popular words like "bass" and "guitar".

Alternatively, try the powerful TalkBass Google search option available on the Advanced Search page.
 
#22
In GK - the 700 RB II / 800 RB or 1001 RB II are very similar. The 800 is a workhorse beast of an amp. In decent shape at a decent price it will serve you well.

The 700 and 1001 have some features which I find useful.

1. Contour is a dial rather than an on/off switch. On the 800 it's an extreme scoop setting. On / Off. The dial let's you add in a little or a lot. Very useful addition.

2. the DI is on the front panel otf the 700/1001 and is a traditional mic or XLR style. If you play in situtations where DI is necessary most engineer's will be more than OK with what comes off a 700 or 1001. Very convenient.

The 700 & 1001 are exactly the same except for the number of watts. In amps under a grand - they're the bet IMO.

The 800 is a fxture in rental rig's across the land. That alone speaks to GK's construction and to the fact that they can be set to be reasonable neutral tonally. It is an older design though and the newer generation amps offer up some useful updates.

I gigged last year with a 1001 RB II and found it an incredibly easy amp to live with. I'm doing blues, rock a billy, R&B, surf, roots rock, light country kinda stuff. I'm a 4 string Fender & Fender style bass kinda guy looking for something real similar to the sound you describe. We are a trio with a revolving drum chaier. I'm carying the rhythm a lot so I need a big but real well defined tone with 0 flab. I go a tad brighter than the Mephis Soul Stew recorded sound - but I'm definately in that ball park.

Tweeter's in bass cab's - for the most part I hate 'em*. Too bright. They sound sizzly and have that sort of over stated 'look at me I'm a slap machine bassist' kinda vibe... I really like my top end to be mellow but defined. I need no fret clack or buzz or sizzle. For the most part I need no twang beyond what I can get out of a plain old speaker.

My old SVT had no tweeters and it had the some of the best hi-end of all time to my ear. ANother cab I liked a lot was the JBL Cabaret single 15" cab. No tweet. that cab had the 15 with the chrome dust cover which I felt added a little zing. I've been trying to recapture some of that ever since but using modern gear.

Recently I've been experimenting with Avatar cabs. Yank the tweeter out and replace it with something mellower, something that is a speaker as opposed to a horn. I'm using a cone driver that I buy from Parts Express on-line for about $40. It takes a few hours to fit it in the cab as you have to cut a little, glue a tub in and generally mess around a bit. There is a thread at BABP (see the Amplification Forum, Ping 57RIP) that details out the mods that I've done and also some done by Ken Baker.

You should note - the Avatar cab's sound fine on their own and are a tremendous value. Ken and I and to a certain extent Passinwind are all interested in seeing how far we can take a budget cab. If you take the plunge and decide you want to pile on our little train. Come armed with minor soldering and mechanical skills and this is cake...

I'm doing the 4x10 next time as much for the single cab as the opportunity to see how that cab behaves.


* the one exception to date would be my Bag End 2x10 with co-ax tweeter. That one is specatularly smooth. Not really an old school kind of sound though... still I gig with that cab often.
 
#23
Huh, worked for me, even from a different computer.
Go to advanced search, and type
mesa walkabout scout
search titles only
the walkabout scout megathread is huuuge.


pedro said:
Chef your link gives me the following message.

Sorry - no matches. NOTE, that the forum search ignores words that are under 3 characters long, or extremely popular words like "bass" and "guitar".

Alternatively, try the powerful TalkBass Google search option available on the Advanced Search page.
Click to expand...
 
#24
[[I'm a 4 string Fender & Fender style bass kinda guy looking for something real similar to the sound you describe. Honestly I go a tad brighter than the Mephis Soul Stew recorded sound - but I'm definately in that ball park.

Ditto. I’ll pass on the flats so to that extent yes brighter than Jerry but more in his direction than the modern hi-fi sound.

[[I sold off my GK to try some other gear but I expect that I'll end up with another at some point.

That says a lot.

[[I really like my top end to be mellow but defined.

Exactly what I was trying to say.

[[Recently I've been experimenting with Avatar cabs. Yank the tweeter out and replace it with something mellower, something that is a speaker as opposed to a horn. I'm using a cone driver that I buy from Parts Express on-line for about $40.

Sounds like a terrific idea but I’m hopeless in that ‘do-yourself’ department. The Avatar 2x12 is definitely in the running. The Amepeg 1x15 Classic is the other top contender.
 
#27
Here's a link to the DIY thread.

Link Removed

Out of 4 basses in the house 2 have flats / 2 have rounds. 3 passive / 1 active. I need 'em all to feel truly covered. (1 is a fretless passive with flats - I'm getting reacquainted with the toothless monster so maybe that one doesn't count ...)

That Ampeg cab - shouldn't be on your list IMO... It's pretty muddy right from the start and you'll work hard to get that sounding good. For 15's in currently available *modern* stuff, the Bag End 15 is the way to go IMO. There are some boo-teak single 15's out there but they are spendy and I have to believe that they are questionable performers when A/B'd against other cab's in their relative price ranges. The 2x12 is a way better bet IMO.
 
#28
[[hmmnnn, being a geezer, I GROK this (been there), but hey, doesn't
your goliath II weight 91 lbs all by itself (mine does)???

Sorry Goliath II ‘Jr’.

[[So what is "polite" to you? Not loud enough? Not distorted enough? Not enough bottom? Too punchy? Want more "stage amp pushed to the max" tone?

Too smooth for lack of a better term. I want to hear the attack and a tiny bit of break up.

[[Tell us more about the styles you are playing NOW, and your bass.
Need input.....

Mostly 60-70’s pop and r&b. I use a 65L series jazz bass.

[[A GK 400 RB and a pair of single 15 cabs is what I've had good success with.

Any particular brand?

[[What I use now and which is great for me, not heavy, compact and puts out a very big sound is the Mesa Walkabout Scout combo.

I’ll have to find one and try it out. Thanks.

[[Jerry is one of my all time favorite players.

Ditto. He’s a helluva a nice guy too.

[[I'd say the closest safe bet would be an Ampeg combo. If you can afford it, go with this bad boy.

At 117lbs?
 
#29
The single 15 cabs I used with the GK 400RB were made by Yorkville Sound. They are the older style without the tweeter and ported. They had an Eminence stamped frame 15. They weren't expensive or boutique by any means. Rated at 300 watts. Pretty efficient, but not a huge bottom end, although a bit more bottom than the Bag End. I liked them a lot and still own one that I've used with the Mesa Walkabout at times. They're fairly light at about 55 lbs. The newer Yorkville cabs are made from birch plywood, have an adjustable tweeter and are heavier. I expect they use the same Eminence woofer.

The older ones might be hard to find. I would think many of the single 15s out there would sound similar. Maybe from LowDown Sound. I don't think Avatar makes a 15 cabinet anymore.
 
#30
not sure if you've considered it or not but, how 'bout an older lower wattage acoustic head and a more modern 2x12 cab with a defeatable tweeter?
i've got a buddy that's still gigging an acoustic 150 head through various cabs and he gets a killer stax kinda vibe at waay more reasonable volumes than the 300 hundred series amps.a 100 series head an neo cab would be pretty light as well.
 
#31
[[not sure if you've considered it or not but, how 'bout an older lower wattage acoustic head and a more modern 2x12 cab with a defeatable tweeter?

Well ya know it wasn’t but a couple of years ago that I sold (for next to nothing) my Acoustic 370 head. (Pedro slams head against desk in frustration.) I’ve considered looking for another one. I’ve also considered looking for a 360 preamp/combined w/ a power amp.
 
#33
pedro said:
[[not sure if you've considered it or not but, how 'bout an older lower wattage acoustic head and a more modern 2x12 cab with a defeatable tweeter?

Well ya know it wasn’t but a couple of years ago that I sold (for next to nothing) my Acoustic 370 head. (Pedro slams head against desk in frustration.) I’ve considered looking for another one. I’ve also considered looking for a 360 preamp/combined w/ a power amp.
Click to expand...


don't get me wrong - there's alot of really nice modern heads out that will get you in that ballpark but, for the sound you're shooting for it seems like an old acoustic would hit the nail on the head. especially when you consider the that acoustics are still reliable,relatively light and you can pick up a 140 or 150 for about a hundred bucks or so.:hiding:
 
#38
pedro said:
[[try a Dr Bass cabs BL115.

I never heard of them - tell me more. Also, why the 115 and not the 2x12?
Click to expand...

I grew up playing 15's and many players I listened to when growing up played 15's. I like 12's and play 12's and you wouldn't go wrong with 12's, but there's something about 15's that I personally like, especailly when it comes to old school sound. Dr Bass cabs are a big step above the Avatar cabs, and the BL115 is small and light(44 lbs.) and sounds great. The price is hard to beat also at $399 for a 600 watt cab. Also if you are like me you do not like hauling around heavy gear, so the BL115 give you the most bang in the lightest package as opposed to a 212 cab which would weigh close to 20 lbs more..

Here's the link again:
www.drbasscabs.com
 
#39
hmm...

w/ the EQ section of your amp, you should be able to find a nice punchy gritty tone. jack up the input gain knob, and add in lots of lower mids, and BLAM, punchy gritty fatness.

but if "jerry jermott w/ an acoustic amp" is what you're thinking about going after, then try a Thunderfunk head, which is based in part on the older acoustic amp designs.

it has alot of bells and whistles w/ its semi-parametric EQ section, but dont let that fool you. Using just the "timbre" knob and the "enhance" knobs, they're the only things you have to twist to get a great workable sound.

it wont have that tube like grit you're after, but it definitely does a FAT thick sound that's also inherently punchy, since the TF's are known for that 'round these parts.

i too find the SWR cabs quite smooth for my tastes, and the avatar's are a great bargain. and the B212 w/ neo speakers will have your back thanking you in no time.
 
#40
[[w/ the EQ section of your amp, you should be able to find a nice punchy gritty tone. jack up the input gain knob, and add in lots of lower mids, and BLAM, punchy gritty fatness.

I'm sure that alot of bass players could dial in the sound but whatever I try it either sounds brittle or too smooth.

[[but if "jerry jermott w/ an acoustic amp" is what you're thinking about going after, then try a Thunderfunk head, which is based in part on the older acoustic amp designs.

Another brand I've never heard of. Good lord, I gotta get out more. LOL!

Link?
 

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