Thunderfunk 750 owners unite! round deuce

[Joe Clark]

Hey TFunkers. Longtime reader, and seldomly post, but I thought I'd give you guys my impressions of my TFB750 #2.

When I bought this amp, my original intention was to use it as a backup for my Orange AD200. Before the Orange I had a modded SVTCL. Basically I've been off "the tubes" for about 9 months. It didn't take long for this to become my go to amp, and now my minty Orange is more of a too-damn-expensive paper weight.

I called Dave in October before they came out. Told him I was a tube/passive J and P guy. And without sounding pompous, he assured me I'd dig it so I put down my deposit (that was when he was doing a special price for the first few) and received it in December.

Initially I wasn't sold. I always thought semi parametric eq's were overly complicated, and for the most part, I leave it flat with the exception of a boost here and there @ 500k when playing my jazz bass. I actually cut a little bit @ 400k when playing my p bass.

The gain is super hot. I run it around 40% w/ my jazz and 30% with my p. The tone shaping ability, as many have noted, of the Timbre and Enhance knobs are where I do most of my tweaking. And they're very intuitive controls.

I've gotten about 200 gigs under it's belt, plus rehearsal and have had no problems with it at all. It's the warmest/roundest sounding ss amp I've ever played, and it's just a pleasure not carrying a tube amp w/ a roadcase. It's pretty much as good as what you play through it. And after about 6 years of playing all tube rigs, I feel like I haven't compromised weight for tone. The only all tube amp I would ever buy now would be a 70's SVT and use it for special/big venue gigs.

Read: This amp kills!

 

[Arranger]

I have one of the very few 550b with the 750A board in it. I am thinking about just keeping it and not get a 750 as it is now 625. Do you think the 750 will be that much more power. Any thoughts?

How would I know if my 550B has a 750 board?
Thanks!

 

[funkometer]

Seems like bass amps are growing in power this year, so Im ready for a TF-1200 or TF-1500!!

 

[rodneyat]

Seems like bass amps are growing in power this year, so Im ready for a TF-1200 or TF-1500!!

This is very true. But I will say this..My TFB-750 is every bit if not louder than the ShuttleMax 12 that I was using before. I did an A/B test with 2 Berg AE410 cabs connected to the Shuttlemax 12 and the same with the TFB-750. The 750 was every bit as loud, if not louder. So, 1200 watts vs about 900 watts (you end up with a 2 ohm load on the 750)! And it just sounds SOOOOO good.

 

[RoboChrist]

Just curious...how does one pronounce funkometer? Is the emphasis on the funk or the "o"?

 

[jokerjkny]

Seems like bass amps are growing in power this year, so Im ready for a TF-1200 or TF-1500!!

while that'd be nice, my tfb550 is MORE than enough for most of the hard rock gigs i've been doing.

 

[Hollow Man]

Seems like bass amps are growing in power this year, so Im ready for a TF-1200 or TF-1500!!

While this would truly be sweet, I'd kill many times over for a TF preamp. Pair that up with a good, lightweight preamp, and it would be the rig to end all rigs!

 

[funkometer]

A TF preamp would be sweet, or the switch in a box!

 

[Bassist30]

I figured Ill bump this thread considering I have a Thunderfunk 750A on the way. I have played the 550b for some time now and considering I get gas everytime i think about equipment the 750 was a natural choice. I want to keep the 550B around , at least till I have fully compared the two. Although it is considered a midium light amp, that was never the issue. If an amp is light and i like the sound I would buy it. See there I go again. How can we stop the on going never ending gas? I have heard people say the 750 isn't as nice as the 550B, but I just have to find out for myself. Has anybody here played through both and would like to give an opinion or 2?
I do love the 550B.

 

[Alexander]

I had the opportunity to A\B a 550 (not sure though if is was the 550A or 550B) with my TF750A through several Bergantino and Epifani cabs. I thought both amps sounded VERY similar to my ears overall, with the 750 being a bit wider, more open sounding and more authoritative, while still remaining mid-punchy warm. With the same settings, the 750A didn't seem to be remarkably louder either, which was a bit of a surprise and I assume (maybe wrongly so) that the extra watts helped push the bigger low end as opposed to overall volume. Also, the 550 had a much louder fan and some other ambient noise, but that could be attributed to the individual head and not the 550 in general. The 750A was dead quiet in comparison.

I did this while trying to sell my TF750A - the buyer was trying to determine if it was worth the upgrade and ended up sticking with the 550, saying he didn't feel it was worth the upgrade. I actually thought the 550 was good, but loved the 750A - so I guess its up to each individuals' choice. (I'm in a tube amp\sealed cab phase right now, but wish I hadn't eventually sold the 750A - it was the best sounding overall amp I've ever heard)...

 

[Bassist30]

I had the opportunity to A\B a 550 (not sure though if is was the 550A or 550B) with my TF750A through several Bergantino and Epifani cabs. I thought both amps sounded VERY similar to my ears overall, with the 750 being a bit wider, more open sounding and more authoritative, while still remaining mid-punchy warm. With the same settings, the 750A didn't seem to be remarkably louder either, which was a bit of a surprise and I assume (maybe wrongly so) that the extra watts helped push the bigger low end as opposed to overall volume. Also, the 550 had a much louder fan and some other ambient noise, but that could be attributed to the individual head and not the 550 in general. The 750A was dead quiet in comparison.

I did this while trying to sell my TF750A - the buyer was trying to determine if it was worth the upgrade and ended up sticking with the 550, saying he didn't feel it was worth the upgrade. I actually thought the 550 was good, but loved the 750A - so I guess its up to each individuals' choice. (I'm in a tube amp\sealed cab phase right now, but wish I hadn't eventually sold the 750A - it was the best sounding overall amp I've ever heard)...

Interesting. The 550B I have has the 750A power board (not Power Supply) and it raised the watts to maybe 50 to 75 watts. So I am not sure i will hear the difference. What I am hoping is that the headroom gets a little wider but again i love the 550B and if it all works out the 750A will be the amp ill always play.

 

[Bassist30]

The 750A came today and I did a/b it with the 550B. Now the 550B has the 750A powerboard in it so there may be some differences between the conventional 550B. Tonight will help me out a little better as i will be gigging with it. The differences? Well they both sound very similar. The 750A a slight more bottom and a smoother top end. But not a drastic change. Also the volume isn't that much of a difference either.
Both were played flat. Again a slight edge toward the 750a but I will know better tonight. There was a big difference in noise. The 750 without the fan would be hard to tell if it were on or not. But again a slight difference in tone. But I will let you know tonight.

 

[Bassist30]

Gigged with this amp. This amp sounds massive. It still has a little compress sound but not as much and it really can get loud. It does sound very similar to the 550B but bigger. Live this thing is really massive sounding. Its nice to have an amp where you can dial in your sound. Still Im a little uneasy about selling the 550B but I can't see having two Thunderfunks. But it did so good for me. The 550B is a great amp and can do most gigs. But the 750A is like the 550B only it sounds more massive. I would not say better. But I feel I do have the volume and head room available.

 

[Bassist30]

Still I have not sold the 550B. I just wanted to say that. Still loving the 750A and Still my favorite.

 

[svtb15]

Would love to see a TF1100... now your talkin.. just power and no compression . unless you drop the 163x inline... which is a great comp.. Back to using my 163x ...

 

[funkometer]

TF1100, now your talkin! Id love to see a TF with 2 750 amps, and a volume control for each!

 

[grovest]

I bought a new 750. Through headphones, it sounds like I remember my old 420 did. Rehearsals start this week and I expect good things at volume.

I'm debating [buying and...] running a Demeter VTDB-2B tube DI - or something even more exotic like the TAB V71 - in front of the input, in part to add some character, in part for backup should the amp die on a gig with PA. To be continued.

Bassists don't have the breadth of "icon" heads as guitarists do. An Acoustic, an SVT, probably a Aguilar 359 or 750, a Walter Woods, and maybe a GK 400RB, maybe an early Eden or SWR SM400 would be included. Only after a period could one make the argument, but I feel the TF stands a chance at being a bass amp icon. Part (maybe a big part?) of that mystique is admittedly from low production, hand assembly and somewhat high price.

Glad to be back and will check in after a couple gigs.

 

[Dan Robbins]

This thing is so friggin' loud I can't imagine any more watts...my ears would bleed. I'd leave it to the mains at that point--I'd be destroying my bandmates!

 

[KAEdwards]

I have a TFB 750 A that I use to power two Acme Sound Ltd Low B2 series II ( 4 ohm cabinets ) which gives me 900 watts at two ohms. While this is not overwhelmingly loud, I get a full ranged, high fidelity tone at a non-lethal volume level that leaves me smilin' widely. The T-Funk and the Acmes work well together.

 

[Joebone]

Got me one of these used, several months ago, directly from Dave Funk. Using it with Bergantino AE112 cabinets. I'm in love with the sound and impact - a lot of my playing is at low volume, but I like to have broad coverage and a lot of girth and impact to the sound. This amp is killin' it!