Too hard to please?

[LHbassist]

I'm 67, playing bass for over half- a Century now. I'm wondering if there any other bassists like me out there.. I've owned SO much bass gear over this time period, it would literally fill a couple of pages.
All the way from my several B-15N's, and Supro Thunderbolt, to my Sunn Coliseum, Pearce B2P, GK's, SVT'S, Shuttle 9.0, and high power Carvin heads... and cabs from Sunn, Ampeg, SWR, Acme, Peavey, Cerwin-Vega, to EA, Avatar, Mesa, Epifani, Schroeder, and Carvin BRX's. A lot of combo amps in the mix, too. Here's my dilemma... I've never been totally happy with any of it. All of it disappoints me..usually in the area of distortion, or excess speaker cone travel/ farting. Even with high power amps, with cabinets rated for high power, this phenomena occurs. I have yet to find a single 'stand alone' cabinet that I can use. Some have come close, but not yet. The only time I have been truly happy with my bass sound/ power/ volume and fidelity, is in concert situations, where large side fills powered by a lot of serious wattage send my signal back to me. The onstage backline bass amps, at that point sound like garbage in comparison. Figuring I needed to go power amp-preamp, I tried lugging around a Mackie M1400 and an SWR Grand Prix, a folded horn 15, and an SWR Triad on top- it was pretty good, but too big, heavy, and still not what I'm looking for. I bought a BFM 'Jack' cab, and it also disappointed me- although I'm impressed with it as a mid/ high box, it's excellent in that regard. This past weekend, I used my Carvin BX 1500, an Epifani UL-112, and a Schroeder 115L. All high quality equipment. Heavy Speakon cables, all Mogami and Monster patching cables input and output to my single effects unit- a Zoom B-3. Yeah, some of you will bash the Carvin, but it is a lot better than the amps they used to make. I was still not satisfied with this rig. I was not running it at an excessive volume, either.
Have any of you felt this way about your gear?

 

[Downunderwonder]

Nope.

 

[Sparky Mark]

Yes. I'm sure that my early years of dissatisfaction was partly due to my ignorance of how to EQ and my playing technique. I notice that Bergantino doesn't appear on your list. Since buying two secondhand Bergantino HD210 (ceramic magnet) cabs I have absolutely zero GAS for any other cabs. They go very loud and deep with authority (heft?) and I've never got close to making even one of them fart out.
I know many recommend their own gear (until they sell it and move to another "its the best I've ever used") but over the past 45 years I've owned literally tons of cabs and these compact (not lightweight) cabs amaze me. I have used one or both with Trace Elliot, Markbass, Ampeg, Ashdown and other heads and they just work bringing out the best of each amp. Without even trying them, I'd have no hesitation in recommending the current generation of Bergantino ceramic 210 cabs (Reference Series I believe) as the spec is almost identical to the HD210.
I realise your question was whether others have been on the same journey, which most of us have, but after 45 years my cab quest is over until I can't schlep these 54lb beauties any more (or get someone else to help me).

 

[JimmyM]

I was lucky enough to have gear I was satisfied with early on, and I've mostly stuck with it over the years. Sometimes I would be unsatisfied with other gear I was using, but I'd try to figure out why and fix it. In the end, everything you're going to plug into is a compromise of many components slapped together and tweaked to create something that sounds like you playing the bass. That said, if you want your bass to sound like it's coming out of a quality pro side fill, build a rig the same way.

 

[oldfclefer]

I think taste changes over time. Also my back got weaker I have a lot of really nice gear I've collected over the years, and I can mix and match from time to time which keeps me from getting too itchy to find something new -- I do get restless. Sometimes I like the clean sound of a nice ss amp with a quality cab. But then there are times when I'll drag out the big tuber and a couple of 4 x 10" for the heck of it. It's great to have options.

 

[Mushroo]

Through the years I have come to realize, whenever I am dissatisfied with my gear, usually that is a sign I need to take some lessons! Magically after a few lessons, the gear starts sounding good again.

 

[popgadget]

Through the years I have come to realize, whenever I am dissatisfied with my gear, usually that is a sign I need to take some lessons! Magically after a few lessons, the gear starts sounding good again.

Some times new gear makes this obvious as well.....

 

[CallMeAl]

Ive played some amps that are “better” than my gigging amp. But it gets the job done. I’ve decided to approach my gear with gratitude that I have stuff that works and i get to play music. I could easily drive myself crazy chasing the “perfect” amp.

not trying to knock your perspective or experience, OP; just trying to add to the discussion!

 

[LHbassist]

Going forward here, I appreciate all of your comments... I'm forever grateful for my life, as a Cancer survivor, and a guy that has had many former construction laborer back related issues- I'm a very fortunate man, to have all that I do. This post about my seemingly endless quest for the best rig, is not to sound unappreciative. I own eleven speaker cabinets, two combos, and four heads. That, along with 20 electric basses, and two German carved uprights... plus so many accessories and parts, I could have a serious garage sale.. Yup, I'm not complaining about anything.. I'm just curious if anyone else has a similar ongoing issue. My current feeling, as Jimmy M states, is to try to replicate the type of rig in those concert situations... now possible to do so with a lot less weight. I might go with some lightweight high wattage power amp, a good preamp, and keep the speaker cabs I currently own, and keep experimenting. I've yet to try a Fearless, or a MAS cab.. I hear great things. P.S., I've played through some highly touted Bergantino cabs, and did not like them.. I was surprised that I didn't, because of the love shown them here and in the bass world... yeah, to each their own. I have not tried the newer Ref cabs.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Every time I think I could do with better gear, I see one of the videos of some drummer killing it with couple of plastic Home Depot buckets or a guitarist with a $99 guitar...

 

[SteveC]

I have gone through a lot of gear. Mostly basses as amps are more expensive to shop and I live in a rural area. I have never really been an “amp” guy. I played what was available. Not that I didn’t experiment. I was using, single, you know.it was fun and I learned a lot.
Now that I’ve been married for a while, kids, house, etc. and just getting smarter I am taking on the happy with what I have attitude. I probably could have done this at any point in the last 15 years and been happy with whatever I had at the time as I’ve always been lucky enough to have great gear. As it happens I have decided to “settle” with a pair of Roscoe 5’s (fretted and fretless) and a fun G&L JB-2. I have a nice Genzler combo and a little DI/IEM board for most of my gigs. I still like and discuss, but really, if I can’t be happy with this stuff...

 

[Samatza]

I run a GK1001RB with two 2x12” cabs, I don’t think I’ve ever been in a situation where they were even close to the limit.
Granted big side fills are awesome when you have them but any 500 W amp and 4x10” cab I’ve had for backline has provided a good sound.

 

[agedhorse]

Perhaps you have unrealistic expectations?

Sometimes, what you hear in your head simply takes a lot of power, a lot of speaker, AND a large acoustic space to reinforce with acoustic boundaries that are far enough away to contribute in a way that reinforces that feeling.

 

[Warpeg]

I've owned a lot of gear over the years, but my goal was not to find the perfect tone. Rather, I just wanted to experience all the gear out there to see what everything was all about. I've never worried about trying to find the perfect tone. Basses, amps, cabs, pedals, preamps, etc. are just tools of the trade - I'm a firm believer that the majority of a player's tone is in his/her technique.

If I were to find myself in a position to where no gear made me happy, then I think it would be time for some introspection.

 

[LHbassist]

Again, thanks, everyone.. well, I am always doing some kind of introspection.. most musicians do that. As far as unrealistic expectations... man, I know about all the variables there are in playing bass in clubs, halls, Casinos, large, small and all kinds of situations, including in-ears only.
One one particular stage, my Carvin BX 500 and a BRX 10.2 with original series American Eminence Neo drivers, was just perfect. Some places, my Fender Rumble 200 combo is just right. I've also brought both of those rigs to gigs where I was not satisfied with the sound of either one. One recent one, really exposed the limitations of combos in particular, due to some serious incompetence from the sound person, I could barely hear myself, with the amp running near its limit. I do prefer head/ cab separates. My Shuttle 9.0 and two 8 ohm 1-12's is a damn good sounding rig. But again, there's all the variables, lie the other players, the gear THEY bring, are the drums mic'ed- foldback monitors? A half stack and a loud guitarist? Overall band volume, standing too close to the rig- Cramped stages, heavy carpet and curtains.. or a live room, bricks? Maybe lots of wood, standing waves everywhere, bass traps, and a need to isolate the rig? Yup, I encounter it all. I think I will indeed seek a nice lightweight power amp in the coming year. My accountant likes it when I buy gear and keep my taxable income down.

 

[Pings Bass]

Distortion, overexcursion and farting? With big powerful rigs? Sounds like you need to turn down.

A good preamp/DI and IEMs might help you hear yourself better without overpowering cabs, not to mention the stage volume.

 

[AMJBASS]

A Shuttle 9.0 has a pretty versatile preamp section(not to mention a ton of power)... should not have any problem getting a good sound with that at all. If you are having problems with overexcursion I HIGHLY recommend you buy a variable high pass filter. It will enable you to really control those lows and give you a big sound without it being boomy/flabby. Not an expensive investment.

 

[pcake]

LHbassist - have you ever defined exactly what you're looking for? judging by your second post, i'm guessing that what you're looking for is actually 2 different rigs.

that and a good EQ and a HPF/LPF plus taking the time to learn to use them. or if you always like/need/want different sounds, perhaps an amp with an fx loop and a few DI boxes with different sounds - an ampeg, a GK and a darkglass, for example, so you can change your sound to suit the venue/situation.

btw, i used to play with a very loud band and didn't have this issue with my cabs. i did manage to blow out a 700 watt peavey black widow and a hartke aluminum cone cab someone forced on me at a private party (who knew that aluminum foil tears like tissue paper?), but once i found my carvin 18" cab and added a 2x10 and used a crossover to biamp, no cab issues.

 

[Eidolon0274]

The BEST bass/amp/cab combo in the world will be ruined by a bad room, sound guy or band that doesn't regulate dynamic volume. No rig will overcome these obstacles. The only thing you can do is know your gear well enough to compensate for all of that. Not even rock and roll hall of fame bands can bypass those issues.

 

[Eddie LeBlanc]

Been though the gear swap out too. Been doing that for decades. I'm 68 and been playing bass since I was 12. So nowadays trying to lighten the load and the perfect sound (elusive for sure).

Right now my gig rig is a Berg B|Amp into two Schroeder cabs, One is a 12-12 L (Dual 12 Neos sealed, with one in a corner load), and a 12 PL (Single 12 Neo). Smokes anything I've had before. Small foot print, light weight, powerful, and can handle anything I do.

(BTW pretty loud band: dual guitars, keys, drums with sticks, and lead singer w/t trumpet and percussion. The lead guitar uses dual Mesa Lone Stars each with ext. cabs - 8 twelves on the stage.)

The Berg head just replaced a Genzler MG800 on that same Schroeder rig, so now the Genzler is in the rehearsal studio with an EPI 3-10 UL cab (with the new Epafani drivers in it).

The Genzler had replaced a Demeter HBP1 Preamp and Crown XLS1500 set up. Still have that too, in mothballs. Powerful, great sound, but the Pre / Amp set up just more to lug around.

Also hanging onto a GK-MB500 that was an extra rehearsal rig with a Carvin dual 10 cab that has new B&C tens in it. Nice to have just for a grab and go jam session at some other studio.

Right now I'm gassing for a Berg HDN212 cab. Maybe this coming year.

But look into Bergantino. Some of the best bass gear on the market.