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Upgrade my bass amp

A

aselix68

Oct 15, 2024
2
1
#1
I'm currently using an Ampeg portaflex 500 into a 2x15 peavey cab, which isn't a bad setup, but I'm looking for the next level. Biggest issue is headroom, and the sound getting less defined/mushy when pushing it hard. I also use a portaflex 2x10 with it, and while its a little tighter, sound overall seems not as defined as I would like.

Are these amps considered decent/mid level? If I'm going to upgrade, I'm looking for more watts to begin with? What other specs generally mean high end when it comes to bass amps? I'm a guitarist first, so not so versed in bass amps.

What makes/models might I consider? I know is subjective but give me some amps to look at..

Thanks
 
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#3
aselix68 said:
I'm currently using an Ampeg portaflex 500 into a 2x15 peavey cab, which isn't a bad setup, but I'm looking for the next level. Biggest issue is headroom, and the sound getting less defined/mushy when pushing it hard. I also use a portaflex 2x10 with it, and while its a little tighter, sound overall seems not as defined as I would like.

Are these amps considered decent/mid level? If I'm going to upgrade, I'm looking for more watts to begin with? What other specs generally mean high end when it comes to bass amps? I'm a guitarist first, so not so versed in bass amps.

What makes/models might I consider? I know is subjective but give me some amps to look at..

Thanks
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If I was looking I’d be focused on which cab(s) as opposed to which amp. 500 watts (like you Portaflex) with fairly efficient cabs is a lot of decibels. I play in a Motown review band and use a Mesa WD-800 powering a very efficient 8 ohm Eden D-210-XST. The Mesa puts out 400 watts when it sees a 8 ohm load, and together can produce up to over 120 dBs. I’ve covered rooms with this rig that seat over 700 people with no FOH support.
 
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#13
aselix68 said:
I'm currently using an Ampeg portaflex 500 into a 2x15 peavey cab, which isn't a bad setup, but I'm looking for the next level. Biggest issue is headroom, and the sound getting less defined/mushy when pushing it hard. I also use a portaflex 2x10 with it, and while its a little tighter, sound overall seems not as defined as I would like.

Are these amps considered decent/mid level? If I'm going to upgrade, I'm looking for more watts to begin with? What other specs generally mean high end when it comes to bass amps? I'm a guitarist first, so not so versed in bass amps.

What makes/models might I consider? I know is subjective but give me some amps to look at..

Thanks
Click to expand...
Amp thought: A few years ago, I was playing through an 800 watt Traynor head that was 30+ lbs. Nice amp with several useful bells 'n whistles, but I eventually decided to shop up a portable class D head as a portable alternative. I found a GK MB 500 at my favorite local shop, tried it, and even though it was "only" 500 watts, I brought it home.

Then I gigged it... and it blew the Traynor away. Even using it to push a pair of of decent 2x10 cabs outdoors without PA support, it produces enormous sound for me with no boosting and the master volume nowhere near the noon setting. If I had tracked down the 800 watt version of this head, I know that it would have been much too much for me (playing rock and dance covers). If you want loud and clear sound even when you lean on it, I'd say give GK some strong consideration.

Cab thought: I was using mediocre SWR Workingman's 2x10's for a bit, but eventually decided to upgrade after they farted out on me once or twice (one incident was an outdoor show). Instead of finding a matched pair of cabs like we're supposed to do, I landed great deals on an SWR Goliath Jr. and an Acme Low B2 only a few days apart. I went ahead with the mis-match because of the fantastic price/condition and both cabs shared the same ratings of 350 watts RMS and 8 ohms. Yaddah-yaddah... Turned out that they play together fine and the improvements in both my sound and volume potential were remarkable.

I should note that I did the cab upgrade before getting the GK. I suppose that the MB 500 might have been less impressive for me if I tried to run that through my older so-so cabs, but the new ones absolutely let it sing from gig one. I agree with our pals here that a better than average cab option can make at least as much difference with improving the sound we're trying to produce, but based on what you're describing as "that sound in your head", a GK head through the right cab should be a strong option to give you a healthy dose of loud and clear.
 
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#14
aselix68 said:
I'm currently using an Ampeg portaflex 500 into a 2x15 peavey cab, which isn't a bad setup, but I'm looking for the next level. Biggest issue is headroom, and the sound getting less defined/mushy when pushing it hard. I also use a portaflex 2x10 with it, and while its a little tighter, sound overall seems not as defined as I would like.

Are these amps considered decent/mid level? If I'm going to upgrade, I'm looking for more watts to begin with? What other specs generally mean high end when it comes to bass amps? I'm a guitarist first, so not so versed in bass amps.

What makes/models might I consider? I know is subjective but give me some amps to look at..

Thanks
Click to expand...
Are you happy with the overall tone when you're not pushing it? Or do you find it always a bit flabby? Because that bass knob doesn't have to be at or past noon.
 
#16
I started with 40 years a a guitar player. The first thing I would offer is the guitar and bass eq strategies are worlds apart. Guitar is easy, dime everything and twiddle to taste.

Bass is a different animal. I’m not recalling what the eq section on the ampeg looks like but in general start with everything at the middle of its sweep. Remove or add as it sounds right. The true grunt will come with manipulating the mids.

I too would look at cabs first. Gallien-Krueger makes a quality cab at a fair price. If you must have a new head, again GK. I would suggest the legacy 800. I have this, of course, and can testify that there are a lot of voices to be had with that amp.
 
#17
aselix68 said:
I'm currently using an Ampeg portaflex 500 into a 2x15 peavey cab, which isn't a bad setup, but I'm looking for the next level. Biggest issue is headroom, and the sound getting less defined/mushy when pushing it hard. I also use a portaflex 2x10 with it, and while its a little tighter, sound overall seems not as defined as I would like.

Are these amps considered decent/mid level? If I'm going to upgrade, I'm looking for more watts to begin with? What other specs generally mean high end when it comes to bass amps? I'm a guitarist first, so not so versed in bass amps.

What makes/models might I consider? I know is subjective but give me some amps to look at..

Thanks
Click to expand...
1) HPF added to your setup. Even if you decide to get something else, this will always help.

2) A picture of your current amp tone control settings. By looking at that we could steer you into a tone control setting that might help you right now with what you have.

😊
 
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#18
To cut a long story short, get a matching amp/cab(s) bass rig. Something that was designed to go together cut's out a lot of hit and miss games that comes from mixing and matching amps and speakers or throwing pedals into the mix to treat the symptoms of poorly matched gear.
 
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