I am a Hartke guy I still have my first unit the HA2500 BUT I upgraded to the HA3500 BUT I upgraded to the HA5500. I have parts units to keep them going BUT my Hartkes just keep on bassing. I just love the sound I can get out of them. I have my dream amps for my ears.I do love the old HA Hartke amps.
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Vintage vs New amplifiers Your dream Amp?
- Thread starter Guild B301
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My favorite amp ever remains the Yamaha B-100 with matching 2x15 I used 1979-1992. If given my wish and all applicable cartage magically relieved, I'd have two:
Thanks! I was looking at the TH series. I’ve historically been an “Ampeg guy” and past few years playing a Rumble. I got a Mark CMD combo a few months ago; I’ve been enjoying the extra clarity it provides, yet a little warmer than the GK and GenzBenz I’ve tried. Aguilar might be just perfect for me, but OTOH it might be needless tone chasing. I guess I need to get my hands on one and decide for myself!
Class D and neodymium only for me at this point. But ALL my gigs have been cancelled so what is the point?
devnulljp
Supporting Member
This is an easy one. If money and especially carrying the damn thing weren't issues, I'd have an Ampeg B15 in the studio and an Aguilar DB750
As I do need to carry the damn things, I think I've found some pretty good compromises.
Main amp is an Acoustic Image Clarus with extension cab
And an AG700 with a pair of DB112s
As I do need to carry the damn things, I think I've found some pretty good compromises.
Main amp is an Acoustic Image Clarus with extension cab
And an AG700 with a pair of DB112s
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Modern/new all the way. Progress marches on. Gotta have tubes in the preamp section, though - either in a pedal or in the head.
- Dec 21, 2007
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I *would* like to try a vintage B-15.
But it wouldn't replace my modern rig - Mesa WD-800 with MAS cabs. Floofy plant optional (wedding gig photo).
But it wouldn't replace my modern rig - Mesa WD-800 with MAS cabs. Floofy plant optional (wedding gig photo).
i'd have to have a roadie for my dream rig: bass into the 4-way system i lug for certain PA gigs, IEMs for the return. in that scenario i'd only carry my 6.2 lb. ax + my briefcase! 
i really would like to get away from the 'rig thing' and use IEMs for loud gigs. for smaller, jazz-only gigs, the modern lightweight stuff is the only way to go for me, and i already have that, so: i'm set! no vintage, no dreaming, no GAS.
i really would like to get away from the 'rig thing' and use IEMs for loud gigs. for smaller, jazz-only gigs, the modern lightweight stuff is the only way to go for me, and i already have that, so: i'm set! no vintage, no dreaming, no GAS.
I had a lot of the old vintage amps (when they were new). I think I'd rather have a new Mesa rig. Mesa WD800 w/2 12" ultra lightweight cabs
I wish Vox would make a proper new bass amp with a 15 inch neodymium speaker, using their new technologies and combining it with their classic look.
Had a Sunn 300T for years. Amazing amp. Ran it through Musicman Audiophile HD2x10 and 2x12 cabs. Think SVT with eq compression and 2 channels.
My long time current favorite is a Marshall model JCM800 Super Bass 100w amp with 2 Ampeg portabass cabs loaded with eminence delta 1x10s. Great warm vintage tone and much easier to move around.
My long time current favorite is a Marshall model JCM800 Super Bass 100w amp with 2 Ampeg portabass cabs loaded with eminence delta 1x10s. Great warm vintage tone and much easier to move around.
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I'm lucky enough to have the majority of my dream rig already!
I've got two fEARful 15/6/1 cabs, and a rack mount Monique preamp. The Crest ProLITE does a great job, but I'll maybe upgrade to a Jule M2000 at some point just because.
The drawer holds a few pedals I use - tuner, comp, drive, and HPF.
I used to have one of those heads!!!! Served me well for many years. Sat it up on a pair of 2x15 cabs I used to have too. Wish I had been more "knowledgeable" / "aware" of tone back then though....ah......that hindsight thing. Bet it had a lot more ummph that I likely knew how to get out of it.
Forgive me great ones, for I am not worthy. I gassed for a tube amp and found a Bugera T-50 which I bought and love. Even though it is a guitar amp I love the bass tones it produces. I have heard Bugera made an all tube bass amp that was a beast but weighed around 100lbs and changing tubes would set you back around $400.00. If I ever find one—-.
I just gave my rig beloved Aguilar to my brother last month (got his life right and decide to come back into music...Glad to help him in any way) so I’m on the market for a new rig...all I have now is a Rumble 15 watt practice combo...ugh..doing research, I’ve really gotten into old tube amps and really wanna give one a go...I’ve decided on picking up an all original ‘78 Fender Studio Bass Combo for now....200W of tube power through the original EV 15...I will eventually put the head into its own case, retire the OG driver and cabinet and link it to two separate Rumble 15s..I am super excited about it...
I probably won’t end there as I’ll probably get another smaller lightweight rig with more power for gigs and to use for a possible future semi acoustic build...perhaps a Tone Hammer 700 with two separate Aggie 12s for versatility...the end goal will probably be a Noble 1000 into a 6-8 stack of 10s made by a maker TBD later...
....oh yeah...and a ‘60s B-15N before I croak, hopefully..
I probably won’t end there as I’ll probably get another smaller lightweight rig with more power for gigs and to use for a possible future semi acoustic build...perhaps a Tone Hammer 700 with two separate Aggie 12s for versatility...the end goal will probably be a Noble 1000 into a 6-8 stack of 10s made by a maker TBD later...
....oh yeah...and a ‘60s B-15N before I croak, hopefully..
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I am the one who started this post, and I totally understand what you mean about the Bugera. $400 is too much for just tubes. The Marshall Major I bought was a guitar amp also, but it has fairly inexpensive and easy to find parts. But, it weighs a ton! I also have a Vintage JCM Marshall Bass heads in 100 & 50 watts. Not as heavy, but still weigh a lot. Parts and tubes for those are fairly easy to get, and not too expensive.
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Great thread! I don't have a dream amp but I often think fondly back to a Peavey Bass Mark IV 400 I had. Not a fancy amp but it just the job done and always sounded good even for large gigs. However transporting it and the 2x15 cab was hard. I used to have a '74 Ampeg V4B but never loved it. Might have been the cabinet.
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I love tube sound and I need modern features like Aux in, high quality DI, phones out, and light weight. My search for tonal nirvana and modern features ended when I found the Mesa WD-800. Tube pre-amp and tube emulation in the power amp section works great. It allows me to practice silently AND make great tones at wall-shaking volumes, and anything in between. Great EQ options too, so I can cop different sounds for different genres and covers, and I can get the most out of different cabs. It has sounded great through several different cabs, largely due to the flexible EQ.
Unlike old tube amps, it can be pushed to really loud volumes and remain clean, but if I kick up the gain -- warm, fat, big-bottomed, tubey goodness is there, and at whatever volume fits my needs at the time. And it weighs less than 6 lb. It has plenty of the tube tone I was after and reliability and features that leave nothing to be desired, at least by me. Never thought I'd find all that in a single box. It's definitely my dream amp.
Unlike old tube amps, it can be pushed to really loud volumes and remain clean, but if I kick up the gain -- warm, fat, big-bottomed, tubey goodness is there, and at whatever volume fits my needs at the time. And it weighs less than 6 lb. It has plenty of the tube tone I was after and reliability and features that leave nothing to be desired, at least by me. Never thought I'd find all that in a single box. It's definitely my dream amp.
Passinwind
I know nothing.
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Nothing older than five years or so, and definitely nothing large and/or heavy. There's just no vintage bass amp stuff that I ever loved in the first place, in reality. Even if someone else paid for it and lugged it for me, no thanks. As with so many things, works great for many others, just not my thing.
I roll my own solid state ones these days, because I can. And at some point soon I'll do a tube one or two, and revisit what I've never liked about most tube bass amps in the past.
The one and only piece of vintage gear I regret selling, was a vintage 70’s Hiwatt 100. Today, most of my amplifiers and cabs are 10-20 years old, and they are going to grave with me. They are heavy by today’s standard, but I’d put them up against anything on the market today for tone and durability.
