Waking up in a Class D world.

[nostatic]

Anyone away for 8 years may have had changes in their sonic preferences. All gear has plusses and minuses, just depends on individual preferences and what features/factors are important to you.

The pluses to the D800/D800+ is that they seem (to many) to be "Goldilocks" heads - they aren't radically voices one way or another, and you can push the tone around a fair amount, particularly with the 800+. Also the customer service is second to none. Downside is they are a bit more expensive than some other choices, particularly if you're not in the US.

GK, to me, have a pretty strong baked-in "edge" to them. When I owned/gigged them, I often was cutting high and high mids pretty significantly. You either dig that or you don't.

The Aguilar TH500 is another amp with a pretty baked-in sound, again, in my experience on gigs. If you like the more vintage chewy/woolly low-mid thickness, then it is a great amp. I haven't played an AG700 but I did like the AG500 back in the day when I had it on backlines.

I wouldn't touch Markbass again with a 10' pole - I had a bad CS experience, won't go back, particularly since there are superior products and CS around. YMMV.

I gigged some of the TC heads. Weren't my cup of tea - the BG seemed a bit thin to me and the RH were just fussy. Or I'm cranky.

I've never owned Ampeg but certainly had them a lot in various backlines. I usually can get what for my taste is an "ok" sound, never a "love it" sound. Again, ymmv. That includes SVTs. Heresy I know

All of these opinions also are driven by an individual's technique, basses, and the gigs they play. Lots of good choices these days.

 

[GregC]

That 410HLF cab is 4 ohms and can handle alot of power, but you could blow any cab with any given head if you aren't wise with your volume and EQ settings. I personally would look to sell the 410HLF for something more manageable and modular.

If you love the 10" driver sound and response, why not pick up a pair of 210 8 ohm cabs to pair with a nice class D head. That way you can use just one cab for small to medium situations, and add the 2nd cab for larger stages/rooms.

If you go with the Genzler MG800 you could actually run (3) 210 8 ohm cabs as it is stable down to 2.677 Ohms, and it has 2 channels that are foot switchable. JMHO

I agree with the first paragraph. But I don't believe a 10" driver sound and response exists. The 410HLF puts out a ton of lows and is arguably mid-shy. I could say the same for a couple other 10-loaded cabs.

Meanwhile, the Ampeg 810 and the Aguilar DB410, among many others, are mid machines with tight lows.

 

[JimmyM]

I agree with the first paragraph. But I don't believe a 10" driver sound and response exists. The 410HLF puts out a ton of lows and is arguably mid-shy. I could say the same for a couple other 10-loaded cabs.

Older ones are mid shy. Newer ones aren't since about 2010. Still has the big lows, though.

 

[Sunset Shalom]

My first and only bass amp is a carvin BR510 which I love. They make a lot of good stuff though, solid quality made in America for a very reasonable price.

Maybe check out some of their heads and see if you can find a good deal, I saw some of their amps being liquidated on eBay awhile back though decided to buy used from GC to get a better Warranty.

I love the BR510 becouse even though lt's SS it has a simple tube circuit you can use as a sort of warm boost or OD when cranked. It also has a cool dual parametric EQ mid control that let's you sweep the low and high mids as well as a classic bass and treble control, and a switchable 9 band EQ! It sounds great flat but has tons of tone shaping functions if necessary. Also has a simple contour and 1 knob compressor/ limiter which are both very handy for slap.

 

[BogeyBass]

if your use to a 410 then a 210 might be a little lacking in drummer coverage or be right on edge. classic head/ cabinet setup is more adaptable cause you can expand later on, meaning adding matching cabinets and matching impedances. 1x12, 2x12 cabinets are also on the popular side these days and i definitely would rather have a 2x12 than a 2x10. and no im not generalizing just by cone size. likewise not gonna touch on my opinions about class D's and tick mode power supplies lol. enough said lets just say there is alot of used quality older class AB bass heads out there. and be careful cause they always sound " louder" and "better" in the music store.

 

[Baltimore Bass]

I believe there's a newer Ampeg PF series 410 that weighs in around 55lbs, but I'm looking for even lighter yet. Some nights my SVT410-HLF feels more like 200 lbs rather than it's listed 110lbs. AND that stupid towel bar some idiot designed with a Bolivian dwarf weightlifting champion as the ergonomic test model. Christ I'm so tired of humping that beast I could retch. I could choose from any of three PF-series bottoms I have and a PF-500 but I'm real close to just keeping one of those cabs and adding a Subway D-800, keeping the PF-500 head as backup, and relying on FOH a bit more. Now I just have to find a D-800 head. Sure wish I could find one at a good price used.

EDIT: but I'd be happy with a used PF-800, maybe more so since I could latch it onto a PF flip-top and be done with it. Less is rapidly becoming more to me these days, especially after the day/night's grind.

Years ago I had an Ampeg 410HLF. I really liked the sound, and didn't find it heavy at all. My current medium-sized cab is an Accugroove 2x10, but it's got a 5.25" mid driver and a horn on top, and is nearly as big as some 410's. Honestly, I liked the sound out of the Ampeg better. For its size, it's tone and volume were excellent.

 

[petrus61]

Newer versions of the same tech that was around 8yrs ago are still around. I bought my non class D GK head about then and it's still kicking. I think you'll be alright. The same laws of ohms, watts, efficiency, SPL, etc, still apply. The best thing is, you've had 8yrs of other folks trial and error to help you decide. Good luck!

 

[Andyman001]

I currently play a GK MB Fusion (500w) and I think it is a killer amp. I also have really Gassing for the new Quilter Bass Block 800

Quilter Bass Block

 

[Shishka Bob]

Aguilar TH 500 because it's clean, raw power that will be well-suited to your 2-12s, and the amp delivers 500 watts @ 4 ohms.

 

[Hevy T]

Here is my rig. Little mark 3 and a traynor neo 210. This rig pumps with punch to spare and the head and cab together are less than 50 lbs. I love it

 

[foolforthecity]

Years ago I had an Ampeg 410HLF. I really liked the sound, and didn't find it heavy at all. My current medium-sized cab is an Accugroove 2x10, but it's got a 5.25" mid driver and a horn on top, and is nearly as big as some 410's. Honestly, I liked the sound out of the Ampeg better. For its size, it's tone and volume were excellent.

Haha years ago neither did I! Love it's sound

 

[GreyBeard]

I use a Ampeg PF500 with several different cabinet configurations, 1x15, 2x15, 4x10, 2x10 etc. it is as solid little amp and Basscentral has one for $299.00. It does not have the scrambler circuit but I am partial to the Sansamp bassdriver DI when I want a tubie tone. I've had very good luck with mine.

 

[BassAndReeds]

I didn't read all the posts. But...

Welcome back. My $.02, get whatever class D you can find at a reasonable price, and also invest in a 3 band parametric eq pedal. You can turn your amp to whatever you want at any time. I use the WMD pedal.

Happy hunting.

 

[JGbassman]

Older ones are mid shy. Newer ones aren't since about 2010. Still has the big lows, though.

Yes. I have a newer heritage hlf cab, and I can get as much midrange tone as my 810, or my gk 212 or 410. But I cannot get the lows out of those cabs like I can with that hlf.

The heritage hlf must be lighter weight than the classic. I get the cab in and out of my car, and lift it on to stages by myself, and I'm no spring chicken. I'm not in terrible shape, but I can move the cab ok by myself. And if you want an easy way to move that or an 810 tilt back cab, just grab a dollie or hand truck, tilt them back and go. Easy peasy.

 

[packhowitzer]

I really really like my GK MB800. I would imagine the Mesa or Genzler would be outstanding as well (but I haven't played them).

 

[ModulusFan]

Haven't read the thread, but I am guessing I am not the first to say that Class D and Darkglass have made carrying anything heavy redundant. Not gigging at the moment, but if I do.....a clean class D head, my B7K and either a schroeder or isobaric orange will get all the tone, power and volume I will ever need.

 

[JimmyM]

I use a Ampeg PF500 with several different cabinet configurations, 1x15, 2x15, 4x10, 2x10 etc. it is as solid little amp and Basscentral has one for $299.00. It does not have the scrambler circuit but I am partial to the Sansamp bassdriver DI when I want a tubie tone. I've had very good luck with mine.

It doesn't have the Scrambler circuit, but you can crank the gain to get some overdrive if you want. Might like it, might not, but it sounds pretty good to me.

 

[Doner Designs]

Mesa Boogie Subway D800 or D800+. Excellent sounding class D amps. Really nice stuff...

I have Markbass, GK, Ampeg and Mesa amps. If I had to select one it would be the Mesa D800+ and it would not be a close race. They are all fine amps, but the Mesa just knocked my socks off overall.

Built like a tank in the USA and has a 5 yr warranty (which means you won't likely need the warranty). Includes the gig bag vs most other makers charge extra for that.

The nonplus 800D would likely be fine for most folks. I went for the plus mostly because I don't like the 500 hz EQ point for high mids and the plus really has more than $100 worth of extras vs the standard.

The Genzler should probably be on your list. It didn't make my short list because I can't live without two mid bands.

Mesa is one of the few good down to 2 ohms. The Genzler is good to 2.67 (three 8 ohm cabs). Most of the others are 4. The Mesa and Genzler are newer products vs some of the others, so I think they may be using a different Class D module which permits the lower ohm stability. If not that, the technology is newer overall.

 

[engedi1]

I have owned the RH450, RH750, Aguilar TH500, along with a GK1001 rb and Eden WT 550. I have spent a lot of time with a Markbass LittleMark3. I will offer that that Tc Electronic stuff simply has no balls, but when pushed breaks up. I wanted a lot of clean power. TH500 is better than the RH450 by a longshot, but still will breakup when pushed. I gig that head for years and even got it to sound ok for my upright gigs, with very creative eq'ing. However, I LOVE my quilter bass block. I am running it into 2 Audiokenesis 112's which weight 25 lbs each. This rig put out such low end clarity that it boggles the mind. The Quilter is super simple, really a plug and play rig, but it delivers so much clean headroom, more than any other class D head I've had or tried. I haven't used the Subway though, so I can't make a direct comparison there. The Quilter has a warmth to it that is reminiscent of a tube amp. I highly recommend checking one out.

 

[rufus.K]

Quilter Bb800