the two bass amp that are "industry standard " in my understanding is a 1.) Ampeg B15n as far as combo, and 2.) SVT w810 for live stack, and 3.) 60's Fender Showman, or Bassman TV of all time
whattdya say?
whattdya say?
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
What is a “standard “ bass amp?
- Thread starter Rumbledore
- Start date
the two bass amp that are "industry standard " in my understanding is a 1.) Ampeg B15n as far as combo, and 2.) SVT w810 for live stack, and 3.) 60's Fender Showman, or Bassman TV of all time
whattdya say?
I would use the term iconic rather than standard. I wouldn't necessarily say all of your examples are iconic. I have been gigging and visiting music shops since the mid 70s and don't think I have never seen a B15n or Bassman TV. I have owned three SVTs but only seen them used by others about 4 times. IMHO, SVTs are more of a dream rig rather than common among casual musicians. Honestly I don't even see them in music stores very often. I bought an 810 with my first SVT and don't ever plan to own another as they are not my cup of tea. Both the SVT and 810 had to be special ordered. I have never seen another bass player use a Showman, but my first amp was a blackface Twin (which is basically the same amp) and I currently own an early silverface Showman Reverb (also basically the same amp). These Fender amps sound great to my ears, but they only make about 85W clean. The blackface Showman was considered a decent bass amp before more capable amps like the SVT came on the scene in the late 60's and early 70's.
I would definitely say the SVT and 810 is iconic. The B15n is probably iconic in certain studio circles. I think the Showman was really only popular as a bass rig for a relatively short time, so I would say not iconic. Everything I have found on the Bassman TV says it is a tribute to the 50's era tweed Bassman which was an iconic guitar amp, but I believe, a pretty marginal bass amp.
Same as pizza... small, medium, and large
Behringer (like some pizza joints) come in large, extra large, and family
Behringer (like some pizza joints) come in large, extra large, and family
Well, my "standard" is a GK 1001RBII with one or two Neo 212s. YMMV.
Don't really care what the standards are...I play what sounds good to me.
Agree with 1 and 2, though
Agree with 1 and 2, though
Given that it could be classified as a tool of a trade, I'd say a standard bass amp is a thing. Is there an amp/cab that is significantly more stocked than others by backline companies?
Ampeg, GK, Eden and Hartke are the top ones these days. Aguilar and Mesa are gaining some ground, though.
I'm sure there are some backline companies that have Fender amps. But if they're commonly found as rentable backline, it's news to me.
I've never once seen a Fender as a backline, rented or house.
Personally I find it's usually Ampeg (lots of cabs, some SVTs), GK (cabs and RBs), and Hartke (assorted)... and probably in that order. Then maybe still SWR for places with older gear.
Honestly, I've never came across Eden as best as I can remember. Not saying they're not used, just that I've never personally came across one.
Last edited:
At one time you had an upright bass and what people called a Fender bass. The term Fender bass implied an electric bass guitar. Fender was the standard. Then with time, all that changed.
For many backline companies, they carry some SVT's because of demand. Even the smallest backine supplier will have at least one SVT and 810.
For a supplied backline, what you get often depends on how cheap the promoter is.
For many backline companies, they carry some SVT's because of demand. Even the smallest backine supplier will have at least one SVT and 810.
For a supplied backline, what you get often depends on how cheap the promoter is.
Man, where do you live? I have seen it all on stages and local music stores as well, through the years...
Guitar amps, yes. Bass amps, no.
I don't really see any amps as standard anymore. Perhaps the new standard is not to use an amp at all. Most of the national acts we've opened for lately didn't run any real amps, most were on in ears. And really for years now I've opened for bigger rock bands and the majority of them have a rig onstage that's basically a stage monitor and not part of their sound to foh at all because they are running a di of some sort. I've never once seen a B15n in person and I've been gigging for almost 20 years. I see an SVT/810 about once or twice a year although I regularly see the 810e with different amps. The most common Ampeg rig I've seen lately is probably the svt7 with the 410hlf cab. The Aguilar th500 and 112 cabs seem to be selling well, I see a lot of them in the bass videos I check out on YouTube but I've never seen one in person, maybe that's because no one sells them around here. I know of a couple bassist playing Hartke rigs. I see a LOT of avatar cabs at local band shows both for Guitar and for bass. Seen a couple more pop oriented bands using tiny markbass 210 cab and micro head type setups. I see some Mesa boogie although most of the Mesa stuff i see is not the newer tube amps and lightweight stiff like the 800(which seems like a pretty popular amp here on tb). The Mesa stuff I see is more of is the older stuff like the m-2000 and m pulse 600.
I live in the Mid-West now, but I have worked throughout large sections of the US and Europe. I have seen a fair amount of Ampeg 810Es doing backline duty at various events, but usually with some random head instead of an SVT. Last time I saw an SVT and 810 together on a backline was in Siberia around 2011. I ran sound for that event and the bassist was playing an upright bass, so it was a bit rough for him. Before that I saw a couple of SVTs in bar bands in San Antonio TX around 2005.
It's extremely rare for me to use a backline amp, I would rather use a rig I am familiar with and I typically travel pretty light. I have done some pretty huge events with just an Eden D210XLT and about 250W.
