What Is The Best Amp You Ever Owned?

[nealw]

I've had Sunn, SWR, Peavey, GK, and my current one is EA. Best sounding by far was a 70s blackline SVT. I just didn't want to carry the damned thing anymore.

 

[Stylee Mousse]

Mine: 1986-1996 Gk 400rb
2000-present v-4b.
Always through Sunn 215 setups

 

[davedamage]

There seems to be a disproportionate amount of Genz Benz and Genzler gear. I still miss my GBE 1200 that was stolen years ago, but this had helped keep me distracted.

 

[Plectrum72]

Toss up between my Mesa TT-800 and my GK MB200. Two totally different sounds. I love the Boogie channel on the Mesa.

The GK MB200 just sounds better (voiced slightly different) than the 500, 800, and fusions (haven't tried the legacy series). I think it's the most GK sounding amp since the 400RB and 800RB.

 

[Ethix4]

I've gone through quite a few amps and still seek some others , mostly all tube amps that I miss , like mesa 400+ , walkabout ( what a great compact a/b head) But most of what I have here is going to stay , I guess I've turned into somewhat of an amp collector. The class D technology is great but to my ear I hear alot of distortion and not as much power as a/b heads , the only one I have is a magellan 350.

 

[WRM]

With my limited experience (Rumbles and PJB NanoX4), it isn't close - I stopped looking after getting this:

 

[jnewmark]

Genz Benz Shuttlemax 12.2.

 

[coy garcia]

400+ still own it but don't take it out in the wild anymore.

 

[Geogio]

I had a Sunn 2000S with a big speaker cabinet that had two 15 JBL D140's in it. Had its own rollers... it felt heavier than a bank vault. I had a Gibson EB-3 to go along with it. I was Jack Bruce meets Felix Pappalardi.

Was it my favorite amp? In 1972 it was.

 

[groooooove]

markbass SD800

i've tried replacing it many times with other MB stuff, genzler, mesa, in addition to all the other obvious choices like ampeg, hartke, aguilar.

there is just something about this amplifier. i've used it my whole professional career, had it since 2008-2009. it just has the perfect amount of clarity, but always a full low end for my bridge-pickup favoring fusion stuff. pop a VT bass in front with a P bass and it's a rock god

i've used all the backlines, seen all the amps, i just can't replace this thing. no idea whether being 'italian made' made a difference or not, but i love this thing.

 

[Brich]

Either combination of these have served very well for years

 

[mikewalker]

For me, All-time fave is also the 400+ and I regularly flirt with the idea of buying another, every time I see one up for sale. Honorable mention to my (70s) V4-B...

 

[HardNHeavy]

not my pic but this 69 SVT exactly what i used all thru the 80's early 90's...the head died so my vintage Traynor Ts-120b took over...Till i bought a hartke 4x10 cab, which almost weighs as much!
I like old gear, if it sounds good i keep it goin.

 

[Yogi Bear]

I have to say a Mesa M3 through an Avatar TB153. Sadly I no longer have either, but of that pairing that Mesa was stellar!

Not mine, but the exact model I had - with the same head case.

 

[juancaminos]

All of them in their day. It would be easier to list the ones I didn't like.
To be a little more specific to the OP question, I would have to say that my all time favorite was/is an Eden WT400/410xlt that I used for 20 years. It just too heavy for me to lug around these days. Before that it was an Acoustic 370/408 set up.

Right now it's Mesa TT800/SW115 unbelievable for 7/37 lbs!

 

[Smooth_bass88]

had 1977 Ampeg SVT (head only), in my younger (poorer) years I sold to "fund another purchase". Yup, definitely regret doing that.

edit. note: currently have an SVT 2-PRO that I'm totally happy with

 

[edervjo]

View attachment 5285265 View attachment 5285263 View attachment 5285264 My current 3 setups. Due to its size, my Aguilar TH500/Aguilar GS112x2 sees the most use for live playing.

I've had my Demeter HBP-1/Crest CA9 setup the longest. Through the Mesa Powerhouse 610 pictured, it's absolutely earth shattering. I don't think there's any other bass rig that I've owned has the sound and feel that it has....."

.

Basically my same experience with the CA9. I run a BBE383 or my Sansamp RPM in to an EV215 eq, and up to 4 EVM 15"s and 2x10"s , in any combo depending on size of gig. Waiting for a class D head that can come close to it

 

[Johnny Fingers]

 

[faulknersj]

I have to say a Mesa M3 through an Avatar TB153. Sadly I no longer have either, but of that pairing that Mesa was stellar!

Not mine, but the exact model I had - with the same head case.

View attachment 5285572

Those Avatar TB 153's were awesome. I recorded some video playing through one of those many years ago and Avatar put a link to the Vid on their Website lol!

 

[Just Wrong]

I received a 700-watt Jule Monique in a trade. Put it up for sale before I even plugged it in as I didn't need another amplifier. Then I tried just to make sure it worked. Wish I could've kept it. I've never heard anything sound so good.