What's the best amp for EBMM basses?

[Dlinqnt]

Let me begin by saying I do understand this question is subjective, but I'm interested in the "ideal pairing" like the p bass with an ampeg svt, for example. I have seen that many people seem to agree that this is a dream set up. Does an industry dream pairing exist for EBMM's?
I have a fender rumble practice amp that is understandably inadequate, but I am wondering what would be the best amp(s) to investigate for an upgrage.

 

[Mystic Michael]

Yes, this does call for a subjective judgement. And no, there is no such thing as "best" - not in any objective sense at least.

If the idea is to select an amp that reinforces the most salient aspects of the instrument, then to match with a MusicMan bass, you'd be looking for an amp head that is clear, bright and punchy in character. Some likely candidates:

* Gallien Krueger (obviously)
* Thunderfunk
* EBS
* SWR (if you can find one)

MM

 

[Mystic Michael]

FWIW, my preference for mating with a Fender Precision would more likely be Mesa Boogie than Ampeg, though that's a choice that's clearly contrary to conventional wisdom. So I'd be looking for something like an M-Pulse 600, a D-180, or a 400+ - all discontinued models, as it turns out. But there ya go.

MM

 

[Dlinqnt]

Thanks for the input. There's a lot of crap out there and I'd like to skip most of it

 

[JGR]

I really liked GK and Bag End cabs with the 30th anniversary Stingray I had.

 

[Dave W]

I've always been happy with an SVT or GK and my Stingrays.

 

[Funkmabassup]

Go too a store and try a Gallien Krueger rig with a EBMM bass, IMAO these are a perfect match and Ive heard others state the same. Stingray + gk sounds just badass

 

[Joshua Pickenpaugh]

I believe EBMM have re-issued the Music Man amps via MarkBass. They look and (supposedly) sound like the old EBMM amps, just built by another bass-amp company. Perhaps these might be the "best" pairing?

 

[DwaynieAD]

Let me begin by saying I do understand this question is subjective, but I'm interested in the "ideal pairing" like the p bass with an ampeg svt, for example. I have seen that many people seem to agree that this is a dream set up. Does an industry dream pairing exist for EBMM's?
I have a fender rumble practice amp that is understandably inadequate, but I am wondering what would be the best amp(s) to investigate for an upgrage.

Ive got insane amounts of compliments on my mm tone thru a Gk 1001rbii and a Gk rbx 410

 

[73jbass]

My Mesa M6 Carbine and Mesa Traditional 610 cab make my MM basses sound great. All my basses sound great through that rig actually.

 

[Jaycephas]

Aguilar TH500 with an Aguilar TLC.

 

[Mattster]

Once heard a guy rock a Stingray through a GK head with a Hartke 4x10. Sounded awesome. A common rig 20 years ago.

 

[eyeballkid]

Ive played stingrays for years.
amps Ive LOVED with them:
Fender 300 Pro
Sunn 1200s
Ampeg SVT
Ashdown ABM EVO II ( AWESOME!!)
Mesa M6 ( played thru it and loved it but never owned it)
Vintage Ampeg V4B
Reiner MK1 Preamp thru any power amp.
Ampeg 450H (for solid state)

amps I just liked:
Orange AD200
Ampeg SVT3 Pro
Ampeg SVT5 Pro
Fender 100T and Bassman 300
Mesa Big Block
Ashdown Mark King
Ampeg V4BH (tone was incredible, but volume was lacking)
Ampeg V4B reissue. (its STELLAR with a jazz, but I havent bond with it with my Stingray)

amps I hated with it:
Traynor 200-2
Mesa Mpulse
Fender TBP-1
Monolith Magma
Morgan MP200
Aguilar 500 DC
Ampeg SVT6 Pro

 

[joebar]

the same amp that is best for metal

 

[spaz21387]

I run my 3 band stingray through an ampeg v4b reissue and a pre fender swr goliath sr cab. I love my rig.

 

[blindrabbit]

I happily played my SR5 through SWR for a couple of decades and though it sounded awesome.

More recently though, I found a Sterling into an Aguilar Tone Hammer to be absolutely killer.

 

[Nephilymbass]

Let me begin by saying I do understand this question is subjective, but I'm interested in the "ideal pairing" like the p bass with an ampeg svt, for example. I have seen that many people seem to agree that this is a dream set up. Does an industry dream pairing exist for EBMM's?
I have a fender rumble practice amp that is understandably inadequate, but I am wondering what would be the best amp(s) to investigate for an upgrage.

I use a tech 21 sans amp rbi. The wet XLR goes to front of house, the wet 1/4 out goes to my power amp and cab. I've had it since they came out. Love it, and I disagree with anyone who bashes them because they probably either didn't take the time to learn how to use it or they played a crappy bass through it. There's a reason Geddy Lee has one on tour.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

My opinion, Mark Bass.

 

[Red Planet]

Let me see if I can bring some sanity to this discussion. Ask here what is best for a MM and your going to get a thousand different answers. Some are even going to trash you for asking, just ignore those.

First rather than give you a specific answer let me answer the question this way. I find Music Man Basses have a certain Zing to them because they all start out with an on board Preamp. Granted there are a lot of differences between all the models from Humbuckers to Single Coils and Pole piece material difference and type of EQ section. All that being said MM have a certain solidness to them that many other basses just don't have. Since they have a certain character foundation it is my opinion to approach these instruments in a way that could be different than other basses.

In a nut shell I believe MM basses like flat EQ amps with a lot of power on hand and I believe they get this better from solid state amps. Also due to the huge amount of definition and solidness MMs put out I believe it comes in handy to soften them up a touch with a very nice Compressor and I don't mean one of those things you put on your pedal board I mean something along the lines of studio grade doesn't have to be high dollar. Now that's not to say a good ol Stingray would not sound glorious straight into a vintage SVT, it's more to say what I believe works better with the amps.

Also I like to get my EQ or most of it from the Bass and I'm apt to change on the fly for certain purposes though most of the time I have my favorite spot.

Now I'm able to achieve what I speak of with Genz Benz Shuttle 9.0 with a DBX 160A compressor in the loop of the 9.0. I run a 2x12 4 ohm cab that allows me to keep up with anyone at any gig.

I hope this helps: Power, Flat EQ, and some Gooeyness.

 

[npbassman]

My sterling HH sounds killer through my GK MB500. Clear, crisp, aggressive and it cuts through the mix like a knife. I got some nice compliments on my tone last gig. I also just acquired a TH500 and the MM sounds great through that too. With that said, the TH seems to tame the MM tone but in a good way. You can still tell it's a MM but it's more mellow, warm and round. You can of course dial back in more grit with the AGS but it's different than the GK growl. I can't wait to try it out live and A/B it with the MB500.