It would be hard to go wrong with anything because they're a good sounding bass to begin with. It just depends the size and power of the rig that you'd like.
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What's the best amp for EBMM basses?
- Thread starter Dlinqnt
- Start date
As a fellow Sterling HH owner, I must say that you have to work pretty hard to get a bad sound out of one.
Rick Auricchio
Registered Bass Offender
I use the Aguilar TH500 with my Stingray 4.
I saw the Ringo All-Starr show last night. Richard Page was playing an SR5 (or maybe it was a Sterling 5); he had two ampeg heads with 4x10 cabs onstage. The heads were either the 3Pro or 7Pro mocels.
I saw the Ringo All-Starr show last night. Richard Page was playing an SR5 (or maybe it was a Sterling 5); he had two ampeg heads with 4x10 cabs onstage. The heads were either the 3Pro or 7Pro mocels.
EBMM through an SVT. Works for AC/DC. Ideal pairing for P Bass and J Bass would be the SVT too. That amp with those basses just creates that sound, in the same way any Gibson guitar into a Marshall stack does in that it just represents an entire era. Just creates the sound of the 70s when I hear it.
I've always found the combo of a stingray with an Eden wt-400, 550 or 800 to be pretty awesome.
Warm, articulate and muscular.
Warm, articulate and muscular.
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
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- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
Interesting that so many people pair them up with GK. It is my contention that Flea started that trend way back in the 80s. My experience with this all is a bit different than most. So Imma gonna share it...
I forget what head it was back in late 80s and 90s that was real popular - but they had one of them in the studio I rehearsed regularly in, and it killed. I loved it, and believed GK to be the perfect match with MM. Enter their newer gear. I got myself one of the original Neo 212 combos which was a 1001RB w/2X12s. Can't tell you how excited I was, then how utterly disappointed. It sounded awesome in my house, and at low volumes - then as soon as I threw it in band mix all it did was fart and rattle. I couldn't get any volume out of it without cutting the bottom and making it all mids. I was advised to add another 2x12 cabinet. I did. It didn't change anything. I sent everything back to GK to see if there was something wrong. They sent me a new 212, and claimed they fixed the combo. Same thing, except the external 212 (when paired with another head) could stand a little more volume.
I bought a Backline head. For reasons I don't know, it sounded better (as mentioned above) through the 212 than all 4x12s and the 1001. Started using that. Bought myself a Bergantino 610, and I was in heaven. In response to the OP, the Berg NV610 was the absolute perfect match for my MMs.... but allow me to continue...
I eventually got myself a Carvin BX500 head, and that became my holy grail. I recently replaced the Berg with 2 Carvin 15s (smaller, lighter, and fits better in my new car), but that's another story.
Anyhow, because I'm a glutton for punishment, I became enamored with the GK micro gear, and since they seemed to be getting good reviews I gave GK one more shot. Ordered the 210 combo with an added 15. In the house I got very excited. It sounded loud, full, and awesome. Took it to rehearsal and it was useless. I wound up plugging into a Yamaha 1x15 combo they had in the studio that destroyed my 2x10 1x15 stack with volume, tone, and bottom. It was laughable. That was the end of me and GK. The amps got sent back to MF the next day.
I'm now very VERY happy with my Carvin gear. Recently upgraded my BX500 to a BX700. No farting, no rattling, lots of bottom, and tons of versatility I never got out of a GK head.
My experience.
I forget what head it was back in late 80s and 90s that was real popular - but they had one of them in the studio I rehearsed regularly in, and it killed. I loved it, and believed GK to be the perfect match with MM. Enter their newer gear. I got myself one of the original Neo 212 combos which was a 1001RB w/2X12s. Can't tell you how excited I was, then how utterly disappointed. It sounded awesome in my house, and at low volumes - then as soon as I threw it in band mix all it did was fart and rattle. I couldn't get any volume out of it without cutting the bottom and making it all mids. I was advised to add another 2x12 cabinet. I did. It didn't change anything. I sent everything back to GK to see if there was something wrong. They sent me a new 212, and claimed they fixed the combo. Same thing, except the external 212 (when paired with another head) could stand a little more volume.
I bought a Backline head. For reasons I don't know, it sounded better (as mentioned above) through the 212 than all 4x12s and the 1001. Started using that. Bought myself a Bergantino 610, and I was in heaven. In response to the OP, the Berg NV610 was the absolute perfect match for my MMs.... but allow me to continue...
I eventually got myself a Carvin BX500 head, and that became my holy grail. I recently replaced the Berg with 2 Carvin 15s (smaller, lighter, and fits better in my new car), but that's another story.
Anyhow, because I'm a glutton for punishment, I became enamored with the GK micro gear, and since they seemed to be getting good reviews I gave GK one more shot. Ordered the 210 combo with an added 15. In the house I got very excited. It sounded loud, full, and awesome. Took it to rehearsal and it was useless. I wound up plugging into a Yamaha 1x15 combo they had in the studio that destroyed my 2x10 1x15 stack with volume, tone, and bottom. It was laughable. That was the end of me and GK. The amps got sent back to MF the next day.
I'm now very VERY happy with my Carvin gear. Recently upgraded my BX500 to a BX700. No farting, no rattling, lots of bottom, and tons of versatility I never got out of a GK head.
My experience.
I played a gig last night and got the best sound I've ever had out of my MM USA Sub and Gallien RB700ii/Barefaced Big Baby gen 3. Even the drummer noticed the sound!
New Ernie Ball cobalt round wounds fitted that day and a Tech21 VT bass Di set pretty flat with the bite and speaker sim engaged into the front end, amp controls set flat with a little low mid boost and presence at 10oclock, boost and woofer on amp at 12oclock.
Masses of heft, top end sparkle/grit and the walls were shaking but still clear......
New Ernie Ball cobalt round wounds fitted that day and a Tech21 VT bass Di set pretty flat with the bite and speaker sim engaged into the front end, amp controls set flat with a little low mid boost and presence at 10oclock, boost and woofer on amp at 12oclock.
Masses of heft, top end sparkle/grit and the walls were shaking but still clear......
Another vote for GK here (despite what Joe Nerve said). I have an OLP Ray copy that I use regularly for rehearsal. I know it is not a real Ray but it gets real close to the Ray tone. I run it through a Backline 600 head and a TCE BC212 cabinet that I keep at our practice space. It sounds great! Clean and articulate with plenty of punch. I also have a 400RB head with a BLX410 cabinet and an MB210 combo plus a RBX115 cabinet. I have used all of these with the OLP and get great tone. I have even used the 210/115 set up at a couple of outdoor gigs with the Ray and it sounded great!
Not just trying to sound like a GK fanboy because all of this GK gear is fairly new to me. I have also used the same bass with TCE, Mark Bass and Ampeg amps and didn't care for the tone nearly as much as with the GK gear.
Not just trying to sound like a GK fanboy because all of this GK gear is fairly new to me. I have also used the same bass with TCE, Mark Bass and Ampeg amps and didn't care for the tone nearly as much as with the GK gear.
One more for GK. It may not work for some (peace, Joe Nerve), but works for me. I have an EBMM Sting Ray HH and a SBMM Ray35ca and both are great with my GK 700RBii and one or two Neo 212s. Articulate, punchy, rails grind when I want it. But I like the GK thing. YMMV.
But as many have said, lots of amps will work well with Sting Rays — that is, providing you like the Sting Ray sound and you like the amp. A Sting Ray-GK paring is likely not going to soothe your P-Bass-Ampeg tonal desire. If you don't like the GK thing (or Ampeg, Orange, etc.), it's probably not going to make your Sting Ray sound good to you. It's all about what you're after.
But as many have said, lots of amps will work well with Sting Rays — that is, providing you like the Sting Ray sound and you like the amp. A Sting Ray-GK paring is likely not going to soothe your P-Bass-Ampeg tonal desire. If you don't like the GK thing (or Ampeg, Orange, etc.), it's probably not going to make your Sting Ray sound good to you. It's all about what you're after.
It's a matter of taste. You can get a wide variety of tones by using any decent amp and cab.
I use some amps because as a working musician who plays in three bands and some projects I don't want to schlep my gear around. Just want to appear, plug in and start rehearsal.
I have a SR 5 from 1995 with a ceramic PU, a SR 4 from 2005 and a Classic SR 5 from 2010.
Those basses get played over a GenzBenz GBE 1200 with a Tecamp L 215, a Bugera BVV 3000 and L 810, an Ampeg SVP Pro + Poweramp and L 810, a Markbass LM II and SWR 212 and a Ibanez Promethean 5110 - besides some old stacks I keep for my students. There is a Peavey TMax with 2 x TVX 410 and a Marshall MB 4410 - Combo. Sometimes I use the LM II together with an old sealed 410 - cab. Wow, I love this cab.
With all of those amps I am able to dial in a variety of sweet tones, one better than the other. All the sounds of all those combinations sure do sound like a Ray with a nice amp.
Sure there are favorites. These are the GBE 1200, the BVV 3000 and the SVP Pro.
With this big stacks I am playing in a 80s cover rock band, using the GBE, and in two heavy bands with the BVV and the SVP Pro. And I love the sound of all of them.
It's into the Ray and the player. Use the amp that you like best, and everything will be all right.
I use some amps because as a working musician who plays in three bands and some projects I don't want to schlep my gear around. Just want to appear, plug in and start rehearsal.
I have a SR 5 from 1995 with a ceramic PU, a SR 4 from 2005 and a Classic SR 5 from 2010.
Those basses get played over a GenzBenz GBE 1200 with a Tecamp L 215, a Bugera BVV 3000 and L 810, an Ampeg SVP Pro + Poweramp and L 810, a Markbass LM II and SWR 212 and a Ibanez Promethean 5110 - besides some old stacks I keep for my students. There is a Peavey TMax with 2 x TVX 410 and a Marshall MB 4410 - Combo. Sometimes I use the LM II together with an old sealed 410 - cab. Wow, I love this cab.
With all of those amps I am able to dial in a variety of sweet tones, one better than the other. All the sounds of all those combinations sure do sound like a Ray with a nice amp.
Sure there are favorites. These are the GBE 1200, the BVV 3000 and the SVP Pro.
With this big stacks I am playing in a 80s cover rock band, using the GBE, and in two heavy bands with the BVV and the SVP Pro. And I love the sound of all of them.
It's into the Ray and the player. Use the amp that you like best, and everything will be all right.
