My older Edens have never missed a beat...still have my '04 WT550 as backup.bass_lord_mutha said:
As to biggest disappointment the gong goes to Streamliner 900, no contest. Best thing I ever did was get the Mesa M6 Carbine.
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Which amp was the biggest disappointment? Which exceeded expectations?
- Thread starter kesslari
- Start date
As to biggest disappointment the gong goes to Streamliner 900, no contest. Best thing I ever did was get the Mesa M6 Carbine.
Biggest disappointment: Early 80's Peavey bass head. I turned knobs for months before I gave up. It was just horrible.
Exceeded expectations: Markbass 121P combo. This little combo is a monster. Great mix of form and function.
Exceeded expectations: Markbass 121P combo. This little combo is a monster. Great mix of form and function.
Biggest disappointment: Carvin R1000. Just couldn't get a sound I liked from it. Second biggest disappointment: my first "big boy" amp, an Earth (model no. escapes me). Black vinyl tucked and pleated exterior (it WAS the 70's). Bought it used from "some dude". Some days it sounded good, other times, seemingly due to its own will, it would start whooshing like some phase shifter from hell and the power would drop to barely audible. I spent a lot of money I didn't really have trying to get it fixed. Finally sold it as a package with my '77 Rick 4001 (I wish I had THATback now).
Exceeded expectations, because they were appropriately low: GK Backline 110. All I wanted was a practice amp that didn't scare the crap out the dogs or annoy the neighbors. I had taken a sabbatical from playing for 20 years and just wanted to get that back in my life. What I got for my $100 was a decent sounding practice amp. I actually bought the Carvin after this and was sad that it sounded so poorly, since I love my Carvin LB75 bass.
I'm looking for my next "big" amp to power my Avatar 410n cabinet-- another "exceeds expectations" purchase. I have been considering a Genz Benz GBE 750, a Shuttle Max 9.0, a Little Mark Tube 800, a GK 1001RB, and a Trace Elliot AH600-12. This thread has been a big help.
Exceeded expectations, because they were appropriately low: GK Backline 110. All I wanted was a practice amp that didn't scare the crap out the dogs or annoy the neighbors. I had taken a sabbatical from playing for 20 years and just wanted to get that back in my life. What I got for my $100 was a decent sounding practice amp. I actually bought the Carvin after this and was sad that it sounded so poorly, since I love my Carvin LB75 bass.
I'm looking for my next "big" amp to power my Avatar 410n cabinet-- another "exceeds expectations" purchase. I have been considering a Genz Benz GBE 750, a Shuttle Max 9.0, a Little Mark Tube 800, a GK 1001RB, and a Trace Elliot AH600-12. This thread has been a big help.
My first bass amp was a Gorilla 30-watt combo with a 10" speaker. It was great at home, but when I rehearsed with a band, my sound was nowhere to be found. The amp wasn't defective, but I learned how much amp you get for $99!
My MB Carbine M6 212 combo completely exceeded my expectations. I bought it two years ago, and I will never part with it. HUGE sound!
My MB Carbine M6 212 combo completely exceeded my expectations. I bought it two years ago, and I will never part with it. HUGE sound!
Biggest Disappointment: The occasional bone tossed to bass players from Line 6. It was bad enough knowing that they would get to bass sometime after they have done everything they can think of with guitar amps. Now bass seems to be a lower priority than their PA development.
Exceeded expectations: GB 9.2 - Most any sound I want is in there somewhere and at a price I can afford.
Exceeded expectations: GB 9.2 - Most any sound I want is in there somewhere and at a price I can afford.
My biggest disappointment was the SWR550X uggghhh this thing has no power at all and didnt sound all that great.
Exceeded expectations: my Hartke 3500 still running strong after 28 years and my new amp the Crown XLS1500 power amp & the Sansamp RBI
btw - I'll never sell the Hartke but I will the swr
Exceeded expectations: my Hartke 3500 still running strong after 28 years and my new amp the Crown XLS1500 power amp & the Sansamp RBI
btw - I'll never sell the Hartke but I will the swr
Doug Parent
Supporting Member
The Bad: Carvin B1500 ....Gain issues, reportedly fixed with the B2000. Older GK400RB, similar to others complaints, not getting resolved even though it was shipped to GK for service. Mesa 400+....just could not get it going on tone wise.
The good:
Markbass F1/F500.
Just about every Bergantino cabinet I've owned provided stellar tone.
GK700RB/1001RB-II series heads. Really dependable and great workhorse heads.
So far, I'm digging the Genz Benz 9.2
The good:
Markbass F1/F500.
Just about every Bergantino cabinet I've owned provided stellar tone.
GK700RB/1001RB-II series heads. Really dependable and great workhorse heads.
So far, I'm digging the Genz Benz 9.2
Disappointment: Ampeg SVT-4, purchased used over 10 years ago. It's a solid amp, but it is really a mid range amp in terms of value (price probably reflects a few additional hundred bucks of marketing, not value). Every Mesa I've used since the SVT-4 has blown this thing away on all levels. I used one recently and found the supposedly huge power section to be less powerful than expected.
Exceeded Expectations: Ampeg B100R. I never thought I'd go Ampeg again, but this thing rocks for warm old school-ish tones and just about everyone who has used one raves about them.
Exceeded Expectations: Ampeg B100R. I never thought I'd go Ampeg again, but this thing rocks for warm old school-ish tones and just about everyone who has used one raves about them.
No real disapointments. But back in the day, after a little 'brouhaha' on the stage, which trashed three of our amps, the old practice Sears amp was put to work. We had one guitar, one Farfisa keyboard, and my P-bass running through that little bugger. It had I think 6x10s? (If you had one help me out) The tube head sat on top and had five or six knobs. It worked. We just miked it and it lasted another two hours. I was floored. This was maybe in 1968?
Oh smack!! I forgot! I did a week out of town. The backline I received was a Line 6 bass combo. Not one of their lower end combo's. It stunk to the heavens above. The worst, yuck, gack!
I'm not sure bassists are a lower priority to Line 6. Apparently Line 6 actually hates bass players. er...jmo
In reality,I think it,s all up to the luck of the draw.If you notice in the threads one is,bad while the other is good.Tubes vs solid state vs hybrids.As for me I
enjoy reading all this because of the knowledge I have gained.Heck I,m 61,now have time to learn and I,m learning from all of you and I,M grateful.Ok my two cents ?Worst Ashdown electric blue combo w Mag 4x10cab.Sounds like a blanket is over it. Best? I got ahold of a NOS Ampeg B2R with NOS Steve Bailey Ampeg Cab,the 1528 all brand spanking new,made in the USA by good old St Louis music.Also my old Carvin 600 Redline 13 yrs old paired it last week with a new Carvin 18 inch cab. Yowzah!!!!!!!
enjoy reading all this because of the knowledge I have gained.Heck I,m 61,now have time to learn and I,m learning from all of you and I,M grateful.Ok my two cents ?Worst Ashdown electric blue combo w Mag 4x10cab.Sounds like a blanket is over it. Best? I got ahold of a NOS Ampeg B2R with NOS Steve Bailey Ampeg Cab,the 1528 all brand spanking new,made in the USA by good old St Louis music.Also my old Carvin 600 Redline 13 yrs old paired it last week with a new Carvin 18 inch cab. Yowzah!!!!!!!
My biggest disappointment would have to be the SWR Bass 750 with a 6x10 Goliath Sr. I dropped $1300 for the matched set, used. Got it to rehearsal and just got lost in the mix. It was supposed to be an upgrade from a Hartke HA3500 with a 410. The Hartke cut thru but was a bit harsh. Figured the SWR rig would cut thru with headroom to spare, but it was so mid scooped I just couldn't be heard no matter how I EQ'd it. It was the quietest 750W amp I have ever played. I gigged with it a few times then moved on to gear that suited my playing style.
My current setup of a Mesa Basis M-2000 in a Mesa 2x12 combo cabinet just blows me away. The amp is fantastic, lots of tonal options and more EQ than any other amp I've ever seen. The cabinet is phenomenal, nice and smooth with nice low end and great midrange. When pushed the 12's don't fart as badly as other drivers would, they actually break up a bit which adds a little grit to the tone. I smile everytime I play.
EDIT: The Hartke rig was a close second, but the cabinet was a bit harsh for me. Had I known then what I do now, I would have kept the head and bought a better cabinet.
My current setup of a Mesa Basis M-2000 in a Mesa 2x12 combo cabinet just blows me away. The amp is fantastic, lots of tonal options and more EQ than any other amp I've ever seen. The cabinet is phenomenal, nice and smooth with nice low end and great midrange. When pushed the 12's don't fart as badly as other drivers would, they actually break up a bit which adds a little grit to the tone. I smile everytime I play.
EDIT: The Hartke rig was a close second, but the cabinet was a bit harsh for me. Had I known then what I do now, I would have kept the head and bought a better cabinet.
I bought an RB 800 twenty something years ago. Not only has this amp delivered loud ness and tone but it still works. Round sound sure. Never got into the Biamp but never needed it. I got this after having a few tube amps and likey will never have another bass amp that is all tube.
A question , Are they still made this good? I am cleaning out and need space. If I sell this old amp will I regret it if I ever want to play loud again? Are the new ones as good as the first ones?
A question , Are they still made this good? I am cleaning out and need space. If I sell this old amp will I regret it if I ever want to play loud again? Are the new ones as good as the first ones?
Can't really say what was the biggest downer, but by FAR the amp that exceeded my expectations was the gk mb800. It is a rock crusher!GK all the way!
Biggest disappointments: learning the hard way that many amps these days are rushed to market and it takes a few "revisions" to get them to work properly. Fancy features and crazy volume don't mean much when the thing blows up on a gig.
Bestest: I've never met an 800rb, mine or provided, that couldn't sound at least pretty good. My 700rbII is a great amp. And the MarkBass stuff iall seems solid and has good sounds.
Bestest: I've never met an 800rb, mine or provided, that couldn't sound at least pretty good. My 700rbII is a great amp. And the MarkBass stuff iall seems solid and has good sounds.
i had a trace elliot gpll mk lV but it was getting tired so i bought an ashdown because i heard that the ashdown guy had put the trace stuff together and i loved the trace sound. the ashdown just didn't do it for me so out it went. in came GK. and i have just what i want tone wise now. ashdown does it for some but not for me. sorry mr ashdown.
