Which amp will respond best to player's attack

[Wasnex]

You already have what you want, any amp will do to amplify your Helix. Your cheapest option is to just get a power amp.

I am sure the Helix could directly drive some powered full range speakers as well.

 

[beans-on-toast]

Touch sensitivity comes with your gain settings and also how you interact with the speakers.

You have to monitor well, what is coming out of the amp. A wall of speakers, such as an 810 or 215, works. Otherwise with a smaller cab, elevate it closer to ear level.

Turn up the levels until you feel the interaction.

 

[StraffordMike]

GK. It growls whether you like it or not. Mmmmm, crunchy.

 

[Wfrance3]

Are there amps encased in steel?

...'cuz it could probably withstand a decent attack from the drunkest of audience members...

I try to never attack my amp, even if I’m having a bad go of playing. It’s a poor musician who blames his instrument.
If you’ve hit a rough patch, shed a little harder, don’t attack your amp.

 

[MrLenny1]

That GK MB8oo will growl.

 

[Ric5]

 

[Philly Watts]

Hi there, I am new to this forum and I would like to get some insight on which bass amp would respond best to the player's attack. I play mostly finger style and I like the bass to growl a little when I dig harder into it... Without having to engage some distortion or overdrive pedal. I can get pretty much what I want from the line 6 Helix or other amp simulator but I would like to be sure to hit the right target before buying a new amp head. My short lis is: Darkglass Microtubes 900, Gallien Kruegen MB 800 (or Fusion 800) Quilter Bass Block 800 and Ampeg portaflex 800... Any advice is welcome.

IMO... If you have the money, go for the Mesa or Darkglass Amps, but here are the best options...

If going for a full fledged amp:
-Darkglass M500/900
-Mesa Subway D 800+ (it has the High Pass Filter)
-GK 700RB ii or 1001RB ii

Otherwise get a poweramp and some nice preamp pedals such as:
-SansAmp VT Bass or BDDI V2
-Darkglass (Vintage is my favorite)
-Helix or any other high end amp modeler

I'll be honest with you, my GK 700RB ii is basically a poweramp for me these days. Running my pedal board through the effects return (just using the poweramp section) sounds A LOT BETTER thanks to my MXR M80, MXR Bass Compressor, and SansAmp.

 

[pbass2]

I too always think of the classic GK heads for this sorta thing, especially the way they respond seemingly "quickly", as opposed to say, a big tube amp. But it's all very subjective of course.

 

[BOOG]

Are there amps encased in steel?

...'cuz it could probably withstand a decent attack from the drunkest of audience members...

Ashdown RM 500 or 800 EVO can get gritty and is built really well with a beefy steel shell.

 

[2tonic]

Which amp will respond best to player's attack?

The one that's armed.

 

[Pbassmanca]

Glockenklang amps are apparently highly dynamic units. Don't hear much about them on TB though..

 

[Frank77]

Quilter, I think is designed to be mostly clean. But I haven’t used it.

Correct. Turning up the gain on the Quilter changes the action of the limiter and the feel / voice of the amp, but it stays clean. If it is touch sensitive overdrive/growl that OP is after, the Bass Block is not the right amp for the job IMO.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

I haven't tried the amps you've listed, but out of the amps I own, or have owned:
Aguilar Tonehammer 500
G-K 1001RB
Ampeg SVT2-Pro and SVT-CL

 

[JoeWPgh]

Correct. Turning up the gain on the Quilter changes the action of the limiter and the feel / voice of the amp, but it stays clean. If it is touch sensitive overdrive/growl that OP is after, the Bass Block is not the right amp for the job IMO.

I might have agreed with this in my first few weeks with the BB800, but no. The 'tone controls' including gain, are unlike any other amp I've owned. After some time with it, those controls became rather intuitive. My complaint is that the sweeps on these odd controls is too broad. I have found nothing useful near it's extremes

 

[Frank77]

I might have agreed with this in my first few weeks with the BB800, but no. The 'tone controls' including gain, are unlike any other amp I've owned. After some time with it, those controls became rather intuitive. My complaint is that the sweeps on these odd controls is too broad. I have found nothing useful near it's extremes

I certainly don't disagree with that : I'm a big fan of the BB and think its EQ section is pretty smart.

Does it do proper overdrive/grind though? All I get from mine is clean headroom for days, and I'm pretty sure that was one of their design goals.

 

[Bassheart365]

If you want dynamic response...get a tube pre or tube amp.

 

[Pierre Bize]

Hi there and thanks for the helpful replies.
I guess you guys do not "attack" your instruments as we do over here. Some funny jokes about that
Intersting consideration about the power amp + cab as I do have the helix and a Tech 21 VT Bass that I like a lot and I guess I could obtain the sound I like with this setting.
Any advice on which power amp and cab combination to go for?

 

[ColonelZulu]

 

[ColonelZulu]

Hi there and thanks for the helpful replies.
I guess you guys do not "attack" your instruments as we do over here. Some funny jokes about that
Intersting consideration about the power amp + cab as I do have the helix and a Tech 21 VT Bass that I like a lot and I guess I could obtain the sound I like with this setting.
Any advice on which power amp and cab combination to go for?

For power amps, I always just look for the highest power in the lightest box.

The speaker cabinet is always another weight concern. But I’d look a some full range options

 

[Frank77]

Hi there and thanks for the helpful replies.
I guess you guys do not "attack" your instruments as we do over here. Some funny jokes about that
Intersting consideration about the power amp + cab as I do have the helix and a Tech 21 VT Bass that I like a lot and I guess I could obtain the sound I like with this setting.
Any advice on which power amp and cab combination to go for?

You could use the Quilter as a power amp by connecting the output of your favorite preamp (like a VT Bass DI) to the Quilter's XLR in, bypassing its EQ section.