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Which bass amp would you purchase for your dream studio?

A

activebass

Sep 19, 2013
72
3
Singapore
#1
If you had to purchase ONE bass amplifier (pre and power) for your dream studio and money was NOT an issue, which brand and model would you buy?

In addition, if you had to buy only one versatile amp to handle most genres except metal, which would it be?

Q: Aguilar DB 751 750-Watt Hybrid Bass Head or
Ampeg Heritage SVT-CL 300-Watt Tube Bass Head?
 
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#7
Between the choices given , the SVT Cl. It has a master and a volume so it can be dialed in nicely (better than the VR or old Ampegs due to the master volume.) It does have a fan so that might be a consideration for recording.
As to the other ones mentioned , The V4B is killer for a studio. No fan , not killer power so it can be cranked a bit and a wonderful tone. Same can be said for the B15 especially killer tone. Less power than the V4B (35 as opposed to 100 watts) so it can be cranked pretty good and that is where it works best. All three have the distinctive Ampeg sound that works well for a lot of recording.
My vote for the most versatile would be the SVT Cl. While it is very Ampeggy if you want it to be , it can be dialed in for a lot of different sounds although the Ampeg tone will always be at at least a little present.
 
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#10
For studio,
Ampeg B-15 early 60's vintage or limited edition USA Heritage hand wired.
I'd have to try a few 15" drivers to see which held together the best.
Absolutely nothing wrong with a B-18 either.

Reeves Custom 225
Passive cooling, whisper quiet, hand built in USA
Rich natural tone.

Divided By 13 RDT 200
Based on a Hiwatt DR-201, but with 2 completely separate tone stacks.

Tab Funkenverk V-71 D/I would also come in very handy.

Generally recording, you use the amp to add a bit of life to the companion D/I track.

The amp should have enough guts to support the low end, but volume is not quite as important as tone.

Going through an amp and cab helps diffuse some of the less desirable artifacts of
harder, more agressive live playing styles.

If the client doesn't already have the amp they want to use and they request an amp that
is commonly available like an SVT, just have the band cover the cost of the rental.
 
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#14
minnie1.jpg
 
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#17
seamonkey said:
The modeling is extremely good these days. It's used everywhere. No need to have just one head/cabinet when you can virtually have many.
Click to expand...

Any number of good options. Oddly, I have some good modeling software but have never been over the moon about the results I got using them, especially compared to my 6SL7 pre. Then again, there's a song on Legendary ShackShakers record, "Agridustrial" where I plugged into some Line 6 Bass Pod type thing (can't remember which model...Floor Pod?). I was just meaning to do a scratch track, to be recut on upright later. I grabbed a Jack Cassidy with tape wound strings, did one take, fixed one tiny part and we kept it for the final track. The song was called "God Fearing People." Not long after, a local producer hired me to play on a record and wanted that exact bass sound for the entire thing. You never know what's gonna work :)
 

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