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Why did you choose the amp that you use?

#81
Once the amp is reliable and powerful enough, other things can factor in. But these two are the most important to me.
I need an amp first and foremost to hear myself. I can't have an amp fail on me on stage and I can't be drowned in the mix to the point where the audience (no matter if the audience is the people you play for (live) or the people you play with (rehearsal) ) does not really know whether the bass amp is on or off.

So cabinets play a role, too. A hotone nano with 5 Watts might suffice when you have a high SPL 8x10 - while a highend tube preamp with a 4k+ Watts PA poweramp will help none if you have a low SPL 112 set against a dimed guitar stack.

Once the tool is able to get the job done, the flavor chimes in. I have owned and used various amps for various applications, but like many, I'm kind of drawn towards things that can sound ampeg'ish. I like an amp that can provide both a big low end with lots of bass while at the same time retaining that low mid punch, so I can be audible in the mix AND be felt through the soles of the shoes and the guts at the same time.
My main amps at the present moment are an Ampeg PF50T, a Sansamp BDDI + Poweramp and an Aguilar Tonehammer 500. All these are very capable of a tone that is commonly described as warm.
 
#83
I have various amps for various purposes.

For my 80s cover band: TC BH250. It's racked up in a 3 space bag with my IEM system. It was a great price used, it's clean, quick and easy to set up, the eq is wide ranging enough to cover any quick tweaks I need at the moment, the footswitch allows me to mute or pull up comp and chorus, the tuner is built in. All that and the cables needed are stashed in the rack bag. It will also easily drive a cab if I need one for stage fill. This rack over my shoulder and two basses: an active Jazz 5 (rounds) and either an active fretless 5 (flats) or active P/J 4 (rounds) in hand and I'm off.

For my CAN tribute band: 1978 Peavey Century 200 on top of a 68 Kustom TnR charcoal sparkle 2x12" with a 12" Peavey Scorpion and Hartke HyDrive 12". This amp and cab have that psychedelic 70s tone and look, the built in distortion is so aggressive and perfect for replicating the hairy side of Holger's raw tone. The cab has exactly the loose, yet punchy tone required for the gig. I discovered this amp years ago when one came into a shop I worked at. It looked cool. After playing if for a few minutes, I knew I needed to own one. I did eventually get one for $70, which is like buying a pedal! I have always loved TnR Kustom cabs for not only the look, but that they have a pretty big low end for their size. Loaded with more modern, high powered speakers, I don't have to worry that it won't carry the sound. I use a 84 Foundation with flats with a small pedalboard with this.

For pretty much any other bass gig: Markbass CMD121P. It's ridiculously easy to carry, sounds nice and clean, fills the room and works really well with any pedals I add to shape or warp the tone. It powers up my GK NEO 212 II or Ampeg 210HE perfectly for more push, if needed.

The old warhorse: 1995 Eden WT500. Love it's clean, articulate tone. This was the go to until the Markbass came around. I would still rock this amp if I am feeling like dragging a cab and it around, it's kind of a heavy job. It's racked up in a 6 space with a power conditioner, rack tuner, and old Deltalab delay set for weird chorus or flange.

The stay at home amp: 1971 Standel C30-B. This 1x15" combo was my CAN amp until the Peavey was found, gone through and deemed reliable and trustworthy. Love the look and sound of it, but it doesn't like being pushed too hard for too long, so it's best left at home to play. It looks so cool and sounds really nice with Bass VI or guitar, too.
 
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#85
I use 2 rigs.

GK 700RB -> NEO410. This is my 'big rig'. Clean power, tons of headroom, but can get aggressive and nasty should the need arise. Fairly light for a 410. I use this mostly for gigs and venues that need a tight, clean sound.

Mesa D800 -> Subway 1x12 & 1x15. I use this more for classic rock and more old school sounds. It can sound thicker and heavier than the GK for when I'm playing in a band with only one other guitar. The head is obviously my main touring tool as it's so small and light.
 
#86
I chose my Hartke KB15 because I wanted something more portable, powerful, and something that was a kickback so I can hear myself. The Hartke delivers for me because I can bring it anywhere (small venue, medium club, or an arena) and still hear myself while I am playing. I also love the tone of the Hartke. The factory speaker is crap IMO. I changed it to an Eminance CB158 and it really improved the overall bass response of the amp. It also sounds great without being muddy. I also really wanted something portable and the Hartke delivers. I love this amp! I have had Fender Rumbles, Markbass Combos and Heads, and Acoustic amps. IMO the Hartke beats them all due to the Kickback design.
 
#87
For me, also, Ken Jung's TH500 recommendation as an amp to pair with my Berg cabs turned me on to Aguilar.

A quick check when the AG700 came out proved to me that they still had "it" as far as I was concerned.
 
#88
Over the years I have tried Ampeg, Fender, Peavey, GK, Hartke, Ashdown and Eden. For me, Ampeg has by far the best sound. I use U.S. made SVT heads and cabs, either 410 or 810 depending on the venue. If I wasn't using Ampeg, I would use GK.
 
#90
GK MB115 - The EQ man, the EQ... I get serious growl out of the thing, when wanted. Great portability, small enough for home yet big enough for small venues.

Ampeg SVT-CL/SVT-410HLF - Incredible cleans at high volume and incredible tube distortion, when wanted. Fills any room, anywhere. Heavy but worth the work at the end of the day. I went with the HLF because I want heavy bottom end lows.

Both rigs deliver on everything I wanted them for. I can't explain tone very well, so I won't.
 
#91
Carvin BX700. Eq and price.

My previous amp (and now my backup*) is a Markbass LMII. I was never completely happy with the eq section on this amp, or more specifically the frequency centres, especially when faced with an acoustically tricky venue. For me, the bass @ 40hz is too low and the low mid @360hz is too high. Anyway, it met with an accident requiring a not inexpensive repair and I didn't quite trust it to behave properly afterwards, so I decided to get a new amp, one that would give me enough control to dial in the frequencies the LMII didn't have.

I remember reading an article in a magazine about The Darkness, and the bass tech was explaining that they use an SVT Pro (?), which has a traditional eq section paired with a graphic eq, and they use one for dialling in the tone and the other to compensate for room acoustics.

Light bulb!

Obviously, I didn't want to spend that amount of money, nor lug one around. I can't remember how, but I discovered the Carvin and it appeared to have everything I needed on board. 4 band semi parametric eq plus a graphic eq for further teaker. Not to mention a switchable tube preamp and compressor. I've had this thing for a few years now and I'm still discovering new things about it and sounds I can get. And it's even lighter than the LMII.

*just got a Valeton Dapper Bass. All going well, this will be my backup 'amp' and I can sell the LMII.
 
#92
I needed a lot of volume because I play with loud guitarists and a loud drummer. We also refuse to expand on our PA for some stupid reason, so I needed a lot of volume on tap.

I like the SVT 3 PRO. Didn't want to go all tube but wanted more power, so I got the 6 PRO which has the same preamp section and a much bigger power amp. Ran that into a pair our 410HE's and have achieved "the sound".

The only changes I foresee making is downsizing to a "Super cab" or two and micro amp if I can find one that provides "the sound". Otherwise, I'm good.
 
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#93
PraiseBassing said:
For me, my GK MB210-II and 210MBE-II are lightweight and loud enough for any stage I will play. I'll do some testing with it later, because honestly there is a specific frequency range that it has a bump in with the eq flat, that led me to choose it. It's not down at 35Hz, but it is what was the most pleasing out of all the MB combos to my ears when playing up and down the B string. I'm assuming it is somewhere around 60Hz but don't know for sure, so I'll run some sine waves through it. I'll add more to this thread later.

So what does everyone use? More importantly to me, why do you use it? What contributes to the sound you hear and love from your amp?
Click to expand...
EQ, portability and volume, in no particular order.
 
#94
My first big amp was a Line6 lowdown (400 watts). I really like it, but I bought it because it was cheap and powerfull. Then I sold it and buy the line6 and cab separately. I was a big fan of line6. Then I discovered other brands.
And I chose Ashdown ABM. My favourite bass head. I tried the the SVT, the hartke ha, one laney that I don't remember, a peavey tnt (which I also loved), orange ad... After all, the Ashdown was cheap (I bought it used) and with a tone that I love. Sure, I'd rather use an Ampeg SVT, an Orange AD or or an Ashdown CTM, but in the gigs that I play it wouldn't be that efficient. They are heavier, much much more expensive (including all the costs of valves etc). In the venues that I play you depend on the PA of the venue, so I prefer solidstate.

Conclussion: price and sound. And Ashdown feels like home. I really miss it when I use other bass amp.

PS my rig is Ashdown ABM evoII with an Ashdown 410h evoIV cab
 
#95
I tested one out and like what I heard I was looking to break away from a combo amp and go light weight and the price was so good I bought two one as a backup. As weekend warrior I wasn't interested in anything other than the tone and the weight this amp had both and it is
Behringer UltraBass BXD3000H
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300-watt 2-ch Bass Amp Head with Compressor comes with a pedal to switch between channels, so I can set the one side for nice fat tone and the other for a more modern tone by stepping on a pedal I play classic rock from the 60-70 and move through to some of today's music this thing has got me covered. and with a 7 band eq and only 7.7 lbs it was what I was looking for. :) and don't get me started on the price I have paid more for dinner for two. RTS
 
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#97
- They sound great
- They have very flexible EQ
- They have a great reputation
- Got great prices buying them used here on TB

That applies to both my MB800 and my D-800. And, except for buying it used on TB (it was a floor model from The Bass Place), those same things apply to the Genzler Magellan 350 I just bought, too.
 
#99
In my case I bought the amps/cabs I have to fit best what I do. I wanted a quality setup that was portable but didn't leave me wanting more. I spent what I had to in order to get that. I'm very satisfied. I have a Bergantino B|Amp with 2 1x12 cabs. I also have a Demeter with 2 AccuGroove cabs. I use what the gig calls for.
 
#100
I've mainly been using an Ampeg SVT 5-Pro for a few years now.
I like it because it's flexible but has the ability to be run in very simple configurations as well. For example, the amp is loaded with feature and ins/outs, has an effects loop, a crossover, a great-sounding octaver, and a blend-able overdrive channel. It also has a very thick, clear, and aggressive clean channel with a simple 3-band EQ that works well for plugging straight in and getting a good sound with little effort, before getting into any other features. For finer tone tweaking I'll blend in the overdrive channel which has the more versatile EQ of the two channels; if I keep the gain low it essentially gives me that extra EQ capability without changing that clean tone that I like from the amp so much. Otherwise, if I'm feeling up to it, I can use the footswitch to bring in the overdrive channel while pushing the gain hard to get a fuzz-like sound; this works especially well when using the octaver at the same time.

In essence, I like that the amp's clean channel is simple and sounds good, but the ability for extra flexibility and also a significant effects capability with the overdrive and octaver really makes the amp special. Also, my bandmates get excited when I use it instead of my other options.
 

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