I went with an swr headlite for its size that allows me to drop it in my Mono M80 gig bag. And that it has a pretty/post eq. And the mute, eq options, and onboard compression. And clean DI with DI level and pad. Its perfect for me to use direct at church and loud enough with my super efficient Tecamp L212 cab for shows.
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Why did you choose your amp?
- Thread starter pica
- Start date
- Oct 18, 2012
- 6,683
- 5,538
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Fender, Spector, Ampeg, Curt Mangan, Nordstrand Pickups, Korg , Conquest Sound
I own several amps, all are Ampeg. I have early 1970s SVT head and cab, American made SVT 6 Pro, two SVT 410HE cabs, and a Chinese BA 500 combo.
I chose them for sound, power and reliability. In my opinion, these are the only reasons to choose any amp and cab. I do notice a difference in tone between my American made tube heads and my Chinese made combo. I use the combo at rehearsal and the MIA heads and cabs at gigs.
I have also tried Peavey, Hartke and GK. I rank Ampeg first, GK a very close second, Hartke a distant third and Peavey as terrible.
I chose them for sound, power and reliability. In my opinion, these are the only reasons to choose any amp and cab. I do notice a difference in tone between my American made tube heads and my Chinese made combo. I use the combo at rehearsal and the MIA heads and cabs at gigs.
I have also tried Peavey, Hartke and GK. I rank Ampeg first, GK a very close second, Hartke a distant third and Peavey as terrible.
Price, portability, the reputation of the manufacturer and the fact they have a store within 30 minutes (outside of rush hours) of where I live
It was the average between wattage, portability, and sound flexibility. GK MB112 (200 watt combo, really light, has a direct output, sounds really nice.
1A) Tone
1B) Weight/size
2) Price
3) Power
These factors together brought me to buy the best amp I've ever had in my life - the Aguilar Tone Hammer 350. If price and power switched places, I might have bought a TH500 instead of the 350, but its not like I've ever run into a situation where my TH350 is underpowered.
Heck, the TH350 may actually be the best musical purchase of any kind that I've ever made.
1B) Weight/size
2) Price
3) Power
These factors together brought me to buy the best amp I've ever had in my life - the Aguilar Tone Hammer 350. If price and power switched places, I might have bought a TH500 instead of the 350, but its not like I've ever run into a situation where my TH350 is underpowered.
Heck, the TH350 may actually be the best musical purchase of any kind that I've ever made.
It chose me. It was a sorting hat. I'm a dweeb.
But yeah. Glockenklang. Hifi yet lush goodness. I mean. It just sounds amazing. It was a Mesa 400+. Then I had quintuplets. So the Glock Blue Soul is a powerful punch in a small box.
But yeah. Glockenklang. Hifi yet lush goodness. I mean. It just sounds amazing. It was a Mesa 400+. Then I had quintuplets. So the Glock Blue Soul is a powerful punch in a small box.
I used to have a Line6 Lowdown combo (400W) but it was really heavy and big. However, I liked the sound so I bought the Line6 HD400 (just the head). I loved the versatility and the sound I could get with my combo so that's why I kept with Line 6 gear.
I plugged the head into a GK MBE 212 cab (the old one). I chose this cab because it is relatively small and it doesn't weight much. I prefer 4x10 but they don't fit in my car.
I love the sound I can get with my gear.
I plugged the head into a GK MBE 212 cab (the old one). I chose this cab because it is relatively small and it doesn't weight much. I prefer 4x10 but they don't fit in my car.
I love the sound I can get with my gear.
After not playing for a long time,and having no amp I went searching for a little combo rig. I set a price I wanted to spend. In the end I doubled my budget and bought a 66 Ampeg B18N. I bought it for its cost, and its history.pride of ownership of a man that played it for 30 years. I only play at home, so I didn't care about portability. Tone,tone, and tone! Beware the bassist with one amp, he probably knows how to use it. In my case I love playing thru it. Cheers everyone!
Markbass LMII -> GK NEO 115 III
1. Price: Bought used for $500 total.
2. Size: Bringing gear in the subway is a nightmare. This is about the biggest rig you could even consider getting around by subway.
3. Volume: ungodly loud
4. Tone: The GK is very punchy and the LMII is warm. I probably should have done that the other way around, but it worked out.
1. Price: Bought used for $500 total.
2. Size: Bringing gear in the subway is a nightmare. This is about the biggest rig you could even consider getting around by subway.
3. Volume: ungodly loud
4. Tone: The GK is very punchy and the LMII is warm. I probably should have done that the other way around, but it worked out.
The two top things I needed were a head that I could throw in a gig bag, and something available locally. Being able to put some gain on my tone through the amp was the next highest thing. There weren't many options within those, despite the fact that there are 4 big music stores in Calgary. The G-K MB Fusion was within the budget, the price of a Markbass combo I got because I needed something quick at the time that I returned and got almost full price back. So I tried it first, and immediately fell in love with the tone and flexibility. Didn't even look at anything else. It doesn't really get the gain I thought it'd get, but it has enough on the B channel that I can drive it with a Diesel Dawg or Blower Box.
I've only had it for a couple weeks, but for now I'm quite content with it.
I've only had it for a couple weeks, but for now I'm quite content with it.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
Why did you choose your amp?
I went into the music store and tested a few different amps ... Ampeg sounded the best ...
I went into the music store and tested a few different amps ... Ampeg sounded the best ...
Ampeg PF350 and recently Aguilar ToneHammer 500... I picked them both out because I can get rich, warm, round tones out of each of them without breaking my back... The Aguilar gets a tad more articulate in the mids and eq-wise is a total gem...and has headroom for days, but they complement each other very well. Highs when I need them, great presence, round, pillowy low end remnicent of my 79 SVT (but not quite there) and smaller form factor.
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Liked the clarity, power, and modern tone of the GK 1001. Minimum gadgetry, maximum thumpage!
Bought a 1001/210 combo and a MBE 410 cab. Can hold off two full Marshall stacks!
Also have some old Sunn gear that kicks major @$$, because it was the best of it's day!
Bought a 1001/210 combo and a MBE 410 cab. Can hold off two full Marshall stacks!
Also have some old Sunn gear that kicks major @$$, because it was the best of it's day!
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When I got back into playing in 2001 and then I really didn't know what was what as far as amps and what I wanted.. or needed for that matter. The last time I owned a gigable amp before that was in 81.I went through a few amps and combos .. some I bought others were available to me at my church.. but I never really had to give much thought to my own gear until I joined a band in 2008. Then I was using the same SWR La-15 combo I bought in 2001 as a practice amp. I discovered quickly that I needed a bit more than it could offer. I bought a SWR WP 400 and a Schroeder 1212L in 2009 after joining TalkBass .. but then I realized that I didn't want that .. and I began to look around. I was going to get a MarkBass LMII but I didn't like the layout and the topology and I then discovered Genz Benz and the TalkBass classifieds and the rest is history. I now know more about what I want and how to balance what I want with what I need, what I may need .. and what I can afford. I got a GenzBenz 6.0 and liked it and have stuck with the brand since because for me it just works. I went from a 6.0 to a 9.0 to a SL 900. I wound up needing a backup amp and I didn't want to get a 6.0 so I decided to try a 6.0 Max and I liked that and went to a 9.2 Max. All through TalkBass.
So to answer your original question .. I choose my amps for their weight, sound, functionality, and power.
So to answer your original question .. I choose my amps for their weight, sound, functionality, and power.
