4003 + _____ amp = True Love?

throw_this_away · Post by **throw_this_away** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 5:56 pm

Great tube tone... a pleasure to plug into every time. Go tube or go home.

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 6:01 pm

I wonder what a McIntosh 240 into a couple Ampeg horn cabs would sound like? Drive it with something like a Sansamp....

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 4:26 am

I don't think you'd have enough power, 40 watts isn't a lot of power for a bass even if you have two channels, they would also be extremely clean. You could buy two vintage SVT heads for the money they go for too. MacIntosh made a huge stereo tube power amp, I think it was 300 watts per channel, but they cost a fortune when you can find one. One once owned by the Grateful Dead was for sale on ebay last year.
Phil Lesh used to use Mac power amps although I don't know if they were solid state or tube amps. Maybe that was it?

jon · Post by **jon** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 5:31 am

Ashdown ABM for me, with a 4x10 with tweeter & a 1x 15.

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 5:33 pm

Bob - Thats right, I'd forgotten Phil Lesh used MACs. Horn cabs are highly efficient (106+dB) which helps when using a lower power amp. I asked about the MAC240 because I already have one. I like to speculate what equipment could sound like. When I first got my 4003 before I had an amp, I tried using one of my VTL MB100 monoblocks for an amp but couldn't get the drive I needed. Of course I didn't have a DI to use....

charlyg · Post by **charlyg** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 5:48 pm

B2RE and Ampeg Classic 4x10, with tone mod on the 4003 4-2-5. In fact today I was getting exceptional growl. I had the vintage tone, the neck vol backed off til it matched the bridge vol and the tones just shy of fret noise when sliding. I was punchin and fartin and growlin all over the place! Well, not me, the Rick!

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 7:17 am

I'd keep that nice Mac in the living room if I were you John, that's far too nice of an amp to use for a bass. Mac tube amps are the best most musical sounding hifi amps I've ever heard in my life bar none. Actually I tried a Dynaco Stereo 70 in my living room with an active bass a few times with hifi speakers, it did sound nice.

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 7:56 am

Yeah, the MAC 240 sounds pretty good! I have NOS RCA 6L6s in it and they were a lot better sounding than the NOS GE and Sylvania tubes I tried. I also have a Stereo 70 (EL34s) and VTL MB100 monoblocks (also EL34s). Now all I need is the basement cleaned out (spot a couple dumpsters!!) and build a proper music/practice room! Ahhh, time.......

I actually did try the MAC with a SS preamp I had (before the Ampegs) and without the proper input matching it worked but not very good tone or drive. I was impatient to hear the new Ricky!