Amplifier advice, please

Vintage, Modern, V & C series, Fretless, Signature & Special Editions

Moderators: rickenbrother, ajish4

philco
Intermediate Member
Posts: 849
Joined: Mon Feb 03, 2003 4:59 pm

Post by philco »

I just got back from the St. Petersburg, Russia, area where I got to hear several small combo bass amps in the Liverpool Club (Beatles bands), Jimi Hendrix Club, and Corsair Club. The music was Beatles/Stones, Blues/Rock, and maybe an occasional Country Rock number. The best bass amp I heard was a small Ampeg combo. Don't know the exact model, but it was probably a 100 watt solid state model. It was played through an Ibanez bass built on a Fender P-bass pattern using a single split-coil pickup and inline tuners. Plenty of volume for these small club settings. The Ampeg sounded good in a band setting, but I would prefer more mid/treble punch in a home solo practice setting. Maybe it had more treble capability that the bassist wasn't using. The main point is that it was noticeably the best sounding amp. The odd thing was that although several guitarists used Fender Tele guitars, not a single Fender bass was seen, although one Beatles band bassist used a Hofner, which is incredibly expensive for a Russian musician. That bassist was a bit blown away by the fact I had a Rickenbacker bass, and his reaction indicated he had a very high regard for Rickenbacker basses. The Russian woman I was with had a cousin, Vladimir Schumacher, who is a well known drummer in the SPb area, and he met us at the Liverpool Club and introduced me to the bassist. Didn't have much time to discuss equipment though, as we had to split before the Metro closed.

The Ampeg bass amp that suits you the best seems to always be a safe recommendation. Image For $1000 you have a lot of excellent choices, especially if you do not rule out clean used gear. There is nothing wrong with late model used gear in excellent to mint condition, and is my first preference when seeking value in electronic gear purchases. A couple of choices that nobody has mentioned is the new Peavey BAM 2x10 combo that you can pick up for around $1000 and has received excellent reviews. I once developed a prejudice against Peavey bass amps, but it was because I bought a folded horn cabinet instead of the correct cabinet for my situation. Reliability was never a problem with the Peavey amp I had (or any Peavey amp owned by anybody I ever met). I saw several Peavey amps in use in Russia, and Russian musicians demand high value for very little coin. I am personally interested in the new Phil Jones Bass 2x5 bassman's briefcase combo since I want a home practice combo with very easy portability, good tone, and battery operation as a standard feature. You can mike it up if the house PA system is of sufficiently high quality. I could also add a UPS with sine wave output to my homebrew 20 watt Marshall AVT20 1x10 combo with Eminence B105 bass driver.

Don't forget a Sansamp RBI or Bass Driver DI for those situations where the house PA system is of high quality and you don't want to lug a heavy bass amp around. You can have a new Ampeg combo amp for home practice and small clubs and use the RBI or Bass Driver DI for big halls with a good PA system for under $1000, free youself from the slavery to large bass amps, and suffer almost no sound quality loss in the process (most of the time you will gain in sound quality over old classic bass amps). Geddy Lee uses the RBI in live concert situations.
rictified
Senior Member
Posts: 8040
Joined: Sat Apr 19, 2003 5:00 am

Post by rictified »

I met a bassplayer here in Lima Perú the other day, he's 28 years old, and has only seen three Ric in his life here, one was a 4005 too, I steered him to Ebay and he was amazed at all the rics for sale there. And they are also highly regarded here too, and chris Squire is usually mentioned in the same breath as Ric basses here.
There is an old proverb I heard somewhere:
"The only people who don't like old classic bass amps are they who have never used them" LOL
User avatar
bottom4
Veteran RRF member
Posts: 2063
Joined: Sat Apr 27, 2002 6:24 am

Post by bottom4 »

Does anyone have any experience with the Tech 21 Landmark 60 Bass Wedge Combo - it incorporates the SansAmp? I think it’s rather new. Wondering if anyone has played around with it and could share some feedback.

cheers!
dano

Post by dano »

You really can't go wrong with an Ampeg/RIC combination reguardless of which model you choose. I am currently seeking a B2R, mostly because of the rave reviews on this forum!
User avatar
bigbajo60
Veteran RRF member
Posts: 912
Joined: Tue Nov 12, 2002 8:15 pm

Post by bigbajo60 »

I just purchased a NOS Mesa/Boogie Buster! Bass 1 x 15 w/tweeter combo.

All I can say is "wow"!

Anyone out there looking for a deal on a "retro-sounding" all tube amp, do yourselves a favor and keep your eyes peeled for one of these. A very "Bassman-like" sound, but with a lot more versatility(graphic EQ; effects loop; DI)! The combos are heavy, but there are head-only units out there too. That said, they are well worth it... especially if you pay as "little" as I did!
My first bass was a Rickenbacker...
My best bass is a Rickenbacker...
My last bass may very well be a Rickenbacker
User avatar
bottom4
Veteran RRF member
Posts: 2063
Joined: Sat Apr 27, 2002 6:24 am

Post by bottom4 »

Looks like I'm going to be getting the Boogie Walkabout Scout 300 Bass Combo. Played with one today great punch and bottom that you could feel in your chest. Played a JG C64 through it - real nice!. Will have to give up something for it though - probably my Warwick Thumb 6 - Ricks only come, they don't go.

By the way, the JG C64 is used hanging around the local GC.

cheers
rictified
Senior Member
Posts: 8040
Joined: Sat Apr 19, 2003 5:00 am

Post by rictified »

I picked up a 70's Ampeg SVT head here in Lima for $300.00! Needs a little work (like tubes and filter caps) but that is less than half the going price for one in the states. And tubes are cheap here.
Andy, I played a Warwick here the other day, I don't remember the model but it was active and had a P-J PU combination and was a neck thru,and was a beautiful looking bass especially the back of the neck with all the laminates, but I'd take a Ric anyday over it. My 79 4001 blows it away in playability and sound. (actually they all do.)
Post Reply

Return to “Rickenbacker Basses: by Joey Vasco & Tony Cabibe”