Looking for the perfect amp...

bassman2k · Post by **bassman2k** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 6:03 pm

Hello! This is my first post as a member of rickresource, but definitely not my first time here. I've been a happy rick owner for over a year now, and a frequent visitor of this site.

So here's my train of thought lately--I have my dream bass, but if I'm only playing it through a mediocre amp, I'm not getting the most out of what I consider to be the best bass. So I'm going through every musician's struggle of finding the perfect gear to accommodate his/her sound.

Perhaps you can help me with suggestions. Currently I play in a church band that plays weekly, a jazz band that plays randomly throughout the month, and a developing hard rock band with the intent to gig eventually. Clarity is the most important feature I am looking for. I've heard countless amps that just sound too boomy, and this just won't cut it for the rick. I'm really looking for articulation and really glassy highs, with a very crisp bottom end. At the same time, I would like this amp to be able to go into a hard rock mode where it starts to sound mean. I'm pretty sure I want to stick with a 4x10, but I'm open to other suggestions. I've been looking at Avatar (good cost:quality ratio) and Mesa (just flat out good, or so I hear). What I'm really torn between is a tube or SS amp. The two runners I'm currently considering are the Mesa 400+ and the GK 1001RB. I know I'm comparing apples to oranges, but I don't really know what fits the bill for what I'm looking for. It would be great to hear your input on amps and cabs that can come close to what I'm looking for.

phlemmy · Post by **phlemmy** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 6:06 pm

You're gonna get 100 different opinions!

Welcome to the forum!

This is my rig:
http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i27/a ... CN0811.jpg
SansAmp preamp
QSC 850w power amp
SWR 4x10
SWR 2x10

I can get just about any sound "I" need from that.

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 2:45 am

Welcome!
I've never had the opportunity to try any of the amps you've mentioned, so no opinion there, sorry.

I run an SWR 2004 head, a 4X10 & a 2X10 cabinet.
Plenty of power for stage sound & the PA takes care of the rest.
I've had 1X15 & 2X15 cabs in the past, but the 4X10 is a hands down winner in achieving a nice tight, punchy sound, plus they're more easily portable. My old Yamaha 2X15 cab sounded good, but weighed 125 lbs!

You probably should have a bit more power to take care of the widely varying situations you find yourself in.

jps · Post by **jps** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 2:54 am

Welcome Joshua!

If I were limited to those two amps, I'd go for the GK. As much as tubes sound great, the shlepping around will take it's toll faster on it and you! I have had several GK amps over the years, they are excellent and sound great, along with reasonable price. In fact, I am maybe looking for another amp and the 1001RB is in there, along with some MarkBass amps, which I have never seen or tried, but they have gotten glowing reviews.

cornishmusic · Post by **cornishmusic** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 3:44 am

Everyone a different user! - It's the Rickenbackers that Unite us

Ashdown Head 300w
Trace Elliot 1 x 15 Cab
Trace Elliot 4 x 10 Cab

alan · Post by **alan** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 4:51 am

OK, just another opinion here, but I think the Mesa bass amps are ideal for your needs. But, not the 400+, only because of the weight. The MPulse series are hybrid amps, at least 2 12AX7's in the preamp, for a very warm feel, and punchy like nobody's bussiness. I use the smallest one, the Walkabout, with a 4x10, and 2x10. It's tight, clean, has zippity do, and very focused. Did I mention the PUNCH? Like I said, it's just my opinion, but I believe what I say, and I've tried the MPulse 600, Big Block 750, and of course, the walkabout. In the end I chose the Walkabout for it's ability to transform from a head only, to a 1x12 combo in a jiffy. Have fun in your quest, there's never been so many good bass amps to choose from as there are now.

qwezirider · Post by **qwezirider** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 8:50 am

I run almost the identical setup to Sean's above except my 4x10 is a hodgepodge (Peavey speakers, Carvin cabinet, all rewired to something other than factory specs) and I add a 1x15 cabinet on occasion.

I get terrific clarity and punch with the 4x10 and tons of roundness with the 1x15...when I even need it. A lot of the time I just run with the 4x10.

The QSC 850 power amp supplies more than enough for me in any situation i've been in from country to rock. I've never even been close to pushing it and it punches through amazingly.

chrisdski · Post by **chrisdski** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 11:07 am

Excellent!!

http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i27/acacia70/bass/?action=view&current=l_fe44e58fe61eeb1cecc53489c3536723.jpg

bigbajo60 · Post by **bigbajo60** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 12:45 pm

I don't know what amp you'll end up with, but I'd like to take the opportunity to espouse the merits of Mesa's line of speaker cabs. In particular, the 2x12 Powerhouse cabs.

I use a pair of these and they can do anything I want them to! Low reggae dub... spanky slap... furry rock... they are simply awesome!

And because there are only two drivers in there, the weight is actually manageable!

Of all the "reviews" I've read involving Mesa cabs, there have only been a few where the conclusion is that they don't work well with "brand x" amp. I use an Ampeg SVP-CL pre and a Stewart World 1.6 power amp, and the rig absolutely rocks!

Good luck with your research!

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 6:22 pm

A vintage Ampeg SVT will easily do all of those things, they sound punchy at low volumes and roar at high volumes, they'll do it all in my opinion. I've done gigs from weddings to 5 thousand seat arenas with them and they always sound good, they're the amp all others aspire to and compete with, they're also one of the bedrock amps bass player almost always uses when trying out basses. If consistant good sound in all kinds of rooms with all kinds of music is your top priority, that's your amp. It's an all tube amp, GK to my ears is by far the best sounding SS amp I've ever heard or played through, they're voiced like Ampegs, I think that's why I like them.

bassman2k · Post by **bassman2k** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 6:59 pm

So far I'm really encouraged to read all of these responses. I think that if I posted this same topic at any other site, people would somehow find a way to post negative feedback.

Anyway, a lot of these responses are actually along the lines of another scenario I've been considering, and that is the preamp + power amp combination. I'm playing a small youth conference in a 400+ person room, and I've discovered that having headroom for a cab is paramount. I'm using an SWR half stack, and although it sounds good, I can tell it's not enough juice for me.

I think my mind is set on the mesa 4x10. I don't know of any reason not to choose this, as this rig will hopefully last a lifetime, so I'm ok with paying a little extra for top quality. At this point, are there any more suggestions as far as pre-amps and power amps? Seems as though a lot of bassists use QSC power amps.

ben_brown · Post by **ben_brown** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 7:11 pm

Yeah....What Bob said.....

qwezirider · Post by **qwezirider** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 9:07 pm

"Seems as though a lot of bassists use QSC power amps."

------------------------------------------------

For me it came down to price, specs, and how well they answered questions in their forum when I was still looking. They were the only company of the few I asked questions that didn't give sales pitches or ignore me altogether. Straight forward answers. They're good flexible machines that I've been able to use for more than just the bass amp

Although, I do have to say, I had considerable fun today taking only the Rick and the SansAmp RBI to rehearsal today and running just that into the board. I should ride with the drummer in his Corola more often.

markbass99 · Post by **markbass99** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 2:52 am

Welcome Joshua, when I was looking for a new rig last year there was alot of buzz on the Talkbass and Ernie Ball forums about the Markbass amps and combos that were just starting to arrive in the US(they're Italian made). Guitar Center is the sole distributer so if you live near one you should check them out. The word I was hearing was that they had lots of clarity, power, and punch and they don't color the sound of your bass. The other thing was the light weight, the Little Mark II is 500 watts/4ohms and weighs 6 1/2lbs. Some people really like the combos, I decided to rackmount a LM II with my Sansamp RBI for a total weight of 17lbs. I mostly use it with an Epifani UL112/8ohms that weighs 29lbs, this setup will put out 300 watts and gets really loud for how small and light it is. Since I don't live near a G.C. I ordered over the phone to the nearest G.C. and took advantage of a 30 day trial, I never sent it back because it sounded so good.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 7:35 am

" I don't know of any reason not to choose this, as this rig will hopefully last a lifetime,"
I have a 1959 Ampeg Bassamp 835 which works perfectly (original speaker unfortunately is long gone) and my two SVT's are over 30 years old with all original speakers and work perfectly. There are thousands of B-15's still in daily use from the 60's. I once dropped an all tube 85 lb SVT head from the top of an 8 x 10 cab onto a concrete sidewalk (rushing using the cab as a dolly), all that happened was a metal corner got dented, the amp didn't flinch. Ampeg's, among all bass amps are known for their longevity and tone. I could go on and on like the SVT head I bought overseas that had 6L6's in it instead of 6550's and worked but I won't as your mind seems made up. New amps come and go all the time. Oh no! Bobampeg's back!