Amp recommendations for going stereo with my 4001

[personatech]

Hi everyone,

I'm trying to sketch out a plan to go stereo with my 4001. My current gear is as follows:

1974 Rick 4001 Azureglo
Ashdown ABM500 head
Schroeder 1212L cab
various effects

"Retired" gear includes:
Ashdown 180W EB180-12 combo
Vox Valvetronix AD15VT combo

I can't play worth a darn, but I've just sold a PRS SE Custom Semi-Hollow to finance the purchase of a CIJ Jazzmaster.

So, my plan is this: to sell both the EB180-12 and Valvetronix combos and purchase a single amp that is well-suited for both the Jazzmaster and the treble pickup of the Rick in stereo mode. My real concern is to not kill the guitar amp with the bass. I'd considered simply going to a larger Valvetronix but was cautioned against doing so elsewhere in this Forum.

My thinking is that I'd want at least a 1x12 combo, possibly a 2x10 or 2x12. I also should mention I'd like to keep the weight and size down as much as possible. The guitar tone I seek is something between jazz and Tom Verlaine - nothing too grungy with distortion. Based on this criteria, my current candidates are: Vox AC15CC1, Fender Deluxe VM, Fender Super-Sonic, Polytone Mini-Brute II.

I'm curious if anyone here has used any of these amps in a Rick stereo bass rig -OR- if there are other alternatives you can recommend. Price point is to keep it under $800 and preferably purchase clean used.

Thanks,

Tom

[legato]

If your looking for a guitar amp that you can play your bass out of you might want to look into a Fender 59 Bassman? Sure it'll cost you more than $800 but it is a bass amp that is sold as a guitar amp. (or so i've heard).

[jdogric12]

+1 on the Bassman. I know the old ones were straight up bass amps that ended up being used by guitar players. I'm not so sure about new ones, since they are marketed to guitarists now. But hopefully someone here knows. Try the "amp" forum here too.

[personatech]

Thanks for the Bassman suggestions. Unfortunately, they are heavy as all get-out (and relatively big, too). Supposedly they sound great.

Isn't the Amp forum geared towards Rickenbacker amps specifically?

I forgot to mention that I'm also considering the Roland Jazz Chorus series, specifically the JC-90 or JC-77 (2x10s instead of the JC-120's 2x12s).

[rickenbrother]

Thanks for the Bassman suggestions. Unfortunately, they are heavy as all get-out (and relatively big, too). Supposedly they sound great.

Isn't the Amp forum geared towards Rickenbacker amps specifically?

I forgot to mention that I'm also considering the Roland Jazz Chorus series, specifically the JC-90 or JC-77 (2x10s instead of the JC-120's 2x12s).

Search and post in Mike Snow's section. All types of gear discussed there:
Forum 51 - The Quest For Tone

[jdogric12]

There's also the Tube Amp section here:

http://www.rickresource.com/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=19

I have a JC77, JC90, and JC120. I would be a little worried about putting a bass through it, only because it's a guitar amp. But I don't know. Perhaps a keyboard amp???

[rickenbrother]

Thanks for posting that as well, Jdog. I rarely ever make it down that far in the list of forum topics!

[personatech]

Thanks for the suggestions for other forums/threads. I'll post there!

[qwezirider]

I'd considered simply going to a larger Valvetronix but was cautioned against doing so elsewhere in this Forum.

I'm not sure why you were cautioned against that. I use an AD50VT (the 2x12 version) with fabulous results mixed in with my bass rig. Got it set to where I have just the right amount of distortion with all the bass and mids whacked out of it to add a wonderful growly sheen to the bass rig.

[whojamfan]

I put up an answer in my section that may interest you.

[personatech]

I'd considered simply going to a larger Valvetronix but was cautioned against doing so elsewhere in this Forum.

I'm not sure why you were cautioned against that. I use an AD50VT (the 2x12 version) with fabulous results mixed in with my bass rig. Got it set to where I have just the right amount of distortion with all the bass and mids whacked out of it to add a wonderful growly sheen to the bass rig.

Now THAT's what I need to hear - I really like my little AD15VT and was looking to upgrade to a new VT50 before encountering the naysaying. Also, after offering my own little bit of gentle naysaying to those who were suggesting the Bassman, it turns out it may be a more viable alternative than I originally thought. Thanks, all!

[espidog]

My recommendation?


One over here . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .and one over here.

[personatech]

Ken, you're killing me!

As it turns out, I've built my rig. Voila!



The box in the lower right-hand corner of my pedalboard is my homebuilt stereo splitter. Bridge pickup of my Rick 4001 gets routed through the effects into the Genz Benz Black Pearl combo (AC30 clone with modern features, 1x12 Eminence Red Fang speaker). Neck pickup is sent directly into the Ashdown/Schroeder rig. I just replaced the Schroeder 1212L with a 115+L which is lighter and offers a rounder tone.

When it's time to play guitar, I just unplug the patch cable going from the stereo box to the Boss TU-2 tuner and plug my Jazzmaster directly into the effects chain.

Fun times, I tell ya!!

[Prowl]

definitely Bassman.

[personatech]

I wish I could go with a Bassman, but it just wasn't in the cards. I'm very happy with the Genz Benz, though - during last night's practice I cranked in the boost via the GB's foot switch and the bass solo sounded massive!