What kind of bass amp do you use with your Rickenbacker?

moultrup · Post by **moultrup** » Thu May 03, 2012 5:21 pm

I recently sold my Fender Bassman 25 and bought the new MicroMark 801 which is great for its size and convenience. Weighs 11 lbs and puts out every bit of 50 watts plus. It really compliments my 1966 Rickenbacker 4005 Mapleglo.

ricnbacker · Post by **ricnbacker** » Sun May 06, 2012 8:47 am

so I have an update. first I am a fool...more on that as we move along

I received an Ampeg PF 500 and a PF 115HE the other day. Great Ampeg tone, nice looking cab but the amp is problematic. the fan is disturbingly loud. there is a hiss and too much hum through the speaker. for an amp that is supposed to be 300W @8Ohms I have to turn the gain to 12-1 and the master to 2 for it be useful with a drummer and 1 guitarist. the cab rattles and sounds like **** at that higher volume. I plugged the MB head into the PF speaker and it sounds better but still seems not to handle the power to well.

There are a LOT of negative or should I say similar discussions around the net about issues with the PF.

anyway, why I am a fool

Friday my Brother In law came over ( he plays bass also and is a working musician) to check out amps....he agreed that the PF while sounding nice just was too quirky and seemed to have some issues. He Plays through a SVT and big cab btw.... he also has a B100R and a 300 watt GK combo that he loves and is what he plays out with currently.
after 10 seconds of playing the MB he hated it.went to the PF then back to the MB...he began to like the MB, as he was leaving he told me to keep the MB.

why I am a fool.....the MB cab is ported in the back ( as is my B100R) he said while were playing them, you should turn that amp around and get the back off the wall

why?
its muffling your sound....I turned it sideways and

doesnt sound like it has a blanket over the speaker anymore....DOH! Sounds much better now.

it does not have that "Ampeg Tone" but it definitely sounds better now that I am letting it breathe.....funny thing is, the rear of B100R was facing the wall too but the ports are higher and I guess above the trim on the bottom of the wall.....how silly is that and I

I am such a schmuck.....but I got me a loud *** amp that after 3 weeks I am finally enjoying

.

as far as power...this amp set with EQflat, gain at 3 master at 5 is much louder than the Ampeg at the above settings. I think that amp is maybe 180 watts and not 300 into 8ohms like they say. maybe they did that so you have to buy another cab. I dont know all I know is the MB works very smoothly and loud without straining the amp

ricnbacker · Post by **ricnbacker** » Mon May 07, 2012 6:42 am

chrisdski wrote:
101_0186.JPG
My current rig is Markbass LM2 with 2 MB 12's with a Basswitch preamp and Markbass compressor

how would you describe the tone of the bottom cab as compared to the single 15 MB...looks like it has a tweeter. can it be turned off?

chrisdski · Post by **chrisdski** » Mon May 07, 2012 7:21 am

They are both 12s (NY 12 and traveler 12), haven't tried a MB15 cab so no opinion. The tone is very good, deep lows to clear highs. They both have tweeters that can be turned off if you wish. It works for my gigs (small halls and medium outdoor festivals). And you can't beat the compact size and weight (I got tired schlepping heavy gear).

ricnbacker · Post by **ricnbacker** » Mon May 07, 2012 7:22 pm

chrisdski wrote:They are both 12s (NY 12 and traveler 12), haven't tried a MB15 cab so no opinion. The tone is very good, deep lows to clear highs. They both have tweeters that can be turned off if you wish. It works for my gigs (small halls and medium outdoor festivals). And you can't beat the compact size and weight (I got tired schlepping heavy gear).

cool. I am sticking with the 15 no tweeter. apparently like someone said, not all EQ knobs are created equal. I was fiddling around with mine and found the sound I like. this amp is a monster and has so much bottom that I was not used to. I also think that playing my Ric only through the B100R gave me a false sense of the sound I was hearing. this amp seems cleaner and more articulate ( I am not techie, dont like fiddling with a lot of stuff. I just like to play.) maybe Ill run an extension cab to this one day to this to utilize its full potential.

thanks man, appreciate the reply

orvar66 · Post by **orvar66** » Wed May 09, 2012 12:50 pm

Hi new guy here on the forum.

I use a Ampeg V4-B head whit either a 4*10 cab or a 8*10 cabinnet depending on size of venue etc.
Sometimes I also use a Marshall JMP Superbass head....but im planning to get a Orange ADB-200 head...maybe that could be the ultimate head for me.
Cheers.

woodyng · Post by **woodyng** » Wed May 09, 2012 1:36 pm

And therein lies my least favorite aspect of markbass cabinets,i.e.,the rear porting. I just wish they would put the port on the front of the cabinet,although this method probably contributes a lot to the desired clarity of it's sound.
Glad you made the blocked port discovery,i realize that markbass isn't for everyone,but they are really versatile bass amps.

Kiddwad57 · Post by **Kiddwad57** » Wed May 09, 2012 2:05 pm

The downside as you know is it weighs a ton and with that slick cabinet finish it's just difficult to get ahold of and move around.

After loading in the SVT I never noticed the weight of the Energy cab!

MaplegloMatt · Post by **MaplegloMatt** » Wed May 09, 2012 9:01 pm

This. Cavin MB15 Combo w/ Bag End S15 cab. I'm digging it.

jps · Post by **jps** » Wed May 09, 2012 9:24 pm

I used to have two S-15s!

woodyng · Post by **woodyng** » Thu May 10, 2012 11:05 am

A friend of mine in Seattle still gigs with 2 of those Bag end cabs ( and an ampeg v4 head).
Nice bass,Matt,is it a 4003s?

MaplegloMatt · Post by **MaplegloMatt** » Thu May 10, 2012 3:56 pm

Yes, Woody it is. An '89 4003S. I know it can amount to heresy with some around here but I swapped out the original black trim for chrome/white. I couldn't afford a V63 so this got me as close as I could get for the time being. It has the best neck of any Ric (or any other bass for that matter) I've ever played. Strung with GHS flats through the two fifteens sounds awesome. I wish I had two Bag Ends with the Carvin BX250 head but this set up is working out just fine.

armybass · Post by **armybass** » Thu May 10, 2012 5:42 pm

lets see if I can do this....
this one

or this one (obviously)

or this one

and on rare occasions

and a close up of the engine

jps · Post by **jps** » Thu May 10, 2012 6:32 pm

Do a preamp comparison, Scott! I used to have two F-1X preamps when I had my rack system, along with a couple of Aphex 661 Expressors, two Korg DTR-1 tuners and a couple of Stewart World 1.2 amps (see a pattern, here?

).

jps · Post by **jps** » Thu May 10, 2012 6:33 pm

Oh yeah, I also had an Aguilar DB659 preamp and a Stewart World 600 amp, two Furman PQ-3 preamps, and a Crown D-150A power amp.

This does not include bass amps, like the GK 400RB, two GK 700RBs, Eden WT 400, or three Walter Woods amps.

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