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

[MaplegloMatt]

Hey, jdogric12, I'm currently using a PF500 head with a pair of Bag End S15s. The head is a newer revision and it's been trouble free for over six months of use. I love the tone. (sorry for the prominent f*nder content....my Ric is lurking in the background) In fact, I love the Ampeg so much I'd buy another even if this one developed a problem, although it'd probably be a PF800. I hear they have very few issues. I do however bring along a TC Electronic BH250 head as a backup to gigs just in case.

[jps]

I had a pair of those black carpet S15 cabinets back in the mid/late '90s.

[MaplegloMatt]

Yeah Jeff, I really like the Bag Ends. They fit well in the mix and while a little heavy, they're built like a tank. Someday I may go down the neo speaker/modern cab road but for now this rig is getting the job done with room to spare.

[rickenbastard]

1989 Marshall 1992 Superbass through an Ashdown 2x12" (will add a 115 Ashdown cab in the next month or 2)
Leading up to that is an MXR M-80 DI Pre-amp/OD, Mountainking Electronics Ultra Megalith, Boss Bass Chorus, and Snark pedal tuner.

[woodyng]

Would love to try out the new 500 watt VT bass amp,with 2 of their new 1-12"s stacked. They using "regular" speakers,too. (As opposed to neo).There's a demo posted over on TB,that throws in some cool sounding clips amongst a lot of sales talk....

[jps]

Would love to try out the new 500 watt VT bass amp....

How about a dUg?

[woodyng]

Would love to try out the new 500 watt VT bass amp....

How about a dUg?

I'd certainly not turn one down, ,but at 1000 watts,it seems a bit overkill for my needs. Plus i REALLY like the voicing options of the VT. In addition to my VT pedal,i owned a Tech 21 Landmark 300 head,which i just sold last week,and it had 2 voicing channels that sounded great,but were a bit more persnickety to set up.

[Kiddwad57]

Hey Woody,

Sorry to change the subject but I was trying (not too hard) to find your post on the 4004 fretless conversion...did you have that finished or is it just the planed wood? I may be needing to have my 4003fl planed and the idea of an unfinished board sounds tempting. How's it holding up?

Thanks man! NW

Bag Ends Rule! (Back on track)

[woodyng]

Hi,Nathan!
Divurge on!
The 4004 i had defretted was an '04 Cheyenne II model,which had an unfinished fretboard on it. The conversion process used maple strips to replace the frets,and the whole fingerboard was then sanded/deplaned,which resulted in a much lighter look. It has been left unfinished. It's only been a few monthes since i had it done,it's holding up very well. Part of that may be the Labella Coppercore White tapewounds i have on it,which i can't imagine contributing any wear to the fingerboard wood,or at least much less than metal strings would.

Carry on with the amp discussions....

I just bought a Markbass 800 tube amp to replace the LM amp section of my CMD121p combo,looking forward to hearing what that does for the sound.from what i've read,the tube channel does not really do much,but the extra power and headroom will be appreciated I'm sure.

[jdogric12]

Thanks for the PF500 info, guys. I rarely visit TalkBass so I did not know that. I'll pop the hood and check for my first initial revision.

[Kiddwad57]

New amp day! I picked up a Euphonic Audio Micro 550 today. At 2.5 lbs it is unbelievably light after playing through an 8 pound Walter Woods for twenty-three years. My Bag End 2x10 is sonically a good match, and its 4ohm impedance allows the amp to reach its full power rating. There are lighter and more modern cabs but this one sounds great and its a compact size.

A cursorary trial with the 4003fl sounds really, really good! Plug and play with a good solid tone. It'll take some time to get into it. Still have to try the other basses too. Seems like there will more than enough power for the gigs I play...can't wait for an evening of blues to hear how it cranks. When you plug in and it turn on the amp defaults to mute. Strange but useful feature. The EA micro is two channel, each having a different mid range center. Channel 1 is for electric bass while channel 2 is primarily set up for a string bass with a pickup.

All in all a good amp for doubling with lots of power and sensible features. Time will tell how it holds up in the real world.

[jps]

The older Walter Woods 2 channel models had different tonality for each channel for a similar thing between an electric and an URB with pickup on it. It's funny how we have used WW amps for a long time (since the early '80s for me) and we find a 7-8lb. amp to be heavy now!

[Kiddwad57]

Before the Walter Woods it was an SVT head. Now that's a difference. A lon-n-g time ago a friend was helping me schlep a Vox Westminster (60 watts, big 18" cab, chrome cart). He was saying, "Pretty soon they'll make amps that put out 500 watts and fit in the palm of your hand." I'm like, "Just lift your end into the van please." Anyway the Woods will be missed. That amp was deep, and I don't just mean the tone.

[jps]

Walter was the first boutique one-man builder of a series production amp that I recall. He still is but he's getting up in age and it is now time to seek out an alternative; I did so with my Aguilar Tone Hammer 500 and could not be happier with this choice. I have never had the opportunity to try any AE gear so I cannot a say whether their amps could have been a good choice for a replacement amp or not. I am looking forward to your experience with it.

[antipodean]

I recently bought the Aguilar Tone Hammer 500 after reading positive feedback here and I am kicking myself that I didn't buy one sooner. Apart from being powerful and light, that little thing is a tone monster.