Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Bob, I wouldn't give up on your power amp and speakers yet, but the SVPCL preamp is known to have a low output and probably isn't driving your amp hard enough. Can you try a different preamp? How about trying just a SansAmp DI into the power amp just to see if it can drive the amp hard enough to get you the sound you desire. Then you could look for a different preamp, maybe a SVT-IIP preamp, the preamp section of the SVT-2 tube head, which has good output.

John- you could be right. The low output isn't the rig's only problem, but I'll keep all that in mind for sure. I'm just getting fed up with the amp game, and I want to just go and buy a good one that's going to work properly.
Thank you for your advice, though. I will look into that!

Gray, have you checked out the Markbass amps yet? Do yourself a favor and do so!

It would be the cheapest route replacing the preamp since the rest of your signal chain is really good, so I recommend trying that before spending any money - beg, borrow, or steal a preamp with more output. See what it gets you.

I will try to check both when I can!

Go check out the Markbass stuff at Guitar Center just so you can know what it's like because you will be hearing about it eventually, it's won over a lot of players even some tube lovers. For a little light weight amp it gets crazy loud and if you preamp it with a Sansamp RBI/RPM you get even louder with some tube emulation if required. This mini rig below weighs 17lbs for the rack setup and 29lbs for the(non-markbass)1X12, the latest word is these Little Mark II's really shine with a 4X10.

Sean,
Detaily question... is the 4x12" Marshall cab 13 or 18 inches deep? Thanks!

Derek,

It's a model 1984B bass cab... if that helps.
The depth is neither you suggested... it's 14" deep.
400W RMS rating; and has a badge in the lower left front corner reading "JCM 800 Bass Series"
It's a 30"x30" cab, similar to a 1960B but MUCH heavier, and contains 100W drivers.
Seems to be from a rather limited production. I know of only two others.

I personally use a GK 800RB through a Hartke 410 and a Hartke 215 Sub-Module. The GK is biamped so it gives you a lot of control over the sound. I love this rig. And it is plenty loud.

Interesting.
I've been wondering about the Hartke aluminum coned speakers, but their amps seem kind of underpowered when compared to a full stack of their speakers. I'll think about the GK/Hartke combo, then. Thanks!

I noticed that Mani (currently with Primal Scream, apparently) uses a Marshall VBA 400 with Ricks. To paraphrase Alice, I'm getting curiouser and curiouser about those, I just don't know whether the 412, 2 412s or the 810 are best.

My guess would be 810, but check them all out. Also when you are playing with the band 10's tend to punch through a bit better than 12's. YMMV.

Good to see another vote for the venerable, 800RB. (It IS good enough for Geddy.)I love the simplicity, flexibility and reliability, and you can get good used ones anywhere for under $400. And oh yes, they sound pretty good too.

Your choice of cabs. I personally like Mesa 1x15 with 400 watt EV speakers and have 2 of those. Allows flexibility for small/large gigs, they weigh only 60 lbs each and have wheels. The 800RB is around 18 lbs.

With that amp and both those cabs, 300 watts, and I've never had to turn the amp up above 12 o'clock...even without having the bass in the PA. After that then "everything" is just too loud anyway. But then, geezer that I am, we play classic rock and alt-country, at small to medium clubs where we don't want to be too loud anyway.

But if that weren't enough- which I can't imagine- there's still the option of plugging in one more 8 ohm cab into the 800RB's separate 100 watt amp...and there you have 400 watts total.

Good luck in your search.

Actually, there are few places here that really demand the use of that my stack. I usually just use the 410's. When I do use both cabs, the 410's really provide some good punch while the 215's make your pants flap like you're in a windstorm. I like the Hartke cabs quite a bit and the GK is a simple, reliable, solidly built workhorse.

Oh yeah, I also have 2 Hartke Model 2000 heads. They're pretty good, but they don't compare with GK.

I play a Hartke 3500 head and a 410 xl bottom along with a 15" bottom. I have never played past 2. It is LOOOOOOOOOOOUD. The Hartke 5000 is a better amp because it has the bi-amp feature. In my opinion, you cant go wrong with Hartke. I have played everything but an Ampeg which cost way too much and nothing beats the Hartke.peace