Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Trying out a mini-multi rig,a Markbass Cmd121p 1-12" combo,and a Tech 21 Landmark 300 head powering a 1-12" Markbass Traveller cab. The combination sounds awesome,allowing me to keep my effects confined to one amp,and a "clean" output from the other one. None of my basses are Ric-o-sound,just using the efx out to drive the input over to the 2nd amp. Tweeters/horns defeated on both cabs....

BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS wrote:ameg svt...old real ones ! thems the swines to use, but alas...kids are weak now and can't lift a finger anymore. geddy used to use them and had great tone in the early daze, then went clinical ! but you guys want an amp that weighs 5 pounds and puts out 5 million watts ??? effort baby...effort !

You said it, I've been using them since 1975, got two late 70's heads and early 70's cabs*.

* just in case someone points out that I have late 70's heads, they are not my first SVT's.

Aguilar DB359 all tube head into a Bergantino HT322 cabinet.

I thought about getting a DB359 (I used to have a DB659) but it's form factor and weight put an end to that, although the Tone Hammer 500 I do have is a pretty killer sounding amp in it's own right. The only tube amp I have at the moment is the Concert Amp which sounds excellent on it's own with it's built in 4-10s or run through one of my LDS cabinets.

Mywatt 200 and Box FMC 2158NeoL

jps wrote:I thought about getting a DB359 (I used to have a DB659) but it's form factor and weight put an end to that, although the Tone Hammer 500 I do have is a pretty killer sounding amp in it's own right. The only tube amp I have at the moment is the Concert Amp which sounds excellent on it's own with it's built in 4-10s or run through one of my LDS cabinets.

Yes, the DB359 is heavy, but worth every pound in tone. Especially recording tone.
The brown truck brought me the Tone Hammer 500 yesterday.
I didn't get a lot of time with it, but it sounds good so far. I've tried many micro heads, but wanted the one that would sound the "thickest" with the Rics. That's the best part of the DB359, so I wanted something with the same tone idea. Nothing beats "power tube thickness".
Just like the DB359, the TH500 sounds good even just starting with everything at noon, then adjust from there.

Do you have a favorite setting or settings for the TH500?

No favorite settings, it depends on which of the LDS cabs I use, but usually I just adjust the mids to taste. Most of the time I set both the Drive and Gain controls to Noon and adjust my volume with the Master control.

My first bass was a P-Bass which, by the way, I just traded for a like-era J-Bass (I didn't actually purchase my first Ric until the mid-80's). My first amp was a late 50's Tweed Fender Bassman 4x10 (I started playing bass in '65). I ended up loaning it to a bud when I went off to college in 1970 - and never saw it again . Too bad ... nice amp. Next was a Silverface Bassman w 2x15 cab. Nice, but big and heavy - so I ripped the 15's out of the cab and had a friend build 2 cabs (each with a 15). He also built a cab with 2 12's for me. A little more flexible for small to larger gigs.

I discovered SWR shortly after I purchased my first Ric (4003 Midnight Blue w Black Hardware). This sounded g-r-e-a-t (SM-400 + 8-ohm Goliath 4x10) and had plenty of power (when the guitar player tells you to turn down, y'know you got a good rig). For outdoor gigs, I had a 2nd SM-400 + Goliath. In the mid-90's, I traded the 2 SM-400's for 1 SM-900, and one Goliath for a 1x15. The problem was, this rig only sounded good loud - so for smaller gigs, I needed a smaller, less-output rig. So I turned to Mesa in the 2000's.

I off'd all the SWR-gear, and opted for a Walkabout Scout 300 1x12, with a 1x12 extension for the more "intimate" gigs, and a M-Pulse 600 head with a 4x10 and 1x15 cabs for the larger gigs. If needed, I could use both rigs in parallel. This was a very flexible system, and sounded great - at all volumes.

Good news - bad news. Here's the good: sounds great. Here's the bad: I don't have a roadie - and even though the cabs are on wheels, I still have to lift them into my van, or onto the stage.

While I was in Seattle (I'm there a few times a year), a couple-or-three years ago, I stopped into Bass Northwest. They were "demo-ing" a tc electronics RH450 with a RS210 and RS212 cabs. This sounded absolutely amazing (and yes, they had a Ric to demo). I left the store feeling like I have found the perfect rig: superb tone shaping (and memory) at low and high volume, lightweight, and compact.

Needless-to-say, I off'd all the Mesa Boogie gear (which, btw, holds its value pretty well), and purchased a Staccato '51 (custom RH450 head), a Classic 450 (now discontinued), 2 x RS210's, and 2 x RS212's. I use the Classic 450 and 1 RS210 for band rehearsals, and will use the Staccato '51 with 1 RS210 and 1 RS212 for most gigs. Outdoors I can use up to 3 cabs per amp, or use both amps and 4 cabs - more than enough power. Plus ... the amps fit into a backpack, and the RS212 only weighs 50 lbs. I think I've found my perfect rig. (... and if John Paul Jones endorses tc, I'm sold).

When I run Rick-O-Sound I’d have a Peavey Delta Bass amp through a Peavey 4x10 cab for the Treble pickup and an old (1974) Carvin B2000 with 2x15 cab for the Bass pickup. Now a days I pretty much just go with one amp at a gig. This, because I have too much stuff to carry and 2 of the 3 basses I travel with these days are 4004’s (not ric-o-sound-able). So for practice at home I use the Carvin. For rehearsal with the lads… the Peavey. Depending on the venue, I pretty much use the Peavey live as it has an XLR out for the sound guy and the rig is smaller. But the 2x15 Carvin packs quite a thud still!!

"Ampeg B-15R 2-15 Stack"!
The Real Deal!

I use a "Huges & Kettner Basskick 200" combo with 200W and 15"+ horn for my 4003. Deep bass, and crisp top. Very good for rehearsals, and smaller gigs. For larger scenes, line out and/or mic it up to PA. Weight: 32 kg/70 lbs.

I'm playing through my Orange AD200B + 115 rig alot these days. I think I might prefer it over the SVT-VR I have. The Orange gets grittier and has a bit of a darker tone that I'm liking more for the music I'm playing recently.

Loving my Mark Bass setup, purchased this year after about 30 years of using Trace Elliot gear. I'm using the MoMark 500W head with a Standard 102HF cab, and it's perfect for all of my Ricks - from last night's gig:
Ash

I just use a run of the mill setup- an Ampeg B100R for most practice and recording, and when I need to drown out the too loud guitar players, an Ampeg SVT-350H with a 1x18 cab.

I have found that the Sansamp Bass Driver is a terrific pedal expecially for direct injection into the board with the XLR outpout it has.

Ashgray wrote:Loving my Mark Bass setup, purchased this year after about 30 years of using Trace Elliot gear. I'm using the MoMark 500W head with a Standard 102HF cab, and it's perfect for all of my Ricks - from last night's gig:

MB+Ricks1.JPG

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Ash

Wow! Beautiful basses!