Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Has anyone ever tried the Mesa 400 vs. SVT. On paper (schematic) I like the Mesa for it's Fender blackface-like tone section and 6L6's for tubey warmth. I used a provided SVT backline at a charity gig once and was blown away by the tone. It wasn't so much louder as it was "experienced" in 3-dimensions.

Can't help with the comparison as I only had a Mesa DC-2 that I used with various cabinets. But I did use an old blue line SVT at a gig once, primarily as a stage monitor!

Hofner through a T60! What a treat to hear that anytime. With the Rick it seems a UL430 would be a classic combo. I haven't spent time with my AC50 and the Rick yet. Now it seems like a long overdue experiment. Have fun with your new bass!

If it was possible to find a UL430 (or more importantly have enough cash to buy one) id get one straight away
The thought of owning one will never be a realistic thought unfortunately

Generally, it's just the Hartke stack in this photo, but if I need extra deep clout, I can add the TE's.
If I have lots of room I go up to the rig in the second pic.

ricosound wrote:Has anyone ever tried the Mesa 400 vs. SVT. On paper (schematic) I like the Mesa for it's Fender blackface-like tone section and 6L6's for tubey warmth. I used a provided SVT backline at a charity gig once and was blown away by the tone. It wasn't so much louder as it was "experienced" in 3-dimensions.

Played through plenty of SVT's as "provided backline"... but I owned a Mesa 400+ and two PowerHouse 2x12's for a couple of years. FAVORITE rig, especially after I switched the V1 preamp tube from a 12AX7 to a 12AT7; turned it into a "bassman on steroids" kind of amp! Loved it!

I've been playing vintage gear since before it was vintage. Since '93 I have used a '65 or '67 Dual Showman head over an original Fender 2-15 D140 cabinet. I have spare cabs and speakers in my collection and an amp tech on-call all the time. I have mostly used some form of a P-Bass or my old EB-3.

I have a reissue 4003s on order (to arrive late this year). I've put together another rig to use with the Ric. I'm starting off with a well vetted SVT7Pro over a Svt410HLF cab.

All the larger indoor gigs and all outdoor gigs are either mik'd or DI'd. I've been doing this since '65 (jr. high). Still haven't lost the itch. Dave

I hope you try the RIC with your Showman! Seems like a match made in heaven.

Here's an update on the new EA Micro 550.

The buzz I'd mentioned previously was simply a noisy household circuit that affected all the amps plugged into it, so that's a non-issue. I was bopping around on the Ric through an Ampeg SB12 which sounds full and rich but is only 20 watts. Changing over to the EA/Bagend combo was interesting because it doesn't have that kind of tonal presence. Amazingly, even though it didn't seem loud, the whole house was rattling. "Moving lots of air," my friend said.

Last week I played a gig that required the 4003fl, the five string J-Bass, and the amplified string bass. All sounded swell through the EA and Bagend 2X10 cab. It wasn't a loud gig by any means, but I did manage to crank the amp before the sound check to see what would happen. It is powerful but uncolored, so whatever the bass (and player) sounds like is what you're gonna hear.

Even though I miss the Woods, I think the EA will prove to be a good substitute. It was a weird way to have to change amps. I much prefer feeling the excitement of G.A.S., having to come up with the cash, and of getting new equipment because you want to.

No amp at all, haha! I run the neck pickup into a Line 6 Bass Pod XT using the "Rock Classic" model, which is an Ampeg SVT of some sort, I believe. I run the bridge pickup into a Line 6 Pod X3 using the Marshall Plexi model. The two then go into a mixer, and although it doesn't make for the kind of super high-tech gear pictures that we all love to lust and drool over, the resulting sound is nonetheless just majestic. I am a little disappointed in myself for not having a picture that isn't so blurry , but this is the only I have to post, at the moment.

heres my bass cab story i thought i should share:
Back in november i posted comments across the interweb about bass cabs and sought advice/opinions about what companies provide good light weight bass cabs.
i eventually settled with a GK MBE 410 II, light and loud. perfect for practises and certain gigs.
in January it produced a horrible burning smell, and the tone was never the same.
i eventually returned it under warranty, which was a lot of hassle as the original company i got it off went into administration).
below is the email convo between me and the engineer fixing it.


Received: Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2015 10:43:37 +0100
Hi Christopher,
Our engineers are currently testing your GK MBE 410-II.
Would you be able to tell me what Amp you use with this unit?
Thanks,
With Kind Regards

Sent: 10 June 2015 11:49
Hi Matthew,
The amp i used was a Orange AD200b Mk 3
Regards
Chris

Received Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2015 12:47:10 +0100
Hi Chris,
The description I have for the cab says ‘it initially produced a very strong burning plastic smell, and then the speakers blew out’. Was this the first time you used the cab? Have you used the amp subsequently with a different cab? What do you mean by the speakers ‘blew out’?
We’ve tested the cab and the drivers individually and haven’t found any obvious issues, so any extra information you can give us will help.
thanks,

Sent Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2015 08:21:43 +0100
Hi,
this was not the first time i used the cab.
i have used the amp with different cabs since then and its been fine
additionally, when using the GK after 5-10 minutes of playing its produces a smell like burning plastic. this comes from the back of the cab where the connection port is.
also, the bass tone is very flat, broken and distorted, which led me to believe 1+speakers were blown, or there is circuitry issues
regards
Chris

THE PUNCH LINE:


Received Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2015 08:21:43 +0100
Hi Chris,
We’ve decided to replace all of the drivers in your cab with a more recent revision. Your cab is (incorrectly) labelled 8 ohms, when in fact the drivers in there make up a 4 ohms cab. With the new drivers, we can either make you up an 8 or 4 ohm cab - which would you prefer…?
regards,
rob.

Sent Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2015 08:48:06 +0100
Please make it 8 ohms thanks
Chris


it will be back in a week or 2.......................god dammit GK.
on the plus side, i went back to using my orange obc115 again and can honestly say i dont need anything else.
ebay here i come

I finally completed my amp setup. Sounds amazing.

I've been playing Ric basses for four decades now, so I've played them through a lot of amps. Currently, in one band, I'm using a modified 4000 through a second generation Sunn Model T (also modified) into a Sunn Model 410H cabinet which is sometimes supplemented by a Model 215 cabinet loaded with JBL 2205Js. With my other two bands, I'm using a Peavey TB Raxx preamp into a Crown XLS1500 amp. I use that with different cabinets, depending on the size of the venue. Usually it's either the Model 215 or an old home made cabinet with a JBL 2220A. In one of those bands I play a Mapleglo 4001, and usually use a Sunn 200S rig for rehearsal. In the other, I play a 4004Cii, which I've been writing about in another thread.

A friend recently showed me some photos from the 70s in which I'm playing a Mapleglo 4001 through a Gallien Krueger GMT 300B into a Sunn 115S. For a while, around 1980, I used a stereo cord and plugged straight into two channels of my Yamaha PA board. I panned the neck pickup full stage left and the bridge pickup full right. Sounded great, but I think I was the only one who really noticed the stereo effect.

I usually use either my ampeg svt-cl head hooked up to a svt-810e for LOUD rock and roll , or my traynor yba300 hooked up to a tc810 cab for more laid bac psychedelic 60's tube tones, or sometimes (most of the time) I use both!

I'm running my 4003W through an Ampeg SVT Classic/SVT 212 AV rig. I ordered a black grill cloth cover for the 212.