Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I've heard that... I'm so glad I have a Hiwatt!

If that were true, I'd be playing in China right now.

The trick is to wear really spongy shoes, I've heard. They absorb the weight.

If I have to walk any distance with them or go up or down stairs I heave them onto my shoulder, much easier to move around that way. I also use my cabs as dollies if I have a smooth surface.

Bob, everyone ignores me...I'm used to it! I think you and I are well known on here as SVT proponents so everyone thinks we're biased. They're probably right too though I use other amps too like old Sunns.

You wouldn't want to go running around unbiased- you might melt down or something!

I don't know if this has influenced anyone else's choice of amps, but every time I tried to mic my amps rather than running direct, the mic picks up too much bleed from other sources, or is too boomy for a good, balanced sound.

Of course, a SansAmp, or Pod, etc. would be a solution for this, emulating the amp for PA purposes.

This factor has deterred me from really considering tube amps, especially vintage ones for practical stage use. as well as the weight.

I used a 1980's Marshall 100w bass head & a 4X10 cabinet last night at a house party. Sounded good, but again, quite heavy & no direct out.

A lot of modern tube amps have DIs on them, including Mesa/Boogie, Laney, and modern SVTs.

I know what you mean, Kevin. I have rarely had to mic my Hiwatt, but when I do I've found the results mixed... which mic you use, and its placement, has a lot to do with it.
I don't believe that the lack of a DI OUT should stop anyone from using a vintage tube amp.
I use a Radial JDI DI box. It's the cleanest DI that I could find, is totally passive (no battery) and sounds wonderful with my basses.
I send the balanced XLR out to the FOH, and use the JDIs thru connector to my amp. Best of both worlds IMO, and keeps me away from modding my old Hiwatt. You can use the JDI pre or post your effects, depending on what you wish to send to the house.

If you want to mic a bass amp, get a mic that uses a hypercardiod pattern, and use something that doesn't have too much bottom end response and you won't have a problem with it being too boomy or picking up too many other things. The boominess could also be how you are setting up the sound of your amp. Working with a DI is completely different than using a miced and live sound, so if you're setting up your tone to sound good on the DI, then it may not sound as good live and miced.

I always have my amp miked and most soundmen like the sound out of the SVT's, most are surprised as a matter of fact. I agree a 100 watt tube head and a 4 x 10 cab are just heavy, a few more pounds and you can get a 300 watt tube head with 8 x 10's. We as bass players should get to have "our" sound come from the PA just like guitar players, or at least those of us who use the amps as well as the our fingers and basses to get our sound, my amp is an integral part of my sound just like a guitarist playing trough a Fender or Marshall. I didn't say it was good or anything though, just that's it's my sound. har!