I lost my head! Now what?

teeder · Post by **teeder** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 2:44 am

My band played it's first gig this past weekend, and about 8 songs into it my amp died!
I was able to limp through by using my POD direct into the board, but the whole experience sucked!
I'm having my amp Dr. friend diagnose it on Friday, but he doesn't have high hopes.
It's probably fried!
It's an Ampeg B2R that I bought used a year ago. I usually don't like to buy used stuff, but needed to get started cheap. I play it through Ampeg cabinets, 2X10 and 1X15.
My question is, now what do I do? I really liked the tone and features of this head. Do I get another (but new) or should I look at something else?
The new B2RE's have an extra 100 watts (450 total).
The selection near me is very limited, so I can't just go try a bunch out. Also, I need to keep in the $500.00-$700.00 range.
Please help me narrow it down.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 3:49 am

don't buy used amp heads ... buy a new one and get a warranty ... my b2r that I bought new is rock solid ... also have a backup ... I have 3 full bass rigs ... I always have a backup for everything ... I guess that is because I am an IT guy ...

incubus2432 · Post by **incubus2432** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 4:24 am

I'd look into a used Ampeg SVP-Pro preamp and use the rest to buy as good of a power amp as you can swing. That way in the future you can change your tone or power if the need arises without ditching the whole thing. You can have the tone you like with power to spare for around $700.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 6:31 am

Bring it into the shop it could be as simple as a fuse, although that would be a stroke of luck. I always buy used and remember you get what you pay for. I would buy a used 70's SVT head before I would buy a new anything, I can count on one hand the number of times they have broken down in thirty years of constant gigging and it was usually my fault. I have two 30 year old SVT heads and one 18 year old head right now that get used 4-6 gigs a week and I never bring a spare unless I'm way away from home.

teeder · Post by **teeder** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 7:01 am

I tried the fuse. It melts it as soon as I flip the switch. It goes in to my friend's shop on Friday, but from talking to him, he said it didn't sound good.
I'd love a SVT, but they're a bit out of my price range. I wouldn't like the weight either.
There hasn't been a used SVT head in over 15 years in any of the shops around here that I'm aware of. As a matter of fact, the last one I played through, and was for sale, was in Cleveland back in 1989. If I remember right they wanted about $1,200.00 with the cabinet then.

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 7:02 am

I buy used-but that's cause I'm a valve guy.

And that I don't gig with 'em...

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 7:27 am

if you do buy used electronics then get 2 ...

sometimes when you buy used electronics you are buying somebody elses problems ...

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 9:13 am

Kevin ... good thing you had the bass pod ...

teeder · Post by **teeder** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 9:33 am

You got that right!
The sound from the mains was great, but my monitors stunk. So, that was the only thing that was bad. (other than the loss of my head)
The crowd didn't notice a difference.

shinynewtoy · Post by **shinynewtoy** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 9:45 am

I had never thought about this potential situation arising, but as far as recording, I love my pod and to me it's indispensible. Sure there's something to the idea of miking a vintage bass amp... but if you saw the size of my studio you'd understand!

There's always plan b... get a nice transparent power amp and just use the pod as a preamp..??

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 9:49 am

I have played through a pod that way ... it works pretty good ... I prefer a real bass amp ... I have more tone control ...

shinynewtoy · Post by **shinynewtoy** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 9:54 am

Really think so? I used to own an Ampeg B-12 and for example the pod actually behaves very similar when using the B-15 model. Heats up just when I expected it to and everything. having limited experience with most of the other models in the pod I really can't vouch for them all, but Line 6 really seemed to get the essential tone-shaping characteristics down pretty well.

Have you used it for recording yet, Jeff? It sounds phenomenal... I'll have to try to get a sound byte up, of course being Ricless I'd be recording my Spector but that's a nice bass too...

beatlefan · Post by **beatlefan** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 10:15 am

Sooooo...Kevin is headless....

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 10:16 am

Yep ... it is great in the studio ... I have some sound bytes here ... http://www.3dentourage.com/425/jeffbass.htm all but one of those uses the pod ...

I found the best way to use the pod is to first get a good sound through a bass rig ... I emphasize the mids a little ... then I run the pod in and finally I mike it with an sm57 ... that is for live sound ... for the studio I run direct ... except I set it for an amp and not direct ... when I flip the switch from amp to direct the pod get muddy and too bassy ... on the amp setting it has more clarity ...

also when I run into a real bass amp I have several tone controls ... but a pure power amp just has a volume ...

shinynewtoy · Post by **shinynewtoy** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 10:32 am

Awesome tone Jeff... I especially liked Pink... very in your face yet warm as Hell! If you don't mind me asking, which amp model was that?

I have only used the direct setting... I think I'll check out the Amp setting tonight! I've experienced a little of the muddiness you talked about but I resort to eq'ing that down at board level. I do like the extra ambience the AIR mode gives though.

Which pod do you use? I have the original... gotta love overstock sales!