Amplifier match-ups with a 4003?

highway_star · Post by **highway_star** » Tue Oct 19, 2004 5:20 pm

Now that I have a bass, I'm searching for an amp. Eden and SWR are out since they sound too modern for my tastes. An SVT is too big; I'm looking for a small 300w combo or head/cabinet unit to play jams or small gigs. The short list right now is an SVT 3 PRO, Gallien Krueger 400RB combo, Ashdown ABM 210 300 that I can get on a closeout or maybe even a vintage Sunn in good condition. Does anyone have any suggestions? If it helps, I play 70s rock.

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Tue Oct 19, 2004 5:26 pm

SUNN 2000S!

Getting a re-cap will be a b_tch tho...

Ashdown could be cool, but finding someone to fix it.

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Tue Oct 19, 2004 5:48 pm

Ron, I use a GK400RBIII head, with (2)4-10 cabinets. I love it because I can use one or 2 cabinets depending on the size of the gig, and it sounds awesome. It's also incredibly reliable, thus far (knocking on wood). I highly recommend GK. (By the way, Zeppelin, Rush, Floyd, etc. all sound great thru it!)

jps · Post by **jps** » Tue Oct 19, 2004 6:03 pm

I'd go for the GK also. Most of the Ampeg combos I have tried were too boxy and woofy (?) sounding. The vintage Sunns aren't in the power range you seek.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Tue Oct 19, 2004 7:40 pm

I wouldn't get a combo if I were you, they are ok for soft music and small rooms but wouldn't be very good for classic rock. I always use Ampeg SVT's with different cabs, but if I didn't use Ampeg I'd probably go with GK's, they have a warm sound for a SS amp.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Tue Oct 19, 2004 8:15 pm

the good old acoustic 360 or 370 are great amps if you can find one ... also the old marshall bass amps are cool ... ampeg svt works with just about any bass ... the newer ampeg b2r and ba series are good amps ... crate is pretty good ... GK and swr are good as long as you don't get their little amps ... Eden is a good amp as well ... hartke is pretty good too ... my favorite these days is ampeg ...

I'm not a fan of peavey bass amps for the most part ...

try the amp out with your bass and effects ... don't even think about playing bass with some sort of compression ... and a ric bass sounds good with a little distortion ... ala Geddy and Squire ...

And I really like a Line 6 bass pod as a front end tone shaper ...

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Tue Oct 19, 2004 8:59 pm

Jeff, you didn't mention Ashdown in that list.

robcollins · Post by **robcollins** » Tue Oct 19, 2004 11:30 pm

I have just bought an Ashdown ABM C110 Evo II combo (1x10" speaker) and it sounds fantastic with my 4003 and 4003 fretless with it's solid state/valve pre-amp.
Nice and small for carrying to rehersals and you can always use an exta cab for when you are playing small gigs.

ojobob2 · Post by **ojobob2** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 1:58 am

I Just bought an Ashdown Electric Blue 180w head. Very loud and meaty and also rather tube like in sound. They built well and are cheap. Im building a pair of 1X15 cabs for it (using 150w celestion speakers)

Should sound great!! (and cheap too)

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 2:28 am

I use a Carvin RL-1000 for the power, tons of power by the way, it has lots of nice tone shaping tools, a noise gate, and a variable compressor. I use various cabinets, depending on the size of the gig. Usually an Ampeg BSE410HlF. I just bought a Carvin 210 cab for home use, Im not expecting much, but I've been wanting to try a 210.

lshaia · Post by **lshaia** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 3:33 am

Avatar makes nice inexpensive bass cabinets and is also an Ashdown dealer; they offer special "package" deals, www.avatarspeakers.com/.

Dave at Avatar is a great guy to deal with.

loendmaestro · Post by **loendmaestro** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 3:58 am

Best bang for your buck right here:

http://www.yorkville.com/products.asp?id=247&cat=15&type=32

Canada's little secret...

I run this head through a Yorkie XC115 cab & and old Fender BXR 4x10 cab. Mix & match or both together. House of god sound!

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 4:42 am

Steve ... I didn't mention Ashdown because I've never played through one ... the same goes for yorkville ...

ojobob2 · Post by **ojobob2** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 4:53 am

Ashdown was set up by ex-Trace Elliot staff (Trace has ceased to exist now) They are very similarly built amps - same layout etc - just sound better i think - more old school

thx1955 · Post by **thx1955** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 4:59 am

Chris, yorkville just introduced a new all tube amp, 200w for about $600 (US) I can't wait to try one.

http://www.yorkville.com/products.asp?type=32&cat=40&id=263

Lindsay, I agree with you about Dave, one of the nicest guys in the industry, always willing to help.

He built me a 4x12 which sounds awesome, and I'm going to get one of his new 2x12's.