A new amp???

[vguilbault]

Hi all...

It's been a long time since my last post... Well, it's been now about 10 months since I bought my Sterling, and I'm still amazed by this incridible instrument! I've been giging a lot this year, and I receive a lot of good comments about my sound!!

BUT, I'm getting little tired of moving my big amp rig, so I starting to look for something way lighter!!! My currrent rig is:
- Tech 21 sansamp RBI
- Ampeg B2Re head (in hard case with preamp, about 50-60 pounds..)
- SVT 410 HLF cab (110 pounds)

I love my sound, and I'm pretty close to my "ideal" sound, but when it's 4 am, and I have to get my stuff back in house.... I really don't like this!!!

I'm looking at Marksbass, somenthing like:

- Littlemark III ( the II is now discontinued....)
- Traveler 210
- Traveler 115 or 112

But If I get only a 210, will it sound as muche as my 410 HLF??? I really love taht growl coming out from my 410, so that's why I'm looking at a 2X10, paired with a 1X15...

Do you have any suggestions... let's say that I don't look at the money... ( welll.... probably in my dreams ;-) )

Thanks!!!

Vincent

 

[mynan]

If you like your 410, stay with a 410...just get a lighter one.

 

[five7]

My rig works great! markbass f1 and an ampeg 2-12 portabass. I never run it above 4. It easily keeps up with 2 100 watt marshall 1/2 stacks and a loud drummer. The whole rig weighs less than 45 lbs.

 

[Powman]

Markbass pairs up really nicely with MM bass guitars. It really lets the tone of the bass shine through. There are several options, try a few. I opted for a combo and an extension cab for gigs (although I question the need for teh extension cab...I rarely go past 9 o'clock or only 1/4 volume with the extension cab).

If you like to colour up your tone, keep the Sansamp. I sold mine, but now I regret it as it could come in handy.

 

[T Alan]

Personally, I feel you'd accomplish your mission if you went with a MarkBass F500 atop a Bergantino AE410. If you really dig the Sansamp tone, get the BassDriver DI to run in line between your ax & amp.

 

[jlepre]

If you like your 410, stay with a 410...just get a lighter one.

+1 I would look at a NEO 410 that weighs in around 56 pounds. I like the Epifani 410, but that's JMHO.

 

[keko]

Considering of weight, especially at 3+ o clock AM and You like 4x10" sound..., did You ever thinking about replace 1 cabinet 4x10" with 2 cabinets 2x10"?

Advantage of this combination is that You can always split those 2 boxes, aprox. 2 times half weight, and when are both in use You can always mute one of hf drivers (bottom one for example) if sound is too bright!

Also consider some cabinets from EBS, thay have light weight Neodymium series of bass cabs!

Talking about amp heads, well good power head always weight a lot, that is the fact!

 

[mynan]

Considering of weight, especially at 3+ o clock AM and You like 4x10" sound..., did You ever thinking about replace 1 cabinet 4x10" with 2 cabinets 2x10"?

That's a good point. Another advantage to 2 210s is that it should put your impedance at 4ohms...getting the more watts from your amp. than an 8ohm 410.

 

[keko]

That's a good point. Another advantage to 2 210s is that it should put your impedance at 4ohms...getting the more watts from your amp. than an 8ohm 410.

Well, hmmm, ...mine EBS 210 Proline is already 4 Ohms model, but for sure if you are going to 2 x 210s each should be 8 Ohms cab!

Keep on searching, be careful with those impedance stuff...!!!

 

[shakinbacon]

Since you like your tone and the Sansamp (imho) is a big factor, I suggest keeping it and trading the head for something new.

I am a fan of Sansamp rackmount stuff. I have had issues overdriving the sansamp pedals due to the 9V supply - especially with musicman basses. If you turn down the volume on the instrument the issue goes away. Also I don't like the lack of midrange control due to the "scoopiness" of the effect. My point is you may not be as happy with the results of swapping the rackmount sansamp with the pedal counterpart.

 

[Tyrone]

I had an Ampeg SVT410HLF and their discontinued 210HE, and I hated carrying the 210 more than the 410, just because the 410 had wheels. I had to make several trips to get both cabs, head, and basses on stage. Now I have an 810HE, and even though it's much more of a pain than the 410 and 210 combined, at least it's only one trip : )

 

[Tyrone]

and btw I'd much prefer to have had the 410 by itself than the 210 alone. I played hard rock, and while the 210 would've sounded good enough, I needed the power and rumble of the 410. And when combined together, it was fantastic.

 

[vguilbault]

Hi all,

Well, thanks a lot for your answers!!! I'm more looking at 2 times 210... But wondering if a combo 210 + 115 would be better than 2X210s??? Yes, I do like my ampeg svt410hlf, but i'm not playing only rock... I'm currently giging with 2 bands, and I play pretty much everything... From disco to metal, country to rock'n roll... So I need a pretty versatile amp...

So is there anybody here having a 2X210 or 210 and 115, from markbass??

As for the SansAmp preamp, I bought it ot cover the lack of "low bass, growling" from my head with the MM... But if I can get this from Markbass, don't need it anymore...

Think I will have to spend some hours at my local music shop to give a try to different markbass configs...

About the marbkbass head, I saw the F1, and the Little Mark III (the II is disontinued..) Do you have any other model you suggest to give a try??

Thanks again all!

Vincent

 

[bbernard]

I'll pipe in with Genz Benz. I have tried the Uber 2-12, Uber 2-10, and Uber 4-10. All fine cabinets, versatile etc. I am currently playing just the 2-12 and using the Shuttlemax12 head.

I will probably add either the 2-10 or the 4-10 later on, even though I have no rational reason for having them...the 2-12 covers anything I want to do. I just like the stacks that go BOOM and move air.

Customer service at Genz Benz is as good as the folks at Ernie Ball / Music Man. Both set the standard for customer service.

 

[coastie72]

I'll pipe in with Genz Benz. I have tried the Uber 2-12, Uber 2-10, and Uber 4-10. All fine cabinets, versatile etc. I am currently playing just the 2-12 and using the Shuttlemax12 head.

I will probably add either the 2-10 or the 4-10 later on, even though I have no rational reason for having them...the 2-12 covers anything I want to do. I just like the stacks that go BOOM and move air.

Customer service at Genz Benz is as good as the folks at Ernie Ball / Music Man. Both set the standard for customer service.

I'm gonna second the Genz Benz! I have a Shuttlemax 12.0 head and a 2-12 (212T Neox) Genz Benz cabinet. All I ever here is compliments on the sound of this rig. Way more that I will ever need! The cabinet has tilt back wheels and is 50 lbs. It slides right into the back seat of my Ford Taurus with room to spare. The head and the bag to carry it is about 9 lbs. Outstanding option, at least give it a look!

 

[superdick2112]

Here's a vote for Phil Jones Bass amplifiers. I play my red sparkle Stingray (and several "other" basses) through a PJB M-500 head, pumping through 16B and 8T cabs, for a total of 700 watts going to 24 little 5" speakers. The 16B cab makes me curse and swear that I'll sell it every time I have to move it, but as soon as I plug in & hear that sound, all is forgiven. Sometimes, the price of that magic & elusive "Golden Tone" comes with a little grunting & wheezing. Yes, I could trade it for one of PJB's own "Neo" series of cabs, but they just don't sound the same...

 

[keko]

Hi all,

Well, thanks a lot for your answers!!! I'm more looking at 2 times 210... But wondering if a combo 210 + 115 would be better than 2X210s???

Thanks again all!

Vincent

That's great option and real "working horse" setup of cabinets!

You can't miss with that combo!

That was my wish at the first place, but than I quit, 'cause always play with PA support which contains 18" subs, so in the mix with mine 210 cab I have more than enough low end!

Good luck man, now Ya really got a lots of informations, it's Your turn to make the final decision!

 

[five7]

Here's a vote for Phil Jones Bass amplifiers. I play my red sparkle Stingray (and several "other" basses) through a PJB M-500 head, pumping through 16B and 8T cabs, for a total of 700 watts going to 24 little 5" speakers. The 16B cab makes me curse and swear that I'll sell it every time I have to move it, but as soon as I plug in & hear that sound, all is forgiven. Sometimes, the price of that magic & elusive "Golden Tone" comes with a little grunting & wheezing. Yes, I could trade it for one of PJB's own "Neo" series of cabs, but they just don't sound the same...

What a rig! When are you going to invite me over to hear it?

 

[superdick2112]

57fenderjazz, I see you are a member of the Mile High club like me! We don't have any gigs booked until Jan. 2010, but I'll p.m. you with dates/times as they get closer. What style(s) of music do you play? We play mostly dance, classic rock & metal - maybe you could sit in on a song or two...

 

[vguilbault]

Well.... I might give a try to Genz Benz also... I once heard a 410 from them, and it was really good... But I really want a versatile amp, since I play many different style!

I've looked also at David Eden, but they have a little something I don't like... can't tell, but it's there!!!

I'm also thinking of keeping all my current rig, and just buy a portable 210 for gigs where I play trough a PA, and use my current head. But, there is too much choice available on the market!! I just want to buy everything!

And By the way, there is two stunning 25th (one 4 , one 5, but don't remember the pickup config...)at my local store (Italmelodie, in montreal..) WOW, I was amazed by those pieces of art! I didn't have time to give a try to them, but I'm planning to go back there in the next days!

Thanks again !
Vincent