A really tough decision is at hand.

[Aussie Mark]

My thought was to put it up at $1,500 and if nobody buys it, then cool I still have my Stingray.

Nobody will buy it for $1500 -

http://completed.shop.ebay.com/Musi...sop=3&_ssov=1&_sticky=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m282


If you like the Sansamp tone (VT Bass pedal might be another similar option for a solution) but need more power, why not just drive a nice power amp like a QSC PLX series with the Sansamp or a VT Bass? More power than a SVT Classic, lighter, more reliable, no tubes to replace, and far, far less expensive to buy (especially if you buy used).

I've got no idea what the Conklin + the SVT350 will get you used, but a high powered QSC PLX power amp will cost you no more than $500 used, with say 1000 watts @ 4 ohms ready to rock that 810 cab.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Not to de-value your SR5, but I would be very surprised if you were to get $1500 U.S. + shipping for it. There's a pristine 20th Anniversary in the "For Sale" thread at $1400 now, so you get the idea. A standard one in today's economy...

I would keep the SR5 and sell some of the other stuff to raise the funds. As mentioned above, there are more options than the SVT Classic that you could get significantly cheaper.

Good luck!

 

[DaddyFlip]

Not all the time. And some of the time when I am going through a PA it doesn't have anything flattering to the low end. If you have a ****ty amp going through an awesome PA system, you're still sending a ****ty signal to the speakers and to a point there's nothing you can do to make it sound better.

The DI signal should go straight to the PA, unless your miking the cab and sending that to the PA, in which case you don't need the DI. Otherwise, the amp/cab should just provide the stage sound in a PA environment, in which case the 350 should do the job. There's still the issue of tonal preference. The problem may be the 810- if you're going to play with the big dogs, it's gonna cost 'ya. Bite the bullet- if you know the Classic solves all your problems, then you might be better off with a, NO- I can't say it. Surely you can find the scratch to keep the 'ray and get the Classic. Just do it.

Nobody will buy it for $1500 -

...QSC PLX power amp will cost you no more than $500 used, with say 1000 watts @ 4 ohms ready to rock that 810 cab.

I agree with you on the market value. He's stuck on Ampeg.

 

[Drmckool]

Just don't sell the Stingray and another thing did you really think you were going to get told in the Musicman bass forum to sell a stingray, i don't think so.

 

[Jim Roseberry]

but we're not playing anymore and I'm helping out a friend who's just 'trying to get his name out there'. Pretty much playing for beer and fun nowadays.

FWIW, You've answered your own question with the above.
Don't sell the SR! You'll lose a good instrument and a substantial part of your investment. FWIW, If the SR5 was a stock model, you wouldn't get $1500 for it on the used market... more likely in the $900-$1100 range.

The solid-state amp may not deliver your ultimate tone... but it's certainly much more than up-to-the-task of delivering a good gig tone.

Be patient...
Your financial situation could change radically in 12-24 months.
The SVT Classic will be there when the time is right.
BTW, When the time is right, you may find that you like something else even better than the SVT Classic.

Edit:
Forgot to mention that if you have a decent MacBook Pro (or a decent PC), you can run Ampeg SVX.
Use SVX just to model the SVT Classic head... and throw the signal thru your 8x10. That'll get darn close... for a couple hundred bucks.

 

[spencer]

read me!!!

Most of the tone is in the bass. Trust me your set up won't be that different with a new head. The bass is where your tone at and I think you will be let sown when you get a newhead

it is not a major factor in tone, going from a ampeg to and ampeg.

Also you won't get 1500 for your stingray 5

 

[cellkirk74]

I don't get the point. You already use a sansamp, so you have a preamp. All you need is a decent poweramp. If you like it light, try to get an ALTO D1 or something else using the powersoft digimod. If weight does not matter get some old crest or qvc.

If you need a head, get a little mark II or F1 or a Genz Benz shuttle.

Any of these should be around 400 $ used somewhere on the web.

In my opinion, the weakest spot is your cabinet, Noone needs a frigde these days as we have neodymium drivers and huge sounding 2x12-cabs from Genz, TECamp. Also something great is the budget line from Epifani, called Epifunky..

Sell the Conklin and the old head and you will be fine...

 

[Movielife]

I don't get the point. You already use a sansamp, so you have a preamp. All you need is a decent poweramp. If you like it light, try to get an ALTO D1 or something else using the powersoft digimod. If weight does not matter get some old crest or qvc.

If you need a head, get a little mark II or F1 or a Genz Benz shuttle.

Any of these should be around 400 $ used somewhere on the web.

In my opinion, the weakest spot is your cabinet, Noone needs a frigde these days as we have neodymium drivers and huge sounding 2x12-cabs from Genz, TECamp. Also something great is the budget line from Epifani, called Epifunky..

Sell the Conklin and the old head and you will be fine...

+1 on the new cabs front here!

My opinion, sell ALL the Ampeg setup asap. Sell the Conklin....keep the Stingray 5.

Buy a Markbass/Tecamp/Genz Benz Mini Rig (2x12 setup) and put a sansamp/tonehammer pedal in front...then DI out from the pedal or the amp so you have great tone at your amp and great tone out front.

I had an 8x10 for 9 months, then I realised I didnt like it, and it was not the rock n roll dream!

A high quality lightweight 2x12, eg a MB 1x12 Combo + 1x12 extension, or a GB Neo 212 plus Shuttle 6.0/9.0 will be VERY good with your Stingray.

Oh, and you want a full tube amp head? Get an Orange AD200b Mk3....best all tube head made IMO.

Aguilar also make fantastic DB cabs....1x12 or 2x12 are the best IMO....they will sound stunning with an alll tube head....or a modern micro head like a MB.

Lots of options...but keep the Ray.

 

[oli@bass]

Tyrone, I'd sell the head and the Conklin and the PDDI and then get a MarkBass F1 + a SansAmp RBI. It will give you plenty of power, plenty of tonal options, and the sound you like so much in a small, light, low service package.

And best of all, you can keep your 'Ray!

 

[five7]

Sell the 69 tele and you could buy any bass amp you want.

 

[maddog]

If you only had one MM, would you sacrifice it in hopes of improving your overall tone??

this doesn't compute. As in, I don't see where selling an MM is going to improve your tone unless you are unhappy with the tone of the MM.

See what I'm getting at?

 

[ivbenaplayin]

why not offer the guitar player a case of beer to turn down his stage volume... least out-of-pocket expense I can think of (although it hasn't worked for me yet...)

 

[adouglas]

Tilt the guitar player's amp (or cabinet) so it's aimed right at his head.

Speakers directly on-axis are WAY louder.

You can talk him into doing this by pointing out how much better it'll sound.

 

[Powman]

this doesn't compute. As in, I don't see where selling an MM is going to improve your tone unless you are unhappy with the tone of the MM.

See what I'm getting at?

I agree. I see my tone coming from the bass as this is a high fidelity instrument. Then a very clean and transparent amp like a Markbass to let all the glorious tone come through. I got rid of all my pedals...no need! I have my tone from my MM Sterling.

 

[tkarter]

I gave a Jazz bass to the first person that offered to pay shipping once.

tk

 

[Tyrone]

this doesn't compute. As in, I don't see where selling an MM is going to improve your tone unless you are unhappy with the tone of the MM.

See what I'm getting at?

It was an immediate means of getting the money to buy a better head.

I have played the Classic at Guitar Center and I know there were many variables that were different but the immediate tone and power I got out of it compared to my 350 were huge. I played a SR5 as well as a Jazz bass and both sounded fantastic through it with very little tweaking. It's just that much better than what I have now.

btw I'm not selling the SR5, I was heavily leaning towards not selling it anyway and I made this thread I think to confirm that leaning. In my ~12 years of playing bass, I came to find early that I am a fan of Ampeg. All the suggestions in this thread will be looked into, but they have a mountain to climb to jump ahead of the Classic at this point.

 

[tkarter]

You need to investigate Peavey and forget about ampeg. The Peavey works equally well with any bass.

Check ebay and you won't have to sell a bass to fund one either.

tk

 

[maddog]

It was an immediate means of getting the money to buy a better head.

I see what you're getting at now.

I'd still keep the SR5 and wait on the head. but then again, I'm playing in my living room.

 

[five7]

My stingray, markbass and svt 8-10 is an incredible tone! And enough volume to keep two 100 watt marshall half stacks in check. Like I said earlier, the f1 only cost me $400 used on craigslist. The classic would look cool but you will have to get one of the guitar players to help hoist it up on your cabinet. The f1, I can lift by himself.

 

[bbernard]

One bass that you really love is the center piece of your rig. I would never sacrifice a bass for an amp. A great bass inspires you, it just feels like home when its in your hands.

A great sounding amp is all well and good, but its bassackwards to go amp at the expense of bass.

IMO etc.