And now, what about the amps ?

[JayAmel]

This my second poll, but yes I swear it's the last one.
Just thought this would help newbies find clues to choose brands to try out for their MM basses.
So the question is : what amp brand do you play your MM bass(es) through ?
Cheers
Jay

 

[shamus63]

I voted Ampeg, because that's my normal rig-of-choice. But, as you can tell from my Sig, I also endorse SWR and Ashdown.

It's all good.

 

[JayAmel]

Shamus, I also voted Ampeg while owning non.
But I'm on the times when I'm seriously considering coming back to all-tube SVT.

 

[Mobay45]

I use a BBE BMax-T and a QSC 1202. I used to use a Hartke 3500. Before that I had a GK 400RB. The Hartke and the GK were both good amps.

 

[bovinehost]

I had a Hartke (liked it), an Ampeg (liked it), a Peavey (pretty good for the money) and now a Sunn 1200S.

Give me the Sunn any old day.

But, in a pinch, I'm not that picky.

 

[shamus63]

Shamus, I also voted Ampeg while owning non.
But I'm on the times when I'm seriously considering coming back to all-tube SVT.

Yeah. I plan on A/B'ing my current rig with another Henry 8x8 (if not a 2x15), and that one will be pushed with an Ampeg SVT-3 PRO.

 

[Dr. Nick]

When I was a lad, we didn't have no fancy "bass ampli-fiers". All we had was a pickup made from a phony-graph needle, and we'd hook it up to the buzzer from our front doorbell.

It sounded like a bunch of bees in a tin can, and sometimes the AC current would knock you on your keester, but we were young and dumb and it was all that we had and we liked it!

 

[adouglas]

My most recent standalone rig was an SWR Grand Prix preamp --> Presonus Blue Max compressor --> Stewart World 1.2 --> Avatar B212. Since only one piece of this, the preamp, is an SWR, I answered "other."

My current rig is the same, except that I've gotten rid of the Avatar (not for sound/tone reasons...it sounded great...but for size/weight reasons).

Now I run into a Flite 1x15, which is silly-small and stupid-light (27 lbs.). By itself, this cabinet would not get the job done...but I also run a line out of the SWR into a Bose PAS with one woofer module, which also carries half a drum machine and two vocal mics. The combination sounds AMAZING.

In effect, this means I've got a component rig that has an SWR preamp feeding:

- a 1x15, 400-500 watts (full range),
- a 2x5.5 long-throw subwoofer, 250 watts (below 180 Hz only),
- 12 teeny tiny 2.5" drivers, another 250 watts (180+ Hz), and
- 12 more teeny tiny 2.5" drivers, 250 more watts on top of that (180+ Hz).

-Total power: 1250 watts.
-Total speaker surface area: About 342 square inches, which is roughly equivalent to a 4x10.

 

[higher1]

Ampeg. ...or St. Louis Music in general RULE!

SVT love baby!

 

[Chris Meyer]

Ashdown ABM400 head through a pair of Epifani 210s.

 

[shamus63]

When I was a lad, we didn't have no fancy "bass ampli-fiers". All we had was a pickup made from a phony-graph needle, and we'd hook it up to the buzzer from our front doorbell.

It sounded like a bunch of bees in a tin can, and sometimes the AC current would knock you on your keester, but we were young and dumb and it was all that we had and we liked it!

All I had was an old stereo with RCA jacks...had to rig that.

 

[AnthonyD]

Personally, I'm a Hartke fan...

But then again I'm just as happy to run direct through the house (using my Hartke Bass Attack DI box, of course!).

 

[adouglas]

All I had was an old stereo with RCA jacks...had to rig that.

Been there, done that...lol. It was laughable.

I like the rotating avatars. What happened to Ms. Elsie?

 

[JayAmel]

Yeah. I plan on A/B'ing my current rig with another Henry 8x8 (if not a 2x15), and that one will be pushed with an Ampeg SVT-3 PRO.

Shamus, I currently play through the same head as yours (Ashdown MAG300R).
When you get your SVT3-Pro please I'd be glad to read how different it sounds compared to the MAG (I guess differences are numerous).

Many thanks if you can do it
Jay

 

[Psycho Ward]

My favorite bass rig is a Bose PAS with my Ampeg B-18-N as a sub. The Bose brings things out in a bass that no other bass rig ever has and with the B18 it covers the lows that the PAS doesn't. The SR5 kills thru this setup.


I also really like my Ashdown ABM 500, lots of power and a great tone.

 

[adouglas]

My favorite bass rig is a Bose PAS with my Ampeg B-18-N as a sub.

Somehow I knew you were warped like me....

I don't care what people say about Bose. The PAS kicks serious a$$.

 

[Golem]

Ampeg-PB and GK-MB most often, then AI-Clarus, MusicMan and BassMan for heads. The MusicMan and BassMan stuff is tube oldies. The Ampeg, GK-MB and AI heads are all very small.

My "big" head is a GK 400RB. SWR is way off the bottom of my list. I have a 4004 that I truly despise. I only use the power stage, and only when I really have to.

Cabs are mostly Ampeg PortaBass, plus a few odd ducklets. Combos would be very small, a GK-MB and a Trace. Then there's all that "other" stuff laying about, collecting dust and "vintage vibe".

 

[JB1]

Ashdown ABM EvoII 300, with a 1x15 & a 4x8

 

[shamus63]

Shamus, I currently play through the same head as yours (Ashdown MAG300R).
When you get your SVT3-Pro please I'd be glad to read how different it sounds compared to the MAG (I guess differences are numerous).

Many thanks if you can do it
Jay

My thinking (ahead of time) is that the while the Ashdown produces a more raw (read: Brit) sound, the Ampeg will provide the real warmth. That's why I'm considering a 2x15 as the match-up to the Henry (although the Henry is pretty damn warm sounding!).

 

[shamus63]

Shamus, I currently play through the same head as yours (Ashdown MAG300R).
When you get your SVT3-Pro please I'd be glad to read how different it sounds compared to the MAG (I guess differences are numerous).

Many thanks if you can do it
Jay

BTW, I played the MAG210 for a bit, and it is an impressive cab! Wish I had held onto it!