Better amplifier

[Bassplyr]

Thanks for the props xcental. The only reason so many people buy Ampeg today is because a few people used it in the 60's. Otherwise with all the competition in amps these days, prices have dropped on a lot of amps (and basses!) making it easy to find good deals.

 

[midopa]

Guys, guys, guys. When will you learn? Cheap Behringer combo amps all the way! Hohoho

 

[xcental34x]

Thanks for the props xcental. The only reason so many people buy Ampeg today is because a few people used it in the 60's. Otherwise with all the competition in amps these days, prices have dropped on a lot of amps (and basses!) making it easy to find good deals.

And the fact that Ampeg will endorse any artist that appears on MTV.

 

[MM Scarborough]

I've just bought a HARTKE Paper cab, its brilliant, the tweeter sounds awsome and really brings the bass alive. I wouldn't recommend GK,because personally i think there attitude towards customers is crap and they never reply to emails update there website, or explain any problems etc. They sell there product soley on the fact that flea plays one. They sound good but mine blew three times and dented my wallet got sweet FA from GK. Personally ampeg are ok(but boring) SWR are reliable and nick a bit of evryones sound. the hartke heads are good but i find a little over engineered, plus i was after one and compared it in the shop to a SWR WK400/4, the SWR kicked its' ass. Anyway, thats just my opinion. go and try and see which one you like....

 

[MM Scarborough]

Infact take a look at Harmony Centrals GK product reviewe thread.....youl see what I mean

 

[Bluesbob]

I'm new here but I do have an Ampeg SVT II and SWR Goliath III 4X10 and Son of Bertha 1X15 cabs. When I play my Sterling through this stack I feel like Master of the Universe. YMMV, of course. I like the Hartke 3500 though. Plenty of power and it's voiced to best advantage. Speaking of power, don't forget to check your speaker cabinet's efficiency rating, which tells you what level of loudness (measured in dBs) you'll get with a given input. This is just as important as amp wattage. Also don't forget that solid state watts are pretty puny compared to tube amp wattages like the SVTs or Mesas. Just my .02. I also like to play through my Eden Wt-400 into a Goliath Jr. 2X10 or a "mini-stack" with the 2X10 and the 1X15. Using the Hartke head in this kind of a set-up could give you a versatile and relatively affordable rig that would be big enough for any indoor gig, assuming that if you did need something louder you'd be going direct. Sorry for the rambling, but I just wanted to point out that you can get a powerful and reliable rig without spending major dough, if you know how.

 

[Bassplyr]

BluesBob, I am sure you can get some great sounds out of the rigs you described. But remember that we are dealing with musicians here, and that, FOR THE MOST PART, musicians per capita have less money than any other group in the world (including all 3rd world nations). So, would an all tube Ampeg or SWR head really be something that the mainstream bassist could afford? My experience is no. What would you suggest would be comparable to a Solid State head?

 

[xbass]

Yes, but the guy asked us for a good amp not for a cheap (or less expensive one) I use the ampeg svtIII pro and the svt 410 hlf cab (well, my roadie said F*** off ! when I told him about the 810, so the 410 is fine Ampeg maybe is a little overrated or overpriced, but with my stingray5 sounds like a beast, and I fell very confident with my gear, so I am loving it. It's great to feel that nothing can go wrong .

And nobody is rushing you to buy all the stuff from the beginning. With a 190$ Sans Amp you will have a great sound and you can continue to use your old gear until you will have the money for ampeg, messa or whatever you will like!

 

[Bluesbob]

Wow! I never meant to rile anybody who can't afford to buy decent equipment. I paid for my stuff with money I earned playing. Music123 (no affiliation) sells the Harke 3500 for $450. If you can't afford that maybe it's time to think about a day job. I was trying to point out that it is possible to build a good amplification system without spending big bucks.

 

[MM Scarborough]

i seriously have a look a look at the SWR workingmans stuff, theres quite a bit floating around second hand and it's reliable plus failry cheap, it's all solid state, but you can always buy a tube pre-amp at a later date

 

[oldbluebassman]

This is what I use. Surprisingly deep, tight and loud.

 

[MM Scarborough]

ahh ashdown, zzzzzzzzzz. borrowed one for a gig exactly like your's. To be honest it was a very warm and mellow sound, good for Neil Young and soft stuff, but a little bland for rock. Just wasn't my thing. Noticed you're pedal board, im a bit of an effects man myself. il have to post sum pics soon!!

 

[oldbluebassman]

MM Scarborough said:

To be honest it was a very warm and mellow sound, good for Neil Young and soft stuff, but a little bland for rock.

You have to persevere with the set-up. For about a year I was convinced that I had to cut the mid on the bass and the amp. More recently I've left the amp flat and would up the mid on the bass. Mmm What a difference!!! Once I got it right, the rig rocks, just ask the rest of my band!! It all seems to work, well for me anyway - 8-inch speakers, SR5 and a Bartolini - oops should I have said that? My pre-EB SR and Cutlass also sounds wonderful too.

Pedal board is new addition. I've used the pedals for a while in ones and twos but I thought I'd better engineer them properly ready for some plug-and-play gigs coming up.

 

[dlloyd]

hey guys,
im looking to upgrade my amp. right now i have a peavey combo 115, 200 watts. now, for the cost, im looking to get a good 4*10 and later a good 1*15. i want to get an awesome head that will cover the wattage of both the 4*10 and the 1*15. which amps should i look at for my stingray?

I've gone back to my Trace Elliot after playing Ampegs and Ashdowns for the last year or so. Jeez, that thing is good... pity Gibson have discontinued them for the time being.

 

[armybass]

how about gallien-krueger?

Yeah man, if price is an issue, you can get a used GK 800 RB with 400 watts of earth shaking power that will do what you are looking for nicely.

 

[Fuzzy Dustmite]

I had an ampeg b4r for a while, and couldn't coax a decent volume out of it. I had it in bridged mono mode, and supposedly pushing 1000W through a Ampeg 610 cab, and I still wasn't able to hear myself over two 50W tube guitar amps.

I got a GK800RB off ebay, plugged it in, and at 250W or whatever it runs in full mode, I don't go to more than 3 or 4 on the dial, because it's just sooo loud. It sounds awesome too.

GK will get my amp business over Ampeg. But, for speakers, I'm in love with Ampeg.

 

[fifthorange]

alrighty
well after reading all the comments, i think i might still work for the gk gear, with swr and hartke still on my mind. i have to try a hartke though, thanks for all your posts.

 

[xcental34x]

Hey oldblues, what is that finish in that Stingray called? It looks like Pacific Blue Burst, but with more of a teal. Is it still available?

~Patrick

 

[oldbluebassman]

Hi Patrick

It is Pacific Blue Burst, it's just that a flash photo doesn't bring out the colours correctly. I'll do it again sometime in natural daylight. I have no idea if it's still available.

 

[xcental34x]

Yeah it is still available. That really makes me want to get a Ray in that color, but now that I've siad that, it'll likely get discontinued.