Newbie Amp/Cab Shopping - could I get some pointers?

[Postal]

It's fine to be a newbie.
We are all still going to be newbs at someting in life.
That's just aprt of one's personal growth.
I hope that I never stop learning new things.

All the advice is worthy here.
Everyone that takes time to write has at least one common factor.
We are trying to help.
While opinions vary (that's normal).
We all want to see you satisfied with your new amp.

The internet wasn't around when I was young.
Alot of experience with different bass gear was hard won, thru trial & error.
Wasted money going thru that process.
But I think others have had similar backgrounds.

Here's the thing...
While these forums, reviews etc.. are great for 'informational purposes'.
Nothing, let me repeat..Nothing....will replace 'real world'experience.

At some point, you need to get out there and try out the equipment for yourself.
If possible, go to a town that has the brands you are interested in.
Bring your bass. Don't listen much to the sales pitch. Use your ears.
Try and go during the week. If you can..Go early in the day, a busy Saturday isn't the best time to demo gear in a noisy store. Try and buy it where there is a return policy. Sometimes an amp sounds much different out of the store.

Your questions are always welcome.
The mark of a quality forum.
This IS a great place to get info.
If you need more 'advice', reliability,etc..
Find that out when you've narrowed it down from 'everything'.

By the way.. for my 2 cents on cabs.
I have been happy with SWR Goliath cabs.
Others may sound cleaner; the Goliaths have a raw edge that I need.
There are plenty of quality cabinets for sale...your ears will 'hear the sound' you seek.

 

[neutrino]

Could I ask what the rig consisted of that Sterling was playing at the open house on the "sterling jam" video? While I'm sure during the encoding and compression and all that stuff and all the other factors some nuances of sound are skewed, but I love the way the bongo sounded during that - very cool

 

[Datta]

Good advice, Postal. I would add that it can be really helpful to try out gear in working situations whenever possible.

 

[Datta]

I agree- also, you can mix and match heads and cabinets to fit the gig - far more versatilty than with a combo. I do love my GK microbass combo, though!

 

[tkarter]

All is good advice. It is just that too. There is not one of us that can tell you what you really want.

Why do I know that? Cuz other than the EB bass there is not another soul here playing the amp and cab combination I am

Guess what? I am happy because I made up my mind for what I wanted. I know GK is probably a great amp and speakers. I haven't gotten to play one so they won't replace what I have now.


It is fine to ask questions. It is fine to learn from the answers. It is also fine to experiment and form your own opinion.

Took awhile to sale the Bongo to you. Guess what I am betting you can plug it into any amp available and appreciate it and learn from it.

That is exactly what I would tell my son of daughter to do. I may be playing dad's amp and you want something different.


It is up to you to find you own sound and I am sure I am 100 per cent right in saying there is not one of us here that can define or make your sound.

If you want to sound like any one of us you never will. Why? Because I am tom and jack is jack and so forth and so on.


Try things both good and bad. That is how a boy becomes a man. How a girl becomes a woman. Heck yeah it ain't easy but who promised you it would be?


tk

 

[Aussie Mark]

I have been happy with SWR Goliath cabs.

Another vote for SWR cabinets here. I've owned a few myself.

 

[Datta]

SWR cabs

Not shown: My Son of Bertha (15"). I use both a 550x head and an SVT-III Pro. That 18" Big Ben REALLY kicks ass!

 

[neutrino]

Another vote for SWR cabinets here. I've owned a few myself.

and what about the swr cabs really spoke to you? I noticed that you have a full swr rig - we don't have them here, I was just trying to get a feel for what thier sound is.

 

[Aussie Mark]

and what about the swr cabs really spoke to you? I noticed that you have a full swr rig - we don't have them here, I was just trying to get a feel for what thier sound is.

My take is that SWR cabinets can do it all. They can be as hi-fi as you want them to be (with the tweeter dialled in), or they can give you old school thump (me likey). They're well made, have drivers that produce good tone up close or across a big room, and they look smokin. Caveat: SWR quality control since they were acquired by Fender has some issues. On the other hand, buy a pre-Fender SWR cabinet and you'll have one of the best cabinets ever made.

I AB'ed (and ABC'ed) SWR with Ampeg, Ashdown, Eden and Lab Systems when cab shopping.

I don't have the SM400 head anymore, it was getting a little old in the tooth (just like me) and didn't have enough grunt for my needs, so now I'm running a Demeter preamp with a Yamaha P4500 power amp ....

 

[neutrino]

On the other hand, buy a pre-Fender SWR cabinet and you'll have one of the best cabinets ever made.

That would be a hassle for me to find one in really good condition. It's a shame that companies "best products" are sometimes produced many years ago, with their current offerings being "less" than their predacessors.

 

[MingusBASS]

I freak'n LOVED the way my bongos sounded with SWR gear but unfortunatly I had some big problems with the newer stuff. I had 2 speaker cabs go defective and the head 750x went kaputz shortly there after. Needless to say, I have a pretty bad taste in my mouth for SWR gear of the fender-era. IF you can find some pre-Fender SWR gear you'll find a great sound. Obviously there are people(even on this board) who love their new SWR stuff. If they got a rig that works and sounds as great as mine did for the 2 days it worked then they are sitting pretty. Then again, you might play SWR stuff and hate it.

Andrew

Oh yeah, I forgot- If you do have a problem with the new stuff, GOOD NIGHT!!! The Customer Service is horrible and you'll have a long hard road to getting your gear fixed. I just HAD to add that.

 

[Aussie Mark]

That would be a hassle for me to find one in really good condition. It's a shame that companies "best products" are sometimes produced many years ago, with their current offerings being "less" than their predacessors.

The Fender takeover was around 2003, so you may be able to find stores with SWR cabs in stock that were made before then. Either that, or buy used from one of the larger online bass stores (Bass NW, Bass Central), or keep an eye on TB or the Dudepit for somebody selling.

 

[neutrino]

interesting idea.

i'm really just wanting a nice warm rock tone - think steffan from dave matthews meets tom hamilton from aerosmith meets patrick dahlheimer from live meets tool's bassist - (you get the idea).

 

[tkarter]

interesting idea.

i'm really just wanting a nice warm rock tone - think steffan from dave matthews meets tom hamilton from aerosmith meets patrick dahlheimer from live meets tool's bassist - (you get the idea).

I can get that tone with my Laney into an Ampeg 2x10on top of an Ampeg 1x15 with my SR5 and TI Jazz flats that are a little over a year old.

Can you I doubt it.

Sound is so totally subjective. I imagine what you described was really played with roundwounds and a totally different rig.

We are each individuals. We each define our own sound.

I am happy to help you find your sound. You found a bass you like that is good.

Listen and more importantly read. I can only tell you what works for me. There are better players than I here.

That said, I don't know one that can beat me out of my gig.

YOU HAVE TO DEFINE YOURS. You do have to make your choices here.

Read a lot and understand we aren't you and you aren't me.

Define your sound. Choose when you hear. Music is about what you hear.

There will alway be some you want to copy. You will never be who you want to copy.

You will develop yourself by copying. I ain't my dad and I am a whole lot like him.

simple math.




IMHO

tk

 

[Aussie Mark]

interesting idea.

i'm really just wanting a nice warm rock tone - think steffan from dave matthews meets tom hamilton from aerosmith meets patrick dahlheimer from live meets tool's bassist - (you get the idea).

Well, here are some SWR cabinet users - John Paul Jones (Led Zep), the bass player from Smashmouth, Verdine White (Earth Wind & Fire), Rocco Prestia (Tower of Power). Some nice warm rock tone there.

 

[shamus63]

Well, here are some SWR cabinet users - John Paul Jones (Led Zep), the bass player from Smashmouth, Verdine White (Earth Wind & Fire), Rocco Prestia (Tower of Power). Some nice warm rock tone there.

I'll second the tone and old-school thump!

 

[Bluesbob]

Speaking of SWR...

look for a Basic Black combo. Even though it's a 15" it doesn't seem to get muddy and still goes deep, even with a low B. Not high powered, but plenty loud for rehearsal, even outdoor gigs. Add a 2X10 for full output (160 watts, but sounds like more) and you're good to go, just about anywhere that doesn't need FOH support. Last produced in 1999, but available for around $350.00 to $400.00. I will never sell mine. I use older SWR cabs with an Eden WT-400 or Ampeg SVT II (heavy) for more headroom but also because I use the Basic Black for practice and don't want to keep taking it in and out of my music room. I usually don't recommend a combo, but if you can find this one used, it's worth buying. If you want more "warmth" you can put a SansAmp Bass Driver DI in front of the Basic Black. It gets you surprisingly close to the SVT tone at low volume, albeit without the low-frequency compression of a real SVT rig. Of course JMHO and YMMV.

 

[shamus63]

Well, here are some SWR cabinet users - John Paul Jones (Led Zep), the bass player from Smashmouth, Verdine White (Earth Wind & Fire), Rocco Prestia (Tower of Power). Some nice warm rock tone there.

Let's add Jimmy Haslip from The Yellowjackets...MONSTER PLAYER!

 

[Dr. Nick]

I don't want to confuse the issue further, but have you tried an Eden cab? I A/B'ed my head through an Eden 4 x10 and an SWR Goliath III. Both sounded great until we got up to about 12:00 on the master volume, then the SWR started to fart out. (In all fairness, the Eden has a higher power rating, so that wasn't totally unexpected).

As has been wisely stated above, trust your ears and go with what is best for you. Its your money, so as long as you are happy, that's all that matters.

Oh yeah, and the audience. Definite plus if you can keep the audience happy at the same time.

Good luck!

 

[Rayan]

Tnx4SavingMeTheTrouble

... unfortunatly I had some big problems with the newer (SWR) stuff. ... I have a pretty bad taste in my mouth for SWR gear of the fender-era. Andrew
Oh yeah, I forgot- If you do have a problem with the new stuff, GOOD NIGHT!!! The Customer Service is horrible and you'll have a long hard road to getting your gear fixed. I just HAD to add that.

~
Ahhhh - the beauty & the beast of the Internet ... if you have a bad experience, you can spread the word real far, real easy, real fast ...

I'm happy with my small, portable, Workingman's 12 combo (great 4 P-bass/flatwound, and even sometimes interesting with SR5/Piezo), but SWR just fell at least 2 notches on my search list for a medium power, integrated, hi-fi amp to drive a quality 1x15 (+(1X12 / 2X10) ...

Eden is still above, somewhere near Aguilar ??? I'm in no rush,
/R