Gribb59 wrote:
Good topic. I'm currently on the hunt to upgrade/upsize my bass rig, and have gone through a number of them in the last 30 or so years, so here goes.
I'm currently using either a Genz-Benz M-200T (200w combo w single 12)or an Eden WTX260 (one of those 260W class D "mini" heads, about 6 lbs) with either 1 or 2 single 15" cabs loaded with EVM speakers. For bigger shows, I've been known to slave a 1,000W Crown amp and add another 15 or two.
I've always LOVED the sound of tube heads for bass, but it's not for everyone. I used a HiWatt Custom 50(!) for a long time with 2 of the single 15's. Not a ton of headroom, but WHAT A SOUND!
If I had unlimited funds (and a roadie) I'd be using the HiWatt 400 Bass rig with an 8x10 or 2.Listen to the Stranglers for a good idea of the p-bass/HiWatt combo.
I'm currently looking at a "vintage" SWR 400 and Goliath 4x10 as my upgraded rock rig. The aforementioned genz and Eden are just a little shy in the power department for some of my current gigs, and the outdoor fetival season is upon us.
Being a Canadian and all, I think I'd be on the hunt for a vintage Traynor rig, and the Genz-Benz would be my second choice. Not a lot of first hand experiance with Carvin amps (though I had one of the basses). Seems to be a lot of mixed opinions on the new stuff.
my 2cents!
I sold my old SWR SM-400S to a good friend that played one through an SWR "Henry the 8x8" cabinet and loves it, so he wanted a spare amp. I liked it because it had a built-in crossover and two power amps, in case I wanted to bi-amp (I have a custom-made cabinet with a JBL 15" and two Roland 10"s). It was a very clean amp, to me it didn't have a personality of its own, it just made you + your bass louder. Tube pre, built-in limiter. Not sure if my friend still has two, Gribb let me know if you want me to ask if he's selling one.
I've got a few permutations available to me, depending on what's needed for the gig.
Smallest (for songwriting sessions, coffee-house gigs) is a little Fender Sidekick bass amp with 1 x 10" ported...it's actually kinda shoddy (non-adjustable limiter kicks in early and often, and crackles when it does), and mostly serves as a monitor for me & could send a line level to a PA or recorder if needed. One other option which I sold recently was an SWR Strawberry Blonde- built as an acoustic guitar amp, it did fine for bass at low levels...definitely better than this Fender. I do miss my old (stolen) Fender Bassman 15, an all-tube combo with a 15" speaker for these purposes.
Medium size is one of my Pearce amps (110+ watts) into either a single JBL 15 closed-back cab or the 1 x 15" ported/2 x 10" open-back I mentioned above (has a passive crossover).
Large size is a Hartke 3500 into an Altec 2 x 15", which (like Gribb mentions) can be augmented with some serious power amps & speakers if desired...things could get very silly before I'd have to start borrowing or renting. Even in my basement when rehearsing, things are patched through where I could get 6 x 15"s and 1,000+ watts if I felt like rearranging my internal organs.
je
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
(Although I know some Canadians, and I even like a few)That comment was more for Mike, as in, if it were me, and used Traynors were growing on trees, well then-that's what I would go for. My experiences with Traynors, especially the tube stuff has been very positive.
re aware. 
