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Post subject: Dazed and Confused
Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2012 11:57 am
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Hobbyist
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Joined: Sat Sep 29, 2012 11:32 am
Posts: 7
Location: Northern Virginia
My first post here, so a true virgin. Be gentile!

I play drums, but couldn't resist buying a bass. Just received my new Fender 62 Vintage J Bass. Now I have to hear it. I need some opinions on what to buy. I have been primarily looking at combos, for practice and small venues. A 1/4" headphone jack would be nice, as would stereo aux ins (RCA or 1/8" mini). The music I'm learning is Classic Rock, as in Bryan Adams, Eagles, U2, Tom Petty, etc. I am really looking for ultra clean, smooth and round, bottom end. No grunge, no distortion, no rattles, no speaker 'doubling'. I need a very linear, low distortion, amp and speaker.

I'm still not sure whether the dual tens, or a single twelve or fifteen is what I want. So far, the Mesa Walkabout Scout is at the top of the pack (has a twelve). But at $1600 +/-, it is killing me. Has anyone here had experience with the SWR WorkingPro 12, or WorkingPro 210? Ampeg? Hartke? TC did not impress me, one way or the other.

I saw some used SWR cabinets for cheap - a Goliath II and a Goliath 18" (Big Ben was it?), but I'm not sure that they are what I want. Definately 'rockers' but will they give me the pristence 'studio quality' I am looking for?

Thanks in Advance,

Mark


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Post subject: Re: Dazed and Confused
Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2012 12:40 pm
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Rock Star
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Joined: Fri Apr 08, 2011 5:14 pm
Posts: 3169
Location: Linningrad
Welcome, and great first post. You certianly started out at the top with the '62 re-issue Jazz. A great choice indeed!

Bass amps are a very personal/subjective matter. You have to follow your own ears and taste in tone. For a good solid sounding combo don't over look Fender's Rumble line of bass amps.

Hartke's all new HyDrive 112C combo is very attractive with 250 watts and one 12. It's on par with the SWR you mentioned, and in the $600 range.

G-K has a spiffy new 200 watt/112 combo the MB112-II. $375 at Musician's Friend.

Peavey has redesigned their MAX series. The MAX 112 now has 200 watts. $250 at MF. I'm not a Peavey fan by any means, but I'd like to hear this. My Rumble 75 was $250.

Amp shopping is fun! So enjoy yourself. :D

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2016 Rumble 200 Combo
One day they shall name a GREAT city after me, and they shall call it LINNINGRAD


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Post subject: Re: Dazed and Confused
Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2012 12:58 pm
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Joined: Sat Sep 29, 2012 11:32 am
Posts: 7
Location: Northern Virginia
Thanks linnin,

The 62 is a beauty. Not sure if I want to put the pickup guards on or not. They came with the package, and are part of the vintage look. I opted for the Jazz because it has the narrower neck and fretboard. I don't have the long 'spindly' bass guitar type fingers.

I'm also looking at the Orange TB500C, "Bass Terror". Two 12s and 500watts in a small package. Supposedly lots of lows, which is just what daddy's looking for. A few hundred bucks less than the MESA Walkabout.

Sadly to say, FedEx will be picking up the Rumble 150 and returning it to the vendor. Just not the sound that I wanted.

'Back in the day' I was doing sound, I remember the bass player had a Super Bassman. We also took a line out and fed it to a pair of self powered Voice of the Theaters, one per stage side. And then there was another pair of VOCs for Vocals and drums. Old school, and I'm showing my age. :lol:


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Post subject: Re: Dazed and Confused
Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2012 1:12 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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Joined: Sun Jul 24, 2011 1:59 am
Posts: 492
62 Vintage J wrote:
I'm also looking at the Orange TB500C, "Bass Terror". Two 12s and 500watts in a small package. Supposedly lots of lows, which is just what daddy's looking for. A few hundred bucks less than the MESA Walkabout.


A close friend of mine has the 1000w head version of the Bass Terror - seriously worth checking out, as it sounds absolutely superb if you're after a warmer vintage tone rather than modern slappy poppy hi-fi stuff. He had a pretty large budget for his rig, and played almost everything on the market, but that little Orange just somehow really sang.

Not to mention seeing it sat on top of his giant 8x10" cab is absolutely hilarious. :lol:


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Post subject: Re: Dazed and Confused
Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2012 4:17 pm
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Joined: Sat Sep 29, 2012 11:32 am
Posts: 7
Location: Northern Virginia
I agree that the 18 would be flabby. In concert with 4X10s, it would sure fill in the gaps below 42 Hz! And I am going for a minimum of 260 Watts, with the Mesa at 300 and the Orange at 500. I played a Jazz with the 'Combos' at the guitar shop. Not my Jazz, but a Jazz. Same pickups and stock strings.

How can I post images here, or can't I? Not sure of my 'permissions' since I am basically 'new meat'.


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Post subject: Re: Dazed and Confused
Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2012 5:54 pm
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Joined: Sat Sep 29, 2012 11:32 am
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Location: Northern Virginia
Thanks Fender Jazz Bass (did I get it right!),

Ain't working... I tried the 'drill' you suggestted. Maybe since I'm still a 'Hobbyist', I can't post images yet. Just wanted to post a pix of my 'stuff'.


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Post subject: Re: Dazed and Confused
Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2012 9:53 pm
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Professional Musician
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Joined: Sat Feb 12, 2011 8:01 am
Posts: 2842
You describe Classic Rock as what you will be learning. You can do that on any amp. If you are going to get in a band and play Classic Rock then you (IMO) would want to consider an amp with about 350 to 400 watts and a good 410 cab. There are good amps out there to be had that will do the job === GK,Ampeg , Hartke, and others that won't break the bank and will provide the Classic Rock tone. Don't forget to use round wound strings for Classic Rock. That's what most of those guys used back in the day. Also consider the guitar players that do the Classic. Those guys play loud-!!! :D


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Post subject: Re: Dazed and Confused
Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2012 4:27 am
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Joined: Sat Sep 29, 2012 11:32 am
Posts: 7
Location: Northern Virginia
HI Stroker,

What I am in the market for is more of a practice combo, than a stage head/ cabinets. Most of the combos I have played thru have a personality with too much colorization. By profession, I was a Broadcast engineer for 30 years, and I am used to 'flat' and linier studio gear. I am searching for a practice combo that will do the same. As previously mentioned, the Mesa Walkabout and the Orange TB500C seem the most accurate in reproducing the JBass. I want the speaker to sound as clean as the Direct Out sounds!

If I am practicing right now, it is just playing in the living room, to CDs played thru my stereo system (Hafler 500watt power amp). Combos in the 150 watt range just ain't cutting it! I whole-heartedly agree, I need (a minimum of) 300 watts or more of Bass amplification.


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Post subject: Re: Dazed and Confused
Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2012 11:56 am
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Amateur
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Joined: Wed Sep 19, 2007 5:51 pm
Posts: 139
Location: Boston
Over the last 34 years of playing bass, I have used Peavey, Ampeg, Eden, EBS, Hartke and Gallien Krueger. I kept experimenting and found that for me Ampeg has the best tone. I only use all tube Ampeg heads with Ampeg cabs. Currently using an American made SVT 6 Pro with two SVT 410HE cabs.


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Post subject: Re: Dazed and Confused
Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2012 3:51 pm
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Professional Musician
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Joined: Sat Feb 12, 2011 8:01 am
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AMPEG--FENDER-- the BIG 2 !!!! I first played bass thru a roll and tuck Kustom top and 2 15 cab. I thought that was pretty good until I heard the Ampeg SVT and 8- 10 cab. Then I knew something was going on. :D


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Post subject: Re: Dazed and Confused
Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2012 4:44 pm
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Hobbyist
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Joined: Sat Sep 29, 2012 11:32 am
Posts: 7
Location: Northern Virginia
Hey All,

Thanks for all the positive feedback, no pun intended! When I grow up, I want to be a Rock Star. (At 59, I better get my *** in gear!)

Mark

"...roll and tuck Kustom top and 2 15 cab..." Boy that brings back decadent memories from the 70s. My roomate had one in sparkle blue. I used to play my Bass (was it a MusicMaster?) thru it.


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Post subject: Re: Dazed and Confused
Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2012 4:51 pm
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Hobbyist
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Joined: Sat Sep 29, 2012 11:32 am
Posts: 7
Location: Northern Virginia
What are 'valves' going for these days? I used to buy Telefunken ECC83s by the handfull, and Amperex 'Select Matched Pairs' of 6V6s.

Our ears sure aren't digital, and neither are loudspeakers. Long live Analog!!!


MM


Rockbassist wrote:
Over the last 34 years of playing bass, I have used Peavey, Ampeg, Eden, EBS, Hartke and Gallien Krueger. I kept experimenting and found that for me Ampeg has the best tone. I only use all tube Ampeg heads with Ampeg cabs. Currently using an American made SVT 6 Pro with two SVT 410HE cabs.


Last edited by 62 Vintage J on Mon Oct 01, 2012 5:08 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Dazed and Confused
Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2012 6:29 pm
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i've tried ampegs.. well what can i say is they were really nice and warm, they fill in the bottom end pretty nicely, and as for hartke, they're really good, most gigs I borrowed a hartke amp plus a 4x12, i tend to love the growl of the jazz bass with it..

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Post subject: Re: Dazed and Confused
Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2012 11:28 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2011 12:09 am
Posts: 358
Location: San Diego, California
62 Vintage J wrote:
Ain't working... I tried the 'drill' you suggestted. Maybe since I'm still a 'Hobbyist', I can't post images yet. Just wanted to post a pix of my 'stuff'.

Regarding posting pix -- I'm 99% sure it isn't your status. In Photobucket, make sure you're grabbing the "IMG code" (last one in the dropdown list when you hover the cursor over a pic). When you paste a link in, I think you need to make sure that you've got the "img", "/img" wrappers surrounding the link (Photobucket includes them for you). I remember from Flickr it was less obvious which link you needed to grab. Create a Photobucket account -- it's a piece of cake to grab the link you need. :D

I'm still a relative newbie on bass myself, so I can't give you much advice about amps. The guys who've posted are doing a good job of it, though.

WELCOME, and HAVE FUN!!!!!! :D

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Post subject: Re: Dazed and Confused
Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2012 8:21 am
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Professional Musician
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Joined: Sat Feb 12, 2011 8:01 am
Posts: 2842
fjbass wrote:
I went the rounds from 1969 to today. I'm dug in with the Gallien-Krueger 700RB-ll, and the Ampeg SVT-410HLF. The Kustom 200 head, with the two 2X15, red with gold sparkle was it at the time. Kustom at that time, had the best assortment of speakers available for their cabs.



UH OH you won't take my gig from me will you? I got hooked on rounds in 73. You got me beat. I played thru the blue sparkle and black Kustoms. I occasionally like sardines. How about you?


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