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Post subject: What Amp to go for? (Confused)
Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2015 2:31 pm
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Hey People,

I need advice on what amp to get.

My preferences are:

- Not more than 25kgs (head - if all tube)
- A minimum of 100W and a maximum of 200W (I should also to be able to use it at home)
- The more EQ the better.
- I play a number of styles including rock, blues, jazz, and even reggae so it needs to be versatile.
- Tonewise think of Roger Waters, Guy Pratt, Donald "Duck" Dunn, Jack Casady, John Paul Jones. Think vintage and warm. I like the SVT tone but can't play a 1000W amp at home.
- Do NOT think Chris Squire, Lemmy Kilmister, any punk band except the Clash (Paul Simonon)


My feelings are saying go Ampeg but I need opinions.

Currently using Tech 21 NYC VT Bass deluxe + Ashdown EB220. I want to step up, maybe not in power and loudness but in tone.

Thanks!

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Post subject: Re: What Amp to go for? (Confused)
Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2015 4:04 pm
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What's your budget?

There's the Ampeg SVT 3 Pro http://www.ampeg.com/products/pro/svt3pro/ which is 450 watts @ 4 ohms and 275 @ 8 ohms, but you can play it at lower volumes. I use to have one years ago and have done that. It has a valve preamp and an additional 9 band EQ besides the usual tonal controls. The thing is it's usually around $1,099.99 new in the US (not sure how much they cost overseas,) so if that's not expensive for you, that might be something to look into. If you like the Ampeg sound, you should be able to get that with it, I'd think.

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Post subject: Re: What Amp to go for? (Confused)
Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2015 5:01 pm
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PaulLF wrote:
What's your budget?

There's the Ampeg SVT 3 Pro http://www.ampeg.com/products/pro/svt3pro/ which is 450 watts @ 4 ohms and 275 @ 8 ohms, but you can play it at lower volumes. I use to have one years ago and have done that. It has a valve preamp and an additional 9 band EQ besides the usual tonal controls. The thing is it's usually around $1,099.99 new in the US (not sure how much they cost overseas,) so if that's not expensive for you, that might be something to look into. If you like the Ampeg sound, you should be able to get that with it, I'd think.


Budget is not a primary concern unless it is something like 5000 dollars (including cab) so I have some space.

My only concern is weight. I will order the item from EU and the head and the Cab must not weigh more than 25kg each. Thats no problem for the head, but it is a problem for the Cab.

And also there is the question of Cabs. What Cab to go with...

Other amps that came up to my mind are Ashdown CTM100 (100w all tube) and Ampeg V4-B (100w all tube)

and a budget alternative: SVT Micro

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Post subject: Re: What Amp to go for? (Confused)
Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2015 6:18 pm
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I was going to suggest the V4-B, but I know the SVT3 Pro has a lot more EQ options and a lot lighter. Both are under the requirement you have, though. As for cabs, I'm not sure. I guess it depends on the configuration of speakers and all of that.

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Post subject: Re: What Amp to go for? (Confused)
Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2015 2:04 am
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PaulLF wrote:
I was going to suggest the V4-B, but I know the SVT3 Pro has a lot more EQ options and a lot lighter. Both are under the requirement you have, though. As for cabs, I'm not sure. I guess it depends on the configuration of speakers and all of that.


Do you know how often tubes need to be changed? both Preamp and Power sections?

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Post subject: Re: What Amp to go for? (Confused)
Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2015 10:45 am
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I'm not sure about that one. Have you heard about this place? http://www.talkbass.com/ If anyone would know that, it would probably be there. I've never had any experience with the all valve Ampegs, unfortunately.

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Post subject: Re: What Amp to go for? (Confused)
Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2015 4:11 am
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I'm not sure why you feel you need a small amplifier for playing at home. In the bass universe, if some is good, more is better. I wouldn't say No to an amp just because it has some power. That just makes it more versatile.

The other thing I don't quite understand is why you're only looking at tube amps, particularly when you say weight is a concern. (under 25 Kg) The benefit of tubes is a lot less clear to me on bass than on guitar. There are plenty of solid state amps out there that kick major league butt and sound fantastic.

Here's one to be reckoned with:

TC-BH550

Don't be fooled by the small number of control dials on this thing. It rocks and is very versatile.

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Post subject: Re: What Amp to go for? (Confused)
Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2015 9:43 am
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BMW-KTM wrote:
I'm not sure why you feel you need a small amplifier for playing at home. In the bass universe, if some is good, more is better. I wouldn't say No to an amp just because it has some power. That just makes it more versatile.

The other thing I don't quite understand is why you're only looking at tube amps, particularly when you say weight is a concern. (under 25 Kg) The benefit of tubes is a lot less clear to me on bass than on guitar. There are plenty of solid state amps out there that kick major league butt and sound fantastic.

Here's one to be reckoned with:

TC-BH550

Don't be fooled by the small number of control dials on this thing. It rocks and is very versatile.


I'll look into it. Thanks!

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Post subject: Re: What Amp to go for? (Confused)
Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2015 8:15 pm
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Oh yeah, I forgot about that one. They have an 800 watt version, too. I'd be curious to see how those are, myself.

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Post subject: Re: What Amp to go for? (Confused)
Posted: Wed Nov 25, 2015 7:39 am
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I've had an SVT PRO3 for over 10 years and I just replaced the tubes 2 years ago. Its a great 2U rack head. I've also checked out some of the new Bassman amps and they have KILLER tone, even the small ones. AS for the tone you're going for you really don't need much in the way of controls. Just run everything flat or at 12 o'clock and you'll have that Roger Waters tone, especially if you use a P-bass. I spent years messing with tone and running my basses through a myriad of pedals etc, only to finally realize that if I just ran everything flat I got that perfect tone I wanted. So, if you want lightweight I would suggest one of the newer Bassman combos. For head and cab I highly recommend the SVT 3 and either a 4x10 or an 8x10 for that 70's tone.

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Post subject: Re: What Amp to go for? (Confused)
Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2016 9:39 am
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Choosing an amp by remote control is a crap shoot. What I consider great for me another would consider mediocre or trashy. There is plenty of brand snobbery based on reputations built on USA made tube amps of 10, 20, 30 or more years ago. Or based on what brand this artist or that artist uses.

Worse is the fact that you can have two brand new all tube amps of the exact same make and model side by side and one will sound slightly different from the other, at least to me.

There is one Ampeg all tube head in your weight range. The V-4B 100 watter. There are two Fender all tube amps in the weight limit. The Fender Bassman Pro 100T 100 watter and its fraternal twin in Blonde tolex the Bassman 100T. Looks like only cosmetic differences between the two Fenders.

The V-4B is a really good amp and has been around a very long time, but the Fender pair have some features the Ampeg doesn't. The Fenders have the unique ability to scale down the power to 25 watts. More importantly the Fenders have the auto tube bias and diagnosis. Fender's auto bias/diagnosis feature alone would make the decision for me.

The all solid state combos of today are completely different from 10 years ago, and some improvements have been made even since your Ashdown combo was made. They are more powerful, lusher sounding and much lighter today. Still though 100 watts for one brand can sound like 200 from another so in person comparison is very important.

I believe your Ashdown combo has one fifteen inch speaker. Have you tried adding an 8 Ohm 2x10 or 4x10 cab to it? I believe that amp does 220 watts at 4 Ohms and has an external cab jack with the built in speaker being 8 Ohms. That means that unless you add an external 8 Ohm cab it is a 110 watt combo, not 220 watts. One fifteen is usually not enough, especially outdoors, unless you patch out to the PA. The XLR direct out on the Ashdown sounds good too.

I am not trying to talk you out of buying a new amp if you want and can afford one, but I would try an external cab first and going direct out to the PA if the PA is beefy enough before abandoning the Ashdown for a 100 watt tube head. If you buy a new head you are going to have to buy a cab anyway, so I am suggesting buying the cab first, as in now. What cab to get is a different can of worms and one I prefer not to get into because it is slightly off topic. You can PM me though.


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Post subject: Re: What Amp to go for? (Confused)
Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2016 6:16 pm
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Check out the MarkBass 500, and 800 tube heads.

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Post subject: Re: What Amp to go for? (Confused)
Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2016 7:03 pm
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Mr. Nylon wrote:
Check out the MarkBass 500, and 800 tube heads.


Those MarkBass heads are hybrids. Tube preamp with solid state power amps. Not a bad thing, but not as good as all tube. MarkBass discontinued their all tube head sometime back. Peavey likewise discontinued their all tube bass head line more recently. The loss of both was a pity.

I think the big catch here that we all overlooked for the original poster is his European location. Shipping new items from one territory into another is in many cases downright forbidden by the dealer agreement. For example no North American Fender dealer is permitted to ship new Fender instruments or amps out of North America under any circumstances. Shipping used gear internationally is not prohibited however. Additionally there will be import/customs fees, sometimes very high ones of up to 50% of cash value, along with customs delays even on used gear that the buyer has to pay. It is best to buy new gear from a dealer's inventory in your own country. Even if the original poster managed to pull off buying new from a USA dealer and paid the import tariffs in almost every case the warranty would be worthless in his country. He needs to see what is available in country and then get opinions.

Revisiting his original post, the original 100 watt SVT Micro CL is more of a curiosity or home practice amp than a gigging one and the tone is nothing like an all tube SVT. It would be no improvement over his current combo which can actually be fairly robust. In my opinion the 100 watt Ampeg Micro would be a step down. The new 200 watt Ampeg Micro VR is much better but I think it still falls short of being a real SVT. It does add an XLR out.


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Post subject: Re: What Amp to go for? (Confused)
Posted: Sat Dec 03, 2016 1:23 am
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I can suggest you to use koin stage power ampiflier which is made by koin stage equipment company.High quality and with a factory price.

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