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Post subject: bass amp help
Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 12:22 pm
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So looking to buy a bass amp.My first choice was ampeg b-108 but after reading reviews it seems that is not the one.So i started looking at fender rumble series and many good reviews.The thing is when you plug in your headphones the rumble combos it does not cut the speaker.I found that in the owners manual that you can unplug the speaker and this fixes the headphone problem.So i thought if i had to unplug the speaker for silent playing and plug it back in when want to hear the speaker.Maybe i should buy the rumble 150 head.Then this solves all the speaker problem?I have read that there are some rumble amps that have bad soilder joints.I have also heard of and seen people with rumbles that make noise when turned on.So im assuming that these problems have been fixed and the problems are over?Is there any amplifier that i maybe should look at besides fender?Is the fender 150 head to much for my first amp.Also the ports were you can plug your mp3 player in.Can i plug my computer in there instead?


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Post subject: Re: bass amp help
Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2012 9:11 pm
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The Ampeg 108 is 25 watts. That is barely powerful enough to be a home practice amp and not nearly enough for any other use, unless you are backing up an acoustic only ukelele act like Tiny Tim. (Showing my age now.)

The Rumbles with more power than 25 watts would be better of course. Something around 75 to 100 watts.

I can not say if the Rumble noise issues are rectified.

A 150 watt power amp is not too much power for even a first amp. To me it makes more sense to buy one decent combo amp as your first amp instead of 3 progressively more powerful amps as your ability grows, unless you are not the type to stick to it. If you don't know if you will ever play with a group or in public then a 25 watt amp is enough, but know up front that home practice is all it will ever do.

You can plug your computer's audio into the CD/MP3 input on a bass amp BUT KNOW UP FRONT THAT WHATEVER SIGNAL IS SENT TO THE BASS AMP IS GOING TO BE FED TO THE POWER AMP AT FULL VOLUME. So turn the volume down on the computer before plugging it into the amp and then gradually increase the computer volume till it sounds about the right level.

I have had a Line 6 Studio 110 for almost 4 years that has been a real good bass amp. 1X10" speaker, 75 watts, XLR direct out, 1/4 inch direct out, CD/MP3 input and 1/4 inch headphone jack in a 12"x12"x12" cube weighing 25 lbs. They have been on sale for $200 at most online dealers. They are not the perfect bass amp, but probably are the best bass amp for $200 I've ever had and if it blew up tomorrow I'd buy another one. It works for home practice and full group rehearsals in stand-alone mode. I can even gig with it when patched into a PA with beefy sub bins. They are worth a look, especially if you can get one for $200. When I bought mine they were almost $300 and I think that was a good deal. I haven't moved my gig rig since 2011 and have just been using this little amp for rehearsals and gigs. I'm aging, so moving a huge stack just isn't as sexy and romantic as it used to be.


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Post subject: Re: bass amp help
Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2012 11:15 pm
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All I can say is to simply relay my own experience with my Fender Rumble 75. I've had no noise issues at all. None. I have listened very closely both at start up and shut down. No wierdness coming out of the speaker. The cabinet is tight with no rattles. It's a well made high quality amp.

If you are going to play in a band with a drummer definitely go with the 150 or 350.


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Post subject: Re: bass amp help
Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 8:01 pm
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So thanks for the advice.I do not plan on playing with a band.Just picked up the ampeg ba- 108.The reason i decided on ampeg is that it has the aux input volume control.It also has a effects loop.All the other amps i found in this price range did not have all the ampeg did.I really wanted the fender rumble 75 watt but it was so big.My guitar amp is a fender frontman 10g.The bass amps seem so much bigger than guitar amps.So the review videos i have seen on the ampeg the tone of the amp was real low full sound.I do not no what i am doing wrong but mine does not seem to get that low rumble bass.Maybe you could give me some advice on settings on the amp?My bass is a mim standard jazz v.I have read that people say the pickups need replaced becouse the stock ones are weak.Then i have heard people say the pickups are fine.So is it the amp settings or the pickups.Sorry for all the questions but new to the bass world.


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Post subject: Re: bass amp help
Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2012 6:29 pm
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elf1271 wrote:
So thanks for the advice.I do not plan on playing with a band.Just picked up the ampeg ba- 108.The reason i decided on ampeg is that it has the aux input volume control.It also has a effects loop.All the other amps i found in this price range did not have all the ampeg did.I really wanted the fender rumble 75 watt but it was so big.My guitar amp is a fender frontman 10g.The bass amps seem so much bigger than guitar amps.So the review videos i have seen on the ampeg the tone of the amp was real low full sound.I do not no what i am doing wrong but mine does not seem to get that low rumble bass.Maybe you could give me some advice on settings on the amp?My bass is a mim standard jazz v.I have read that people say the pickups need replaced becouse the stock ones are weak.Then i have heard people say the pickups are fine.So is it the amp settings or the pickups.Sorry for all the questions but new to the bass world.


With small amps the pickups really won't make so much difference. Make sure you are plugged into the "0 db" input jack. The other one, the "-15 db" input jack is for active basses. Start with all tone controls at 12 o'clock and increase or decrease to get the tone you want. I agree the aux input level control is a handy feature, but wish it had a 1/8th inch stereo jack input instead of two RCA jacks but with a Y splitter cable it works just fine.

You might could try a bass preamp pedal like the Tech 21 Sansamp or the Behringer BDI21 to add more bass. Neat little pedals. Both also have XLR out jacks for recording too. The Behringer is under $40 and the Tech 21 is about $200.


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Post subject: Re: bass amp help
Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2012 6:31 pm
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Yep. You ain't gonna get a HUGE bottom end from a Ampeg BA108, But they are nice li'l amps & have a great tone.
Go to TALKBASS.COM & see that member JimmyM uses one WITH a band!! :shock:

You REALLY need higher wattage & then more/bigger speaker cone area to get you into the land of big bottoms ( Oh , to live there :mrgreen: )

Still, it does what it does well imo. Agree also with BrotherDave's post- play with the EQ. CUT freq's rather than boost,( if U need more bass, try cutting the treble & mids a touch 1st) but if U can't get the tone cutting, of course, add!

Also- I wouldn't change the pick ups yet. get to thoroughly know yr new amp 1st. Play yr bass with front pick up(pup) solo'd, then bridge pup solo, blend 'em- experiment with yr plucking hand position- play up near neck, play next to bridge & in between- a HUGE amount of different tones JUST by altering yr right hand(if right handed- left if....)

let us know how U go


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Post subject: Re: bass amp help
Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2012 6:06 pm
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pickup swapping will be crucial to colour your tone if it's gonna on a studio recording.. If you're gonna play it live.. people will hardly notice it.. if you're into home recording then choose a good quality pickups.. otherwise for practice..

same as with brotherdave.. I have a Studio 110 as well which I don't really like actually..
out of the 4 settings I'd play with R&B and Brit settings.. but then again.. currently I'd prefer plugging from a multi effects processor straight to my headphone for practice and the Studio 110 sits and waits for regular jam practice..

choosing an amp basically here'a little idea to start of with:

10-35w will just be a bedroom practice amp.. my advice get a multi effect processor with good headsets for quiet practice you can hear your bass better..

50-75w can power up a small garage practice

100 +

also another factors are the sizes of the speakers

8" won't really sound good..

10" a little punch

12" can snap a bit better

15" has a huge bottom..

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Post subject: Re: bass amp help
Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2013 3:08 am
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So thanks for the advise.I upgraded to the fender 150 head.It am so much happier with it.


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Post subject: Re: bass amp help
Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2013 5:35 pm
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elf1271 wrote:
So thanks for the advise.I upgraded to the fender 150 head.It am so much happier with it.


Wise choice.

Now you can shop around for a nice speaker cab. The Rumble cabs are good. I also hear the Avatar cabinets are very nice.

Art


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Post subject: Re: bass amp help
Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2013 9:37 pm
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So for a cab I was thinking about the schroeder mini 10 +.I found out about them on youtube.I was on brother dave site and he recommends Avatar cabinets.The reason i am so interested in the schroeder is the compact size and it works so well with 5 string bass.The video was http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qD4_PYHKuTo if you want to check it out.


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Post subject: Re: bass amp help
Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2013 12:20 pm
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Schroeder makes fine boutique caliber bass cabs, but they are sort of expensive for teaming up with a Rumble 150 head. Few people who use Rumble heads are going to splurge on a Schroeder cab. The Schroeder MINI-10 I think was discontinued. Besides, the MINI-10 is an 8 Ohm cab and you need a 4 Ohm load on that Rumble head. So, you'd need two of the Schroeder Mini 110 cabs to get 150 watts from the head. The Schroeder MINI-12 which is still offered does come with a 4 Ohm option but it is like $700.

Avatar's are good values for high power applications and you can get them usually in your choice of 4 or 8 Ohm (most other makes don't give you a choice) and choose covering types & colors plus grill and piping options. Line-X wasn't available when I got my Avatars but if I ever get more Avatar cabs they will be Line-X. If you are going over a 400 watt head then Avatar cabs make sense. Probably, like the Schroeder's, Avatar cabs are overkill with a Rumble 150 though. The other Rumble cabs are 8 Ohm cabs so you are in the same situation as with the Schroeder Mini-110 as you'll two of them to get full amp power.

The Rumble 410 cab is one of the top 4 Ohm cab values at present. It is the one cab I'd get to go with any Rumble head. I'm normally a 2x10 plus 1x15 3/4 stack fan but this 410 Rumble cab is reasonably light for a 4x10, loud and well made. It is also economical. The Rumble 410 cab isn't the best 4x10 cab in the world, but it is a perfect match for a Rumble head and downright impossible to beat at the price. It carries a low "B" just fine. I know you want something smaller and easier to move around, but the Rumble 410 is a good match and is about the loudest option.

If you need only one cab and you want a smaller cab I'd look for a 4 Ohm cab like the Avatar SB112. It is still sort of overkill since it is a 500 watt capable cab but it is small and weights at least 20 lbs less. It costs about the same as the Rumble 410 but it isn't going to have as much apparent loudness because a single 12 inch speaker isn't going to move as much air as four 10 inch ones. For a single cab that will maximize the head's relatively low power output the Rumble 4x10 is the better choice.


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Post subject: Re: bass amp help
Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2013 10:49 pm
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So brotherdave you are correct.Schroeder does not make these mini 10 cabs anymore.The reason i was looking at that mini cab is that it has a compact size.I really did not understand the 4 ohm or 8 ohm thing.I was looking at the fender rumble 2x10 cabinet but i liked the smaller size of the Schroeder.The fender 4x10 cabinet is just to big for were i want to use it.So i am looking at the avatar SB112 Bass Cabinet its just a little more money than the fender.So i just went back and reread your post would the Avatar B210 be a better choice?Better than the sb112 the fender will not work.Thanks again every time i read these forums i learn something.


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Post subject: Re: bass amp help
Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 2:45 pm
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The Rumble heads do their full rated power with a 4 Ohm speaker load. If you use an 8 Ohm cab they do less than the full rated power. I haven't looked at the specs for the R 150 head but most 150 watt 4 Ohm amps will do like 75 to 100 watts into an 8 Ohm load.

To get the full 150 watts out of the head you need a 4 Ohm load. There are two ways to get a 4 Ohm load. 1. Buy a single 4 Ohm cab. 2. Daisy chain a pair of 8 Ohm cabs.

The Rumble 410 cab is meant to be used alone since it is 4 Ohms. The other two Rumble cabs are 8 Ohm cabs and meant to be used in pairs such as a pair of 2x8's or a pair of 1x12s or one of each cab to get a 4 Ohm load. One of each is a good tonal arrangement.

The Avatar 112 in 4 Ohms would be a good choice for a single 4 Ohm cab, but the Rumble 4x10 would move over 3 times more air. (I've often wondered why Avatar doesn't do a 1x10 cab 4 Ohm because I'd buy one.)

Recently I was in the same boat as you looking for a 4 Ohm compact cab to pair with an old Peavey 100 watt Century 200 head (great old reliable/long time backup head) for a project that has since fallen through, so good thing I didn't find one I guess. So I've scoured all the available options. Ibanez made one for a while in their Promethean line but it isn't available anymore. So did SWR but it's gone too. EA makes one called a "WIZZY 10" but the list price is a few bucks shy of $600 so that is ridiculous. Acme's B-1 is 450 bucks and would work but still too much money. I ran out of affordable ideas other than getting Lamar cabs to build a custom cab and find a 4 Ohm speaker for it. BUT I wanted a horn in it and Lamar's cabs don't accommodate them.

So that brought me back to the Avatar 1x12 in 4 Ohms which is still more cab than I needed for that head but more affordable and readily available. In a multiple speaker array the upgrade to the Neo makes more sense but the trade off for 7 lbs less weight in a 1 speaker cab isn't really worth it. This trade off especially doesn't make as much sense when it halves the power capacity which makes the cab less versatile in another bigger project. A plus is it would stack with my other Avatar cabs, yet being 4 Ohm's I'd need a separate amp to push it cause my big head is 4 Ohms and the other two cabs are 8 Ohms so they don't play well together.

I finally decided right before the project collapsed on me this morning that I'd just buy a combo and had it narrowed down to two and was planning to demoing them this afternoon. Oh well. Again glad I hadn't already bought something.


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