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Author Topic: Bass Amp recommendations Please  (Read 1460 times)

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rnolan

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Bass Amp recommendations Please
« on: Time Format »

So my friend I'm teaching needs/wants to buy a bass amp.  She's a small person so it needs to not be too heavy.  We have checked out a couple of combo amps (Fender Rumble, Ampeg, Mark Bass (12" + tweeter).  None of them blew me away, we tried the Rumble 200w ok ish, the 500w (2 x 10") mmm not great, The Ampeg was the low power version, it sounded ok but will need more power (we are waiting to try their higher power combo). Of the ones we tried the Mark Bass was probably the best (http://www.markbass.it/product-detail/cmd-121h/) but apart from it's a bit ugly (and expensive ish) I was underwhelmed.  Then my bass rig is MB-1 (with MDRT), Quadverb, power amp (currently Carvin DCM 200L) and 2 x Messa P112s. So I'm leaning toward recommending her spending a decent amount and buying something better than the cheaper stuff.  Any ideas guys and gals ?
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MarshallJMP

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Re: Bass Amp recommendations Please
« Reply #1 on: Time Format »

Have you tried hartke?
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rnolan

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Re: Bass Amp recommendations Please
« Reply #2 on: Time Format »

Hey MJMP, No not yet, seems the 2 main music stores in Canberra have limited offerings, Hartke would be a better choice but they don't have them.  We may have to go to Sydney IIRC there's a store there specialising in Bass stuff.  The main store we go to here (Better Music) is/was the Boogie/Mesa agent.  But now Gibson have bought Messa  so I think they are getting out of it?  Maybe we can pick up a bargain if they are selling it off  :dunno: But Boogie stuff is very expensive and even more expensive in Australia  :facepalm: .  Like their SPAX7s are over $50 AUD  :crazy:
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rnolan

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Re: Bass Amp recommendations Please
« Reply #3 on: Time Format »

So I've talked her into getting a Mesa Subway WD 800 head (https://mesaboogie.com/amplifiers/bass/subway-series/subway-wd800/index.html) and 2 Subway Ultra-lite 1 x12 cabs (https://mesaboogie.com/cabinets--simulators/bass-cabinets/subway-series/subway/1x12.html).  Since the store is no longer the Australian Boogie dealer (with the Gibson takeover of Boogie  :facepalm: ), I've already got a pretty good deal/offer from one of my salesman mates as they are getting rid of all the stock.  I'll chat with the owner on Monday, he gave me a "great deal" on my P112s (which are the previous version of the Ultralite 1 x 12 but heavier (Birch vs Poplar)) and I may be able to get it down a bit more.  Obviously, the Mesa gear is way more expensive than the Fender Rumbles etc but the cheap stuff is just so underwhelming sonically and I just can't recommend them as usable stage gear.
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rnolan

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Re: Bass Amp recommendations Please
« Reply #4 on: Time Format »

So new rig day  :whoohoo!: , well it's for my bass student and she's paying me back for it but I get some of the joy.  So got the Mesa rig for $4500 AUD, Subway WD 800 head and 2 x Subway Ultralite 400w 1 x12s (and 2 x speakon speaker cables).  The cabs are significantly lighter than my Powerhouse PH112s, same shape and size though.
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Harley Hexxe

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Re: Bass Amp recommendations Please
« Reply #5 on: Time Format »

Too bad I didn't see this sooner, I would have recommended the Ampeg Porta-flex series.
They are light but powerful, (the solid state versions), and they have that Ampeg tone. I imagine they would have cost less than that rig, but hey, there's nothing wrong with a Mesa bass rig too.

Harley 8)
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rnolan

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Re: Bass Amp recommendations Please
« Reply #6 on: Time Format »

Hey Harley, no worries  :wave: , we tried one of the Ampegs and of the cheaper amps I liked it the most but they only had the 200w model.  We were waiting to try out the 500w version but it still hasn't come into the store, I suspect it would have been good and heaps cheaper.  But you don't get a chance at Mesa gear like this as in they are no longer the Australian distributor so getting rid of the stock.  Anyway, she loves it (hey what's not to love).  And having 2 cabs will work out well as she can leave one at home and the other at rehearsal room.  The amp comes with a neat carry case, (30+ years ago, putting a 800w amp in a carry case over you shoulder  :facepalm: who would have thought...).
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Harley Hexxe

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Re: Bass Amp recommendations Please
« Reply #7 on: Time Format »

(30+ years ago, putting a 800w amp in a carry case over you shoulder  :facepalm: who would have thought...).

   Uhm...Gallien-Kruger had the 800RB which was small enough to fit in a back pack, and light enough to not really notice it back in the 80's ::)

   I didn't know about a 200W model. All I've seen was the 350 and 500W models. Both sound good too.

Harley 8)
« Last Edit: Time Format by Harley Hexxe »
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Shibiwan

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Re: Bass Amp recommendations Please
« Reply #8 on: Time Format »

So new rig day  :whoohoo!: , well it's for my bass student and she's paying me back for it but I get some of the joy.  So got the Mesa rig for $4500 AUD, Subway WD 800 head and 2 x Subway Ultralite 400w 1 x12s (and 2 x speakon speaker cables).  The cabs are significantly lighter than my Powerhouse PH112s, same shape and size though.

That's a nice setup.... and since the cabs are split, it's easier to move around. :D
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rnolan

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Re: Bass Amp recommendations Please
« Reply #9 on: Time Format »

The WD 800 has either a 12AT7 or 12AU7 tube (have to open it to find out which).  They say you can put a 12AX7 in it, which may be worth a try as the distortion effect you get when you turn the input up full and the master down (to suit) is even more subtle than the MB-1s distortion and quite underwhelming IMHO.  Interestingly, they rave on about it in the manual saying give it a go etc.
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