Downsizing bass amp

  • Thread starter Thread starter rayc
  • Start date Start date
rayc

rayc

retroreprobate
I have Marshall Superbass Mk II 100 watts of beautiful power.
BUT
I don't gig anymore and I can't really get a good tone in the house without simultaneously peeling paint & restumping the place.
I REALLY like the sound of my single coil guitar through the amp as well.
Is there something I could scale down to in an attempt to achieve a good tube/valve tone for bass and guitar at reasonable volume?
I've considered a brick/attenuator/brake/soak but they're expensive & was was hoping to trade the superbass for something.
 
Follow up question if I may.
Would jumping channels help in any way?
If yes which jump config would you recommend?
Oh, is it safe to jump channels on a late 70's Marshall 100w?
 
C'mon somebody

I want to know, too.

Well, not about the Marshall stuff, but a good small, low-wattage tube bass amp for recording. And if it's relatively cheap, that would be greeeat. (Office Space ref again).
 
notCardio said:
I want to know, too.

Well, not about the Marshall stuff, but a good small, low-wattage tube bass amp for recording. And if it's relatively cheap, that would be greeeat. (Office Space ref again).
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I've never used a marshall bass amp, so I have no opinion.

I do wonder why you want to get a bass amp for recording, though unless you are interested in recording a guitar. You'd be better off spending the money on a decent DI, IMO.
 
Well, this is really rayc's thread, but

Personally, I've got a pretty good DI for really clean, I'll admit I could use a SanSamp for a grittier sound.

But nothing replaces the sound of an amp. And I kinda miss it.
 
My opinion is that there is no such thing as a worthwhile low wattage bass amp. It takes real power to drive low frequencies and make em sound half decent. If the amp can't keep up with a drummer, it probably ain't worth buying, IME, and a low wattage bass amp won't keep up with a drummer, unless he's playing gently with brushes.

I never really use distorted sounds on my basses, so no real opinion from me on good ways to get em.
 
you should be able to jump channels but I dont think it will help you. I've been playing a 50 watt blackface fender bassman for the last few days and its freaking awesome. probably not loud enough with drums though..... you might be able to get away with just pulling a couple power tubes...I'm not really sure of the best way to do that though.
 
Have you thought about getting or building a single 10 cabinet for at home?
 
Think I've downsized just about as far as it's possible to...for recording bass, I've taken to using my Fender Pro Jr. I figured that if I'm only micing up one 10" speaker on my Bassman, then that's pretty much the same as just micing up the Pro Jr. I tend to stick a RE20/Beta 52 or AT4033 up against the grille and let the proximity effect or simultaneous DI take care of the low end. Not the growliest of bass sounds, but it works for me, although it might not work for everybody, and you certainly couldn't gig with it!
 
Herm said:
Have you thought about getting or building a single 10 cabinet for at home?
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Yeah, I've thought about it, but that's as far as I've gotten. These days, I prefer the prebuilt solutions. I don't have the time anymore.
 
I run my Superbass through a single speaker Etone 200 watt box. It has a lot of bottom end which I like but it's a big amp & big speaker for homerecording.
 
How about...I trade you a Behringer 30 watt guitar amp...for the Marshall. Ha! ;)
 
I can't believe

you're not getting any decent suggestions. :confused:

The G & B forum is falling down on the job! :p
 
Ampeg B-15N fliptop. Classic sound. Not too huge (at least in the world of bass amps). Loud enough for home recording and playing out in small venues. Couple it with a GT Ditto and you're set for recording.
 
Tube Cube Attenuator

I just tried jumping - works well for the guitars - no much for the basses.
Out of frustration I plugged my behri bass di in & turned up the blend (tube sim) to full & the level to 1/2 way and added a little drive in addition to the jump & that sounded pretty good a quite low amp volumes for the guitar - again not so much for the bass though better.
I saw a brick/plate/attenuator on ebay - it's called the Tube Cube - though not referred to as such in the listing heading. It's relatively cheap in $AUS.
Does anyone know of its efficacy?
 
pohaku said:
Ampeg B-15N fliptop. Classic sound. Not too huge (at least in the world of bass amps). Loud enough for home recording and playing out in small venues. Couple it with a GT Ditto and you're set for recording.
Click to expand...

I thought about that, but they're stil more juice than what I was looking for. Can't necessarily speak for rayc.

Around here, they're kinda scarce, and the ones you do find are either in bad shape or kinda pricey.

I suppose I could go with a tube pre, small SS amp and a little cab.

I'm looking into the little cab thing right now, so I'll let you know if I come up with anything.
 
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