Looking for amp for bass

[jazzylilstar]

First, sorry I haven't posted. I have been reading a lot here, mostly every weekend since I joined.

Second, I just got a Jackson C20 bass and I'm looking for a great amp for it. I thought about a Marshall, but in the past they have sucked. Any suggestions on what I should get?

I play in an alternative rock, native worship band. Our sounds are more of variety, but generally friends are comparing us to Thicke, Good Charlotte meets Red Thunder.

cheers

 

[bullyhill]

Mesa m2000
SWR Triad

It will make Chicken Shit sound like Chicken Soup.

 

[Disco_Dave]

Finally a post on this site that I can speak on with authority!

Avoid Marshall, unless you can afford one of the big VBA rigs, their bass state combos are fairly unexciting. Fender bass amps are also quite forgettable. Fender and Marshall bass amps are not AWFUL or CRAP like some say, but there are better. In my view you can't go wrong with an Ampeg or a Mesa... Trace Elliot used to be good but I think they are now bankrupt. I have seen some going very cheap but remember that you won't get a warranty on them.

I actually use a Torque 200 watt head and 4 by 10 cabinet. Torque are a little know british company whose amps are much better than the music snobs would have you believe. The one piece of advice I would give is that unless you only ever intend on playing in your bedroom then get a head and cabinet rather than a combo. A 200 watt combo will never have the same projection as a 100 watt head played through a cabinet. Invest sensibly in your first purchase and you won't be lusting after a new amp in six months.

 

[jazzylilstar]

Thanks for the tips and info help. Yes, we will be more on stage than in the bedroom or garage. So, the head and cabinet it is.

I think heard of Torque, never really looked into them though. I did have an Ampeg, it was real good. The only thing I use that was Trace Elliot were their strings.

I've been wanting to ask that question for a while.. glad I did. thanks

*chicken shit to chicken soup* LOL!

 

[bullyhill]

That's pretty funny but it's a spacedye quote, can't take credit.
Good Luck
Try that Triad man it's sweet.

 

[clifchamb]

What about Hartke? I have a Hartke 3500 head and 4x10 cab. They serve me for all styles of music for the last 10 years.


clif

 

[bullyhill]

No doubt, that is a nice sounding head for 4 bills

 

[bishop55]

just in case

If you have not yet made a purchase you might consider the stuff made by David Eden.
I would not recommend the cabinets, you can find equal quality cheaper, but the heads are really first rate and the quality of construction and components are better than most of the new stuff by Marshall and even SWR (in my opinion).
The Traveller series is great, There is a guy selling one for $500 on the boards here under "badass bass amp."
I know gear is expensive in the Uk so it might behoove you to check that out even with the shipping!
With Eden stuff you get really solid low end and alot of versatility as far as EQ is concerned. If you can get one used it might be the ticket but make sure to try one out at the music store first!

 

[Disco_Dave]

I would definitely agreen clifchamb, though i've never played through one I have heard many good things about Hartke. A friend of mine runs a Hartke head through an ampeg cab and it sounds very sexy indeed.

 

[Toki987]

I left the big heads yrs ago, I have been using Gallien-Kruger for a good while and have no negative comments about them except, I had one that only lasted 9 yrs before
I let a guy borrow it and he ran a 2ohm load on it, ... it died. The 400RBIII and 800 are serious workhorses and weigh in less than half of most amps. My favorite was a 150 watt 200RCB. It was like carrying around a loaf of bread it was so light, and would kick butt with several cabinet configurations.
I do have a couple of old tube Fender heads that I enjoy playing at times.

 

[Guernica]

.....when i quit gigging years ago, I sold a Trace Elliot pre-amp that i had (dont recall the model #).....REALLY sorry i did that now. For recording purposes it really was the bomb. .....(sniff)


g