rise and fall of bass rigs

  • Thread starter Thread starter Toki987
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Toki987

Toki987

Rock Steady
I really has amazed me as to the changes in the sizes of my bass rigs over the years. I remember starting out on
a tiny blue amp with 1 knob and a 4" speaker called a "007"
a 2x12 Hilgen about the size of a Fender twin,
then on to the Kustom 2x 15",
Kustom 4 x15" ,
Kustom 6x 15" stereo,
then back down to a Peavey 2x15,
A Traynor tube with 8x12" marshall type cabs,
A sunn with 2 Altec A7 cabinets using Gauss 15"
then Acoustic 370 w/twin 301/18" EVMb cabs,
then an SVT tube with twin 8x 10" cabs,
then down to a GK head with a 2x 15" cab,
now I use a GK with a 2 x 10" that will fit in the front seat of my car, or a Fender Bassman with 4 or 6 x10".

of all of then I think I was more fond of and miss the little blue amp with 1 knob and the 4" speaker called the "007" the most!!
I took the back off and would turn the lights off at night and play with it turned around backwards so I could see the 1 tube light up. I guess I`m a stoned sentimentalist. :)
 
Don't play the bass personally, but I can totally relate to the "light show"...fire up that tater! But as far as equipment goes, I once bought an Epiphone 12 string electric that was like a 335 (we're talkin 35 years ago) from a kid in school. I think I paid $50 or something for it...even got an amp with it! Don't know for sure, but I'd say it's probably worth a little more than $50 today....Yep! I sold it too! I dunno...may have traded it for a bag o weed or something REALLY smart!
 
I still use the same rig I bought when I was 17 (10 years ago) :

a hartke xl-series 4x10 and hartke 3500 head.

I just havent found anything that IMHO sounds much better to justify spending around 2000k on a new bass rig that perhaps at best would sound only marginaly better.

clif
 
clifchamb said:
I still use the same rig I bought when I was 17 (10 years ago) :

a hartke xl-series 4x10 and hartke 3500 head.

I just havent found anything that IMHO sounds much better to justify spending around 2000k on a new bass rig that perhaps at best would sound only marginaly better.

clif
Click to expand...

oops I mean 2K not 2000k
 
brain cell breakdown

Call me stupid but I been tryin to figger out what the hell IMHO stands for?
 
Re: brain cell breakdown

bdbdbuck said:
Call me stupid but I been tryin to figger out what the hell IMHO stands for?
Click to expand...

I think it means In My Humble Opinion, don't feel stupid, it took me a year to pick up on it:)

clif
 
I guess I should feel pretty good that I only felt stupid for a couple of months!!! Thanks for the info.


bd
 
you wanna talk about feeling stupid...
I used to have a 1978 Marshall JMP MKII 100 watt super lead half stack. I was really broke one time back about 1989 and it was my mothers birthday and I didnt have any money. I wanted to get her a puppy. The only thing of value that I had was the Marshall, so I loaded it up and off to the pawn shop I went. Fucker offered me $100 bucks for it, the sad part is....I took the $100 bucks!!!!
 
clifchamb said:
I still use the same rig I bought when I was 17 (10 years ago) :

a hartke xl-series 4x10 and hartke 3500 head.

I just havent found anything that IMHO sounds much better to justify spending around 2000k on a new bass rig that perhaps at best would sound only marginaly better.

clif
Click to expand...

I understand you well, I like the SWR stuff too, a bit pricy but good. You have a really kickin system and no need to change unless you ever want to downsize or just simply change your sound production completely. However there is not a diverse menu of commercial manufacturers out there anymore for big workhorse rigs unless you were to go to a custom shop. 30 yrs ago there was a full menu of really great major power bass rigs manufactured commercially to fit everybody`s needs and desires.
However the economy crunch, advanced robotic production in solid state electronics, fuckin Disco, the improvement in sound reinforcement systems quality and capability, live venues on the endangered species list, and corporate greed battles where hand craft companies were bought and closed, all but phased out an era of craftmanship and the craftsmen that built those goliath bass rigs. There are a few survivors and the quality is good in them.
Anyways, who the hell would even want to wrestle an SVT cab anymore or pick up an orange 4x12 and stack it on another one, there`s just not a real need anymore. I have used a GK head and a 2x10" cab for several yrs in my part time picking and been really happy. The PA's now can do all the gutwrenching thats needed.
 
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I've had the same rig for 15 years or more. Gibson Grabber bass, Peavey 400 head, and a Cerwin Vega 18" speaker. Kicks butt.
 
i'm still using my first bass amp an acoustic 150 head and a 2 15" bin sounds great, i bought a pod recently and like the amp sim of the gallen kruger very punchy but dont like any other of the amp sims through the acoustic rig. hope im not getting off track of this post, but nice to talk to you all out there in musicland.
 
i should add i need the large bin to add some bottom end to our sound as we can only run vocals and kik through our pa.good exersise.
 
des said:
i'm still using my first bass amp an acoustic 150 head and a 2 15" bin sounds great, i bought a pod recently and like the amp sim of the gallen kruger very punchy but dont like any other of the amp sims through the acoustic rig. hope im not getting off track of this post, but nice to talk to you all out there in musicland.
Click to expand...

The Acoustic were always dead-on-punchy to me at all frequencies. They did a very good job on their bass amps. I miss mine but I dont miss the bulk and weight. The sound of the GK is a little warmer, meaty, and deep. It's also a little more variable thatn the acoustic sound.
 
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