Bass Amp Recommendations?

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Bass Amp Recommendations?

Postby JimTidmarsh » Mon May 18, 2015 12:54 pm

I'm looking to update my bass amp. I'm currently using a Behringer 350w combo which is obviously a budget model & bl**dy heavy!

I don't know whether to replace it with a lighter combo or go for a separate head and cabinet. I rather like the idea of having 2 x 10" speakers.

Obviously, it's main use will be Cliff & The Shads material.

My budget is about £400 and wondered what other members used/thought.
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Re: Bass Amp Recommendations?

Postby Jay Bass » Mon May 18, 2015 3:56 pm

Hi jim
if weight is a issue i would go for seperate cabs and a rackmount amp
the most popular amps and cabs seem to be Mark Bass which are very light and powerfull
but they are quite expensive ,so probably not in a £400 budget.
Ashdown do some very nice compact cabs and amp wise ashdown or ampeg do some nice small rackmountable heads
i would personally recomend a ampeg b5r or b2r head if you can find one. These would probably have to be second hand
to fall in the £400 bracket.
there are lots of bass combos and amps/ cabs to choose from .
so try as many as you can.
they will all sound ok for shads music or any other genre .
i think the most important part of the 50's 60's sound on bass are the flatwound strings, i have used all different makes of bass gear
and managed to get a good bass sound with a precision and flatwounds.

regards
jay
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Re: Bass Amp Recommendations?

Postby Hank2k » Mon May 18, 2015 5:39 pm

Hi Jim

Message my bass player Keith Robertson, he is having a clear out of amps etc and may have something ideal
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Re: Bass Amp Recommendations?

Postby Iain Purdon » Tue May 19, 2015 5:20 pm

£400 spent wisely on the second hand market could give you a very good return.

As Jay says, most bass amps will sound OK for Shads, if you use a P-bass with flat wounds. If you're using roundwounds, turn down the tone control on your bass to lose the twang.

Weight will always be a problem though. My own experience with an Ashdown head and two 'compact' cabs was that the 15" cab sounded the same as the 2x10" but the 210 is heavier because it contains more metal. I changed to MarkBass 112P combo, which is light, and for larger venues use a Vanderkley 12" ext cab, also light. But £400 wouldn't get you there with new gear.
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Re: Bass Amp Recommendations?

Postby JimTidmarsh » Wed May 20, 2015 9:07 am

Thanks for all the suggestions, guys.

I've decided on three things - increase my budget to £500, buy new & go for a separate amp and 2x12" cabinet.

For this money I can get a very good set-up from either TC Electronic or Ashdown, two very reputable manufacturers. All I've got to do now is find a relatively local store with the necessary stock so I can go and try it all out!

More news when I have.
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Re: Bass Amp Recommendations?

Postby David Martin » Thu May 21, 2015 8:45 pm

Pander to me...

Call Bass Direct. They specialise in light weight bass gear. I bought my Genz Benz rig from them about 5 years ago now after conversations with the owner as to what I was trying to achieve. In similar vein, I bought a bass for use with a rock group - an Esh, made in Germany. The whole caboodle has been excellent... so was the advice.

I know they are not in your area, but you have nothing to lose except the cost of a call, and you may gain a great deal...

D
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Re: Bass Amp Recommendations?

Postby Iain Purdon » Fri May 22, 2015 12:04 am

Agree. Bass Direct supplied my Vanderkley cab.
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Re: Bass Amp Recommendations?

Postby Didier » Fri May 22, 2015 8:49 am

I know a professional bass player who used a Behringer bass amp, and was quite happy with it.

http://www.thomann.de/gb/behringer_bxl3 ... rabass.htm

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Re: Bass Amp Recommendations?

Postby JimTidmarsh » Fri May 22, 2015 11:21 am

Didier

That's the exact model I have!!!

The weight does not count in its favour, though, and I've started to get frustrated with the sound of it.

I want something deeper!!!
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Re: Bass Amp Recommendations?

Postby Iain Purdon » Fri May 22, 2015 12:14 pm

I was told once that Behringer use other people's designs so they can manufacture more cheaply without funding R&D costs. My general impression over the years is that they're OK if you want a spare but you probably shouldn't look to them as your main rig.
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