Bass amp??

[imperial_black]

I'd go for Ampeg SVT II by default but the choices out there are almost limitless .
For only a few hundred quid a Trace Elliot or for even less a Peavey Mark III, like
Ive got for sale .

[DClewes]

i would probably use a clean sound, but at the same time have the option of using a dirty sound to back up the solo's etc, is there a pedal that would be better to use instead of changing the setting around after each song?
Cheers for the advice manufacture wise i'll have a look at the ones you suggested.
Thanks again
Rob

as for pedals, I'm currently using 2 distortion pedals and they're both amazing:
MXR Blowtorch - really fuzzy and distorted but keeps all definition and low end (something a guitar pedal like a Big Muff or ProCo RAT won't).

MXR Bass DI+ - this is amazing and has the added benefit of being a DI so if you end up gear sharing and the bass rig you're borrowing is rubbish you can use this and have some consistancy to your sound....and you can phantom power it too!!

[smokingbeagle]

Seconded on that MXR Bass DI+; I tried one a few weeks ago and it was awesome. If I hadn't already spent hundreds getting 'my sound' I'd have one in a heartbeat.

As far as bass amps go, what's your budget? I'd have to disagree with Marshall bass amps being inherently 'shit' - their solid state ones I've tried have, admittedly, sucked balls but their VBA can do balls-out R 'n' R with the best of them. Not a machine for playing funk, mind you.

For a metal band, 300W minimum. And preferably a couple of cabs; I'd be looking at a 1x15" topped with a 2x10" (but that's my current rig, so I'm biased - mine are Peavey, for what it's worth, and bulletproof). Although whoever recommended aluminium cones has a point, would give you a bit more top end to cut through massively distorted guitars.

For the head, take your pick really - just the best you can afford that's 300W+! The new(ish) Trace Elliots are great, I love my Laney B1 but they're like rocking horse shit, and I've had reliability issues with Laney's cheaper stuff. Likewise with Ashdown's original cheapies (the MAG250 and 300 have both let me down :?), but I'm assured that they've sorted their reliability out now. Peavey's rackmount Tour series look nice, but I've not tried one. I'm a fan of Peavey generally though, so they might be worth a punt.

Ampeg if you can afford it, NOT Behringer - if you were to spring for a preamp pedal like the aforementioned MXR or a Sansamp Bass Driver (or a Bass POD?) you'd be able to just use a PA power amplifier, as all your tone-shaping would be done in the preamp, and save a few quid.

[Pitch]

well if its ampeg, go to www.gak.co.uk as they're doing a deal on a B-2RE head with a 1x15 cab. i got that a couple of days ago and it kicks ass!

a link if you like : http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/offer.php?id=39

[DeviousESimian]

Got to be Hartke.

Because they look ace.

[DClewes]

i've heard of a lot of reliability issues with hartke cabs though.

[WeeMann]

i've heard of a lot of reliability issues with hartke cabs though.

I can't comment on the cabs, but I've had a Hartke head for about 15 years now and the only time it let me down was when the valve failed (once in 15 years! Damn, it must be time for a new one soon) - even then all I had to do was use the solid state amp instead of the tube one. The sound is wonderful and clear. For the last 6 years I've used it as a power amp and run a Pod Pro into it and I love the flexibility I get with this setup.

[Twigman]

If you can find one get hold of a Session 4x10 Bass combo.......I had one back in the 80s - I sold it for £350 (more than I paid) in about '92.....I wish I hadn't. I loved it.

[imperial_black]

Not very practical but they sound great ...8X10 cab .
I used to combine 4X10 with a 1X15 also tried 2X4X10 but the all in one Trace Elliot 8X10 was slightly better EQ wise (not too tight on the low end and loads of punch).
I wouldn't mind trying out some 12" bass speaker configurations just for fun.
Ive also got a nice 600w JBL 15" speaker that I'm dieing to use for something but cant match it up to my T.E V8 as it only has two settings 2 or 4 ohms

[fretmeister]

i've heard of a lot of reliability issues with hartke cabs though.

Where?

I've never seen anyone report a cab going down over on Basschat.co.uk

Ever!

The 4.5XL 4x10 cab is the choice of many basschatters - the only moan being the weight of the damn things (over 50kg). However Hartke's new Neo half-paper / half-alu cabs are getting good reviews too - and the weight is much less now.