1976fenderhead

Well I'm not a big fan of tweeters, I always have the one on my Triad between -12db and off to be honest (mostly off), though today I tried everything with tweeters at default level to hear the full spectrum of the amps. they also sound better on MB than they do on the Triad. Anyway, one of the reasons why I'm changing my rig at this time (just left a pretty good functions band) is because I don't want my band to influence my choice of gear, rather I want my gear to influence a little bit my next musical direction, give me some refreshing inspiration if you will. I don't intend to be a slapper, but I want my rig to allow me to develop that technique, which the SWR doesn't really do. But if you're asking about styles, the kind of stuff my rig definitely has to suit to some degree: Foos, Kings of Leon, Biffy, Muse, QOTSA, RATM, but also Stevie Wonder, Jamiroquai and James Brown and if it lets me do some crazy Les Claypool stuff all the better Oh, and better sound good with my fretless Corvette too. Not really making it easy am I? Aren't Thunderfunk amps all normal size/weight? I really need small stuff. Back and joint problems, I'm not doing it just coz it's the 'in' thing

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1339264937' post='1686144'] It was the way the TH worked so well with the SL's that really clinched it for me though [/quote] Ahh, that's interesting. I'm fairly clueless so far as to what lightweight cabs to get (tried everything with MB cabs today, once I decide on the amp I'll do that research). But I'm OCD so the perspective of great-sounding matching brand amp and cabs is very appealing to my nerdy and tidy self, also makes me feel better about being lazy and not trying a huge variety of cabs...

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1339263586' post='1686112'] Will you guys please get some avatars sorted out? It's like reading a monologue written by a loony with a multiple personality disorder! [/quote] Been putting it off for ages (like my slapping). DONE dear sir!

lol you're not helping. I shall tell it to Mr Miller. It's my Achilles heel. I have to attack it once and for all and bring it up to par with the rest of my playing, been putting it off for 20 years

Well then reporting from my first expedition, curious to see if people here have the same impressions as me of the gear I tried... First, the ones that I've ruled out: [b]MarkBass Little Mark III:[/b] really liked the VPF filter, but other than that, a bit meh, too solid state-sounding. Would still like to try the Little Mark Tube and the Rocker, I think the VPF coupled with a tube sound might be a totally different story... [b]SWR Headlite:[/b] Very defined and transparent but not much character, EQ frequency knobs not as useful as they should be. [b]GK MB200: [/b]Typical GK sound full of treble, not for me. [b]GK Fusion 550: [/b]I tried this to see if it had less of that GK sound as they didn't have the small version. It does sound less trebly, but still too much for me. So I guess GK is ruled out... [b]Orange Terror 500:[/b] Nails the Orange sound no doubt, sounds just like the big ones to my ears (bar the possibility to overdrive) but it does just that and nothing else... I want more flexibility. Although I don't slap much (largely because my amp doesn't help), I want to get more into that stuff and this amp wouldn't help either, though great for classic tube tone. [b]Genz Benz Shuttle 3:[/b] I liked the scooped tone, punchiness, EQ versatility and super fast attack! Great for slapping, but it's SO overly compressed. Totally killed all the dynamics of my playing, just sucked the life out of it, made me sound like a robot after a while. So ruled out because of that ridiculous compression, because the tone I really liked, even though it's totally and assumedly a solid state amp that doesn't try to be anything else. Now the ones I liked: [b]Aguilar TH500:[/b] Great warmth and natural tone, the Drive knob adds a very natural and musical sounding breakup to loud notes. Responds beautifully to dynamics, sounds very 'alive', and it's my kind of sound, classic, warm and slightly overdriven when pushed if needed. A bit like the Terror, but sounding like Aguilar and more versatile. I wish it was more punchy for slapping, funk, etc, it's just not great for that. I should say I'm between bands and I haven't decided whether I want to play originals or covers next. If it's originals, this would be my choice, as I tend towards stoner, progressive, math rock, hardcore, etc. This amp is just perfect for that. [b]Genz Benz Streamliner 3: [/b]Similar scooped tone to the Shuttle and also a little compressed but nowhere as dramatic. Something I might dial myself if I put a compressor in front of it. The valves add a very pleasant natural warmth if Gain is set to around 9 o'c but above that it starts sounding a little too unfocused and the breakup of loud notes at high gain doesn't sound as nice and musical as the (fake) Drive of the Aguilar, funnily enough... I wish I could select more than 3 frequencies for the Mids knob. BUT, really liked the punchiness and the scooped sound is just right for slap. I liked the versatility, like I think I can get close to the TH500 with this, but can't get this scooped punchiness with the TH500 at all. If my next project is covers, this would be ideal, as in covers I usually tend towards a lot of funk. Also, if I really want to get into slapping properly, I need this one. So basically, I wish I could buy both the TH500 and the Streamliner 6, although they sound radically different from each other And still want to try those MarkBass. Haven't got round to trying Eden yet, which I'd like to, maybe also Ampeg and the TC RH450 too, though the more I read about this last one the less interested I get. But so far, for the versatility and possibility of taking me in new directions, I think the Streamliner is winning. [b]EDIT:[/b] Actually, what's winning come to think of it is the TH500 with my MXR Bass Compressor and an EQ pedal to get the scooped tone for slapping. Best of both worlds. hmmm

I called them at the Gallery, they have them. Thanks for the tip about Guitar Guitar, should go there afterwards.

They do have the Tone Hammers 350 and 500 in the shop, just checked

Right... That's annoying. They say 'Special Order Item' on the cabs but nothing on the amp, maybe they have that? Even so, I'll be able to rule out/in a bunch of other stuff...

Thanks to everyone who gave me their tips, I will be going to the Bass Gallery this Saturday to test pretty much EVERYTHING they have there, but based purely on specs and design (and affordability) I'm already GASing slightly for Aguilar, followed by Genz Benz and then GK. Of course this all may change once I actually hear them...

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1338900480' post='1680776'] I've owned lightweight MarkBass, Genz Benz, GK, TC Electronics, SWR, Epifani, Bergantino, maybe a few more as well For my money the Aguilar TH500 paired with the SL 112 cabs offers the best core tone with a decent amount of flexibility. I have to say that matching the cabs with this head really seems to bring the best out of both. The head can be a bit too warm for some people (in fact I've just picked up an Aggie AG500 which is cleaner and crisper than the TH yet still works well with the cabs). I find the cabs a real revelation. Stupidly light yet they go seriously loud and sound great for all different types of music [/quote] I do find that option very tempting... How do you find the 'Drive' in that amp? I had an Aguilar Agro and didn't like it, so if it's a similar character, it's not for me... Also, a bit annoying that you can't just footswitch that on or off...

[quote name='leftybassman392' timestamp='1338797295' post='1679226'] Don't know where you live but if you want to check out a good range of the above-named gear you might consider a pilgrimage to Bass Direct near Warwick. Mark is a great guy to deal with and has a great range of gear that he'll be happy for you to try. [/quote] Unfortunately I'm in London 2hrs away from it so not really practical. I should go to the Bass Gallery in Camden but I'm risking coming out with MarkBass as they have like 30 times more of those than any other brand

[quote name='tbonepete' timestamp='1338887976' post='1680433'] Hi 1976, Ive just looked through my shuttle 6.0 manual (the one that I got with the amp), and the online version, (which incidently is slightly different!), and I concur, I can't find any specific mention of RMS in relation to the figures quoted either. (Also I have found the shuttle to be quieter than my Hartke LH500, but this may be nothing to do with the ratings, I certainly don't know). Go Figure Cheers Pete [/quote] Yeah, I'm guessing that's about 200W RMS at 8ohm and about 350W RMS at 4ohm. If this translates into volume the same way it does for normal-sized amps, I should say that I'd like something a little more powerful than my 350x at 4ohm, so I'm looking for something delivering at least 450-500 W RMS at 4 ohm... I guess that rules out a bunch of them... :/

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1338857154' post='1680230'] yes they do!! [url="http://www.genzbenz.com/?fa=detail&mid=2821&sid=715&cid=95"]http://www.genzbenz....&sid=715&cid=95[/url] [url="http://www.genzbenz.com/?fa=detail&mid=2663&sid=675&cid=95"]http://www.genzbenz....&sid=675&cid=95[/url] [/quote] That's not RMS...

Just noticed that both Genz Benz and GK don't state the RMS rating of their amps, not even in their manuals hmm...

Thanks. I have to say though, I do hate Trace Elliot. In fact there's 2 brands I was never able to get a good sound of personally, Trace and Ashdown, for the life of me I can't understand how so many people rate them. I've got on best with SWR and Hartke, followed by Ampeg (a bit too scooped) and GK (a bit too trebly). I haven't tried almost any other brand so this isn't worth much...

I'd say my budget is ideally about a grand to a liitle more than that for a 2nd hand amp and two 2x10 cabs.

Thanks all so far, especially JTUK and Lozz196, very helpful!

[quote name='born to be loud' timestamp='1338741313' post='1678708'] Yeah I know. Not been here very long but can predict what will happen: Loads of recommendation for what people use. Loads of recommendations for what people want. A few helpful and descriptive posts. If you are lucky somebody might ask for the info not included in your original post like type of music you play or budget. If you are unlucky your thread will get hijacked for a flame war about power of mixing cabs or stacking vertical. Or you might just get very little response because you are the 10th person to start a thread like this in the last few days and even the people who love the sound of their own fingers have had enough. YMMV I like the look of the Markbass TTE 500 and a brace of STD 102FH. Genz Benz Streamliner and NeoX212T. EBS Reidmar with Neoline 212. All of those amps with Berg HD212 or brace of HD210's. Or Vanderkley 212MNT. [/quote] Or maybe this will happen, since I obviously can't try everything there is out there and personally I think going to gigs and listening to what they're using is pointless as there are so many factors at play like bass, FOH gear and sound tech, room acoustics, effects, etc: 1 At some point soon I'll go on a mission to a few shops with my bass to try what I can 2 I'll try TC as thought before but will pay special attention to dynamics 3 I'll try SWR, GK, Aguilar and a few other obvious ones 4 I'll try MarkBass but I'll look specifically at the one you said coz you said it 5 I hadn't noticed Mesa had a small-ish one so now I'll try that 6 I had no idea Genz Benz and Berg were so rated so now I'll definitely look into those too 7 I had completely forgotten how I used to love the big Orange on a practice studio before, so now will definitely try the Terror as someone said. See? Sounds good to me. Don't be so negative.

[quote name='born to be loud' timestamp='1338737067' post='1678631'] Try everything you can. Go to your local gigs to listen to what others are playing. Buy what you like best. [/quote] Thx

That does look very interesting, and I tend to like the Mesa models in Line 6, if that's worth anything... What cabs do you use with it? And why did you grow to dislike the TC?

I'd like to change into a small amp and lightweight cab(s). I've been using an SWR 350x for many years but find it a bit too transparent, would like something with more warmth and personality, something adding a little more colour, valve-like character and punch. What brands/models should I look into? For design and features alone, TC Electronic's stuff looks very appealing but what about the sound?(haven't tested it yet...) Hope you can help. Thanks.