dougal Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 (edited) Given I'm about to liberate some funds by selling a bass, I thought I'd use some of it to replace my aging, and incredibly heavy, H&K Bassbase 600 with one of the newer lightweight amps. Buget is a not terribly firm £650, with less money being spent the better. The amp has to cater for pretty much most musical styles: from heavy rock through to disco. So far I'm considering: Orange Bass Terror (Probably not as it's a bit monotonastic (hurrah! I've invented a word)) GALLIEN KRUEGER MB500 MARKBASS LITTLE MARK III SWR HEADLITE ASHDOWN LITTLE GIANT 1000 AGUILAR TONE HAMMER SC500 I don't think I want to change my cab (Aguilar 4x10). Obviously, I'm going to try before I buy. But before even that, does anyone have anything good (or bad) to say about the above? Are there any others I should be considering? Edited February 25, 2011 by dougal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil.i.stein Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 Genz Benz also seriously worth considering. very clean sounding and powerful (if that's what you're after) [quote name='dougal' post='1140898' date='Feb 25 2011, 10:09 AM']Given I'm about to liberate some funds by selling a bass, I thought I'd use some of it to replace my aging, and incredibly heavy, H&K Bassbase 600 with one of the newer lightweight amps. Buget is a not terribly firm £650, with less money being spent the better. The amp has to cater for pretty much most musical styles: from heavy rock through to disco. So far I'm considering: Orange Bass Terror (Probably not as it's a bit monotonastic (hurrah! I've invented a word)) GALLIEN KRUEGER MB500 MARKBASS LITTLE MARK III SWR HEADLITE ASHDOWN LITTLE GIANT 1000 AGUILAR TONE HAMMER SC500 I don't think I want to change my cab (Aguilar 4x10). Obviously, I'm going to try before I buy. But before even that, does anyone have anything good (or bad) to say about the above? Are there any others I should be considering?[/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 (edited) Orange Bass Terror - Incredibly loud. Not the most effective of eqs, but a Sansamp Bass Driver in front of it gives a lot more flexibility. Nice & light. TC Electronic Classic 450 - Very versatile, crisp modern cleans to downright filthy tube. Decent power. Good eq. Good on-board compressor. Nice & light. Edited February 25, 2011 by Lozz196 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BTGAndy Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 is loud enough, I play in a metal band and my Shuttle is loud enough for any of the venues we play when paired with my SWR Golight 2x10. Avoid the Headlite, it sounds gorgeous but it's hugely underpowered, I really struggled to get the volume out of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 The Genz Streamliners are getting good initial reviews, and [url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Streamliner.html"]Bass Direct have them on pre-order[/url] within your budget. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
razze06 Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 I would put the Tecamp Puma series up there too. Used one for quite some time, never wanted for power or tone. No distortion or overdrive, but massive versatility. (Yes I'm selling one, but i've genuinely loved it) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 £600 will get you a fantastic 500 watt amp. Used would be better and I would look at all the amps that have been mentioned so far. They would all do a good job with your cab (which I'd certainly keep if I were you). My list would start with Aguilar, Markbass, TC then the rest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicman20 Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 (edited) What type of tone are you looking for? Id recommend testing pretty much the list you have, but the popular ones are: Orange BT (more rock/vintage/thumpy orientated) - Cheapest option and super loud. Markbass LM2/3 - Nice amps, ive just sold mine to try a Streamliner, but thats because I fancied a change and the right price/sale came up. TC Classic 450 - Awesome amp, and if you get an RH450 you can switch presets for styles very effectively. Aguilar TH500 - Not played one, but if its to their usual standards, it will be top notch. Seems quite cheap as well at £599 and thats in the super expensive GuitarGuitar. You will be able to get it cheaper than that. Genz Streamliner 600/900 - Currently getting rave reviews, super clean tube tone all the way to gritty rock. Talkbass seems to be of the opinion that its a very very good amp. Clever EQ and gain options on this. Ive seen some very low/amazing prices on the 900...and dont be afraid to haggle! Edited February 25, 2011 by Musicman20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 [quote name='wateroftyne' post='1140956' date='Feb 25 2011, 10:57 AM']The Genz Streamliners are getting good initial reviews, and [url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Streamliner.html"]Bass Direct have them on pre-order[/url] within your budget.[/quote] Ah, that's why you sold the TC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 There's an Aguilar 500SC in the FS section and Bass Direct has a very well priced Markbass F1. There have been several TC RH450's, TC Classic 450's and MB amps for sale here in the last month. I'd keep an eye open for a bargain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thodrik Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 From your list I would say have a try of the Aguilar, as said earlier if it is anything like their other gear then you will not be let down. Plus it will match your cab, which is important to some people. Also TC Electronic have a very good reputation, as do the Little Mark series. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indiegrungesound Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 Whatever you do, don't go for the Little Giant. They are cheap, but they're not reliable! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 I'd have a Mark Bass LM3 or the F1 They do sound different so try each with your cab. I love Mark Bass. I know some on here consider them "last-years" amps but I love the versatility and the thick but clear tone with my passive fretless through to my 18V monsters. I used to have a ML3 with an Aggie 1x12 and it was great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soliloquy Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 [quote name='BTGAndy' post='1140932' date='Feb 25 2011, 10:45 AM']Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 is loud enough, I play in a metal band and my Shuttle is loud enough for any of the venues we play when paired with my SWR Golight 2x10. Avoid the Headlite, it sounds gorgeous but it's hugely underpowered, I really struggled to get the volume out of it.[/quote] Regarding the Headlite, that's what I'm looking at buying. I've read over on Talkbass that the volume thing is probably more to do with EQ. It's supposedly quite a loud amp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougal Posted February 25, 2011 Author Share Posted February 25, 2011 [quote]What type of tone are you looking for?[/quote] Depends on the situation. I have two bands, one of which is metal & rock covers. SO think gently over-driven to Lemmy distorted. The other is a pop / functions band, so lots of messing around with the pups & EQ on the bass to go from burpy funk to disco to slap. I tend to leave the EQ on the amp flat and mess with the sound form the bass (I only use active basses for that reason). The Basebass has been fine; tonality wise I'm happy with it, and I'll probably keep it until the replacement has proved itself. The (as it's so tatty) it'll be an e-bay 99p no reserve offering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 I'm not put off by the, ahem, monotonasticness of my Terror Head. I think it does everything from Reggae to Country to Rock really well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alhbass Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 [quote name='fretmeister' post='1141395' date='Feb 25 2011, 04:06 PM']I'd have a Mark Bass LM3 or the F1 They do sound different so try each with your cab. I love Mark Bass. I know some on here consider them "last-years" amps but I love the versatility and the thick but clear tone with my passive fretless through to my 18V monsters. I used to have a ML3 with an Aggie 1x12 and it was great.[/quote] +1 for Markbass. LM2 or 3 are both great heads - I used to use an LM2 - but I suggest even better is the LMK. I use one now - great sound, powerful, flexible, very small and very light. Love those crystal clear, transparent sounds - but I use mine in conjunction with a Sansamp BDDI for when I want to add grit and valve warmth. And usually available well under £500 second hand - they're great value. They seem to crop up on BC fairly regularly, and are evidently pretty easy to sell on again without making a loss if you decide you don't like it. Well, that's my tuppence worth anyway! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charic Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 [quote name='dougal' post='1141438' date='Feb 25 2011, 04:33 PM']Depends on the situation. I have two bands, one of which is metal & rock covers. SO think gently over-driven to Lemmy distorted. The other is a pop / functions band, so lots of messing around with the pups & EQ on the bass to go from burpy funk to disco to slap. I tend to leave the EQ on the amp flat and mess with the sound form the bass (I only use active basses for that reason). The Basebass has been fine; tonality wise I'm happy with it, and I'll probably keep it until the replacement has proved itself. The (as it's so tatty) it'll be an e-bay 99p no reserve offering.[/quote] RH450 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crez5150 Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 MB500 user here.... I compared against Genz, Markbass and EA.... the GK won for me having a much fuller sound to my ears. Running through 2 x Aguilar DB112. I'd suggest you get yourself somewhere you can a/b them all at once. I've also tried the TC kit which was excellent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 Yup, the 3 presets on the RH450 could be just what you need for instant switching between tones, with the minimum of kit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 I love the Genz 6.0 , I will never go back to a heavy weight rig. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AttitudeCastle Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 Ashdown Little Giants aren't in production any more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougal Posted March 6, 2011 Author Share Posted March 6, 2011 An update: I found a LM3 on here, so I'm trying that. Worst that happens is that I have to sell it on, eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richrips Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 Nobody sticking up for the LG1000? I've had mine for nearly 2 years and no problems! sounds great particularly with active basses and the money i saved by not getting a markbass etc paid for more fun than you can have with a hyperactive midget! gets my vote even though they aren't made any more. second hand could be a massive deal though! could even afford 2 midgets.... rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toasted Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 Push the budget another 100 and get a Markbass F500 IMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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