Need a new amp, any suggestions?

[51m0n]

So last night's gig was an excellent affair, really, except my dearly beloved and venerable Markbass SA450 finally went to the big bass bash in the sky...

So I learnt some interesting things from this:-

1. I need a new amp, this isn't going to be fixable

2. IEMs rock, I didn't even realise that it had died until the trumpet player looked all startled as I was happily grooving away and the rest of the band could not hear me.

3 Barefaced FR800s are genius, I just cranked them and they delivered everything we needed out front.

4. I have no idea what amps out there currently exist that have that Markbass LM2/SA450 vibe, can anyone out there help?

Ta!

P.S. cracking gig all the same though 🤩

[Al Krow]

A few Qs at the outset (as there are lot of great amps on the market) to get us all thinking on the right lines for you:

1. (Key) what's your budget?

2. What power output are you looking for?

3. How / what are you going to be using the amp for? e.g. if you're going into FR800 do you need a power amp or would a quality preamp be just as good? 

4. Obvious Q - if you're a fan of Markbass, would you consider one of the modern line up of their amps? Seems to me they have taken the old models such as the LM2/3 and considerably improved the EQ: removing some of the glaring EQ gaps and also providing a much better bass EQ centre point. And if you have the budget then the new MB STU AMP 1000 looks lush...

Edited February 3, 2019 by Al Krow

[51m0n]

Ok so budget is whatever it needs to be really. Obviously I don't want to spend more than I need to but quality costs...

Power would be upwards 700w

Amp is basically a monitor for most of the band and provides the foundation of the foh sound for most gigs.

The LM2 configuration had a very lovely tone, since the LM3 the amp internals changed and they reportedly lost some of that magic slightly more old school tone. Having said that I haven't tried one and they are on the list!

Edited February 3, 2019 by 51m0n

[51m0n]

Oh and I need parametric/switchable mids, and two of them, and a separate line out level control ideally.

[Al Krow]

In which case check out the newly released Mesa WD-800 

Likely to tick just about every box and burn a serious hole in your pocket for the privilege of doing so  

[naxos10]

If you want another SA450 Bass Direct have a second hand one in according to the website.

[51m0n]

12 minutes ago, naxos10 said:

If you want another SA450 Bass Direct have a second hand one in according to the website.

Yeah but the MTBF on that will be about 10 minutes 😄

[PatrickJ]

Last year I purchased a new amp head, I was after a Valve Pre / Class D hybrid with 500w Output.  I settled on the Mark Bass Little Mark Tube; I've not gigged it yet so can't comment too much on it's performance (but if it's good enough for the likes of Michael League and Joe Dart I'm sure it will satisfy the likes of me).

My short list of heads which may be helpful to you was:

- Little Mark Tube (a 800w version exists)
- Ampeg SVT-7 Pro
- Eden World Tour Pro 600 (a 900 version exists)
- Genzler Magellan 800 (wasn't Hybrid but loads of great feedback)
- Aguilar AG700

I went for the Markbass ultimately because it was cheaper than some of the other options and I'd been to see a bunch of live bands recently and the bassists were all using Markbass rigs of some kind across a variety of music style.

If I was looking now I'd be waiting to try the Mesa WD-800 as per @Al Krow and the new Markbass Little Mark Vintage. 

 

Edited February 3, 2019 by PJ-Bassist

[jrixn1]

I don't see the need for a head & cab setup in this situation.  Since you're fine for FOH, the only problem is monitoring.  Why not just put more bass through the monitors (for the band members not yet on in-ears)?

[51m0n]

Because our monitors don't deliver enough oomph for them. They like a LOT of bass onstage.

 

Which is nice 😁

[jrixn1]

15 minutes ago, 51m0n said:

Because our monitors don't deliver enough oomph for them. They like a LOT of bass onstage.

 

Which is nice 😁

Upgrade the monitors?  I hope the others are paying for this new bass rig btw 😁 I mean... you're not going to benefit from it at all (as you're already sorted with your in-ears)!

[51m0n]

15 minutes ago, jrixn1 said:

Upgrade the monitors?  I hope the others are paying for this new bass rig btw 😁 I mean... you're not going to benefit from it at all (as you're already sorted with your in-ears)!

Ha! Nah it's all down to me!

We often play on stages with a naff PA monitor-wise that we have no control over. Bringing a serious bass rig is the best way I've found to deal with that....

[machinehead]

I'm going to make a suggestion that might result in me being derided for poor taste.😀

I've owned many bass amps over the past almost 40 bass playing years, and guitar amps before my "conversion" to bass: Mesa, Markbass, Fender, EBS, Peavey, Thunderfunk, (still have that one), Ashdown, Gallien Krueger, Quilter, (still have that one too and it's superb), etc, etc...

And it's the Peavey miniMax 500.  I bought this as my back up amp fried three weeks ago.  I didn't want to spend a lot of cash on a back up that you hope you never need.  The miniMax was £282 delivered!

I didn't expect a lot, but I was very wrong.  I've gigged it three times now and it simply delivers in tones, volume and has a great set of features.  It's seems unbeatable at the price but would still be good at twice the cost.

I really wonder why there isn't more love for these amps here?  Are they one of basschat's best kept secrets?

And it comes with a little gig bag.  Which is nice, even though its not the best quality.

I'm a very satisfied owner.

Frank.

Edited February 3, 2019 by machinehead
spelling

[51m0n]

I couldn't face the Peavey historical issues, they were always crap, somehow it will find a way to disappoint me, they always do, but thanks anyway.

I acknowledge my snobbery, what can you do 🤩

[Al Krow]

You could of course get yourself a Tech21 Q/Strip to sort out your parmetric EQ needs & give you additional vintage tone options. That then frees you up to consider a whole world of amps, if you strip what the Q/Strip is bringing to the party from what the amp has to deliver.

If you want capable, value for money and much loved by fellow BCers then you won't go too far wrong (and likely a very long way right) with:

Q/Strip + either TC RH750 or Genzler Magellan 800

[51m0n]

Q strip is an interesting idea.

What I want to know is does anyone know if a lightweight amp with that same tone profile as the LM2/SA450.

I know the quilter isn't even close, it's got a far more aggressive top end for a start. Great amp but not the sound I'm looking for at all really.

I will be sticking it in a rack too, because I baby my gear , so that's a consideration.

[naxos10]

There seems to be a lot of respect for the Bugera heads on here and you could also look at the Ashdown Rootmaster 500 and 800.

[Hellzero]

The two lightweight amps with a non aggressive sound are made with the same power amp (a PASCAL).

The Trickfish Bullet 1K without any fan and a Michael Pope preamp : http://bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Trickfish_Amplifiers.html

The Warwick LWA 1000 with an extracting fan (running only when needed, so not that often) and a Hellborg derived preamp. Here in silver finish for around 1/3 of the Bullet 1K : https://www.thomann.de/gb/warwick_warwick_lwa_1000.htm

 

And there is also the extraordinary Glockenklang Blue Rock with a 5 bands EQ, a drive section and lightning fast transients response : https://www.thomann.de/gb/glockenklang_blue_rock.htm

[51m0n]

Now why is that Warwick so absurd?

Very cheap but the size of a house and two separate channels? Weird. 

So why is the trickfish so expensive if it's the same power amp?

And the Glock is definitely on my list but mad expensive if there is something cheaper that will do the job.

Plus I really want to have a listen to the options before buying but where to go? I am in Brighton and GAK's bass department is laughable...

Any suggestions of shop s in London which stick a decent selection of amps to have a try on. 

Damn it, I've had no amp GAS for the 10 years I've had the sa450 and still don't now, I just need a reasonably priced great sounding amp that won't break my back, that I can try before I buy.

[PatrickJ]

12 minutes ago, 51m0n said:

Any suggestions of shop s in London which stick a decent selection of amps to have a try 

I was in the Bass Gallery (Camden) last week, they had a pretty decent selection  on Amps, including the Trickfish .5k and a bunch of Markbass stuff.  

[Hellzero]

Try the Warwick in black, and you'll see that the price raises of about 25%.

Why is the Trickfish so expensive : Is American (with a Danish power module) "made" enough for you ?

The Warwick is an "old" amp and the silver hi-fi finish is not to everyone taste.

You said money wasn't an issue, so go for the Glockenklang you won't be disappointed : certainly the best amps ever.

if around 600 Watts is enough, contact @Matte_black , he has two Glock's for sale.

[Paddy515]

22 minutes ago, 51m0n said:

Now why is that Warwick so absurd?

Very cheap but the size of a house and two separate channels? Weird. 

So why is the trickfish so expensive if it's the same power amp?

And the Glock is definitely on my list but mad expensive if there is something cheaper that will do the job.

Plus I really want to have a listen to the options before buying but where to go? I am in Brighton and GAK's bass department is laughable...

Any suggestions of shop s in London which stick a decent selection of amps to have a try on. 

Damn it, I've had no amp GAS for the 10 years I've had the sa450 and still don't now, I just need a reasonably priced great sounding amp that won't break my back, that I can try before I buy.

Badlands Guitars?

[51m0n]

16 minutes ago, Hellzero said:

Try the Warwick in black, and you'll see that the price raises of about 25%.

Why is the Trickfish so expensive : Is American (with a Danish power module) "made" enough for you ?

The Warwick is an "old" amp and the silver hi-fi finish is not to everyone taste.

You said money wasn't an issue, so go for the Glockenklang you won't be disappointed : certainly the best amps ever.

if around 600 Watts is enough, contact @Matte_black , he has two Glock's for sale.

The Warwick is too daft, I don't need two independent channels.

Trickfish is interesting, as is Glockenklang, and the Darkglass m900 v1. GAK have an m900 so I'll have a crack at that. But it's not easily rack mounted, and I probably don't have a use for the overdrives.

I didn't say money was no object quite, I said quality costs 🙂, but there is a point where the premium unicorn poop is not quite worth double the money.

If I really didn't care how much it was I'd have a Glock Blue Rock, and it may be what I end up with, however if I can get close enough to it to not care for less then I'd be being a little daft wasting money I don't need to. 

Does anyone know if the Steamhammer is close to the Blue Rock in core tone? For a serious company Glockenklang's web presence is woeful!

[51m0n]

19 minutes ago, Paddy515 said:

Badlands Guitars?

Seriously mate, you can't have ever been in there, you would be lucky to find a practice amp in there, and even then it would be a sodding Peavey 🤣

[BigRedX]

On 03/02/2019 at 12:47, 51m0n said:

Because our monitors don't deliver enough oomph for them. They like a LOT of bass onstage.

 

Which is nice 😁

Well then instead of getting a new bass amp get some better monitors instead. The whole band will benefit.