Small head for Rock ! With a big R

[Stealth]

Hi

im trying to find something gig bag pocket size to replace my Terror Bass 500 head. I like the sound and power of the TB. A little more top end zing would be cool but not essential. Needs som ooomph as I generally use a TC RS212 which is 8 Ohm. I like the TC it’s portable reasonably light  and tough.

i suppose you would say a full cleanish sound with some top end grit is what I’m after. 
what have you used you would recommend 

S

 

Edited February 23, 2020 by Stealth

[Stealth]

Not A TC BH head

Edited February 23, 2020 by Stealth

[Dan Dare]

Tonehammer 700? I use the AG700. The TH is a thicker sounding preamp with the same power stage.

[Lozz196]

I’d look at adding in a preamp pedal - have the OTB set clean and then use the preamp for the better top end and grit. Sansamp works nicely with the OTB, Para Driver would give more options in the mid range.

[fretmeister]

Darkglass M900

 

[chris_b]

5 hours ago, Stealth said:

what have you used you would recommend

I would recommend Aguilar amps. I use a TH500 (think Stax and Motown) and my main amp is the AG700, which excels across the whole frequency range. IMO Markbass is also worth a listen.

Rugby isn't far from Bass Direct. I'd get over there and try some amps.

[Bigwan]

I've owned the Orange and the Darkglass. I'd say the Darkglass is certainly more flexible than the Orange and it certainly will give you more top-end, but I spent most of the time owning it trying to make it sound as good as the Orange did. Take from that what you will...

[xgsjx]

Sorry, I thought you were looking to swap.  I could do you something like this, but on a bigger rock...

[Hellzero]

Warwick LWA 1000, dirt cheap, dirt light, two channels and 1000 Watts ! 

They resell second hand for peanuts.

[doomed]

Quilter is what I generally pick up if we're travelling and space is tight, it delivers in spades.

[cetera]

The new GK Legacy800. Punch, authority and a a switchable drive channel with some lovely top end grit/grind. Love mine!

[Chopthebass]

I have a GK MB500 in my gig bag as a back up. Its actually really nice. And like Cetera I can get a good crunchy tone from it when needed.

[Ashdown Engineering]

🙄

[Horrorhiker]

I've got a Peavey Minimax, which I really like, and use for both rock and Rock. I think this would satisfy all your requirements. There's a nearly new one in the marketplace I believe. 

[Mickeyboro]

Second the above. Minimax was an impulse buy that will stay, and the price quoted is a steal!

[Pirellithecat]

Of the small (ish) and affordable D Class Amps I've tried, then the Ashdown RM EVO 2 500 was the best!  I ended up with an Ashdown ABM 600, but I would have been just as happy with the RM 500!

[machinehead]

Another recommedation for the Peavey miniMax.  Light, loud, flexible, solid build and cheap to buy.  Mine is the cheapest amp I own by a long way, but it's excellent. It makes me wonder why people spend £1000+ on class D amps.

Frank.

[dave_bass5]

On 23/02/2020 at 18:22, Stealth said:

Hi

im trying to find something gig bag pocket size to replace my Terror Bass 500 head. I like the sound and power of the TB. A little more top end zing would be cool but not essential. Needs som ooomph as I generally use a TC RS212 which is 8 Ohm. I like the TC it’s portable reasonably light  and tough.

i suppose you would say a full cleanish sound with some top end grit is what I’m after. 
what have you used you would recommend 

S

 

GK MB800 gets my vote. Its very small, but very powerful. Fits in the front pocket of all my decent gig bags.

I had a GK Legacy for a while, lovely head, but quite a bit larger and heavier. Wouldn't even fit in the bag i normally keep my amp (GK, or Fender)/Helix/cables etc.

[jacko]

Try Markbass. I use a MB lm800 for rehearsals and smaller gigs with my hard rock band and have no complaints.  

[foxyFuze]

I echo the responses above which focus on size and headroom, with having a pedal / preamp to fine-tune your sound. I use my Rumble Head for its power and useful EQ, relying on my HX Stomp to provide the 'sound' as it were.

Edited February 27, 2020 by foxyFuze

[Trueno]

I agree with foxyfuse. I have an EBS Microbass II. I've set it for my ideal tone going through my Rumble (with flat eq). Then I use the amp eq for any tweaks to suit the room.

[dave_bass5]

Ive almost always used a pre amp (mostly a BDDI) in front of my amps, which i run flat. Just recently though ive 'discovered' the tone knobs do actually work on my amp, so at the moment ive managed to simplify things a lot.

I too use a Rumble with mostly flat EQ, and have been using a Q/strip to just give it a bit of extra life. I prefer my GK heads without extra help though.

[Teebs]

On 24/02/2020 at 10:03, xgsjx said:

Sorry, I thought you were looking to swap.  I could do you something like this, but on a bigger rock...

I thought he meant his head was too small for rock!

[xgsjx]

2 minutes ago, Teebs said:

I thought he meant his head was too small for rock!

That's what you get when you ask a witch doctor for a little head.

[Chienmortbb]

On 25/02/2020 at 10:10, Pirellithecat said:

Of the small (ish) and affordable D Class Amps I've tried, then the Ashdown RM EVO 2 500 was the best!  I ended up with an Ashdown ABM 600, but I would have been just as happy with the RM 500!

The new Ashdown RM800 is definately worth a look.