Bass head with valve pre, what's good nowadays?

[andydye]

I need a head for home practise and small gigs that may well be covers rather than my originals band, it'll be paired mostly with a barefaced One10 but I have a Six10 if things needs to get loud

 

Something versatile so nice and clean sounding, 500w maybe, crisp top end sparkle, punchy, nice bottom, it'll have pedals thrown in front and I want to be able to use my 5 string and have some eq flexibility too

 

For example, the eq on my AD200b is very subtle, whereas the eq on my terror bass is more useful for problem rooms, it's poorly just now though and I want something more the size of the markbass type thing

 

Having had the ampeg pf500 and lmiii in the past I know I'm not keen on purely solid state sounds as they're a bit sterile as a base, top end lacks life somehow...

 

so...

 

suggestions please?

[fretmeister]

Markbass do several models with valve preamps now. The LM Tube, the Vintage and D2 etc.

 

Worth a look.

[andydye]

I do like a lot of things about markbass, happy to cast the net wider if it helps find something that fits the bill

 

Are darkglass any good?

There's a mesa walkabout head on here too?

[Muzz]

I had a lot of the smaller heads, both generations of the Class D thing, and the best with actual valves was the Streamliner, but the Magellan, while it doesn't have any actual glass in it, does the valve thing very very well, and is much more versatile. If I ever went back to a small head, I'd get another... I have to say, though, the 'clean' and 'crisp' don't sound like the ideal targets for a valve pre; just me, but I'd be looking at an all-SS head for that. The best one of those I ever used was a Markbass F1...

 

Edit: just seen that Walkabout head, and I'd absolutely love one, tho again, it doesn't make me think clean and crisp...I have an old-school Walkabout, and it's a different ball game; much warmer and bloomier...I'm presuming the WD800 is going for that ballpark (hence the name)...

Edited January 10, 2023 by Muzz

[andydye]

3 minutes ago, Muzz said:

I had a lot of the smaller heads, both generations of the Class D thing, and the best with actual valves was the Streamliner, but the Magellan, while it doesn't have any actual glass in it, does the valve thing very very well, and is much more versatile. If I ever went back to a small head, I'd get another... I have to say, though, the 'clean' and 'crisp' don't sound like the ideal targets for a valve pre; just me, but I'd be looking at an all-SS head for that. The best one of those I ever used was a Markbass F1...

I hear you on the ss thing, I've just never quite liked the top end when compared with my bass terror (when it's clean), there's more sparkly warmth there that sounds alive than with the lmiii that I had, it's super tricky describing sounds but that's a philosophical topic for late night after too much red wine

[Muzz]

Yup, it's all verrry subjective...now you've said 'warmth', tho, I get it...but if you like versatility, I found the Magellan to be very good at everything, even though it hasn't got any actual valves in it...which is what you were asking for. Oh. 🙁🙂

 

Given I need a LOT of versatility for most of my gigs, I moved to a Stomp, so it kinda doesn't matter what head/amp I use (and a lot of the time I just DI, or DI and use a Rumble 100 (with most of the bottom end cut) for stage monitoring), if I hadn't I'd probably still have the Magellan. And the (old-school) Walkabout, obv...

[fretmeister]

Darkglass amps don't have any valves in them. But they do have their drive circuits.

 

I had a Mk1 MT900 and for cleans I always had the B7K circuit on at a really low drive level. I liked that a great deal.

[Mykesbass]

I'm with @Muzzon the Magellan. Sure, no valve, but as warm and clean as my Carvin which does have the valve pre.

[andydye]

7 minutes ago, Muzz said:

Yup, it's all verrry subjective...now you've said 'warmth', tho, I get it...but if you like versatility, I found the Magellan to be very good at everything, even though it hasn't got any actual valves in it...which is what you were asking for. Oh. 🙁🙂

 

Given I need a LOT of versatility for most of my gigs, I moved to a Stomp, so it kinda doesn't matter what head/amp I use (and a lot of the time I just DI, or DI and use a Rumble 100 (with most of the bottom end cut) for stage monitoring), if I hadn't I'd probably still have the Magellan. And the (old-school) Walkabout, obv...

hhmmm, I'm aiming at a hx stomp for effects too but want a base sound that's pleasing for home practise if I just jack straight in but is loud enough for small gigs without pushing it to drive...

 

so far, I need to check out

Genzler Magellan

Darkglass MT900

Little Mark Valve stuff

[thodrik]

I wouldn't discount the Aguilar TH series either. Like the Darkglass it doesn't have a valve, but the drive feature is really good. The TH500 or TH700 would be on my list for sure.

If you want something bigger and with loads of headroom, someone is selling my old Mesa M6 in the classifieds here. I actually sold it because it was too loud and clean and preferred the furry, bloomy tone of my old Walkabout. Heavy compared to modern class D amps though would perhaps be a lethal weapon with a Barefaced 6x10. 

[andydye]

2 minutes ago, thodrik said:

I wouldn't discount the Aguilar TH series either. Like the Darkglass it doesn't have a valve, but the drive feature is really good. The TH500 or TH700 would be on my list for sure.

If you want something bigger and with loads of headroom, someone is selling my old Mesa M6 in the classifieds here. I actually sold it because it was too loud and clean and preferred the furry, bloomy tone of my old Walkabout. Heavy compared to modern class D amps though would perhaps be a lethal weapon with a Barefaced 6x10. 

I did once play through an aguilar tonehammer head at a festival and kinda liked it iirc...

[andydye]

as far as what's available on here just now...there's:

 

Little Mark Valve

TH500

Mesa Walkabout

 

...and what about EBS? there's one of those on here as well

 

hot damn this is a can of worms isn't it

[Muzz]

I've had a LM Valve and a TH500, neither were my speed at the time, the LM Valve I found a bit...fizzy when driven (but that's not what you're after, I know), the TH500 I thought was a bit Meh, and didn't convince...again, all very subjective, and I know my goals aren't yours...those two are the older power unit Class D heads, which I found less authoritative than the newer ones; again, tho, you're not necessarily looking for a big driving live sound, so one might suit...

[andydye]

3 minutes ago, Muzz said:

I've had a LM Valve and a TH500, neither were my speed at the time, the LM Valve I found a bit...fizzy when driven (but that's not what you're after, I know), the TH500 I thought was a bit Meh, and didn't convince...again, all very subjective, and I know my goals aren't yours...those two are the older power unit Class D heads, which I found less authoritative than the newer ones; again, tho, you're not necessarily looking for a big driving live sound, so one might suit...

all good info though, thanks dude

[thodrik]

46 minutes ago, andydye said:

as far as what's available on here just now...there's:

 

Little Mark Valve

TH500

Mesa Walkabout

 

...and what about EBS? there's one of those on here as well

 

hot damn this is a can of worms isn't it

In terms of EBS, I don't have much familiarity with the class D stuff, but I have owned a Fafner since 2009 and have used the HD350 and TD650 amps in the past. The EQ controls and characteristics of EBS amps bear a lot of similarities. Very versatile and powerful EQ controls and can be used in pretty much every type of genre. The drive circuits are very good as well, though I think that the EBS amps sound best run pretty clean and I prefer the drive controls on Aguilar and Mesa amps to EBS for 'rock' style tube overdrive. In terms of a pedal platform though the EBS amps are brilliant as the amps can be very transparent. 

[Dan Dare]

Aguilar, although not valved, can do warm and clean. The TH series is mentioned above, but I find my AG700 can also do the job, although it won't give you that dirty rock valve sound in my experience. I also have a Carvin B1000, which has a valve front end and works well. They're no longer available (Carvin is out of business) but do turn up used sometimes.

[MichaelDean]

I'm surprised I haven't seen an Ashdown ABM mentioned yet! The valve drive on my ABM 600 warms things up nicely. Really flexible EQ too. It should pair nicely with your Barefaced 610 too. 

[Muzz]

I was going off the OP's '...and I want something more the size of the markbass type thing...'

[andydye]

2 minutes ago, MichaelDean said:

I'm surprised I haven't seen an Ashdown ABM mentioned yet! The valve drive on my ABM 600 warms things up nicely. Really flexible EQ too. It should pair nicely with your Barefaced 610 too. 

 

true, I've never liked Ashdown though, never been able to bring myself to love the sound and the aesthetic

 

Just now, Muzz said:

I was going off the OP's '...and I want something more the size of the markbass type thing...'

 

yarp, otherwise I'd be having an ampeg v4b or fender bassman 100t and be done with it  

[MichaelDean]

1 minute ago, andydye said:

true, I've never liked Ashdown though, never been able to bring myself to love the sound and the aesthetic

The ABM 750 is much sleeker looking in my opinion. The light blue doesn't really do it for me either. I also didn't like older ABMs I tried, nor any of the rootmasters or cheaper combos, but the ABM 600 had me swayed. I'd recommend trying one out (if possible). I think the newer ones might surprise you. 

[andydye]

13 minutes ago, MichaelDean said:

The ABM 750 is much sleeker looking in my opinion. The light blue doesn't really do it for me either. I also didn't like older ABMs I tried, nor any of the rootmasters or cheaper combos, but the ABM 600 had me swayed. I'd recommend trying one out (if possible). I think the newer ones might surprise you. 

 

always happy to be swayed, not sure I'd get round the look though and those vu meters

[MichaelDean]

30 minutes ago, Muzz said:

I was going off the OP's '...and I want something more the size of the markbass type thing...'

Ah, I didn't notice that!

[Lozz196]

1 hour ago, MichaelDean said:

I'm surprised I haven't seen an Ashdown ABM mentioned yet! The valve drive on my ABM 600 warms things up nicely. Really flexible EQ too. It should pair nicely with your Barefaced 610 too. 

Definitely, great amps.

[NHM]

Fender Bassman 500 fits the bill, 'though not many about.

[Wolverinebass]

Gallien Krueger Fusion series. I have the 1200 version and it's brilliant.