Bass Amp Sound Reinforcement - ? pedal or new rig?

[Kebabkid]

I have a Roland Bass Cube 120XL that I've been using live for several years and it's ok with it being a compact, all-in-one solution, but I've never been 100% enamoured with the sound and I like different sounds like an Aguilar, GK and Ampeg.

 

I know it's not a brand known for bass amps and so before I think about updating to a more powerful combo or head & cab, any suggestions for something/pedal that could reinforce the sound and bring it more in line with better brands e.g. Tech 21 VT Bass DI?

 

I have a Zoom unit that sounds great on headphones and direct to PA (it's my back up), but the amp models don't sound great into the Cube even with cab sims off (? preamp fighting preamp) and the Cube doesn't have an fx loop to allow me to bypass the preamp and utilise the power amp and speaker. Also, of note, I use Sire active basses.

 

Thanks

Edited Monday at 15:47 by Kebabkid

[Boodang]

Currently I'm using an LD Systems Icoa 15a. 300w, 1 x 15, 25kg & about £350. I just put my effects board into it.  

I do have a Line 6 pod express bass which does some good amp simulation, and the Icoa does a good job of projecting whatever you put into it. Plenty of power too. 

Edited Monday at 16:00 by Boodang

[SimonK]

...careful this is Basschat, the answer will be new pedal and new rig!

 

I've only really rated the Bass Cubes for practice purposes so would absolutely be looking for a class D amp of some sort. The Trace Elliot ELF stuff is excellent and very transportable both in combo and head/cab formats.

 

 

[chris_b]

If you're not "100% on board" with the sound of your amp, why still own it?

 

Replace the amp before you think about buying anything else.

[Kebabkid]

Yep, it makes sense what you're saying and the sounds are ok, but I'd prefer not to spend too much on my bass rig, if it can be helped (I'm a guitarist first and foremost) and I'm just looking to see if I can get there by adding a pedal.

 

Of course, it could be like adding Ferrari wheels to a Ford Fiesta, but the Ampeg, Tech 21 VT and Aguilar AG or Tonehammer sound decent in demos and do folks here have experience of those with their existing amp?

[Boodang]

Well, if you just want a pedal you could do worse than the line 6 pod express bass. Ampeg, GK, Aguilar, Fender plus cab sims all rolled into one. 

[Lozz196]

Try a Behringer BDI21, it’s a good piece of kit at not much money at all.

[PaulThePlug]

Whereabouts are you, someone near by might have a BDI21 or something to try and see... £30 on a BDI21 if it doesnt do it could be £30 towards a new combo

[Kebabkid]

thanks everyone for the suggestions so far.

 

@Boodang - I'm not after going the full modeller route and just want to see if I can add some better EQ options, tone-shaping and those amps are more for reference, but all of sudden, I'm liking the Ampeg sounds.

@PaulThePlug - thanks for the offer and the BDI21 is £19.48 on Amazon and so I'll see and may get down to a few of the Surrey shops this weekend to try some stuff.

 

The Tech 21 VT Bass, Ampeg SGT DI and Aguilar AG are coming out tops at the moment and need to be tried.

 

Cheers

 

[SimonK]

I suppose the other thing to consider is whether you are likely to be going down the IEM/silent stage route, as if you are a good preamp with a DI out is your most important piece of kit. While I love my amps, I do always have a preamp on my board just in case someone says no to the amp (currently I'm using a Genzler Magellan Pre/DI which is awesome as it has two powerful footswitched EQ curves, a HPF and a mute switch alongside the DI out).

[PaulThePlug]

Tuner/Mute into BeadyeEye for Drive, Tone and Character with XLR DI and 1/4" out. Nice and Simple.

The Joyo Korg-a-like tuner also has 9v out that will run the BDI even when the tuner is running of a 9v Batt - Should do a couple of hours off a single batt.

[Skybone]

If you're not enamoured with the sound of the amp, then maybe use this to "upgrade" the amp.

 

You don't say what sort of band you're involved with, and what sort of gigs you're playing, and whether you're using some or all of the Cube's 120w.

 

IIRC, there's an Ashdown 1x12 combo in the Amps For Sale section, which is cheap, and would sound a darn sight better than the Cube, plus it'll give you a lot more headroom if you need it. Not affiliated with the seller btw. It also will have an effects loop and the ability to bypass the EQ section too. The downside is that they aren't the lightest.

[Kebabkid]

13 hours ago, Lozz196 said:

Try a Behringer BDI21, it’s a good piece of kit at not much money at all.

Ok, after binge-watching various preamp and EQ demos over the last 24 hrs, and given the bass amp I have, I'm taking a punt at the cheaper end on the Behringer BDI21 for £19 from Amazon as it seems to do what I want i.e. an enhancer, tone-shaping (shame it doesn't have a mid control, but the amp has Low and high mid controls ) - the Tech 21 VT Bass also sounded good, but costs £249!
Let's see and thanks folks for your input.

Edited yesterday at 09:03 by Kebabkid

[Kebabkid]

1 hour ago, Skybone said:

If you're not enamoured with the sound of the amp, then maybe use this to "upgrade" the amp.

 

You don't say what sort of band you're involved with, and what sort of gigs you're playing, and whether you're using some or all of the Cube's 120w.

 

IIRC, there's an Ashdown 1x12 combo in the Amps For Sale section, which is cheap, and would sound a darn sight better than the Cube, plus it'll give you a lot more headroom if you need it. Not affiliated with the seller btw. It also will have an effects loop and the ability to bypass the EQ section too. The downside is that they aren't the lightest.

Occasionally, I play rock and pop and for that, I use the Session model in the Cube (based on an SWR Goliath), but my main gig is in a Ska covers band (Madness, Specials, Bad Manners, The Beat etc) and for that I use the Concert 810 model (based on an SVT with an 8x10) or their Super Low Roland model) - if you listen from 2'21 onwards, you'll hear the models I mention and they're not bad. I just needed some added bite, a bit more character and as just mentioned, I'm giving the Behringer BDI21 a punt with it. If that doesn't work, then new amp/rig - cheers

 

 

[fretmeister]

At this point I think a new amp is in order.

 

I can see you trying out more and more pedals and ending up spending the same in total as biting the bullet and treating yourself to a new amp rig.

I've been down a similar road and spent far more than I had to. The sound in my head was quite easy to identify but I was doing it with the wrong gear.

 

 

[Kebabkid]

I know and the BDI21 is the last 'reinforcement' purchase, and a cheap one at that, as you can't polish a turd. If it isn't quite there, it's a new rig

Cheers

Edited 20 hours ago by Kebabkid