New head required - my bass, but louder

[Soledad]

Hi all - need some input regarding all the various head options out there.
What I'm looking for - how my bass sounds, amplified. In audio fields it would be called 'uncoloured'. I like general simplicity but need decent eq, mainly to adjust sound to room. I certainly want either low & high mid, or parametric mids. I like a LOT of headroom and don't run a rig loud - mid volume with reasonable drummer is ample.

What I'm using: mainly a P/J with EB Cobalt flats (the brightest flats I know, with the punch and fullness of flats); through head to a pair of Vanderkley 210MNT, I very often just take one. Current head - Warwick Gnome V2, which is alarmingly good*. The cabs are really efficient so a pair at 4ohm get plenty loud without needing loads of watts. But I'm thinking around 500 into 4 (headroom being the thing). I also use my Sandberg fretless, needing far more mid shaping but I get that through the p'board using Source Audio eq. 

I have a PJB briefcase at home and have owned PJB cabs before - I suspect a 400 or 800 head would suit me.
Others I know less about may be the GR One 800; some older Edens have great front panel eq (3 band para mids for example) but I don't know the native sound of Edens. I rate Genz gear so maybe Genzler? Not familiar with Markbass but the yellow would clash with the red Vanderkleys 🤣. The Boss 500 seems well liked but I think it's way too complex for my tastes, could be wrong... but I try and keep signal path as clean as possible.

 

[*About the Warwick V2 - can't honestly fault it much - the 3 band eq is a bit limited and the treble is centred at 10k which is way too high for my tastes. I believe the mid is 400, so I rely on my Source Audio to do mid shaping - the vital space from say 500 to about 1800. But through the Vanderkleys, set almost flat it sounds very bloody good.]

 

Thoughts, advice please👍

 

[chris_b]

For a PJ I'd recommend you listen to an Aguilar TH500. I've been using mine with a PJ5, with flats, for over 10 years. They enhance the Precision format, warm, full, well defined and, from a whisper to flat out, sound great!

Edited 11 hours ago by chris_b

[alexa3020]

In terms of Aesthetics, Id say tc bh 800 would look pretty nice. I had one for a short while and it was pretty decent. Which was a surprise because I had a similar tc bq head and that was garbage. Theres one in the classifieds at the moment too.

I think for uncoloured the Aguilar AG might be better than the TH. Eich, Quilter, Genzler all have good reputations.

[itu]

Glockenklang is also an option if you don't want to go the "Crown power amp with a hifi xxxxxxx pre" road.

 

I have been considering measuring my rig for some time. I have the equipment but some personal resistance has been ahead. The place should be outside, as rooms always colour the results a lot. Let's see...

[Dan Dare]

You're going to be spending decent money, so it's well worth spending time auditioning and comparing. The last time I bought a new amp, I took a day off work and headed for Bass Direct (other shops are available). If you go during the daytime in the week, they will not be busy and you can try things to your heart's content.

 

Fwiw, I like clean with the ability to dial in a touch of character and ended up with an AG700. I'd agree with alexa3020 that a TH will probably be a little too coloured for your tastes, but no harm in trying one. Ditto Markbass, although they have a party piece. Up close, you can feel they are a bit too honky/coloured, but out in the room, they sound fat and clear. Some amps that sound clean close up can fall a bit flat at distance.

 

Any/all of the good brands are worth a try. They all have something to offer. I use PJB cabs, so find the slight warmth of my AG complements them well. PJB heads are too hi-fi for my tastes, but that's just me.

[Mudpup]

The GR Bass One range would definitely fit the bill. Very flat uncoloured natural sound with the eq enabled and also has the Pure button which takes the whole eq out of the signal channel so you're straight in the front and straight out of the back. I recently sold one as it was a bit too uncoloured for my personal taste. Great features though with the onboard tuner and 9v output

 

https://www.grbass.com/portfolio/one/

 

From some of the suggestions listed above I also have experience of the Genzler Magellan 800 and its a lovely amp. Really nice build quality and features and one of the best Class D that I have used. It's not an uncolored amp but it can do a clean sound very easily.

 

I have a Quilter BB800 and thats definitely not uncoloured - it's very good at doing huge clean uncompressed volume but doesn't have a natural clear sparkle to it - the top end can feel a bit muted although not dark. It would work well if you needed a lot of volume and used it as a power amp with a preamp of your choice though.

 

Maybe you should add an EBS Reidmar to the list too...

Edited 8 hours ago by Mudpup

[chris_b]

Many good suggestions here.

 

I also have an AG700 which is a fantastic amp, and very clean and uncoloured, but seems to me that they designed the TH500 to be on the same wave length as the Precision bass. It enhances the Precision-ness of the bass perfectly.

Edited 7 hours ago by chris_b

[spyder]

After so many years and so many amps the GR Bass range is so transparent and clean. 

https://www.grbass.com/portfolio/one/

[Soledad]

Excellent responses, thanks everyone. Plenty of collective experience here so I'm paying close attention.

@Dan Dare - about that Markbass 'party piece' - think I've heard it from out front but could you elaborate?

Quite a few options here and I'm forming a list. I think the Aguilar AG needs a try-out (had a TH350 a while ago and we didn't get along, but I have changed cabs since then and clearly the AG is a different beast anyway).

I'm drifting away from the PJB heads, maybe just a bit too clean (which makes me question my own brief); the GR One is on list (that's a lot of LEDs but...); no experience with EBS or Glockenklang so worth a try.

And as Dan Dare says, time in a decent store is required, I'll try Bass Gallery first I think.

Thanks for taking time to respond. I'll report back but it'll take a few weeks I expect.

[Soledad]

3 hours ago, Soledad said:

@Dan Dare - about that Markbass 'party piece' - think I've heard it from out front but could you elaborate?

Sorry Dan Dare, you did elaborate so ignore that. My experiences as a listener to MB heads has been punchy, cuts through very well, listener fatigue after 3 songs - loads of low mids make it cut very well, but tedious to listen to. But there are many other variables so it may not just be the head.

 

And btw, the Warwick has been a quick fix after my GB Streamliner was nicked recently. But I will be keeping it as backup - way better than price or size suggest.

 

If anyone has experience with Eich (T 900 maybe) I'd be keen to hear opinions.

Edited 3 hours ago by Soledad

[ezbass]

I remember going to try out a number of heads back in the day and it was an Aguilar AG (500 I think) that was the stand out for me. However, it was out of budget at the time and so I settled for a Little Mark, which wasn’t a million miles away tonally. Some time later I shifted to Phil Jones gear, which was in the same ball park as my Markbass/Schroeder set up, just cleaner and sweeter. I haven’t changed manufacturer since, just acquired more of it. Following this train of thought and given your current P Jones experience, I reckon an AG700 might be just what you’re looking for.

[Mudpup]

3 hours ago, Soledad said:

Excellent responses, thanks everyone. Plenty of collective experience here so I'm paying close attention.

@Dan Darethe GR One is on list (that's a lot of LEDs but...); 

They are a bit crazy but you can switch the LEDs off (and also switch the fan off) from the button on the front panel if you want to