I am amp-less, help me rectify this.

oarfish · Post by **oarfish** » Mon Dec 21, 2015 5:40 pm

I'm a guitarist without an amp. It's time to change that.

Working in the music software industry, I've always simply use software emulations for all my recordings. However, now I have a band that isn't just a solo project and suddenly there's need for an amp for smaller club gigs and rehearsal. I'm completely lost. What should I get? What the heck makes a good amp anyway?

Here are some undisputed facts:

• I play stoner/doom-ish stuff (listen to my solo project here).
• I generally use a Matsumoko-built cheap guitar tuned to C with original mics.
• Sometimes I also play Bass VI or a normally tuned guitar.
• I have plenty of dirt pedals, incl. some power amp distortion-style pedals.
• I live in Sweden so custom made US stuff is terribly out of reach, as is a large chunk of the second hand market.

In terms of sound, I love the heavy. If there's a lack of low-end or just a really pronounced top-end sparkle in an amp, I might be upset.

Help me ILF, you're my only hope! Gimme your amp recommendations!

Inconuucl · Post by **Inconuucl** » Mon Dec 21, 2015 5:42 pm

Look at older acoustic bass amps, low end for daaaaaaays.

hbombgraphics · Post by **hbombgraphics** » Mon Dec 21, 2015 5:43 pm

My first thought was Peavey Windsor
or some of the other older peavey heads.

Do you want head and cab?
Or do you want a big combo?
Small Combo?

UglyCasanova · Post by **UglyCasanova** » Mon Dec 21, 2015 5:48 pm

rectify....hehe....

oarfish · Post by **oarfish** » Mon Dec 21, 2015 5:49 pm

Inconuucl wrote:Look at older acoustic bass amps, low end for daaaaaaays.

Interesting! Got any brands I should put on the watch list?

hbombgraphics wrote:My first thought was Peavey Windsor
or some of the other older peavey heads.

Do you want head and cab?
Or do you want a big combo?
Small Combo?

I honestly don't know. What are the advantages of head+cab VS a big combo? I'm super green when it comes to amps. I own a Marshall 20w practice amp, that's like the extent of my experience. For gigs with my previous band, I just plugged in to whatever they had.

hbombgraphics · Post by **hbombgraphics** » Mon Dec 21, 2015 5:54 pm

For heavy music you generally get more low end from a sealed cab than you would an open back combo amp

You also lessen the extent of possible tube rattle.
Combos are convenient in some regards for traveling and such.

One thing to consider is how good the venue is, if you know you will always be micd up or have line out options a huge amp isn't super necessary.

As far as the acoustic stuff the old bass amps were along these lines

https://www.google.com/search?q=acousti ... TAtLqnM%3A

Inconuucl · Post by **Inconuucl** » Mon Dec 21, 2015 5:58 pm

oarfish wrote:
Inconuucl wrote:Look at older acoustic bass amps, low end for daaaaaaays.
Interesting! Got any brands I should put on the watch list?

Acoustic is the brand, actually. I know, it's confusing.

oarfish · Post by **oarfish** » Mon Dec 21, 2015 6:03 pm

hbombgraphics wrote:For heavy music you generally get more low end from a sealed cab than you would an open back combo amp

You also lessen the extent of possible tube rattle.
Combos are convenient in some regards for traveling and such.

One thing to consider is how good the venue is, if you know you will always be micd up or have line out options a huge amp isn't super necessary.

As far as the acoustic stuff the old bass amps were along these lines

https://www.google.com/search?q=acousti ... TAtLqnM%3A

Great info, thanks!

Inconuucl wrote:
oarfish wrote:
Inconuucl wrote:Look at older acoustic bass amps, low end for daaaaaaays.
Interesting! Got any brands I should put on the watch list?
Acoustic is the brand, actually. I know, it's confusing.

It's not that you're confusing, it's that I'm a noob.

CyaNitrate · Post by **CyaNitrate** » Mon Dec 21, 2015 6:08 pm

oarfish wrote:
Inconuucl wrote:Look at older acoustic bass amps, low end for daaaaaaays.
Interesting! Got any brands I should put on the watch list?

hbombgraphics wrote:My first thought was Peavey Windsor
or some of the other older peavey heads.

Do you want head and cab?
Or do you want a big combo?
Small Combo?
I honestly don't know. What are the advantages of head+cab VS a big combo? I'm super green when it comes to amps. I own a Marshall 20w practice amp, that's like the extent of my experience. For gigs with my previous band, I just plugged in to whatever they had.

As for head and cab vs combo, it depends. Head and combo means two lighter units instead of one possibly heavy one. Tube combos are open back 90% of the time, unless the speakers are closed off and the amp portion is open. Solid state can be either. Closed back will give a tighter bass response, which may or may not suit you...heavy metal shredders like closed back, but sludgey doomy stuff can benefit from the looser feel of open back. With combos, it's more of an ordeal to try different speakers. With head and cab, it's mix and match to taste, as long as ohms and power handling line up.

Inconuucl · Post by **Inconuucl** » Mon Dec 21, 2015 6:09 pm

I do always love a tighter ass response.

CyaNitrate · Post by **CyaNitrate** » Mon Dec 21, 2015 6:12 pm

Inconuucl wrote:I do always love a tighter ass response.

Haha I'm on mobile..it was horrendous, so I went back and edited.

D.o.S. · Post by **D.o.S.** » Mon Dec 21, 2015 6:13 pm

I assume Goroth will chime in with some knowledge regarding the amp landscape in Sweden, but these are all great suggestions so far.

oarfish · Post by **oarfish** » Mon Dec 21, 2015 6:17 pm

CyaNitrate wrote: As for head and cab vs combo, it depends. Head and combo means two lighter units instead of one possibly heavy one. Tube combos are open back 90% of the time, unless the speakers are closed off and the amp portion is open. Solid state can be either. Closed back will give a tighter bass response, which may or may not suit you...heavy metal shredders like closed back, but sludgey doomy stuff can benefit from the looser feel of open back. With combos, it's more of an ordeal to try different speakers. With head and cab, it's mix and match to taste, as long as ohms and power handling line up.

Definitely less of a heavy metal shredder, so that speaks for the open back. Head and cab seems nice simply because if the venue has an amazing kick-ass cab, I can still bring my head. And I do like the mix'n'match. On the other hand, a combo seems awfully convenient...

I knew this was a jungle but damn

CyaNitrate · Post by **CyaNitrate** » Mon Dec 21, 2015 6:24 pm

That's not to say closed back is exclusively for shred heads, you may like how they sound. With a head, you can use either. Or both. Also, a head gives you the option for different speaker configurations..2x12, 4x10, 4x12, 2x15, etc. With combos you are limited to the stock configuration without modifications.

oarfish · Post by **oarfish** » Mon Dec 21, 2015 6:28 pm

CyaNitrate wrote:That's not to say closed back is exclusively for shred heads, you may like how they sound. With a head, you can use either. Or both. Also, a head gives you the option for different speaker configurations..2x12, 4x10, 4x12, 2x15, etc. With combos you are limited to the stock configuration without modifications.

Makes sense. Guess it's about time for the great journey across music stores and used gear ads~

ilovefuzz.com

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