Comments on: Bass Guitar Amplifier FAQ http://bassguitarrocks.com/bass-guitar-amplifiers-faq Bass guitar basics and beyond Sat, 04 Feb 2012 17:58:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Welder work  http://bassguitarrocks.com/bass-guitar-amplifiers-faq/comment-page-1#comment-1894 Welder work  Wed, 20 Oct 2010 07:57:32 +0000 http://bassguitarrocks.com/?p=189#comment-1894 mosfet power amplifiers is the thing i prefer coz they sound like tube amps'". mosfet power amplifiers is the thing i prefer coz they sound like tube amps’”.

]]> By: Craig Phillips http://bassguitarrocks.com/bass-guitar-amplifiers-faq/comment-page-1#comment-938 Craig Phillips Sun, 20 Sep 2009 04:39:21 +0000 http://bassguitarrocks.com/?p=189#comment-938 Impressive. I just had bad luck with smaller amps, but when money is tight you gotta get what you can. Impressive. I just had bad luck with smaller amps, but when money is tight you gotta get what you can.

]]> By: Michael Ippersiel http://bassguitarrocks.com/bass-guitar-amplifiers-faq/comment-page-1#comment-937 Michael Ippersiel Sat, 19 Sep 2009 23:09:23 +0000 http://bassguitarrocks.com/?p=189#comment-937 Hey Craig, Like yourself I was writing from experience. I was able to get buy with a Hartke 1415 combo which was 150 watts and a single 15" speaker for all of my rehearsals and it did the job without distortion for my band. We played hard rock and metal music, and were a three piece with only a single distorted guitar and a hard-hitting (but not obnoxious) drummer. There was some built-in compression on that unit...maybe that helped? If memory serves, I could get by with using the amp a little past the half-way mark. However, we did play a gig without any P.A. system and I remember the amp was distorted beyond all belief - I probably had it around 3/4 or higher for volume. It was a hot summer night and I thought for sure the amp was going to melt! I moved up to a 400 watt Trace Elliot SMX bass amp with a 4x10 cabinet, so I'm sure I couldn't ever go back to a single 15 with only a 150 watts. But from my experience, I think you can get by with that amount of wattage if you're really hard up when you're first starting out. Hey Craig,
Like yourself I was writing from experience. I was able to get buy with a Hartke 1415 combo which was 150 watts and a single 15″ speaker for all of my rehearsals and it did the job without distortion for my band. We played hard rock and metal music, and were a three piece with only a single distorted guitar and a hard-hitting (but not obnoxious) drummer. There was some built-in compression on that unit…maybe that helped? If memory serves, I could get by with using the amp a little past the half-way mark.
However, we did play a gig without any P.A. system and I remember the amp was distorted beyond all belief – I probably had it around 3/4 or higher for volume. It was a hot summer night and I thought for sure the amp was going to melt!
I moved up to a 400 watt Trace Elliot SMX bass amp with a 4×10 cabinet, so I’m sure I couldn’t ever go back to a single 15 with only a 150 watts. But from my experience, I think you can get by with that amount of wattage if you’re really hard up when you’re first starting out.

]]> By: Craig Phillips http://bassguitarrocks.com/bass-guitar-amplifiers-faq/comment-page-1#comment-931 Craig Phillips Sat, 19 Sep 2009 09:56:43 +0000 http://bassguitarrocks.com/?p=189#comment-931 Hey Michael. Great FAQ, however I would argue one point. A majority of clubs (or bars that have offer live music) will mic your cabinet, or combo amp no matter the size. Also if you have that XLR out on your rig, it'll go right to the FOH anyway. Speaking of that XLR (Balanced Out), you could work in your FAQ. Explain what they are, and how it is used (though I already know :-)). Believe me, this is really good to know for those that are looking to upgrade their gear. On size of amp (solid state) I can tell you from experience, an unmiked 200 watt amp has no chance of competing with drums (unless electric), or 100 watt guitar amp at full volume without severe clipping and distorting. I got away with a 220 Watt Ampeg BA115 HP during rehearsals, and never clipped. Again noting that amps are a personal preference, but the more you do spend, the better your sound. I played on some really crappy gear in my early days of playing bass. When bought pro gear, my playing got 110% better, and it sounded 1000% better. My opinion for amps (starters to pro) Beginner Amps Acoustic B20 Peavey Max 158 Peavey TNT Series Intermediate Amps Ampeg BA 115HP Fender Bassman series Gallien Krueger Backline series Pro Amps Peavey Tour Series (450 and 700) Mesa Boogie M6 (tube) Carvin BX 600 and 1200 models Trace Elliot SWR GOLIATH SM 1500™ and SM 900™ series Ampeg SVT Pro 4 Ampeg SVT Classic (tube, and this thing is a beast!) I didn't include cabinets for the Intermediate or Pro because there is something to be said about mixing and matching your amp to a cabinet. I was personally turned off to Markbass when I discovered that there is no active pickup jack on the amp, nor is there a pad down button. I also prefer to stay away from anything by Crate, due to the poor quality. Hey Michael. Great FAQ, however I would argue one point. A majority of clubs (or bars that have offer live music) will mic your cabinet, or combo amp no matter the size. Also if you have that XLR out on your rig, it’ll go right to the FOH anyway.

Speaking of that XLR (Balanced Out), you could work in your FAQ. Explain what they are, and how it is used (though I already know :-) ). Believe me, this is really good to know for those that are looking to upgrade their gear.

On size of amp (solid state) I can tell you from experience, an unmiked 200 watt amp has no chance of competing with drums (unless electric), or 100 watt guitar amp at full volume without severe clipping and distorting. I got away with a 220 Watt Ampeg BA115 HP during rehearsals, and never clipped.

Again noting that amps are a personal preference, but the more you do spend, the better your sound. I played on some really crappy gear in my early days of playing bass. When bought pro gear, my playing got 110% better, and it sounded 1000% better.

My opinion for amps (starters to pro)

Beginner Amps
Acoustic B20
Peavey Max 158
Peavey TNT Series

Intermediate Amps
Ampeg BA 115HP
Fender Bassman series
Gallien Krueger Backline series

Pro Amps
Peavey Tour Series (450 and 700)
Mesa Boogie M6 (tube)
Carvin BX 600 and 1200 models
Trace Elliot
SWR GOLIATH SM 1500™ and SM 900™ series
Ampeg SVT Pro 4
Ampeg SVT Classic (tube, and this thing is a beast!)

I didn’t include cabinets for the Intermediate or Pro because there is something to be said about mixing and matching your amp to a cabinet.

I was personally turned off to Markbass when I discovered that there is no active pickup jack on the amp, nor is there a pad down button. I also prefer to stay away from anything by Crate, due to the poor quality.

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