#1

Hello,

Maybe this can be a catch-all thread for those of us who play bass.

So, I’m super out of touch, but the old noise rock pals are talking about getting back together. No idea where it’ll go, but I’ve been relearning some old unfinished songs we figured we’d return to as a starting point and enjoying the heck out of playing bass and headbanging away like I’m back at it.

Here’s question 1:

Are there are any under the radar places to look for good used amplification? I’m starting to patrol the obvious options of eBay/Reverb/Craigslist and have a line on a couple Sunn and Acoustic heads possibly, but yeah - just figured I’d cast a wide net. I know some of you all have an interest in that world.

Debating an Emperor cab that has a 12 and a 15 in it. Pricy, but shipping would be nothing because I could zip up or the probable drummer who lives up there can just bring it down sometime. Knowing the Young Widows/Breather Resist dudes from that era were early adopters, they’ve always looked super beautiful and sounded great. Now that I’m older, I actually have money for this sort of shit too.

So question 2:

Are there any good bass cabs that mix speaker sizes? I’d love a 115 and 210 or something in a single cabinet if possible.

I was never a big gear nerd for the rock stuff. That’s reserved for synths :slight_smile:

Thanks!

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#2

I’m in my 50’s so headed toward compact lightweight gear. I mean, if you are up for it, get an all-tube SVT and a refrigerator-sized 8x10 cabinet… But personally I’m gigging with a 500 watt Orange Bass Terror head and a 1x12 Aguilar cabinet. For louder gigs there’s a 1x10 Yamaha cabinet pointed at the drummer under it. But I love the Orange and Aguilar.

If I was rethinking things i might do 2 of the Aguilar 1x12’s stacked. That would be a loud rig, and would work for me.

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#3

I had some Emperor cabs for awhile with my hardcore band. Depends on how hard you tour, but they seem well made. I’ve heard that there are some comparable replacements for that look, most notably Atlas Cabinets. As far as my current setup goes, I play in a screamo band right now with Rickenbacker 2030 through a Mesa Buster! Bass 200 and an old Traynor Big-B cab.

Places to look – I personally keep an eye on Music Go Round for bass gear and old rackmount gear. Lots of good stuff goes for cheap, especially if it’s been there for awhile. I picked up both my head and cab there for less than $400 total.

If you want to spend a little more coin, I recommend checking out Verellen Amplification or Science Amplification for a head or for custom cabs. The 300w Mother w/ the matching cab is the amp of my dreams…

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#4

I finally sold my '69 SVT after sitting on it unused for about 5 years. best sounding amp I’ve ever had but couldn’t justify anymore. I never went 8x10… I was a bit kinder to my back and called it at 6.

I always liked SWR in terms of bass cabinets. seems like they maybe went out of business?

unsure about mixed cabs. don’t think I’ve ever really seen it in the wild. I did enjoy 1x15 + 4x10 results for a stretch.

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#5

You can find the SVTs etc for free on craigslist, all the geezers are getting out of the big iron and need to clear space in their garages.

Mix & match speaker sizes in a cab is generally a no-go for bass; something about wiring and and phase problems. That said I’ve run 18” + 4x10” Edens and it’s a very righteous amount of air that it can shovel.

If you like the 15 & 10 I would encourage auditioning something with a good 12 and a tweeter. Barefaced makes some excellent ones and I think there’s an open source speaker design that people make in the US that is similar (perhaps less color than Barefaced but both are really great).

#6

Yeah, I honestly have never liked Ampeg heads that I’ve played on and played through an 810 back in the day and didn’t enjoy that sound either.

I think my favorite set up was totally random - an Acoustic head (no clue what model), a JC120 412, and a janky 115 ha. It worked though! Even used my JC120 head for awhile on the bass.

@Jonathan_Riley - touring is highly unlikely beyond maybe a few here and there - one dude has three kids and a pretty reputable gig. That’s neat that you do that sort of stuff though. One of my bandmates was in a band called the National Acrobat that felt like one of those early screamo bands I guess? I dunno, it’s not a genre I’m super familiar with to be honest.

Thanks for the suggestions on other brands folks. Time to take a look!

#7

Yeah, the benefit of splitting them up in two little cabs are - your back is not miserable. When I got a new guitar amp after being without for a couple years, the Fender Twin was just brutal getting up the stairs.

I remember some shows with all those cabinets in some old bands that were just like…‘why are we doing this?’ Ironically, I think it helped me wonder why the hell people are complaining about the weight of some ‘heavier’ Eurorack cases ha.

#8

If you have to lug the rig to your friend’s place every week or so you’ll appreciate a modern rig with neo magnet speakers, solid state power, maybe a tube pre if that’s what you’re after. Effect pedals to dial in your grit.

Or if you want something big and loud and don’t have to move it very often I can sell you this rig. :slight_smile:

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#9

was gonna also recommend David Eden. (and Music Go Round)

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#10

You will never be drowned out by guitars again. :slight_smile:

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#11

Ha, that’s absurd. Nah, I’ll be leaving the amp at the space. I have no interest in transport :slight_smile:

As for being drowned out, thankfully the guitarists are no longer in the macho volume game like they used to be. Still want to fill the room and have it sound good though.

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#12

I’m a junkie for the old Eden stuff. I hear he’s back in business again or has an amplifier or something out.

#13

The National Acrobat! They always reminded me of the early stuff 90s stuff like National of Ulysses or Heroin. Screamo is one of those genres with lots of old hidden gems and a really active scene right now.

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#14

Yeah, we aren’t really in that sort of zone, but Louisville has a bit of a heritage for that sound for sure between them and the Kodan Armada and we sort of played shows with bands like that with pals in Breather Resist/Young Widows/Black God/Coliseum/Lords (who the guitarists were in for awhile) blah blah.

I’m very excited at the prospect of making noisy rock music again :slight_smile:

I think the fact that HUM issued a new album without any warning was an omen and perfect timing to get me jazzed.

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#15

I was going to post this in the guitar thread but I suppose this is a better place:

I’ve been considering getting a fretless bass to accompany my steel guitar and ribbon controller playing and since I’m not taking it so seriously, I’m wondering what the cheapest I can get a playable instrument for is.

Is there anything I need to think about when purchasing a budget fretless? Whether the fretboard is uniform? Does the combination of fretless and short scale work fine or does it lead to a poorly playing instrument?

#16

Anyone use the Phil Jones amps?

At 60 I’m looking to downsize!

Thanks!

#17

Getting older but still like ampeg sv8x10 and Fender Pres. classic punchy sound

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#18

Talkbass classifieds are great if you’re looking used. If you’re looking for more modern light weight gear then Darkglass and Bergantino are worth a look. For heavy tube stuff check out Verellen.

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#19

Bass was the first instrument I really got into, but I haven’t played regularly for a long time. Impulsively broke it out a little while ago, and was pleasantly surprised at the sounds I could get out of Logic’s built in bass amp sim:

#20

Just couldn’t resist the lure of an Acoustic 470 head. Doh! It might’ve been the one I had back in the day that I really loved.

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