Small bass amp for recording.
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Small bass amp for recording.
I've got a basement studio with a couple of rooms at my disposal. I usually track with the drums in a room on their own and small guitar amps to minimize bleed. So far I've been using either a Pod XT or Tech21 bass driver to record bass direct, but I would like to get a small bass amp that wont rattle the walls. Is there anything small and cheap that sounds good? I love my bass players Music Man head so even if there was a good small bass cab that would be good too.
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It seems that unless you have a really great bass amp like an Ampeg B-15 you might as well go DI. You can try the Avalon U5. I actually got my B-15 on eBay for $400, it was pick up only but worth the hour and half drive. I need to redo the tolex and retube it, but it sounds great.
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I just had my first B-15 studio experience last month... it was fantastic. I was surprised at how much low end we got out of that thing.
We had to keep the amp volume quite low, because I played a 5-string tuned down a whole step (low A - 27.5 fricking Hz fundamental!), the the little 12-inch speaker handled it admirably, and added a really nice, subtle "fur" to the sound, and helped the low end sort of "bloom" on the longer notes.
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We had to keep the amp volume quite low, because I played a 5-string tuned down a whole step (low A - 27.5 fricking Hz fundamental!), the the little 12-inch speaker handled it admirably, and added a really nice, subtle "fur" to the sound, and helped the low end sort of "bloom" on the longer notes.
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- calaverasgrandes
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guitar amps work great on bass, esp in combination with a DI for the sub low information. The amp give that bark.
I have been using one of those cheepy Epiphone Valve jr heads with an assortment of cabs. Its only 5 watts, but single ended though one EL84 with one 12ax7, no tone controls. It makes some of my basses I never liked sound pretty good.
As far as cabs go I find that 10" and 12" cabs record better than 15" esp at low volumes. You can possibly pick up a 1x12 or 1x10 for cheap. Look for ones that DONT have a tweeter. These not only record better but they are not popular with bassists so they are a lot cheaper! Some old Eden stuff with the rear ports is excellent. Mesa Boogie 2x10" cabs are great, esp the old ones. (pre powerhouse series).
I have been using one of those cheepy Epiphone Valve jr heads with an assortment of cabs. Its only 5 watts, but single ended though one EL84 with one 12ax7, no tone controls. It makes some of my basses I never liked sound pretty good.
As far as cabs go I find that 10" and 12" cabs record better than 15" esp at low volumes. You can possibly pick up a 1x12 or 1x10 for cheap. Look for ones that DONT have a tweeter. These not only record better but they are not popular with bassists so they are a lot cheaper! Some old Eden stuff with the rear ports is excellent. Mesa Boogie 2x10" cabs are great, esp the old ones. (pre powerhouse series).
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Of course the B15 is a great choice but they're not cheap. Sounds like you're looking for something on more of the budget side of things. A Peavey TKO115 would be a good choice. Don't laugh. Nice little amp that is surprisingly loud with a nice full, deep tone. Has a little graphic EQ that pretty handy. Here's one just listed in NJ for $145. http://cnj.craigslist.org/msg/997049117.html
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I`ve always found Peavey bass amps to have a pretty specific sound... it`s sort of the sound of bar rock. Thumpy and loud but a little bit soulless.John Noll wrote:Of course the B15 is a great choice but they're not cheap. Sounds like you're looking for something on more of the budget side of things. A Peavey TKO115 would be a good choice. Don't laugh. Nice little amp that is surprisingly loud with a nice full, deep tone. Has a little graphic EQ that pretty handy. Here's one just listed in NJ for $145. http://cnj.craigslist.org/msg/997049117.html
I like my GK head with a 2x10 cab, plus a DI for the sub. throw some fuzz or tube distortion into the chain sometimes. My cab has an attenuator on the tweeter, sometimes a little tweet can really add definition.
I`ve recently heard a couple tiny 1x10 combo practice amps, one from hartke and one from Genz Benz - actually preferred the hartke, very very tight sounding and great projection - I think something like that might record nicely, and probably wouldn`t rattle the walls.
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Thanks for all the suggestions. A B 15 would be awesome, but is a little spendy for right now. I wish someone made something like the old Fender Musicmaster amps. I'll also probably continue to record with a direct as well as a mic'd signal. One of the reasons I'm looking to augment the bass with an amp is for monitoring purposes. I'm trying to get rid of the headphones when tracking.
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Go to Guitarcenter (try not to vomit) and check one of these out: http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com ... sku=482900.
I've been playing out of Acoustic 150s ever since my dear old dad decided to take up restoring old solid state heads (he's got a thing for Acoustics, but is happily moving to Sunns!). When we heard that Guitarcenter was re-launching the Acoustic brand we went down and checked them all out. These amps are really clean, really decent sounding and insanely cheap. I wasn't a fan of the 12" combo they had, but I thought the 15 sounded damn fine, comparable to my little Acoustic 117 that is my current rig (just need something to practice with in the apartment). As much as I hate Guitarcenter, if there's one near by you can test it out for yourself - and they do have a pretty decent return policy even if you got it through Musiciansfriend and realized that you hated it (which I doubt you will, although it may not be what you're looking for ultimately).
If you can find a 117 they're great as well. Small, nice and loud, and they have a gain-stage so you can push them. Doesn't sound that great on my basses but sounds GREAT on my drum machine!
EDIT:
I've been playing out of Acoustic 150s ever since my dear old dad decided to take up restoring old solid state heads (he's got a thing for Acoustics, but is happily moving to Sunns!). When we heard that Guitarcenter was re-launching the Acoustic brand we went down and checked them all out. These amps are really clean, really decent sounding and insanely cheap. I wasn't a fan of the 12" combo they had, but I thought the 15 sounded damn fine, comparable to my little Acoustic 117 that is my current rig (just need something to practice with in the apartment). As much as I hate Guitarcenter, if there's one near by you can test it out for yourself - and they do have a pretty decent return policy even if you got it through Musiciansfriend and realized that you hated it (which I doubt you will, although it may not be what you're looking for ultimately).
If you can find a 117 they're great as well. Small, nice and loud, and they have a gain-stage so you can push them. Doesn't sound that great on my basses but sounds GREAT on my drum machine!
EDIT:
Totally missed that. Two votes for Acoustics! Yay! My little 117 does get damn loud, but it also can keep things totally respectable. Acoustics are great like that!calaverasgrandes wrote:Old traynor bass mates are nice also. Its a very fenderish circuit in there.
I also dig the "acoustic" combo amps, the old ones with the light blue graphics and white logo. Some of them do get quite loud though!
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