MY BASS AMPLIFIER (AMP) JOURNEY

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Bass amplifiers are awesome. I loved my experimentation days of testing out amps, but don't want to go back to those days. I messed around for years to come to what I am content with and encourage you to do the same (test out new stuff). Perhaps this article will help you out a bit.

I played through an Ampeg SVT 3 pro, SVT 4 pro, a GK 800RB, an Eden combo stack, the GK backline amp, a fender combo amp, an SWR combo stack, an M6 carbine, and probably a few more.

I will go in more depth on what I really liked the best, why and what I am using now and what I will likely do in the future if I change what I have now.

PAST BEST BASS AMP

My top bass amplifier of all time, from my tenure and usage, is the Ampeg SVT 4 pro. Despite it being heavy as hell, it had a killer tube pre amp and tons of wattage on the solid state portion of the amp. It has an equalizer and other cool options I don’t remember, because it has been years since I lugged that backbreaker around.

And there are tons of buttons.

I had it rack mounted in a gator 6 space roller case. So at least I was able to roll it around instead of carry it.  I ran an Ampeg 810 through it as well as an Ampeg 410/115 and an Ampeg 610 (all at different phases of my career).

If you want power, prestige, a cool look and something that sounds like a tube amp, this amp will overcompensate for any lack of….wattage you may have.

Do you really need this much wattage? Perhaps if you are playing an arena, amphitheater OR if you have a great endorsement deal and get your gear paid for.

Another great reason to need or want this amp is because you 1) want to look like a pro or 2) were in the exploration stages of finding the right rig.

I never needed this much wattage. I always plug into a PA system, but still even without a PA system I never turned it to 11, or likely even 4.

If I were to get a huge endorsement deal and had Ampeg as my sponsor, I would probably have a few of these on stage while my roadies moved it around and set it up for me, which leads me to another amp I tried and hated.

Pair this with any cabinet and you will blow ear drums (hopefully not your own).

Lesson 1: Big wattage can be too much weight and sound in most cases.

SHITTIEST DEAL OF A USED AMPLIFIER

The Crate combo amp incident was a nightmare for me. The guy I bought it off said I couldn’t play it loud because his baby was sleeping.

I believed him because he lived in an affluent neighborhood and seemed like a decent guy. It was my first “real” bass amp aside from my practice amp.

Perhaps he was telling the truth, or perhaps he was looking to get his car keyed (I was sooo tempted to drive by his house and flatten his tires…he didn’t respond to my texts).

So I picked up the “working” combo amp and thumped it in my new home for a few songs. I was about to join a band and needed to be ready.

To my dismay, the thumping was cut short after a few minutes. It started making weird noises and would cut out after a couple of seconds. I researched how to repair it, but that didn’t work out.

I admit it, I did like the power and bass it put out for the first few moments, but that experience made me NEVER to look back on Crate for bass stuff.

SORRY CRATE, YOU SUCK ASS. And to that guy who sold it to me for like $200, I forgive you and hope you didn’t purposefully sell me your crap at a high price. I give you the benefit of the doubt. If you did sell me your shit on purpose, I hope your house foreclosed and you go through a lot of hardships!