Bass cabs/heads/etc

So I'm still fairly new to all this equipment that there is and was wondering what are some good things to get/have to sound decent. Also where's a good place to get an amp head repaired fast and of course kinda cheap? I went to nashville used music and they said they let go of a lot of their staff so they couldn't fix it.

what's it doing or not doing? Some places will fleece you.

It works fine for a little bit then it starts to cut out and sound fuzzy. its kinda weird to explain.

so after it warms up it starts cutting in and out or does it sound like something is not grounded, like a buzz noise. Have you done all the cheap stuff like different cables, play a different instrument through it, plug it in some where different than you usually do (other outlet, away from other electronic devices) stuff like that. If nothing is plugged into it does it make noise on it's own?

I like running a compressor with my rig. I play with a pick and it keeps my tone stable. If you have rack mount stuff, I'd go with a rack mounted compressor, if not they make stomp pedal compressors.

Make sure to pay attention to Ohms when matching cabs and heads. If you slave cabs to a head, it changes the Ohms load on the head. For example, if you have to cabs that are 8ohms each, the load would be 4ohms on the head. (8ohms + 8ohms = 4ohms) but really the equation is like this: impedance of single cab / number of cabs = total impedance. Good info for all of this

As far as amp repair, I gotta say the best dude I have dealt with is Randy up at Tour Supply @ Sound Check. (750 Cowan Street Nashville, TN 37207-5624).
I don't remember his pricing but the man is brilliant.

Last I heard Tour Supply isn't doing amp repair right now. Their guy had heart surgery, and is out.

its my old bass amp. there is a loose connection somewhere in the amp. i ran a rack compressor with it for a while. i loved the sound i had with a rack compressor and sonic maximizer in front of it. but it started crapping out on me and thats why i traded it.

does anyone know anything about amp doctor or the amp guy at southbound customs?

For what you're doing and the size of the venues you'll be playing Emmanuel, I'd say get one of those little Ampeg BA115 combo amps like I have. Good tone, direct line out and enough power to be heard onstage without bringing in a refridgerator. And you can probably find one cheap on Craigslist.

I'm pretty sure that's the same cab i have and that's the same head that I have.

http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Ampeg-B2RE-Bass-Head-and-B410HLF-4x10-HalfStack?sku=481727&src=3WFRWXX&ZYXSEM=0&CAWELAID=26040037
I was reading about the amp doctor and his top ten reasons to go to him almost have me sold alone.

Top 10 Reasons to visit THE AMP DOCTOR:

10. Does Your Fender offend?
09. Is your Peavy Peaved?
08. Has your Randall been road-handled?
07. Has your Mesa lost it's Boogie?
06. Has all that Chicken' Pickin' plucked-up your amp?
05. Has your amp electrocuted more people than George W. Bush?
04. Does your amp Snap, Crackle & Pop?
03. We'll treat you to a sucker, not like one.
02. Is your amp a casualty of the Murder on Music Row?
01. Does your amp buzz more than the Jamaican Bob-sled team?

This is the one I have.

I looked at the Ampeg yesterday and it's sweet. New they cost just under $350? I dunno, I wish some one would come up with some negatives about it so I can feel OK with not having $350 to get one.

My wife is too stubborn to buy anything but an SVT whenever (A) we get the money and (B) we find an old one, but I have to say, I think Mike's amp is right nice for a small club amp (which is all most of us around here need anyway). We used it at 2007 Punkfest and it worked like a champ.

fearofbirdshit wrote:I looked at the Ampeg yesterday and it's sweet. New they cost just under $350? I dunno, I wish some one would come up with some negatives about it so I can feel OK with not having $350 to get one.

I don't have any complaints about it other than the fact that I kind of wish that it was a 4x10 instead of a 15. The XLR direct out was a big seller for me. I don't have to worry about my drunk ass knockin over a mic that's in front of my amp.

Matt Benson wrote:My wife is too stubborn to buy anything but an SVT whenever (A) we get the money and (B) we find an old one, but I have to say, I think Mike's amp is right nice for a small club amp (which is all most of us around here need anyway). We used it at 2007 Punkfest and it worked like a champ.

Mark from The Shack Shakers used it for a gig and liked it as well.

That Ampeg combo is a nice amp. My friend Todd used to play a 4-Stingray through one and it sounded great. I'm a 10 inch speaker fan. I like a more growly tone than bassy.

Still can't go wrong with a SVT and a fridge.

I might have a SVT3-pro (Tube pre-amp; mosfet power amp (450watts @ 4ohms)) for sale. I don't see a reason having two bass heads and my SVT2-pro is more than I will ever need. If you are interested, let me know and we can see if we can work out a deal. SVT3-Pro info

Mike_Sims wrote:This is the one I have.

This is more than enough for playing bars and small venues. If you can't hear this amp, then someone needs to turn down. Remember ...bigger does not mean better

the amp he has is a very similar amp to yours mike. it's just higher powered and it is in the head form. the b2re has a perfectly good xlr output as well.

all the new ampeg shit is cheaply made and will or won't give you probs depending on how lucky you are and how much you use it. i defended the hell out of that amp and the only reason i traded it off was because i need fast cash and couldn't afford to get it fixed. coming across the vintage svt also helped.

the svt3 that jamie is selling is also a very similar amp. it's one step up in build quality and has a tube preamp*. for reference it's the one kd has had for years.

just get it fixed. i wish i could tell you a place to take it but that's the only amp i've ever had a problem with. i figure folks on here like jeano or geoff would be able to help.

* in my opinion, a tube preamp is a waste on a bass amp. the only reason i can see to put 12ax7s or similar preamp tubes in anything is to get distortion. for bass distortion there are plenty of great pedals that sound just as good, especially in those lower, harder to distinguish, bass frequencies. you cant tell the little bit of compression you get from those little tubes. ive said it before and i'll say it again, the perfect bass amp would be a crystal clear solid state preamp with 6 big ass power tubes to give you balls and natural tube compression. unless you're lemmy. then run all tube.

Best strings and cables?
which do you prefer J or P bass and why?
can the same compressor be used on bass and guitar or do you have to get separate ones?

Emmanuel wrote:Best strings and cables?
which do you prefer J or P bass and why?
can the same compressor be used on bass and guitar or do you have to get separate ones?

Strings I go with DR Hi-Beams. They last me about 4 times longer than Slinkys. They cost a little more but you get what you pay for. Cables I go with Monster and only because they have a life time warranty and I can take a bad cable up to GC and swap it out with no questions asked. I search Ebay to find them as cheap as I can. Never pay full price.

J or P.... neither. I play Stingrays, which are close to a P-bass but with active electronics. I like the neck on a J, though.

I think it would depend on the compressor. I'm not 100% sure but I think the Alesis3630 is dual input (Alesis 3630). I would probably go with separate ones. I'm not sure you would want to run a compressor all the time on guitars so maybe a stomp pedal compressor would be better for the guitars. I had a 3630 but sold it and got a DBX 160A. Once again, Ebay for the win.

I've always used GHS Boomers on bass for brightness and punch. I've not really tried that many types though--Phillip used to use Boomers and we went for a similar bass sound. P vs J: I love my Geddy Lee Jazz. It's fucking sleek.

i've used ernie ball slinkys on my guitars (electrics) and my bass. d'addarrio's for the acoustics.

having owned an early 70's p bass for over 20 years, i haven't found anything that comes close to it.

brothercrudmcnasty wrote:i've used ernie ball slinkys on my guitars (electrics) and my bass. d'addarrio's for the acoustics.

having owned an early 70's p bass for over 20 years, i haven't found anything that comes close to it.

My wife's late 60's P-bass?

wakmaster wrote:the amp he has is a very similar amp to yours mike. it's just higher powered and it is in the head form. the b2re has a perfectly good xlr output as well.

I was just throwin out a suggestion for if he can't get the one he has fixed and wants to buy new or slightly used.

I finally found a place to fix it. They seemed like really smart and they were really nice so I'll see how it goes. I tried calling the amp doctor like 5 times and never got an answer so I don't know if I had a wrong number or what the deal with that was.

I bought a new bass! I think it needs a set up. any recommendations????