Bass amp king for surf

Brian

Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19334
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
United States

Posted on Jun 03 2013 04:25 PM

Why bump a 5 year old thread to add "Hell Yeah"?

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Site dude - S3 Agent #202
Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me

"It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea

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dp

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3546
mojave desert, california
United States

Posted on Jun 04 2013 09:33 AM

...bass players... duh!

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PrestonRice

Joined: Oct 05, 2012
Posts: 1725
Austin, Texas
United States

Posted on Jun 04 2013 09:37 AM

Brian wrote:

Why bump a 5 year old thread to add "Hell Yeah"?

Why not?

—

IMO.

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SanchoPansen

Joined: Jan 04, 2011
Posts: 1588
Berlin L-Berg
Germany

Posted on Jun 04 2013 09:45 AM

Hey Brian, if it's any consolation: that 'hell yeah' made this thread pop up for me again and I forwarded it to my bassplayer, as he is looking for a new amp and there's a lot of useful information in this thread.

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The Hicadoolas

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JObeast

Joined: Jul 24, 2012
Posts: 2762
Finknabad, Squinkistan
Turkmenistan

Posted on Jun 04 2013 01:47 PM

I nearly bought a large 2x15" Kustom upright bass cab w/Altecs to augment my Twin for guitar playing last winter, but ran out of funds at the time (and lost my nerve thinking about my wife's reaction to the huge blue sparkle tuck'n'roll thing standing in our garage). The dude at CG center said, "it really suits your image, huh?", to which I answered, somewhat snarkily, "Dude, surf music is not about image, it's about sound and feel. This cab sounds perfect for my use."

To me the question originally posed here in 2008 might have something to do with image as opposed to utility, or image AS utility. The sound of most contemporary bass amps – now that wattage is cheap and lightweight, and tone shaping very powerful – can be put to excellent use in any number of settings. I get the impression that among bassist, the power of 'participation mystique' (most guitarists want to play a guitar that makes them feel like Jimmy Page, for instance) is somewhat diminished from what prevails among guitarists – that is, my guess is that bassists tend to be more pragmatic and less overdetermined by appearances and image, at least in amps. As far as axes go, I admit my recent purchase of a Dano Longhorn in preference to the Fender HMT was due to equal parts image- and sound- consciousness, with at least half the weight of consideration going to its short scale and heft.
So in sum, a Bass Amp King for Surf might be a 'Gold Standard' such as the Dual Showman, solely on the recommendation of First Wave players' limited choices. For the surf taliban among us, the return to origins may be the prime determinant.

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Squink Out!

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dp

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3546
mojave desert, california
United States

Posted on Jun 04 2013 04:49 PM

currently I'm stuck on Gallien-Krueger...but I am super-impressed with the Mesa bass gear...

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PrestonRice

Joined: Oct 05, 2012
Posts: 1725
Austin, Texas
United States

Posted on Jun 04 2013 04:58 PM

dp wrote:

currently I'm stuck on Gallien-Krueger...

Want mine?

—

IMO.

Top

dp

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3546
mojave desert, california
United States

Posted on Jun 05 2013 09:45 AM

PrestonRice wrote:

dp wrote:

currently I'm stuck on Gallien-Krueger...

Want mine?

Preston: I'm good right now with the old 800RB

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PrestonRice

Joined: Oct 05, 2012
Posts: 1725
Austin, Texas
United States

Posted on Jun 05 2013 10:00 AM

250RL. Nice little amp, sounds huge, perfect for Lifeson AND Lee tones, but not ideal. Very few amps seem to have any soul to me, this is one of the ones that just doesn't cut it clean.

—

IMO.

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stratomatic

Joined: Jan 11, 2012
Posts: 114

Posted on Jun 05 2013 10:18 AM

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Brian Joined: Feb 25, 2006 Posts: 19334 Des Moines, Iowa, USA	Posted on Jun 03 2013 04:25 PM Why bump a 5 year old thread to add "Hell Yeah"? — Site dude - S3 Agent #202 Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me "It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea Top
dp Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 3546 mojave desert, california	Posted on Jun 04 2013 09:33 AM ...bass players... duh! Top
PrestonRice Joined: Oct 05, 2012 Posts: 1725 Austin, Texas	Posted on Jun 04 2013 09:37 AM Brian wrote: Why bump a 5 year old thread to add "Hell Yeah"? Why not? — IMO. Top
SanchoPansen Joined: Jan 04, 2011 Posts: 1588 Berlin L-Berg	Posted on Jun 04 2013 09:45 AM Hey Brian, if it's any consolation: that 'hell yeah' made this thread pop up for me again and I forwarded it to my bassplayer, as he is looking for a new amp and there's a lot of useful information in this thread. — The Hicadoolas Top
JObeast Joined: Jul 24, 2012 Posts: 2762 Finknabad, Squinkistan	Posted on Jun 04 2013 01:47 PM I nearly bought a large 2x15" Kustom upright bass cab w/Altecs to augment my Twin for guitar playing last winter, but ran out of funds at the time (and lost my nerve thinking about my wife's reaction to the huge blue sparkle tuck'n'roll thing standing in our garage). The dude at CG center said, "it really suits your image, huh?", to which I answered, somewhat snarkily, "Dude, surf music is not about image, it's about sound and feel. This cab sounds perfect for my use." To me the question originally posed here in 2008 might have something to do with image as opposed to utility, or image AS utility. The sound of most contemporary bass amps – now that wattage is cheap and lightweight, and tone shaping very powerful – can be put to excellent use in any number of settings. I get the impression that among bassist, the power of 'participation mystique' (most guitarists want to play a guitar that makes them feel like Jimmy Page, for instance) is somewhat diminished from what prevails among guitarists – that is, my guess is that bassists tend to be more pragmatic and less overdetermined by appearances and image, at least in amps. As far as axes go, I admit my recent purchase of a Dano Longhorn in preference to the Fender HMT was due to equal parts image- and sound- consciousness, with at least half the weight of consideration going to its short scale and heft. So in sum, a Bass Amp King for Surf might be a 'Gold Standard' such as the Dual Showman, solely on the recommendation of First Wave players' limited choices. For the surf taliban among us, the return to origins may be the prime determinant. — Squink Out! Top
dp Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 3546 mojave desert, california	Posted on Jun 04 2013 04:49 PM currently I'm stuck on Gallien-Krueger...but I am super-impressed with the Mesa bass gear... Top
PrestonRice Joined: Oct 05, 2012 Posts: 1725 Austin, Texas	Posted on Jun 04 2013 04:58 PM dp wrote: currently I'm stuck on Gallien-Krueger... Want mine? — IMO. Top
dp Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 3546 mojave desert, california	Posted on Jun 05 2013 09:45 AM PrestonRice wrote: dp wrote: currently I'm stuck on Gallien-Krueger... Want mine? Preston: I'm good right now with the old 800RB Top
PrestonRice Joined: Oct 05, 2012 Posts: 1725 Austin, Texas	Posted on Jun 05 2013 10:00 AM 250RL. Nice little amp, sounds huge, perfect for Lifeson AND Lee tones, but not ideal. Very few amps seem to have any soul to me, this is one of the ones that just doesn't cut it clean. — IMO. Top
stratomatic Joined: Jan 11, 2012 Posts: 114	Posted on Jun 05 2013 10:18 AM Top

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Bass amp king for surf