The Last Bass Outpost
Gear Discussion Forums => Bass Amps & Effects => Topic started by: drbassman on June 13, 2014, 06:41:00 AM
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If you could have any vintage bass amp head recreated by a custom amp builder, which one would it be? Why? I know it may be impossible to exactly replicate anything from the past, but I'm curious to see what you guys would like if you were to go this route.
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Hmm... I've never pondered this, but right off the top of my head, I would love a vintage SVT, but the second channel would be a Marshall. :vader: And there would be a channel switching footswitch of course.
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One of the old Hi-Watts wouldn't be a bad thing, IMO...
- georgestrings
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I'd call Conrad Sundholm and let him make the decisions for me.
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I'd call Conrad Sundholm and let him make the decisions for me.
Good answer!
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I'd call Conrad Sundholm and let him make the decisions for me.
And yet another "attaboy" for that one! The Sunn Coliseum-300 I had was a great amp, just heavy as a boat anchor.
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My question is could anyone truly build an accurate sounding replica? My limited understanding is that the transformers were a vital and a central component as well as the old capacitors - not to mention tubes. Obviously most anyone with the proper skill set and tools could copy something verbatim but if the components don't truly replicate the originals would it be the same?
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The Sunn Coliseum-300 I had was a great amp, just heavy as a boat anchor.
Maybe by today's standards but not when I traded an 85 lb. '69 SVT head for its svelte 30 lbs and 300 watts in 1974. Ended up using 3 of them with 3 SVT 8-10 cabs by '77. The Coliseums would never warm up a cold practice room like the SVT, though.
I'm with Buzz. You want vintage, buy it. Plenty of HiWatts, SVTs, Oranges, etc. out there if you look...and they can all be made as good as new or better by a competent tech. And it's pretty much a certainty they'll be worth what you paid or more if/when you want to sell. Probably not the case for a clone.
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I've already got it... ;)
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I've already got it... ;)
Me too. I have a custom built head based on an Ampeg B-15 .... but it's 100 watts.
(http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a57/mdeayton/Mal%20ONeill%20amps/IMG-20130726-00253_zpse196315c.jpg)
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Well, never say 'never'.
I just BINned this turret board B-15 chassis. Now to convince somebody to build me a FrankenFlex.
(http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae241/cata1d0/B-15N/Chassis1_zps9596ce9b.jpg) (http://s976.photobucket.com/user/cata1d0/media/B-15N/Chassis1_zps9596ce9b.jpg.html)
(http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae241/cata1d0/B-15N/Chassis2_zps967b4d31.jpg) (http://s976.photobucket.com/user/cata1d0/media/B-15N/Chassis2_zps967b4d31.jpg.html)
I think I know a guy... ;D
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That looks like my pre Hiwatt Sound City 120 post the transformer meltdown... :o
Me too. I have a custom built head based on an Ampeg B-15 .... but it's 100 watts.
Dave Reeve's built mine in 1970... :mrgreen:
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That looks like my pre Hiwatt Sound City 120 post the transformer meltdown... :o
Goes something like this...
(http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae241/cata1d0/B-15N/WHYNOT_zps845dc12b.jpg) (http://s976.photobucket.com/user/cata1d0/media/B-15N/WHYNOT_zps845dc12b.jpg.html)
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More chicken heads...! :mrgreen:
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Wow, interesting debate. I was curious about this idea as I have a friend who uses clone tube guitar amps built by a local guy and he loves them. Knowing nothing about it, I was wondering what you all thought. Carlo makes a good point. Vintage is still the real deal and can be repaired/maintained by a good tech.
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Wow, interesting debate. I was curious about this idea as I have a friend who uses clone tube guitar amps built by a local guy and he loves them. Knowing nothing about it, I was wondering what you all thought. Carlo makes a good point. Vintage is still the real deal and can be repaired/maintained by a good tech.
Yeah, because at this age we deserve the real thing!
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Yeah, because at this age we deserve the real thing!
Amen Carlo. We should be able to treat ourselves by this time in our lives!!!!
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I could understand getting something done custom if what you want doesn't quite exist... but I don't think I would buy a custom-bulit clone of an existing amp.
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I could understand getting something done custom if what you want doesn't quite exist... but I don't think I would buy a custom-bulit clone of an existing amp.
Good point!
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Bill I presume you are talking about John Nau. He has been keeping my amps humming for 27 years. He has wanted to build me a rig for quite some time but I can't justify it. Not that it wouldn't be great but I'd never get my money out of it. He always asks me why I use this ratty old stuff and my answer is that is sounds fantastic.....................at least to me.
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Well, there are those amps like the Reeves bass heads which I'd day are an improvement on the Hiwatts. At least in terms if usability. No?
I was using an Orange AD 200 Mk 3. The Orange snobs refuse to accept those. But it sounded good enough that when I saw a hand wired version on EBay I bot it. It's a thing of beauty inside, but most important, it kicks butt live.
I used to agree with you guys about running old amps and I'd buy an old SVT if I ever went that route. But it is nice nice not having to worry about knocking an old solder joint loose when you load in or out.
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Thats why I always have at least one back up in the van. I bought a Orange terror bass for that exact purpose.
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Same here. I also use it as part if my "small" rig.
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Well, I didn't go the custom route. I bought a Marshall Super Bass head.
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Good move!
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Good move!
I've been reading up on them and decided I'd like one and it was a good deal compared to an old Hiwatt. I'll chat more about it after it arrives.
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I find the old Marshalls have more sparkle less oomph than the Hiwatts. That's a very simplistic description. Time to break out your Ric and your Roger Glover licks.
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Well, I didn't go the custom route. I bought a Marshall Super Bass head.
Bought one myself last summer, restored it and grown really fond of it. It must be the unit I own that does bass and
guitar equally perfect! And just loud enough for bass..
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I find the old Marshalls have more sparkle less oomph than the Hiwatts. That's a very simplistic description. Time to break out your Ric and your Roger Glover licks.
Well, it's finny you mention sparkle because I am missing that with the Mesa head. When I get the boominess under control I don't really like the tone I'm able to get. I'm also having a little problem with attack time on the Mesa. We also have lots of acoustic problems with the little club where we play and I have to clean up my tone a bit as reverberation is a major issue right now. So, sparkle might not be bad. Beside, I bought it to collect as well as play. Maybe a Hiwatt is in my future some day too!
The best tone I have is my B-15 at home. Maybe I should try that!!!
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Bought one myself last summer, restored it and grown really fond of it. It must be the unit I own that does bass and
guitar equally perfect! And just loud enough for bass..
I remember. I followed your thread when you were acquiring it. I also read a few other things online and that's why I decided to give it a try. I really wanted a vintage tube amp with 100 watts and it was a reasonable deal.
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The best tone I have is my B-15 at home. Maybe I should try that!!!
Amen to that! Although my Streamliner gives mine a good run for its money.
Playing out the B-15 wouldn't be the worst idea IMO. Especially with an 8 ohm extension cab. Don't you have an Ampeg 1-15? If the club is small the guitar players shouldn't be using anything bigger than a Deluxe IMO. The audience would definitely appreciate it.
Good luck with the Marshall!
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Amen to that! Although my Streamliner gives mine a good run for its money.
Playing out the B-15 wouldn't be the worst idea IMO. Especially with an 8 ohm extension cab. Don't you have an Ampeg 1-15? If the club is small the guitar players shouldn't be using anything bigger than a Deluxe IMO. The audience would definitely appreciate it.
Good luck with the Marshall!
Well, I love the Mesa cabs I have. They sound good with anything IMHO. I also added an Orange Terror 1000 (I wanted to have a solid state backup amp; I also wanted a 500 not a 1000, but I took what they had in stock!) to my collection and it sounds great through the Mesas. The attack issue and woofiness of the Prodigy is gone and the cabs put out a nice bassy response that's clear in the mix. I could try the B-15 head with one of the Mesa cabs, they're 8 ohm. I just like to have enough wattage for lots o' headroom and not overdrive the amp too much. Might do that on Wednesday.
The Marshall shipped today so I might have it by Wednesday, we'll see!
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Bill, you may even be forced to play NEW flats!
Oh, the horror!! :o
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Bill, you may even be forced to play NEW flats!
Oh, the horror!! :o
Ha ha, funny you say that Al. I've been playing my basses that have rounds cuz the flats thumped away into bass oblivion on the Prodigy. I must be getting old, I'm looking for more clarity in my tone but with plenty of bass response in the output.
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The best tone I have is my B-15 at home.
Mine is my SB-12, which is awesome for recording, but doesn't cut it at gigs. That's why I had Mal O'Neill build me a 100 watt version.
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Mine is my SB-12, which is awesome for recording, but doesn't cut it at gigs. That's why I had Mal O'Neill build me a 100 watt version.
Mine is an B-12 speaker, so I use it with a reissue B-15 cab. Sounds awesome at home! A 100 watt version is really nice! I've been tempted by a couple of the B-15 100 watt reissues on eBay, but I'm leaning toward vintage when I can.