Amp Recommendation

[garybaldy]

More like the days when no one used 6" & 8" speakers - 100w is still 100w.

You know what I mean (if you are old enough). Not to be taken literally. I just think it's comical that someone nowadays uses what is supposedly a 2 or 3 hundred watt amp and they still can't be heard. Just my old school brain.

[garybaldy]

Same here.

I still have a 38 watt JTM45 from the '60's, and it is beyond loud, more than I will ever need again. Even a (tube) BF Deluxe Reverb on 3.5 is extremely loud to me now.

I mostly use a Little Jazz turned up a third of the way, or a Princeton size tube amp.

I really don't understand how a 200 watt rating, even SS, could not be loud enough.

In my youth, in the UK, Fender gear was out of reach for me. Quite unexpectedly, at the age of 14, I acquired a Simms Watts 100w full stack. A poor man's Marshall but no matter how loud it was it wouldn't break up but it would go crazy loud. Ultimately the 2 4x12s became 4 2x12s and were used for PA. The amp was sold to a bass player friend. I moved to Vox AC30s then and later a Musicman RP65 which I still use. The MM can raise the roof. My spare is a British Sessionette 75 solid state. That's terrifyingly loud. I have used my MM and S75 for rock and function bands. For jazz it's Polytones but that's never loud.

[BreckerFan]

A watt is not a measurement of loudness, it is a measurement of output power.

[garybaldy]

A watt is not a measurement of loudness, it is a measurement of output power.

Unfortunately, we are only interested in how loud an amp is not what the output power is. Will it compete with a drummer etc etc. Why tell a musician what the output power is?

[Woody Sound]

IIRC, a Bass VI has low output pickups. Many modern bass players use actives with much higher output levels. Feeding the Elf 2 volts will push it to much higher SPLs than the 500 to 700 mV max that you're probably getting out of the Bass VI. Many bass players complain that they hit the limiter on larger gigs. Pickup output levels could explain both your experience and why so many jazz guitar players have tried the Elf and found it lacking in maximum SPL. I definitely got more volume out of mine with the active EMG in my Les Paul than I did with the humbukcers in my archtops, and the inherent compression was noticeable.

Good point there, I overlooked that. I've had one of the TC BQ500's on back order for months (like a lot of people). When I finally get it, it will be interesting to compare the power of the MB 500 to the TC 500. But the MB 58 has a couple of really cool features. A choice of flat or scooped starting eq, and a knob called "Old School," that sort of acts like an overall single-knob tone control.

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

I've had one the TC BQ500's on back order for months (like a lot of people). When I finally get it, it will be interesting to compare the power of the MB 500 to the TC 500. But the MB 58 has a couple of really cool features. A choice of flat or scooped starting eq, and a knob called "Old School," that sort of acts like an overall single-knob tone control.

I bought a BQ500 a while ago. It’s everything you want in a little head (except reverb) - awesome power, great tone from the TC FET preamp, silent, great EQ, XLR balanced out, and a compressor that works very well. The only weird thing is that it only has a Speakon jack for speaker out - no 1/4”. Fortunately, Rich made my RE 10 cab with a Speakon input and I followed suit when I ordered my RevSound 8RS. So I have several Speakon cables.

You’ll love the BQ. I only bought it because was dirt cheap and I thought a backup amp with the same power as the main one was a good idea. It sounds fantastic for archtop jazz and takes effects very well for fusion, blues etc. I don’t miss reverb (much…). Of course, it’s a killer bass amp too.

[Simon1234]

I've tried various amps, but my Tonemaster Twin is the only amp that really and reliably cuts the mustard in my big band.

[jim777]

I've tried various amps, but my Tonemaster Twin is the only amp that really and reliably cuts the mustard in my big band.

33 pounds, 2x12" Celstions, and makes a fantastic pedal platform as well. Love mine

That said, the Fuchs ODH 112 is only 22 pounds, and sounds better but is about $2000.

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

That said, the Fuchs ODH 112 is only 22 pounds, and sounds better but is about $2000.

TBH, the Fuchs ODH head is the only amplifier for which I still have a serious Jones. For blues and fusion, I'm a died-in-the-wool Dumblehead, and my Smokin' Amp Company Zensation pedal comes mighty close to Robben Ford's ODS. But I'm closer to buying an ODH every day. It's a fantastic amplifier! When my Quilter Overdrive 202 and my Ibanez AF207 have sold, I'll be headed to northern New Jersey to check out an ODH in person.

[jim777]

TBH, the Fuchs ODH head is the only amplifier for which I still have a serious Jones. For blues and fusion, I'm a died-in-the-wool Dumblehead, and my Smokin' Amp Company Zensation pedal comes mighty close to Robben Ford's ODS. But I'm closer to buying an ODH every day. It's a fantastic amplifier! When my Quilter Overdrive 202 and my Ibanez AF207 have sold, I'll be headed to northern New Jersey to check out an ODH in person.

They really do sounds fantastic. Andy Fuchs recently overhauled my '67 Bassman head (added a half power switch where the old ground switch was, and a master volume) and I played the ODH for a bit. I really need the FBS bass head more, but I may just stick with my old Hartke and get an ODH as well. It's a fantastic little amp!