I run the Rumble 800 too, amazing head. I’m looking to pair it with one 4ohms Markbass 410 cab. I’m using a 8ohm rumble 410, and just want to upgrade to a bit nicer quality speakers, plus the lighter weight.
I’m about to trade my Darkglass e500 for this Rumble 800. Darkglass never released the midi foot switch, so connecting via Bluetooth to the Heat & accessing the app for the pedals is almost overkill.
Great video. I also watched some of your other video's and like how you can convey a lot of interesting information in little time. To the point: For live gigs I use a Markbass Little Mark III top and an Epifani UL210 cabinet. It's sounds great/ok (loud). But I find it difficult to get the right amp head - cabinet COMBINATION (or combo). Maybe you could also make a video about these amp head-cabinet combinations. Or maybe you did already and I missed it, just subscribed :)
My EBS HD350 is great amp! Had it for nearly a year now second hand and it's perfect for every genre I've used it for (punk, metal, funk, blues rock/americana). Really solid head and I love it!
Great video, much appreciated 👍 I’ve used or owned many of the brands you mentioned and tend to agree. I had a DB750 a decade ago and loved it though heart resides with a GK 800 RB and Ampeg Anniversary Fridge. Love to get a Berg 610 someday. Thanks again.
I generally agree. I’ve only been playing for 6 years. I have owned 8 basses and 5 bass amps. I’ve played some on your list in stores and heard some through good headphones on RUclips, etc.. I currently have TC Electronic 115 and a Fender Rumble 40 that are both good, but I have always been haunted by my first amp’s sound which was from a small Ampeg. I think I have finally figured out the basses and amps I want, and plan to get a new Ampeg BA-115 v2.
Great video Tyler even though you may have tramped on a few toes lol lol, but hey variety is the spice of life as they say and the bank balance helps as well ! cheers man
Haha! I know right! These are gonna get more contentious I imagine as they go on... Will be fun discussions to be had though! Thanks for watching once again my man! T
Great video! While I completely understand not liking the Hydrive series (SOOOOOO bright and clicky), the older Hartke amps like the HA series have always blown me away especially for how cheaply they can be found in the used market. Kind of the opposite of how you described Eden IMO - super tight and VERY mid heavy with not so much emphasis on highs and booming lows. I feel like they do funk and slap perfectly!
nice video man keep it up, i almost agree 100% with it, i also agree with aguilar to be the best one of the bunch, but nether to say all amps below of the tier list are good enough too it's just personal preference , but i really never though that mesa amps are so good for bass maybe someday i will try one P.S. lol you're pronunciation of aguilar its funny btw
Hey man I really appreciate your videos they've gotten me interested in playing an electric bass. I'm actually a double bass player and have been wanting to try out the electric bass for a while. Do you have any recommendations for which type of electric bass would be good to transition on?
Great perspective. I agree on all brands except EA. EA iAmp 800 and iAmp classic can add a great tone at louder volumes when the input gain is driven slightly into the red. Hard to do in an apartment or studio so not everyone gets to experience the benefits when trying them out. True, they are expensive. Great abilities to nail an "acoustic" upright tone when used with a piezo through the EQ. The presets are outstanding as well to modify tone for upright or bass guitar.
I mostly agree with you and your list. Even though some brands surprise me (EBS for instance). In my case, I have using Ashdown amps for a long time. I currently use a RM500 Evo, but my favourite amp has always been my ABM EVO II. I regret selling it. But I'll get an ABM EVO IV in the future. I also use Aguilar amps a lot. Especially the Tone Hammer 500. It just sounds amazing. Not a fan of the Drive feature (even though I love the AGS in the Tone Hammer pedal). Mesa is also one of my favourite brands.
That’s awesome! Yeah I’m a big fan of all 3 of those manufacturers! I think the drive on the Aguilar can be cool in a mix, but I struggle with it in isolation. T
I've owned so many of the brands you've rated here, even the ones at the top end...I now have owned a Bergantino B|AMP plus their CN112 and CN210 cabinets for a few years and that system in itself is the all-time top sounding rig I've ever played through, let alone owned. Jim Bergantino is a real master and designs the finest ever bass gear available!!! I took my gear to a jam night some time ago and several guys played through it without changing the EQ. Many different bass orientated instruments were used, including passive one pickup designs, passive two pickups and active one and two pickups, as well as a rubber/plastic stringed ukele. All l did was adjust the input gain. Everything sounded amazing and competed equally. Yes indeed, Bergantino is without any doubt, the finest.....Den Finch xxx
Hey there!! Thanks a lot for the informative video, I'm in the process of figuring out which way to go with amps and this has been extremely helpful. On a side note, are you familiar with glokenklang amps and if so where would you rank them? Thanks a lot in advance for your time, cheers!!!
Thanks for the video. I'm hesitant to ask this because I feel like if you omitted a brand from the list, it's probably for a good reason (like not having a tier low enough) but what are your opinions on SWR, Crate, Blackstar or even Ibanez? Maybe these are more common in the States...all common on the budget side of things, like comparable to Hartke. I have an Ibanez Promethean 300PH Class D Bass Head...something like 300watts @ 4...a really nice, dependable little amp. Any words of warning on SWR, Crate, Blackstar etc?
Very interesting and insightful, thanks Tyler! A little controversial and a nice counterpoint to all the marketing hype out there but on the whole I'd agree. Would be great to get your take on Traynor, which I'd describe as a low cost version of Ampeg. Re your top picks, Aguilar is a little muddy to my ears but like you I've never heard a Bergantino piece of gear that didn't impress.
I generally agree with the list. The Bergantino stuff is probably by favorite. I like Dark Glass overall but as a 90% clean player, I don't feel I would go with them at the time. My main amp is a G-K MB212-II. I wouldn't put them in S class but I might nudge them up to A. I got it at too good of a deal to pass up. Demo model from Sweetwater for $500 plus tax with the warranty. That's a lot of amp for $500. I also get a lot of use out of a Rumble 100 with a replacement speaker. Obviously not giggable by itself but I really like the tone at reasonable volumes and I like the unscooped tone slightly more than the G-K.
Great video! Have you played through the Bugera Veyron T Class D amp? Also, is there separates class D power only amp? This way you could use a nice pre-amp or pedal .
I am absolutely shocked! Why?, you might ask. Because I agree with your rankings in all but one instance. I do believe that GK deserves a bit higher ranking than a "B", but I am with you on all of the others. I personally own three Mesa bass amps (Walkabout Scout 12 combo, M-Pulse 600 head and a WD800), and I love all three of them! Over my 50+ years as a bassist/bass guitarist (I play both upright and electric, but mostly electric bass guitar), I have owned and toured with Ampeg, Fender, Markbass, Thunderfunk, TC Electronic, and the predecessor to Eich amps. However, once I started using Mesa bass amplification, I knew that I had found my ideal bass amp brand. Since the late 1990s, I have also owned several other Mesa bass amps (most notably, a Bass 400+ and a few different M6 and M9 Carbine models). Every one of them has been a superb amp, and they are engineered and built like no other, with the possible exception of Aguilar. Add to that first-rate customer service and technical support, and you just can't beat Mesa Engineering!
Haha! Amazing stuff! Hard to go wrong with that Mesa tone and the versatility and different voices in their range. You’ve got and had some mighty fine amps! T
I have played Aguilar, Epifani ect and loved them both. But it end up with Markbass with the vintage and little Marcus stuff I can really dial in a gray tone for the busy cover band I play with. Replay everything from pitbull to the Allman Brothers and with a little bit of Sadowski pre- I can get all the sounds I want. Thank you for sharing.
Great job, appreciate it! I'm definitely interested in the Mesa stuff, and Aguilar 751 when I can afford one (not as impressed with the Class D like Tonehammer). Wish you'd have included Glockenklang too, heard great things. I've got a GK 1001 and it is a little clanky... but that power section is phenomenally loud and punchy. Only 23 pounds (weight, not currency hah) for 700 watts Class A/B, can't beat it.
I played a Peavy 400 watt w/15" speaker, and when I ran my active bass into the passive input, the sound was quite impressive. Plugged into the active input, not so good. When I cranked it up at a party, it sounded like an angry tree, and knocked a mounted bow saw off the wall. It had a Lot of wooden sounding growl.
Hey Tyler, really enjoyed your ranking vid. Most of the brands I know or have tried / tested. Interesting to see you put Eich in the 'A'-section after watching your video on the 'gigging 1 year with the T900'. But your arguments make sense (on all of the amps). I would have liked to hear if there's any favorites with the Aguilar range, and there's one brand I actually missed, that's the Dutch brand of Vanderkley Amplification. But perhaps I've missed a vid where you did test and review Marc's amps and cabs? Thanks for making such a great channel, just subscribed. Cheers
Hey! Thank you for watching! I haven’t played enough Vanderkley to really give a reasonable opinion, but I know they’re well regarded. I okay an Aguilar DB751 and TH500 - the DB is an amazing, simple amp! T
Hey Tytler, thanks for putting this clip together, I am fairly new to playing bass ( first and foremost a guitarist ) and have been relying on a small Fender Rumble 25, it does the job but I want to upgrade to something that has bit more character. I know the Ampeg amps are quite good, can you recommend a decent Ampeg Combo amp, 50 watts would be my max Last but not least what are your thoughts about the Behringer BDI21 V-Tone Bass Driver DI Pedal for home playing and small gig stuff. Thx for your time and efforts here, Cheers !
I think you nailed it! During the last 40 years I've gone through GK/Eden/MB/Aguilar/Ampeg/Ashdown/Hartke/Genz Benz/Fender Rumble, the rumble and Aguilar were the top 2 for me, with the Fender rumble 800 210 neo combo coming out on top over the Aguilar TH500, mostly due to the higher power and ballsier low end and how easy it is to use on gigs w/ two neo 10's. The Aguilar, for my concerns, required constant fussing about. Until now I didn't realize the rumble was genz benz designed. You did say that right? I'm considering the Aguilar AG700 currently.
I have had the Aguilar AG 700 amp for the past year. It is very clean with lots of head room. It is definitely not scooped and is also different than the Tone Hammer as it does not try to emulate a tube head although I like the Tone Hammer for the tube like signature. I went for the AG 700.
Does anybody know the name or have tabs for the harmonic bass line that's played in many of his videos? It's in the one with fender am performer PJ bass.
Cool video, Tyler. My personal favorite amps are gk and hartke. I’ve used these amps for years and they both served me well. Not to mention that they sound awesome with distortion. Some of the other amps like fender, ebs, Aguilar, mark bass, and darkglass are pretty good. Another amp I think is pretty decent is acoustic.
Amazing! It’s awesome to see everyone’s different tastes - i think it’s clear mine are slightly more to the “warm” side of the spectrum. I’ve never played through and Acoustic but know they have an amazing heritage from the 70s! T
@@TylerSpicer Acoustic amps are pretty decent. they have a warm sound that's suitable for any genre. I've tried one of their amps a year ago and they sounded pretty good.
It'd be cool to have a second video with vanderkley, GR Bass, Blackstar, Glockenklang, Epifani, Quilter, tech21 and even the cheaper options like Behringer, Bugera and Harley Benton.
I’ve not used them, so I wanted to stay away from them rather than make up something that might not really be true! Have you used any of them yourself? Where would you rank them? T
@@TylerSpicer Hell no, my experience is quite limited. I've only played GK, Fender, Marshall, Trace Elliott, Markbass, Hartke and Aguilar I think. Those and my Roland cube practice amp. I am starting to test the waters for a good amp to play stages after years of just playing at home. My idea is to get something nice that will last me a while, but it's hard to get to try them here. That's what your video is so useful. Also my bass teacher agrees with you that aguilars are the bomb. I'm intrigued by the GR Bass, Aguilar, EICH and Bergantino more than anything. Perhaps barefaced cabs too and maybe GK... But I need to save for a while...
@@rafaelaparicio9682 Eich and Bergantino are some of my other favourites. Really killer amps! Great tone and versatility from both, but it’s the character that I absolutely love on the Aguilar stuff. I’ve yet to play GR, but I’ll keep an eye out! T
Just wondering if the Barefaced Cabinets are too clean , almost sterile ? However , some may want a real Hi-Fi type of reproduction . I would be interested in the GR Bass . Their new Aerotech Cabinets use carbon fiber material and are feather weight . They also give a 5 year warranty . Keep the reviews coming !
hey man are you planning on doing a budget bass amp for recording video? i'm currently eyeing either an ampeg ba108v2 or a fender rumble counterpart mic'ed with an sm57 what do you think? should i raise my budget and go for a higher wattage amp?
also would it be worth it to invest in bass amp vsts? with our situation right now my main focus is having good quality recordings and not something for live play
I have one about the ampeg B100R on my channel for just that purpose. I’d suggest investing in a better DI pedal for recording rather than an amp. A 57 and a small 8inch speaker is gonna give you a lot of midrange but not much bottom end support. For recording the wattage is not important. A quality DI would be your best bet e.g. Tech 21 VT Bass or Aguilar TH DI. T
You've not mentioned Acoustic. I've got 2; their B200 combo which is kind of tinny and has a hard time standing out with a drummer, and their B300 head with a 115 cab which gives a rich full sound I Iike. What I want now is that B300/115 tone and power in a smaller package. Suggestions?
The issue I see is that bassists of a certain age will have had the proper amp; say a Trace before being sold off and Eden similarly. From experience, those amps more than hold their own, even now if you are willing to carry them! My Ampeg V4B and 8x10’ was great but got woolly after running for 6 hours on a stage. The Trace, SWR and Eden were a more reliable upgrade (no power valves). Now I have a GB Streamliner 900, which is good and a Quilter BassBlock - good, lightweight amps. With a pair of BB2’s I’m pretty happy BUT, my Eden WT pre running into a QSC 1600W amp through a Bag End 2x10’ and 4x10’ really moved air! I also have Mesa 800+ pre which is sweet into an amp or into the return on the Quilter. Once the FOH gets hold of it, you could be just as well with a Pod XT, monitor wedge or IEM’s!
Tyler have you ever tried Bugera amps? There are a few available online here in the US, but none in any shops around me to try. Demo'd online they sound amazing - but this could be post mix. Also - I know you said you don't care for the lower-end Ashdown stuff - does that mean you would recommend I avoid the new Ashdown 'Studio' models? Thanks!
Hey Michael! I haven’t played any Bugera amps, but I do know they’re mostly clones, so if you like what they’re based on, you’re probably gonna like them! However, early on there was some bad rep with their reliability and even catching fire etc. So I would approach with caution for anything that’s not recent. I think the lower end Ashdown stuff now is pretty solid, if unremarkable to me. The studio stuff looks a little bit of an improvement, but the MAG stuff has never impressed me! T
The Bugera Veyron Mosfet is a killer! A lot of working musicians use it, and for 300 it can't be beat at that range. Get it at Sweetwater, it's super easy to return if you don't like it.
Great video. Really useful I’m only using a TC Electronic BG 250 112 at the moment. I think the sound of it divides opinion within the band. It’s been quite reliable on the whole but nothing really spectacular and as I’m in a blues band I very rarely use the tone print effects.
Thank you for the support, I appreciate it! Have you tried any of the tube drive + compressor toneprints? Some of those compressors can really bring the BH/BGs to life, and would totally fit in a blues setting! T
@@TylerSpicer , thank you very much for the suggestion, that’s really helpful. I will certainly try that at home and next time we are able to rehearse.
@@mickjeynes1172 no problem at all! The value from some of the toneprint capabilities on the TC stuff is really astounding, but you do sometimes have to dig deep and find exactly what works! T
Hey, Tyler, I never play outside of my bedroom, nor am I going to in the nearest future. Would you, please, recommend some practice amp for.this kind of situation? The price really does not matter at all, I just would like to have something that would inspire me to pick up the bass as often as possible with it's sound quality or specifics. In other words - I already own my dream bass, so I am looking for the dream amp. I really rely on your opinion, as I have noticed that I have pretty similar.taste in many things you are reviewing :) Thanksagain fo .your channel, it's one of the go-to places when looking for an information.
Hey! Thank you so much and sorry for taking so long to get back. I'm guessing smaller is better in this instance, so looking for killer tone in a reasonable sized package I would go for a Mesa Boogie Walkabout Scout 12 or 15 Combo. Gorgeous, slightly vintage, but can be made more modern if you want tone. Bloomy low end, warm mids. I think they're great! Alternatively, maybe something like the Aguilar DB115 with a small tone hammer head. Of course, there's also the Ampeg B15 which has made me smile every time I've played one in a way that no other bass amp constantly manages to do. They also sound way better than any B15 sim I've tried... So any of: Mesa Walkabout Scout 12/15 Combo Aguilar Tonehammer 350 + DB115/112 Cab Ampeg B15 Would be my dream amp combinations for your situation. I'd be delighted with any of them and would probably own those, if I didn't need my rig to be more portable for gigs! Thank you for the kind words, and let me know if you end up with any of these - I'll be jealous! T
@@TylerSpicer ,.thank you so much!! It's the most thorough answer I ever got to any of my questions online. Respect. I did some research, and it looks like those models of Mesa and Ampeg that you mentioned have been discontinued. There are some similar amps.in their line-up now, but I have yet to find them and try them out in real life after the end of the lockdown. I am gravitating towards Ampeg. But I'm definitely not going to skip Aguilar as well. Thank you very much, and looking forward to watch your next gear reviews - always trustworthy! 👍
Be interested to hear your thoughts on the Vanderkley Spartan amps. I’ve not tried one, but I do have their 115MN6 cabinet and it’s just a killer piece of kit. Can’t agree with the Fender ranking. Yes, the functionality and tone is there but based on my experience, there’s a major reliability issue with their Bassman 500. I had three identical failures on two different units - three strikes and they’re out I’m afraid. I’m now with a Darkglass AO900. Loving it so far. Others I’ve owned - GK RB700. Totally killer as far as I’m concerned. Love the GK tone and the volume / headroom is immense. The only reason I traded it was it was too heavy for my ageing body lol. Aguilar TH350. Didn’t like the Drive mechanisation - it turns the sparkling highs into mush and I was forever plagued with nasty digital clipping even at moderate volumes. Recently I’ve been using an Ashdown Rootmaster in the rehearsal rooms - really impressive and maybe a future purchase for me.
I would add Genzler, Eich, and Darkglass to the S Tier. Then drop Aguilar and Trickfish to A Tier. "Warmness" is all about frequency response. If you want a warm sound it's about cutting certain mids and adding compression. That's what tubes do. I can get a great tube sound off my Darkglass rig.
Bergantino distribution seems limited. There are a few boutique bass amp firms not on the list, but again, distribution is spotty. And the Mesa range is much smaller? Everyone is going direct?
Hi Tyler, great video. I've nowhere near the amount of amp experience you have, but I've tried most of the brands and am generally in agreement. It's more the top end ones I've never had chance to! My rig for years was a US made Ampeg B2 115 matched with an SVT410HE and it was glorious, I know it isn't their top end but it was always well received. My favourite was an SVT CL as a rock player and got to play through a couple when supporting others. I was wondering if you'd had chance to try the Ashdown RM800? I've recently moved abroad and had to get rid of all of my older gear and so I'm looking at mid-price class D amps. I picked up an Ampeg PN-210HLF cab (which seems to be an unpopular choice, but hey!) and was wondering if the Rootmaster might be a good pairing. No worries if you can't respond. Shame that you're no longer doing the YT stuff, but I'm hoping it's just because your busy and happy. Thanks for this video and the general advice, Jim.
Hey Jim! I appreciate the super kind word on this one! I love the B2 - one of the most underrated, low cost, great sounding amps out there. Not the fanciest, but tone to $ ratio is killer! The RM800 is solid, anything with those bigger 800w ice class D power amplifiers in them always sound better to me. Probably one of your best bets at this point, cheaper than Aguilar options, more reliable than the Ampegs. I am happy and working growing my business in music production with a number of artists. It’s nice to be creating music again! I may be back regularly one day, but right now, building a career in what I love for the long term is the focus - I love music, even if bass always my first love! T
I think they’re really clever and feature packed, but the tone just didn’t really do anything for me. I like the Aguilar sound so Aguilar overall won out for me. I prefer to run the darkglass pedals into the front of the Aguilar rather than treating them as an amp in themselves. T
Did you ever used a Warwick Tubepath? It's kind of heritage now, tubes preamp and mosfet power section. Good quality and versatile sound, over 1000 pounds mark, new.
Wow, Funny I agree with all your choices except for Aguilar. Personally the Bergantino and Epifani heads are my current faves. The only Aguilar I have owned is the Tone Hammer and wasn’t that impressed with the sound palette. Think you missed the Epifani heads. Never understood why people like Hartke, although there are some stellar players using them. Wish you would do a speaker cabinet ranking too.
Thanks for sharing! I've unfortunately not played an Epifani head, but have only heard good things! I could definitely do a speaker cabinet ranking, I'm looking into doing more tier lists so that's a good idea! T
Interesting choice. I agree with Harke, had one for a few years and could never find the sound I wanted from them. I have a Mesa cab that is awesome. My favourite has to be EBS just love the tone, swapped out all my gear for an EBS micro bass 3 pedal which I really enjoy playing through. I found ashdown cabs were terrible and unreliable.
All makes sense. It's hard to elevate Ampeg to the top tier, just because they've widened the range to cover everything from meh entry level, up to rock monsters. But, I feel that recently, for the solid working intermediate level practical working musician amps, Ampeg are beating Aguilar's Tonehammers and similar, with the Venture series. And, I like Ampeg's cab range better too, there's more great options. And then, on the Vintage side, if I was in a studio/recording side, I'd probably prefer to have an Ampeg V-4b than an Aguilar. But, like you said, if your a fan of that character of sound - you're a fan for life. Once you get into the big amps, Aguilar excels. Can hear it comparing Rocco Palladino's bass sound on the recent Malibu live recording on Aguilar, vs the older Joshua one on Ampeg. Whether it's playing or recording, no doubt in my mind, the newer recording on the Aguilar both sounds much better and is the better practical choice.
My rankings: 1) Ampeg - This is specifically for their tube amps: the SVT, V4-B, the PF-50T, and the B15-N. There will never be anything that sounds better than Ampeg tube amp through an 810 or 212 Ampeg cab, in my opinion. 2) Fender - The most variety of great amps. That ranges all the way from the very cheap Rumble to the midpriced Bassman to the all-tube Superbassman. 3) Orange - Mostly here for the AD200B. Best tube bass head I've heard. I also like some of their smaller amps, but they don't have the variety that the brands above them have. 4) Mesa Boogie - I really like their Subway series as well as the Walkabout. But this ranking is really for the Mesa Boogie Bass Prodigy Four: 88. Incredible all-tube amp if you can find it. Yes, I'm a tube snob. 5) Darkglass - Amazing if you play metal. I don't. But I have to respect the design and practicality of these. 6) MarkBass - Pretty sterile, but not bad. 7) Hartke - Horrible. Would not own one of these again. 8) TC Electronic - Somehow worse than Hartke. May just be the one combo I owned, though. I've heard the newer standalone heads are better. I haven't tried the rest, except for one Peavey combo when I was 14. I didn't know what a good amp even sounded like at the time, so I'm not going to rank them.
Great input. I'm a newbie, so I love to hear other peoples opinions. Thank you for your take on it. I have just ordered a Ibanez EBH 1000, so I'm looking for my first AMP Combo. Do you have an opinion on a specific model for a newbie like me who want to learn some slap bass?
@@darwinsaye yeah and I don't even find that to be very surprising. Ampeg is a brand where you get a very similar tone with any of their products really. It's really nice when you're on a budget and want a good tone but the drawback is that you'll only get that Ampeg tone haha
Recently ordered an Aguilar cab and had earmarked the WD800 head to match - unfortunately Mesa are giving a 12-month wait for any of their heads reaching the UK atm. So pissed off!
I think EBS should be a bit higher - they won BassPlayer magazines Best amp of 2020 with the solid state monster - the 802. The Reidmar 750 is one of the best sounding d class heads out there. And their cabinets are premium.
Not really well known but Splawn Amplification is great. Guitar amps but bass sounds fantastic thru it . Custom made amps at mass produced prices all custom made by one person.
I have the tc eletronic 250w with the 12 inch speaker, I don't really love that amp I think it sounds kinda cheap for what promote on videos and popularity, also the speaker give me the impression that is slow when I slap. I would put TC on the D category
Interesting! My TC experience was primarily with the Heads and Barefaced cabs. I’ve enjoyed the RH cans when I’ve used them, but definitely cheaper speakers in those combos. T
I also have TC 250w and a Trace Eliot 12'' cab, it sounded OK I guess, until I added SansAmp Bass DI. now it sounds as I want, from AMPEG to ultra-modern depending on the song\tune.
Some nice amps...suprised at Warwick but your talking class D,i use the class A Warwick WA-300...better than class D, their heavy as solid state class A but so clean with a great compression set up & defeatable 12 band eq...shame no footpedal then it would have 2 channels....300w does enough for me as class A... built like a tank & goes very loud.. I luv my EBS Magni 500 15" combo...best class D i've ever heard/used....I use Ashdowns to...luv their cabs & sound....
Which Trace Elliot models have you played? I have a Trace elliot gp12 smx. I use a p bass with my TE. People associate it with one sound(scooped mids slap sound) but I personally i like my TE since i find it very versatile, i use the 12 band eq to boost the mids and i can shape it into a black sabbath, geezer butler the tone. It also comes with a preshape that has a scooped tone which is perfect if you are going for the scooped slap bass sound. Both of these are controlled with a footswitch so it allows me to go from a mid boosted rock tone - neutral tone - scooped tone by the click of 2 footswitches. Its a hybrid amp so it gets the transistor sound but can still can blend in a hint of tube warmth. That said i will still want an all valve amp eventually too.
Nice! That’s probably a much better analysis overall. I’ve only ever used a couple of combo models and big stacks without 12 bands. Just always felt a little unrefined to me and super heavy. Then again there’s a recording out there of me DI into one and it does sound good, but up on stage not for me. Really with a 12 band you should be to make most any amp do any sound you fancy, so I can see why my analysis seems a bit unfair in that regard. Good to get your experience and views, for sure! T
@@TylerSpicer oh yeah its super heavy and thats a pain. everyone has their own taste and i respect that. Also they are super cheap second hand, i got mine for £110 300w amp with 4x10 speakers.
@@jupiterjames-reynolds2260 that sounds like a bargain! I nearly shifted across to ashdown for the same reason - super cheap resale here makes them quite compelling if you’re on a budget, or don’t want a massive chunk of cash sat in your rig unused... Oh wait that’s the story of 2020 🤣😅 To think I upgraded my rig for all the touring I had booked in this year 😬 oh well, the time will come again! T
I agree with you for the most part, at least in terms of brands that I've tried. 2 things though: TC Electronic is owned by Behringer and ethically, I can't touch that brand. Second, GK is a brand I'll never touch again. I had an amp from them over 20 years ago that I sent to the California factory for repair and this is what happened: when I got the amp back 2-3 months later, it wasn't even fixed properly (bi-amp model... woofer amp worked, tweeter amp still did not work). More importantly, there was a Guitar Center price tag attached to it... 🤔? It took me a few moments to piece together what happened. Gallien-Krueger was too incompetent to fix their own equipment, so they outsourced the job to Guitar Center, of all places! Cuz I go to GC for ALL my quality repair work, upgrades, and equipment (sarcasm intended). And then, Guitar F'ing Center used my F'ing equipment for a floor demo model, which is absolutely unacceptable. For the same price of shipping and repair, I could have had Schroeder in Chicago (which was local - now defunct) repair the amp and probably make it better. But GK said they could take care of it, and even encouraged me to send it out there cuz they could do superior work. What a joke of a company.
The opinionated nerd in me is going crazy as my list would look very different to yours :-D Being serious though, very much enjoyed the video. I could discuss the pros and cons of bass gear for hours.
Hahahaha! I’m not surprised as I’m sure I’d be the same with someone else’s list! Glad you enjoyed the video though, they’re fun to make! Which is the one brand you’d say I’d got wrong? T
@@TylerSpicer From my experience I'd be putting Markbass in S, I think they are outstanding value for money and I'm a fan of the MB tone. I'd have Ashdown pretty low, never a fan of their stuff. I'd have Glockenklang up in S too, I know this brand was not on your list but damn are they good amps! I would'nt say you got anything wrong, it's all subjective. Good to have a friendly squabble over though, ha ha!
Trace Elliot were an amp of their time. The first real high-end boutique brand in the 80's. They were great at that time, I used them and gigged them extensively. The TE stuff now under Peavey is TE in name only. I'm pretty much the opposite of you when it comes to amps - the more neutral the better for me such as EA and Phil Jones. But I still LOVE the sound of an SVT 300 watt tube head!!
Totally, and I think that's a trend that polarises bassists quite significantly. I like a bit of character, warm with a light top end air suits me and the genres I play, but I know a lot of players moving towards the clearer more netural side. Both work well, but i've never declined to plugin in to an ampeg on the festival backline!
Yeah the old Trace was the shit. im trying to find something that will replace my old Trace Elliot Ah350. A sweet solid state amp, with a 12 band graphic . I'm looking at getting maybe an EBS 802.
I would just mention that some of these brands have a rich history of Upright amplification (gk, ea) and that the needs for that are pretty different. Eich is the only head I have heard that sounded equally great on upright and six string electric with active electronics.
@@TylerSpicer I use to run a Eden WT stereo head bridges to 1200watts at 4 ohms into a vanderkley 4x10 and it was as near to perfect I have had for bass tone. Wish I didn’t have to sell it all and wish I could afford a full vanderkley setup. Great video 👌
Have to admit, I dont agree with some of your choices - but I will concede that this might be because some of the brands/gear I'm using is quite old now. I suppose the fact that I'm also not talking about D Class Amps for starters, gives you an idea of where I'm coming from. I've always found Hartke, Eden and Trace Elliot to have amazing tones/sounds - NO WAY would I have put these into the C Tier. Try and tell Victor Wooten that his tone sucks with his Hartkes!
Had to stop the video at 4:27. Victor Wooten, Billy Sheehan, Frank Bello, Dave Ellefson, etc. use Hartke for a reason. I know this list is subjective, but your tastes are better suited for a classic thumpy dark tone. Not my thing.
Видеоклипы
I have that Fender Rumble 800 class D head that you mentioned... I absolutely LOVE it! So light, portable, and powerful.
It’s a quality head, absolutely outstanding for the price!!! T
I run the Rumble 800 too, amazing head. I’m looking to pair it with one 4ohms Markbass 410 cab. I’m using a 8ohm rumble 410, and just want to upgrade to a bit nicer quality speakers, plus the lighter weight.
I’m about to trade my Darkglass e500 for this Rumble 800. Darkglass never released the midi foot switch, so connecting via Bluetooth to the Heat & accessing the app for the pedals is almost overkill.
This video was very informative! Nice job. Some of these companies I wondered about and you rated them for good reasons.
Definitely agree with Bergantino being top tier. I have the B|Amp and NXT 212 cab. Best sounding gear I’ve ever heard !
Super appreciate your insights!
Thank you for watching! No problem at all! T
Great video. I also watched some of your other video's and like how you can convey a lot of interesting information in little time.
To the point: For live gigs I use a Markbass Little Mark III top and an Epifani UL210 cabinet. It's sounds great/ok (loud). But I find it difficult to get the right amp head - cabinet COMBINATION (or combo).
Maybe you could also make a video about these amp head-cabinet combinations. Or maybe you did already and I missed it, just subscribed :)
My EBS HD350 is great amp! Had it for nearly a year now second hand and it's perfect for every genre I've used it for (punk, metal, funk, blues rock/americana). Really solid head and I love it!
That’s awesome! I know they’re definitely quality pieces of gear! T
@@TylerSpicer they sure are! Sounds huge though my 410 ashdown cab
@@NoahBassman plenty of low end coming out of those ashdowns and plenty of solid power from the EBS sounds like a great combo! T
@@TylerSpicer absolutely is man!
Great video, much appreciated 👍
I’ve used or owned many of the brands you mentioned and tend to agree. I had a DB750 a decade ago and loved it though heart resides with a GK 800 RB and Ampeg Anniversary Fridge. Love to get a Berg 610 someday. Thanks again.
Thank you for watching! The GK RBs are great! And I’ve never heard a bad Berg cabinet... They always sound killer! 💪🏻 T
I generally agree. I’ve only been playing for 6 years. I have owned 8 basses and 5 bass amps. I’ve played some on your list in stores and heard some through good headphones on RUclips, etc.. I currently have TC Electronic 115 and a Fender Rumble 40 that are both good, but I have always been haunted by my first amp’s sound which was from a small Ampeg. I think I have finally figured out the basses and amps I want, and plan to get a new Ampeg BA-115 v2.
For sure! If you like the Ampeg thing (I mean we've heard it on so many records its hard not to!) Then that's something that's hard to avoid! T
Nice video Tyler. I mis the Vanderkley amplication, I Love it, its great sounding.
I haven’t used Vanderkley enough to be able to give a proper opinion on it - but I know it’s good quality stuff! T
Great video Tyler even though you may have tramped on a few toes lol lol, but hey variety is the spice of life as they say and the bank balance helps as well ! cheers man
Haha! I know right! These are gonna get more contentious I imagine as they go on... Will be fun discussions to be had though! Thanks for watching once again my man! T
Very useful for someone new to bass guitar (like me). Thanks! :)
No problem at all! Always glad to help, let me know if you ever have any questions, amp or otherwise! T
Agreed!
Great video! While I completely understand not liking the Hydrive series (SOOOOOO bright and clicky), the older Hartke amps like the HA series have always blown me away especially for how cheaply they can be found in the used market. Kind of the opposite of how you described Eden IMO - super tight and VERY mid heavy with not so much emphasis on highs and booming lows. I feel like they do funk and slap perfectly!
Great selection and countdown.
I like the Genzler as my top amp and bass but Agullar is a hands down number 1
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it! T
nice video man keep it up, i almost agree 100% with it, i also agree with aguilar to be the best one of the bunch, but nether to say all amps below of the tier list are good enough too it's just personal preference , but i really never though that mesa amps are so good for bass maybe someday i will try one P.S. lol you're pronunciation of aguilar its funny btw
Haha! Thank you for the support my man! Aguilar just takes it for me, but I love the versatility and different voices in the Mesa range! T
The best heads I've owned Mesa Boogie Impulse 700 , Darkglass Alpha Omega 900. Loved both of these.
I agree with you on all the ranking (except for a few brands I never tried). I would add Quilter in the A category.
Hey man I really appreciate your videos they've gotten me interested in playing an electric bass. I'm actually a double bass player and have been wanting to try out the electric bass for a while. Do you have any recommendations for which type of electric bass would be good to transition on?
Great perspective. I agree on all brands except EA. EA iAmp 800 and iAmp classic can add a great tone at louder volumes when the input gain is driven slightly into the red. Hard to do in an apartment or studio so not everyone gets to experience the benefits when trying them out. True, they are expensive. Great abilities to nail an "acoustic" upright tone when used with a piezo through the EQ. The presets are outstanding as well to modify tone for upright or bass guitar.
Nice to hear! I do know their ability on upright is killer! T
I got an ampeg 6 months ago and it's a beast. Love it. It's got a crazy super gain mode too. RB 210.
I mostly agree with you and your list. Even though some brands surprise me (EBS for instance).
In my case, I have using Ashdown amps for a long time. I currently use a RM500 Evo, but my favourite amp has always been my ABM EVO II. I regret selling it. But I'll get an ABM EVO IV in the future.
I also use Aguilar amps a lot. Especially the Tone Hammer 500. It just sounds amazing. Not a fan of the Drive feature (even though I love the AGS in the Tone Hammer pedal). Mesa is also one of my favourite brands.
That’s awesome! Yeah I’m a big fan of all 3 of those manufacturers! I think the drive on the Aguilar can be cool in a mix, but I struggle with it in isolation. T
I've owned so many of the brands you've rated here, even the ones at the top end...I now have owned a Bergantino B|AMP plus their CN112 and CN210 cabinets for a few years and that system in itself is the all-time top sounding rig I've ever played through, let alone owned. Jim Bergantino is a real master and designs the finest ever bass gear available!!! I took my gear to a jam night some time ago and several guys played through it without changing the EQ. Many different bass orientated instruments were used, including passive one pickup designs, passive two pickups and active one and two pickups, as well as a rubber/plastic stringed ukele. All l did was adjust the input gain. Everything sounded amazing and competed equally. Yes indeed, Bergantino is without any doubt, the finest.....Den Finch xxx
It’s top stuff and a mighty rig you have there. Thank you for watching! T
Hey there!! Thanks a lot for the informative video, I'm in the process of figuring out which way to go with amps and this has been extremely helpful. On a side note, are you familiar with glokenklang amps and if so where would you rank them?
Thanks a lot in advance for your time, cheers!!!
Thanks for the video. I'm hesitant to ask this because I feel like if you omitted a brand from the list, it's probably for a good reason (like not having a tier low enough) but what are your opinions on SWR, Crate, Blackstar or even Ibanez? Maybe these are more common in the States...all common on the budget side of things, like comparable to Hartke. I have an Ibanez Promethean 300PH Class D Bass Head...something like 300watts @ 4...a really nice, dependable little amp. Any words of warning on SWR, Crate, Blackstar etc?
Very interesting and insightful, thanks Tyler! A little controversial and a nice counterpoint to all the marketing hype out there but on the whole I'd agree. Would be great to get your take on Traynor, which I'd describe as a low cost version of Ampeg. Re your top picks, Aguilar is a little muddy to my ears but like you I've never heard a Bergantino piece of gear that didn't impress.
I've always wanted to give Traynor a try, but they're tough to come by over here! Only heard good things though! T
I generally agree with the list. The Bergantino stuff is probably by favorite. I like Dark Glass overall but as a 90% clean player, I don't feel I would go with them at the time. My main amp is a G-K MB212-II. I wouldn't put them in S class but I might nudge them up to A. I got it at too good of a deal to pass up. Demo model from Sweetwater for $500 plus tax with the warranty. That's a lot of amp for $500. I also get a lot of use out of a Rumble 100 with a replacement speaker. Obviously not giggable by itself but I really like the tone at reasonable volumes and I like the unscooped tone slightly more than the G-K.
Great video! Have you played through the Bugera Veyron T Class D amp? Also, is there separates class D power only amp? This way you could use a nice pre-amp or pedal .
I am absolutely shocked! Why?, you might ask. Because I agree with your rankings in all but one instance. I do believe that GK deserves a bit higher ranking than a "B", but I am with you on all of the others. I personally own three Mesa bass amps (Walkabout Scout 12 combo, M-Pulse 600 head and a WD800), and I love all three of them! Over my 50+ years as a bassist/bass guitarist (I play both upright and electric, but mostly electric bass guitar), I have owned and toured with Ampeg, Fender, Markbass, Thunderfunk, TC Electronic, and the predecessor to Eich amps. However, once I started using Mesa bass amplification, I knew that I had found my ideal bass amp brand. Since the late 1990s, I have also owned several other Mesa bass amps (most notably, a Bass 400+ and a few different M6 and M9 Carbine models). Every one of them has been a superb amp, and they are engineered and built like no other, with the possible exception of Aguilar. Add to that first-rate customer service and technical support, and you just can't beat Mesa Engineering!
Haha! Amazing stuff! Hard to go wrong with that Mesa tone and the versatility and different voices in their range. You’ve got and had some mighty fine amps! T
I have played Aguilar, Epifani ect and loved them both. But it end up with Markbass with the vintage and little Marcus stuff I can really dial in a gray tone for the busy cover band I play with. Replay everything from pitbull to the Allman Brothers and with a little bit of Sadowski pre- I can get all the sounds I want. Thank you for sharing.
Great job, appreciate it! I'm definitely interested in the Mesa stuff, and Aguilar 751 when I can afford one (not as impressed with the Class D like Tonehammer). Wish you'd have included Glockenklang too, heard great things.
I've got a GK 1001 and it is a little clanky... but that power section is phenomenally loud and punchy. Only 23 pounds (weight, not currency hah) for 700 watts Class A/B, can't beat it.
I played a Peavy 400 watt w/15" speaker, and when I ran my active bass into the passive input, the sound was quite impressive. Plugged into the active input, not so good. When I cranked it up at a party, it sounded like an angry tree, and knocked a mounted bow saw off the wall. It had a Lot of wooden sounding growl.
Great info Tyler. What do you think about AER amps?
Hey Tyler, really enjoyed your ranking vid. Most of the brands I know or have tried / tested. Interesting to see you put Eich in the 'A'-section after watching your video on the 'gigging 1 year with the T900'. But your arguments make sense (on all of the amps). I would have liked to hear if there's any favorites with the Aguilar range, and there's one brand I actually missed, that's the Dutch brand of Vanderkley Amplification. But perhaps I've missed a vid where you did test and review Marc's amps and cabs?
Thanks for making such a great channel, just subscribed. Cheers
Hey! Thank you for watching! I haven’t played enough Vanderkley to really give a reasonable opinion, but I know they’re well regarded. I okay an Aguilar DB751 and TH500 - the DB is an amazing, simple amp! T
Hey Tytler, thanks for putting this clip together, I am fairly new to playing bass ( first and foremost a guitarist ) and have been relying on a small Fender Rumble 25, it does the job but I want to upgrade to something that has bit more character. I know the Ampeg amps are quite good, can you recommend a decent Ampeg Combo amp, 50 watts would be my max Last but not least what are your thoughts about the Behringer BDI21 V-Tone Bass Driver DI Pedal for home playing and small gig stuff. Thx for your time and efforts here, Cheers !
Buy a SansAmp DI, the best sound\cost return you can get.
I think you nailed it! During the last 40 years I've gone through GK/Eden/MB/Aguilar/Ampeg/Ashdown/Hartke/Genz Benz/Fender Rumble, the rumble and Aguilar were the top 2 for me, with the Fender rumble 800 210 neo combo coming out on top over the Aguilar TH500, mostly due to the higher power and ballsier low end and how easy it is to use on gigs w/ two neo 10's. The Aguilar, for my concerns, required constant fussing about. Until now I didn't realize the rumble was genz benz designed. You did say that right? I'm considering the Aguilar AG700 currently.
I have had the Aguilar AG 700 amp for the past year. It is very clean with lots of head room. It is definitely not scooped and is also different than the Tone Hammer as it does not try to emulate a tube head although I like the Tone Hammer for the tube like signature. I went for the AG 700.
Great job ! I enjoyed your break down. Which Aguilar amp do you use? They have a few different one's.
Thank you for watching and the kind words! I use a DB751 90% of the time, but also have a TH500 as a portable rig. T
@@TylerSpicer Thanks
Does anybody know the name or have tabs for the harmonic bass line that's played in many of his videos? It's in the one with fender am performer PJ bass.
Cool video, Tyler. My personal favorite amps are gk and hartke. I’ve used these amps for years and they both served me well. Not to mention that they sound awesome with distortion. Some of the other amps like fender, ebs, Aguilar, mark bass, and darkglass are pretty good. Another amp I think is pretty decent is acoustic.
Amazing! It’s awesome to see everyone’s different tastes - i think it’s clear mine are slightly more to the “warm” side of the spectrum. I’ve never played through and Acoustic but know they have an amazing heritage from the 70s! T
@@TylerSpicer Acoustic amps are pretty decent. they have a warm sound that's suitable for any genre. I've tried one of their amps a year ago and they sounded pretty good.
It'd be cool to have a second video with vanderkley, GR Bass, Blackstar, Glockenklang, Epifani, Quilter, tech21 and even the cheaper options like Behringer, Bugera and Harley Benton.
I’ve not used them, so I wanted to stay away from them rather than make up something that might not really be true! Have you used any of them yourself? Where would you rank them? T
@@TylerSpicer Hell no, my experience is quite limited. I've only played GK, Fender, Marshall, Trace Elliott, Markbass, Hartke and Aguilar I think. Those and my Roland cube practice amp. I am starting to test the waters for a good amp to play stages after years of just playing at home. My idea is to get something nice that will last me a while, but it's hard to get to try them here. That's what your video is so useful. Also my bass teacher agrees with you that aguilars are the bomb.
I'm intrigued by the GR Bass, Aguilar, EICH and Bergantino more than anything. Perhaps barefaced cabs too and maybe GK... But I need to save for a while...
@@rafaelaparicio9682 Eich and Bergantino are some of my other favourites. Really killer amps! Great tone and versatility from both, but it’s the character that I absolutely love on the Aguilar stuff. I’ve yet to play GR, but I’ll keep an eye out! T
Just wondering if the Barefaced Cabinets are too clean , almost sterile ? However , some may want a real Hi-Fi type of reproduction . I would be interested in the GR Bass . Their new Aerotech Cabinets use carbon fiber material and are feather weight . They also give a 5 year warranty . Keep the reviews coming !
PJB, Phil Jones?
hey man are you planning on doing a budget bass amp for recording video? i'm currently eyeing either an ampeg ba108v2 or a fender rumble counterpart mic'ed with an sm57 what do you think? should i raise my budget and go for a higher wattage amp?
also would it be worth it to invest in bass amp vsts? with our situation right now my main focus is having good quality recordings and not something for live play
I have one about the ampeg B100R on my channel for just that purpose. I’d suggest investing in a better DI pedal for recording rather than an amp. A 57 and a small 8inch speaker is gonna give you a lot of midrange but not much bottom end support. For recording the wattage is not important. A quality DI would be your best bet e.g. Tech 21 VT Bass or Aguilar TH DI. T
Tyler Spicer thanks for the reply!
Hi Tyler, I really like your videos!! Where does Darkglass fall on the list?
You've not mentioned Acoustic. I've got 2; their B200 combo which is kind of tinny and has a hard time standing out with a drummer, and their B300 head with a 115 cab which gives a rich full sound I Iike. What I want now is that B300/115 tone and power in a smaller package. Suggestions?
The issue I see is that bassists of a certain age will have had the proper amp; say a Trace before being sold off and Eden similarly. From experience, those amps more than hold their own, even now if you are willing to carry them! My Ampeg V4B and 8x10’ was great but got woolly after running for 6 hours on a stage. The Trace, SWR and Eden were a more reliable upgrade (no power valves). Now I have a GB Streamliner 900, which is good and a Quilter BassBlock - good, lightweight amps. With a pair of BB2’s I’m pretty happy BUT, my Eden WT pre running into a QSC 1600W amp through a Bag End 2x10’ and 4x10’ really moved air! I also have Mesa 800+ pre which is sweet into an amp or into the return on the Quilter. Once the FOH gets hold of it, you could be just as well with a Pod XT, monitor wedge or IEM’s!
Tyler have you ever tried Bugera amps? There are a few available online here in the US, but none in any shops around me to try. Demo'd online they sound amazing - but this could be post mix. Also - I know you said you don't care for the lower-end Ashdown stuff - does that mean you would recommend I avoid the new Ashdown 'Studio' models? Thanks!
Hey Michael! I haven’t played any Bugera amps, but I do know they’re mostly clones, so if you like what they’re based on, you’re probably gonna like them! However, early on there was some bad rep with their reliability and even catching fire etc. So I would approach with caution for anything that’s not recent. I think the lower end Ashdown stuff now is pretty solid, if unremarkable to me. The studio stuff looks a little bit of an improvement, but the MAG stuff has never impressed me! T
@@TylerSpicer Thanks Tyler!
No problem at all! T
The Bugera Veyron Mosfet is a killer! A lot of working musicians use it, and for 300 it can't be beat at that range. Get it at Sweetwater, it's super easy to return if you don't like it.
Tyler did you include the updated GK line in this ranking?
Great video. Really useful
I’m only using a TC Electronic BG 250 112 at the moment. I think the sound of it divides opinion within the band. It’s been quite reliable on the whole but nothing really spectacular and as I’m in a blues band I very rarely use the tone print effects.
Thank you for the support, I appreciate it! Have you tried any of the tube drive + compressor toneprints? Some of those compressors can really bring the BH/BGs to life, and would totally fit in a blues setting! T
@@TylerSpicer , thank you very much for the suggestion, that’s really helpful. I will certainly try that at home and next time we are able to rehearse.
@@mickjeynes1172 no problem at all! The value from some of the toneprint capabilities on the TC stuff is really astounding, but you do sometimes have to dig deep and find exactly what works! T
@@TylerSpicer , that’s brilliant. Once again thank you for the advice. 👍
@@mickjeynes1172 no problem! Let me know how it goes! T
Hey, Tyler,
I never play outside of my bedroom, nor am I going to in the nearest future.
Would you, please, recommend some practice amp for.this kind of situation? The price really does not matter at all, I just would like to have something that would inspire me to pick up the bass as often as possible with it's sound quality or specifics. In other words - I already own my dream bass, so I am looking for the dream amp.
I really rely on your opinion, as I have noticed that I have pretty similar.taste in many things you are reviewing :)
Thanksagain fo .your channel, it's one of the go-to places when looking for an information.
Hey! Thank you so much and sorry for taking so long to get back.
I'm guessing smaller is better in this instance, so looking for killer tone in a reasonable sized package I would go for a Mesa Boogie Walkabout Scout 12 or 15 Combo. Gorgeous, slightly vintage, but can be made more modern if you want tone. Bloomy low end, warm mids. I think they're great! Alternatively, maybe something like the Aguilar DB115 with a small tone hammer head. Of course, there's also the Ampeg B15 which has made me smile every time I've played one in a way that no other bass amp constantly manages to do. They also sound way better than any B15 sim I've tried...
So any of:
Mesa Walkabout Scout 12/15 Combo
Aguilar Tonehammer 350 + DB115/112 Cab
Ampeg B15
Would be my dream amp combinations for your situation. I'd be delighted with any of them and would probably own those, if I didn't need my rig to be more portable for gigs!
Thank you for the kind words, and let me know if you end up with any of these - I'll be jealous! T
@@TylerSpicer ,.thank you so much!! It's the most thorough answer I ever got to any of my questions online. Respect.
I did some research, and it looks like those models of Mesa and Ampeg that you mentioned have been discontinued. There are some similar amps.in their line-up now, but I have yet to find them and try them out in real life after the end of the lockdown. I am gravitating towards Ampeg. But I'm definitely not going to skip Aguilar as well.
Thank you very much, and looking forward to watch your next gear reviews - always trustworthy! 👍
Hey! I am also a bedroom player :) I have an Ampeg BA-108 and really like it!
Be interested to hear your thoughts on the Vanderkley Spartan amps. I’ve not tried one, but I do have their 115MN6 cabinet and it’s just a killer piece of kit.
Can’t agree with the Fender ranking. Yes, the functionality and tone is there but based on my experience, there’s a major reliability issue with their Bassman 500. I had three identical failures on two different units - three strikes and they’re out I’m afraid.
I’m now with a Darkglass AO900. Loving it so far.
Others I’ve owned - GK RB700. Totally killer as far as I’m concerned. Love the GK tone and the volume / headroom is immense. The only reason I traded it was it was too heavy for my ageing body lol.
Aguilar TH350. Didn’t like the Drive mechanisation - it turns the sparkling highs into mush and I was forever plagued with nasty digital clipping even at moderate volumes.
Recently I’ve been using an Ashdown Rootmaster in the rehearsal rooms - really impressive and maybe a future purchase for me.
I have played GK's for 30 years, just got a Neo-IV cab - loud and light!
Have you heard or tried Demeter amps? They make a terrific tube pre-amp. Just wanted to know what you think of their amps. Thanks 👍
Great job 👍👌. I use a Glockenklang Bass Art amp for my super clean sound. It's kinda heavy and not made anymore. Thanks again.
What brands do you recommend for post-punk music?
I would add Genzler, Eich, and Darkglass to the S Tier. Then drop Aguilar and Trickfish to A Tier. "Warmness" is all about frequency response. If you want a warm sound it's about cutting certain mids and adding compression. That's what tubes do. I can get a great tube sound off my Darkglass rig.
Bergantino distribution seems limited. There are a few boutique bass amp firms not on the list, but again, distribution is spotty. And the Mesa range is much smaller? Everyone is going direct?
Hi Tyler, great video. I've nowhere near the amount of amp experience you have, but I've tried most of the brands and am generally in agreement. It's more the top end ones I've never had chance to! My rig for years was a US made Ampeg B2 115 matched with an SVT410HE and it was glorious, I know it isn't their top end but it was always well received. My favourite was an SVT CL as a rock player and got to play through a couple when supporting others. I was wondering if you'd had chance to try the Ashdown RM800? I've recently moved abroad and had to get rid of all of my older gear and so I'm looking at mid-price class D amps. I picked up an Ampeg PN-210HLF cab (which seems to be an unpopular choice, but hey!) and was wondering if the Rootmaster might be a good pairing. No worries if you can't respond. Shame that you're no longer doing the YT stuff, but I'm hoping it's just because your busy and happy. Thanks for this video and the general advice, Jim.
Hey Jim!
I appreciate the super kind word on this one! I love the B2 - one of the most underrated, low cost, great sounding amps out there. Not the fanciest, but tone to $ ratio is killer! The RM800 is solid, anything with those bigger 800w ice class D power amplifiers in them always sound better to me. Probably one of your best bets at this point, cheaper than Aguilar options, more reliable than the Ampegs.
I am happy and working growing my business in music production with a number of artists. It’s nice to be creating music again! I may be back regularly one day, but right now, building a career in what I love for the long term is the focus - I love music, even if bass always my first love! T
@@TylerSpicer Thanks for the advice. As long as you're well and happy, it's all good. Thanks again.
Have thought about trying Aguilar though, can imagine tone hammer 500 sounding good with 2 Barefaced 10s
I think so! Rich and warm with good punch and bottom from those 10s i reckon bog fan of the BF10s! T
Either that or an ampeg pf800 for my Barefaced big baby
Thank you Tyler, Aguilar for me.
what do you think about darkglass amps? thinking about either getting aguilar stuff or darkglass head + aguilar cab
I think they’re really clever and feature packed, but the tone just didn’t really do anything for me. I like the Aguilar sound so Aguilar overall won out for me. I prefer to run the darkglass pedals into the front of the Aguilar rather than treating them as an amp in themselves. T
@@TylerSpicer based. the darkglass amps seem a bit gimmicky and overpriced to me but i appreciate your input on the matter as a content creator
@@oldethangoogleacc8484 totally. Definitely expensive amps! Thanks my man, appreciate it. T
Did you ever used a Warwick Tubepath? It's kind of heritage now, tubes preamp and mosfet power section. Good quality and versatile sound, over 1000 pounds mark, new.
WD-800 + Bergantino NXT212 here. Amazing together. Now if I could just play worth a damn...
Wow, Funny I agree with all your choices except for Aguilar. Personally the Bergantino and Epifani heads are my current faves. The only Aguilar I have owned is the Tone Hammer and wasn’t that impressed with the sound palette. Think you missed the Epifani heads. Never understood why people like Hartke, although there are some stellar players using them. Wish you would do a speaker cabinet ranking too.
Thanks for sharing! I've unfortunately not played an Epifani head, but have only heard good things! I could definitely do a speaker cabinet ranking, I'm looking into doing more tier lists so that's a good idea! T
Aguilar is completely overrated:(
I love my Epifani amps. Wouldn’t trade them for anything else.
Interesting choice. I agree with Harke, had one for a few years and could never find the sound I wanted from them. I have a Mesa cab that is awesome. My favourite has to be EBS just love the tone, swapped out all my gear for an EBS micro bass 3 pedal which I really enjoy playing through. I found ashdown cabs were terrible and unreliable.
All makes sense. It's hard to elevate Ampeg to the top tier, just because they've widened the range to cover everything from meh entry level, up to rock monsters. But, I feel that recently, for the solid working intermediate level practical working musician amps, Ampeg are beating Aguilar's Tonehammers and similar, with the Venture series. And, I like Ampeg's cab range better too, there's more great options. And then, on the Vintage side, if I was in a studio/recording side, I'd probably prefer to have an Ampeg V-4b than an Aguilar. But, like you said, if your a fan of that character of sound - you're a fan for life. Once you get into the big amps, Aguilar excels. Can hear it comparing Rocco Palladino's bass sound on the recent Malibu live recording on Aguilar, vs the older Joshua one on Ampeg. Whether it's playing or recording, no doubt in my mind, the newer recording on the Aguilar both sounds much better and is the better practical choice.
Where would you place GRBass in your list?
Have you checked out the Marcus Miller basses? I’ve heard good things about them.
My rankings:
1) Ampeg - This is specifically for their tube amps: the SVT, V4-B, the PF-50T, and the B15-N. There will never be anything that sounds better than Ampeg tube amp through an 810 or 212 Ampeg cab, in my opinion.
2) Fender - The most variety of great amps. That ranges all the way from the very cheap Rumble to the midpriced Bassman to the all-tube Superbassman.
3) Orange - Mostly here for the AD200B. Best tube bass head I've heard. I also like some of their smaller amps, but they don't have the variety that the brands above them have.
4) Mesa Boogie - I really like their Subway series as well as the Walkabout. But this ranking is really for the Mesa Boogie Bass Prodigy Four: 88. Incredible all-tube amp if you can find it. Yes, I'm a tube snob.
5) Darkglass - Amazing if you play metal. I don't. But I have to respect the design and practicality of these.
6) MarkBass - Pretty sterile, but not bad.
7) Hartke - Horrible. Would not own one of these again.
8) TC Electronic - Somehow worse than Hartke. May just be the one combo I owned, though. I've heard the newer standalone heads are better.
I haven't tried the rest, except for one Peavey combo when I was 14. I didn't know what a good amp even sounded like at the time, so I'm not going to rank them.
Great input. I'm a newbie, so I love to hear other peoples opinions. Thank you for your take on it.
I have just ordered a Ibanez EBH 1000, so I'm looking for my first AMP Combo. Do you have an opinion on a specific model for a newbie like me who want to learn some slap bass?
I’ve owned two Ampeg solid states (Micro VR and a BA) and I’d swear by them. They have the “Ampeg tone”.
@@darwinsaye yeah and I don't even find that to be very surprising. Ampeg is a brand where you get a very similar tone with any of their products really. It's really nice when you're on a budget and want a good tone but the drawback is that you'll only get that Ampeg tone haha
Cheers
No problem at all! Thank you for watching! T
Recently ordered an Aguilar cab and had earmarked the WD800 head to match - unfortunately Mesa are giving a 12-month wait for any of their heads reaching the UK atm. So pissed off!
You gotta try some phil jones bass amps wow, super clean sound
I think EBS should be a bit higher - they won BassPlayer magazines Best amp of 2020 with the solid state monster - the 802.
The Reidmar 750 is one of the best sounding d class heads out there. And their cabinets are premium.
Totally agree. The fafner head is also awesome. I swapped out my ashdown 500 with Mesa cab for an EBS micro bass pedal through a PA and I love it.
I have a GK 700rb, it's good but there is something that it's lacking. Can be too bright too at times
Definitely! I’ve always wanted to love them but they don’t quite work for my hands and taste I’ve found. T
Next I Hope You Rank Preamp/Di Pedal....
Good idea! I’ll add it to the list! T
You should include Elegee Custom Bass. They are very good bass.
Not really well known but Splawn Amplification is great. Guitar amps but bass sounds fantastic thru it . Custom made amps at mass produced prices all custom made by one person.
Where do you see Bacchus basses?
GR BASS... fantastic amps!!!
Where would you put Vox?
I have the tc eletronic 250w with the 12 inch speaker, I don't really love that amp I think it sounds kinda cheap for what promote on videos and popularity, also the speaker give me the impression that is slow when I slap. I would put TC on the D category
Interesting! My TC experience was primarily with the Heads and Barefaced cabs. I’ve enjoyed the RH cans when I’ve used them, but definitely cheaper speakers in those combos. T
I also have TC 250w and a Trace Eliot 12'' cab, it sounded OK I guess, until I added SansAmp Bass DI. now it sounds as I want, from AMPEG to ultra-modern depending on the song\tune.
Some nice amps...suprised at Warwick but your talking class D,i use the class A Warwick WA-300...better than class D, their heavy as solid state class A but so clean with a great compression set up & defeatable 12 band eq...shame no footpedal then it would have 2 channels....300w does enough for me as class A... built like a tank & goes very loud..
I luv my EBS Magni 500 15" combo...best class D i've ever heard/used....I use Ashdowns to...luv their cabs & sound....
Epifani and EBS are the best amps I’ve tried.
Which Trace Elliot models have you played? I have a Trace elliot gp12 smx. I use a p bass with my TE. People associate it with one sound(scooped mids slap sound) but I personally i like my TE since i find it very versatile, i use the 12 band eq to boost the mids and i can shape it into a black sabbath, geezer butler the tone. It also comes with a preshape that has a scooped tone which is perfect if you are going for the scooped slap bass sound. Both of these are controlled with a footswitch so it allows me to go from a mid boosted rock tone - neutral tone - scooped tone by the click of 2 footswitches.
Its a hybrid amp so it gets the transistor sound but can still can blend in a hint of tube warmth. That said i will still want an all valve amp eventually too.
Nice! That’s probably a much better analysis overall. I’ve only ever used a couple of combo models and big stacks without 12 bands. Just always felt a little unrefined to me and super heavy. Then again there’s a recording out there of me DI into one and it does sound good, but up on stage not for me. Really with a 12 band you should be to make most any amp do any sound you fancy, so I can see why my analysis seems a bit unfair in that regard. Good to get your experience and views, for sure! T
@@TylerSpicer oh yeah its super heavy and thats a pain. everyone has their own taste and i respect that. Also they are super cheap second hand, i got mine for £110 300w amp with 4x10 speakers.
@@jupiterjames-reynolds2260 that sounds like a bargain! I nearly shifted across to ashdown for the same reason - super cheap resale here makes them quite compelling if you’re on a budget, or don’t want a massive chunk of cash sat in your rig unused... Oh wait that’s the story of 2020 🤣😅 To think I upgraded my rig for all the touring I had booked in this year 😬 oh well, the time will come again! T
I have Mesa WD-800 and TT-800. ❤
I agree with you for the most part, at least in terms of brands that I've tried.
2 things though: TC Electronic is owned by Behringer and ethically, I can't touch that brand. Second, GK is a brand I'll never touch again. I had an amp from them over 20 years ago that I sent to the California factory for repair and this is what happened: when I got the amp back 2-3 months later, it wasn't even fixed properly (bi-amp model... woofer amp worked, tweeter amp still did not work). More importantly, there was a Guitar Center price tag attached to it... 🤔? It took me a few moments to piece together what happened. Gallien-Krueger was too incompetent to fix their own equipment, so they outsourced the job to Guitar Center, of all places! Cuz I go to GC for ALL my quality repair work, upgrades, and equipment (sarcasm intended). And then, Guitar F'ing Center used my F'ing equipment for a floor demo model, which is absolutely unacceptable. For the same price of shipping and repair, I could have had Schroeder in Chicago (which was local - now defunct) repair the amp and probably make it better. But GK said they could take care of it, and even encouraged me to send it out there cuz they could do superior work. What a joke of a company.
Genzler should deffo be S-class
I love EBS
The opinionated nerd in me is going crazy as my list would look very different to yours :-D Being serious though, very much enjoyed the video. I could discuss the pros and cons of bass gear for hours.
Hahahaha! I’m not surprised as I’m sure I’d be the same with someone else’s list! Glad you enjoyed the video though, they’re fun to make! Which is the one brand you’d say I’d got wrong? T
@@TylerSpicer From my experience I'd be putting Markbass in S, I think they are outstanding value for money and I'm a fan of the MB tone. I'd have Ashdown pretty low, never a fan of their stuff. I'd have Glockenklang up in S too, I know this brand was not on your list but damn are they good amps! I would'nt say you got anything wrong, it's all subjective. Good to have a friendly squabble over though, ha ha!
How about Phil Jones amps?
...I know ...glaring omission.
Check out the new Trace Elliot TE-1200.
DNA
Trace Elliot were an amp of their time. The first real high-end boutique brand in the 80's. They were great at that time, I used them and gigged them extensively. The TE stuff now under Peavey is TE in name only. I'm pretty much the opposite of you when it comes to amps - the more neutral the better for me such as EA and Phil Jones. But I still LOVE the sound of an SVT 300 watt tube head!!
Totally, and I think that's a trend that polarises bassists quite significantly. I like a bit of character, warm with a light top end air suits me and the genres I play, but I know a lot of players moving towards the clearer more netural side. Both work well, but i've never declined to plugin in to an ampeg on the festival backline!
@@TylerSpicer I must confess - I do have an Ampeg SCR-DI preamp that I go through now and then, love it!!
Yeah the old Trace was the shit. im trying to find something that will replace my old Trace Elliot Ah350. A sweet solid state amp, with a 12 band graphic . I'm looking at getting maybe an EBS 802.
Wow! I always thought Trace Elliott was an American NASCAR driver. ;) (Son of Richard Elliott).
😂😂😂
Raymond Hood the old trace Elliot's are great but they sold the company and modern day traces are just different.
Vanderkley?
Didn't like the Bergantino amp I believe it's a Digital Amp Analog sounds abd feels better Using a Quilter straight and as a power amp Excellent Amp
Aguilar all the way.
I would just mention that some of these brands have a rich history of Upright amplification (gk, ea) and that the needs for that are pretty different.
Eich is the only head I have heard that sounded equally great on upright and six string electric with active electronics.
True! A lot of the brands I like for electric sound terrible (imo) on my upright. The Eich stuff is really great! T
Look for a sunn colleseum or big tube sunn monster
No vanderkley?
I haven’t played them enough to give and informed view. I have heard good things of course. T
@@TylerSpicer I use to run a Eden WT stereo head bridges to 1200watts at 4 ohms into a vanderkley 4x10 and it was as near to perfect I have had for bass tone. Wish I didn’t have to sell it all and wish I could afford a full vanderkley setup. Great video 👌
Have to admit, I dont agree with some of your choices - but I will concede that this might be because some of the brands/gear I'm using is quite old now. I suppose the fact that I'm also not talking about D Class Amps for starters, gives you an idea of where I'm coming from. I've always found Hartke, Eden and Trace Elliot to have amazing tones/sounds - NO WAY would I have put these into the C Tier. Try and tell Victor Wooten that his tone sucks with his Hartkes!
I regret selling my trace Elliott rig😢
What did you use? T
Had to stop the video at 4:27. Victor Wooten, Billy Sheehan, Frank Bello, Dave Ellefson, etc. use Hartke for a reason. I know this list is subjective, but your tastes are better suited for a classic thumpy dark tone. Not my thing.
I do hate hi-mids, so that’s probably true! T
Oh DO get on with it
There's GK and there's Ampeg. Unless you're a tweaker on bass.