thecr4ne wrote: Wed Feb 26, 2025 5:49 pm How do you all manage your gear binging habit? plz halp

Reading the latest political news kills most urges. Try it.

jirbling rake wrote: Sat Mar 01, 2025 8:56 pm

thecr4ne wrote: Wed Feb 26, 2025 5:49 pm How do you all manage your gear binging habit? plz halp

Reading the latest political news kills most urges. Try it.

Sometimes that works for me, but other times it makes me say “fuck it, might as well have fun now”


Someone talk me out of getting a big tube bass amp for gigs. My studio rig includes an Alembic F1-x tube preamp and some other rack gear, and my Hartke kickback combo that I use live is just no comparison. Thinking about something like a Bassman but I dunno. I can’t afford to spend real money on it but I have credit at Sweetwater and a pretty high PayPal credit line. What should I get that I won’t regret?

ChudFusk wrote: Sun Mar 02, 2025 6:36 pm

jirbling rake wrote: Sat Mar 01, 2025 8:56 pm

thecr4ne wrote: Wed Feb 26, 2025 5:49 pm How do you all manage your gear binging habit? plz halp

Reading the latest political news kills most urges. Try it.

Sometimes that works for me, but other times it makes me say “fuck it, might as well have fun now”


Someone talk me out of getting a big tube bass amp for gigs. My studio rig includes an Alembic F1-x tube preamp and some other rack gear, and my Hartke kickback combo that I use live is just no comparison. Thinking about something like a Bassman but I dunno. I can’t afford to spend real money on it but I have credit at Sweetwater and a pretty high PayPal credit line. What should I get that I won’t regret?

I think the Traynor YBA3 is one of the best bass amps in the world and it can be had for $700 less. More headroom then other ~100 watt amps and still drives a bit when played with a loud drummer.

My favorite big dumb tube bass amps:

• Ampeg SVT (any of them, they're all pretty similar really)

• Ampeg V-4 or V-4B

• Traynor YBA-1A (the YBA-1 may be a bit underpowered for bass, but it sounds great)

• Traynor YBA-3 (100 W) / YBA-3A (250 W)

Hybrid tube/SS that sound like big dumb tube amps, but weigh a lot less:

• Ampeg SVT-III (I prefer the non-"Pro" version, but they're both fine)

• Mesa Carbine M-6 / Fathom

• GK MB Fusion 500

• Aguilar DB750

• Orange Terror Bass

ChudFusk wrote: Sun Mar 02, 2025 6:36 pm

jirbling rake wrote: Sat Mar 01, 2025 8:56 pm

thecr4ne wrote: Wed Feb 26, 2025 5:49 pm How do you all manage your gear binging habit? plz halp

Reading the latest political news kills most urges. Try it.

Sometimes that works for me, but other times it makes me say “fuck it, might as well have fun now”

Same dude. Same.

If you're gonna buy a big dumb tube amp and have Sweetwater credit I'd go for the Heritage SVT:

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... -bass-head

I played through one of the V4-B reissues a couple weeks ago and it sounded really great. Would absolutely rock one if I didn't need the headroom or extra wattage:

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... -bass-head

I absolutely love the Verellen Meatsmoke more than any SVT or V4 I've played through.

thecr4ne wrote: Mon Mar 03, 2025 10:30 am

ChudFusk wrote: Sun Mar 02, 2025 6:36 pm

jirbling rake wrote: Sat Mar 01, 2025 8:56 pm
Reading the latest political news kills most urges. Try it.

Sometimes that works for me, but other times it makes me say “fuck it, might as well have fun now”

Same dude. Same.

Same, says the person with an EAE Sending pedal on its way.

tallchris wrote: Mon Mar 03, 2025 10:56 am I absolutely love the Verellen Meatsmoke more than any SVT or V4 I've played through.

Can you elaborate? I should also say that I’m looking for an amp that can do loud and clean and clear, though some controllable break up is always nice.

ChudFusk wrote: Mon Mar 03, 2025 8:45 pm

tallchris wrote: Mon Mar 03, 2025 10:56 am I absolutely love the Verellen Meatsmoke more than any SVT or V4 I've played through.

Can you elaborate? I should also say that I’m looking for an amp that can do loud and clean and clear, though some controllable break up is always nice.

For one thing, it's got a master volume, and all but the earliest ones have a 2nd gain channel that can be activated by a footswitch. So there's a lot more gain/drive ability than with an SVT, or even a V4 if you're not cranking it. Tonally, I think the preamp is closer to a Fender tonestack than the Ampeg baxandall EQ. Power section I believe is pretty close to an SVT or Hiwatt.

Most of my experience has been with a head with a 200 watt 4x6550 power section and it can stay pretty clean until you're really pushing the master volume or preamp volume. I've also got a rackmount version of the preamp that I run into a Crown class D power amp, and it sounds 90 percent the same, though you can definitely tell you're not getting some kind of compression or gain or from the power section, but staying cleaner at high volume also sounds great in it's own way.

Thanks!