What Amps Do You Use

[rockbassist]

I have 2 1997 Epic 5 String basses and a 1976 Fender Precision. I wouldn't trade any of these basses for anything.  I am using a Gallien Krueger 1001RB-II running bi-amped through a Gallien Krueger 410 RBH and 115 RBH. The tone is the best that I have ever had but it's still not quite what I am looking for. It seems that everytime I see a band whose bass sound I love the bassist is using either Eden or EBS. I am considering switching to an Eden 800 head with an Eden 410 and 115 or an EBS rig. Seeing how Alembic is such a high end bass I figured that many of you are also using high end amps. What do you recommend?  
Thanks

[bsee]

You'll find quite a few here are using Alembic preamps as part of their rigs.  
 
Personally, I can tell you that a Schroeder cabinet of the right size for your application and an EA iAmp 800 makes for a great and versatile rig.  While I found that very tight and modern, I have recently gone to a Fender TBP-1 preamp to get a little more warmth in my tone.  
 
It would be the rare gigging environment that would exceed the abilities of the iAmp800 into a Schroeder 21012 light cabinet.  For a more vintage tone, the heavier 1212 model really punches.  I would bet that your basses and amp would sound great through a 1212, and probably nearly as loud.  That's a single 2x12 cabinet that weighs in under 60 pounds and has a footprint smaller than the average 2x10 cab.
 
I just don't see the reason to carry that much cab around any longer.

[keith_h]

From what I have seen here and at other sites I don't think you could go wrong with either Eden or EBS.    
 
I'm currently using an Eden Navigator preamp into a Bag End ELF controller which feeds a QSC PLX 3002. This drives Bag End 18 and 2X10 speakers.  
 
Keith

[FC Bass]

I use an Ampeg SVT 3 Pro (450 watt @ 4 ohm) with a Mesa/Boogie Powerhouse 1000 (1 x 15 inch + 4 x 10 inch)
Works very well for me, lots of power and perfect tone for my music. If I had the $$$ I would go for the Mesa 400+ amp, but retubing that amp will cost approx $500!
 
On the picture I use my set and the set I use for practising, a Hartke H3500 with a Trace Elliot 1 x 18 inch + 1 x 10 inch...Thunder!:

[lowlife]

I wasted quite a bit of cash trying out different combinations, until I found Eden. I'm using an Eden 800 head in bi-amp mode powering an Eden 2 x 10 (D210XST) and and Eden 1 x 15 (D115XST).  Pure delight.
 
Ellery (Lowlife)

[lothartu]

I'm currently running an Alembic F1X preamp into a QSC RMX 1850. I'm only using one side of the QSC at the moment to push an Aguilar GS112.
 
I'm thinking about either adding a 2x10 or replacing the GS112 with a 2x10. The 2x10 I'm considering is an Acme low B2 cabinet.
 
-Jim

[olieoliver]

I have an Eden Metro 2x10 combo I use at church. And my big rig is a newly added F1X preamp into an SWR 750 Head powering 2 SWR cabs, 1 2x10 with horn and a 1x15 with horn. My SWR is a pre Fender rig too.

[keurosix]

Kevin,
For 5 string bass you want a deep cab that can handle the low B. A big 15 or 18 really will do that justice. SWR used to make a 2x 15 cab Big Bertha but still makes a 1x 18 Big Ben. The 2x 15 has specs to 40 Hz, but the 18 goes way down past the low B string. I have an old SWR SM-400 head into a 4x10 Goliath cab and a Big Ben 1x18. You can find newer cabs where all this is in one box. Accugroove, Bergantino, etc. Your ears will be the best judge. Epics got the power to run anything!
Kris

[hb3]

Holy crap, FC_Spoiler, it looks like you're holding out a severed head in your other hand.  
 
Can someone explain what a Bag End ELF controller is? I'm using a couple of Bag End cabinets, but I don't really know what this ELF thing is all about.

[worldfamousandy]

Ditto on the Schroeder cabs.  I used to run a Boogie 2X15 on the bottom, plus a 2X10 on top, biamped.  It was a great rig, but HUGE abd HEAVY.  My new Schroeder lightweight 4X10 actually handles considerably more power, is a lot louder, and produces tons of low end.  A low B is no problem whatsoever.  It weighs about 65 lbs.
 
My pre and power have not changed: F1X into QSC RMX 1850, just like lothartu.  I am looking to change the power to something newer and lighter, as well, but I like QSC sound.
 
Andy Calder
www.andycalderbass.com

[FC Bass]

Hah! I'm not that evil... I just ordered some beers for the audience  
 
(Message edited by fc_spoiler on September 18, 2006)

[dumfuxx]

I've got an epic 5 string pushing an f1x, running into a qsc plx2402, bayou cables all the way through, a korg 1000 tuner, some power conditioner with pull out lights that I can't remember the name of off hand, pushing an accugroove whappo jr.  Call me sacrelicious, but I'm not quite satisfied with the f1x, maybe I need a sf2 as well.  The 5 string is a wenge top with mahogany body and maple accent.  I just bought a 4 string epic with maple top, purpleheart accent, mahogany body that I am waiting patiently to a/b for wood tonal differences.  Both epics have the AE2 filter/q switch upgrade.
  I also have a bbe bass preamp that I got on the cheap that I have been playing with putting into the loop.  I could very well be chasing the dragon tone wise, and I am no way saying that I am not satisfied with my sound, I just possibly could be more satisfied.  Or maybe it's just GAS.

[hb3]

I use Aguilar stuff but it's heavy. Too damn heavy. I've been thinking a lot about getting something new, entirely for portability.

[bigredbass]

I use an EDEN Metro with an extendsion EDEN D115XLT with my ALEMBIC and Yamaha five strings.  The Metro was enough for a four string, but it's asking a lot from a fat, Twin Reverb sized cabinet to push those low C's and D's.  I a/b'd the 115 with other EDEN 210/410 cabinets and they just sounded like more Metro.  The 115 gave a different 'blend' I liked better as a stack.
 
EDEN wires the Metro internally as an 8-ohm load, so you can add TWO more 8-ohm cabinets for a buildable system (and a LOUD one).  I could run two 115s off of it, but that's getting away from it being pretty portable.  It's loud enough as it is.
 
I hope to buy it's little brother next, the DC112XLT combo with a D112XLT extension for little gigs and tight stages.  But that's going to have to wait till I can try out one of the new EDEN WTX heads, about the size of a cigar box and not much heavier.
 
I like EDEN as I've never heard an EQ in an amp that sounds so much like it was designed by someone who really knew bass, both in the heads and the cabinets.
 
I would love an F1X/SF2/power amp, etc., style rig, but I've come back around to preferring a bass amp instead of separate rack pieces.
 
J o e y

[tbrannon]

I am decidedly un-hifi.  
 
I play through a combination of cabs- three homebrew cabs (Eminence drivers) 115, 212 and 410 and I recently picked up a GK 410 simply because the money was burning a hole in my pocket.
 
My head is an old ('74) Eminar 100w tube amp.  Eminar is an Aussie company that no longer exists, but their amps are still floating around down here, although there aren't many in NZ.  The combination of the cabs and head give me a very un-hifi sound, but it suits my thudwacker skill set nicely.  I imagine that my current rig is another reason I lust so badly after Alembic- I need something to balance out all the mud!!  
 
I would like to upgrade my amp at some point, but so long as the Eminar runs, it'll never leave my side.