Want great tone? - Page 3

Gusstav · 23rd November 2005, 08:55 AM

Hmmmm...

Toneking. I am currently looking to get a new set of pickups for my Tobias Pro 5 bass. Which type would you recommend?

Also in the new year i may be looking at buying a new head. I have played an Ampeg B2 and thought it was pretty good. Any further recommendations?

toneking · 23rd November 2005, 11:36 PM

Hello Gusstav,

Your choice to upgrade pickups is a good one. After studying and considering some of your previous posts toneKING will make the assumption that you are looking for a full, fat sound and that you are looking for a sound that will compliment what some may refer to as 'heavy' music.

toneKING believes that the 'soapbar' style pickups in this bass are indeed its weak point, and would suggest you look into pickups by seymour duncan, dimarzio and perhaps EMG. However, finding pickups of a similair style to the stock pickups in your tobias may be difficult, and as different pickups can give an array of various results toneKING would suggest you try playing basses already fitted with potential choices through an amp similair to your own.

toneKING would now like to advise you on various choices regarding your bass amplifier. Despite Ampeg's tremendous reputation as a quality bass amp manufacturer, toneKING would not recommend the company's 'B Series' amplification. The B series amplifiers are Ampeg's budget model, and this shows. They are underpowered, limited in tone shaping potential and develop a nasty tendency to distort in an unpleasant fashion. Bass distortion can provide a rich warmth whilst adding the growl you no doubt crave, but the Ampeg B series do not provide this as well as other amplifiers of a similair price. Their reliability is also questionable.

For a similair price range solid state bass amplifiers by Eden, MarkBass and Tech21 can be found and provide similair power with a more natural and rich sound, greater power and improved reliability.

However, toneKING would advise that you hold off from a purchase and look out for a 2nd hand amplifier such as the Ampeg SVT or Mesa Boogie Bass 400+ which provide a rich tube warmth and can distort in a musical and pleasant way. Despite often coming in at high prices, these are worth the money and will provide you with a lifelong, reliable piece of equipment.

There are a huge amount of bass amplifiers available that do not seem to receive much exposure in the UK due to Ampeg, Ashdown and Peavey's dominance - but look out and try mid range amps by Eden, EBS, Tech 21, MarkBass and Aguilar and perhaps something will appeal to you.

If you have any more specific questions, feel free to ask.

As always, there is no need for thanks.

toneKING

DissolveD_JameS · 24th November 2005, 12:59 AM

toneking... i have a question. (I have been looking forward to this day for a while.)

After Christmas I hope to be purchasing myself a guitar amp for gigging but I do not know much about guitars or amps so could do with a kick in the right direction.

I would like a cabinet and head combo of some sort. Preferably with a few channels I can set. I use a PRS SE and like a nice, deep, raw middle sound for my distorted rythym pieces but leaving plenty of room for some hollow-sounding harmonics. Best example I can think of would be something like the sound Page Hamilton goes for... yet maybe not so cut 'n' dry. So far I like the sound I get from a Laney when using my Marshall Guv'nor yet it seems to lack when it comes to pulling off a nice screaming bit of lead.

I want my own amp so I can have a more varied sound overall, yet not lose the enjoyable sound the Laney gives me.

Help please. xx

Pubic Wig · 24th November 2005, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toneking

ToneKING feels that the combination of a boss metal zone pedal and a line 6 amplifier will not ever produce a pleasing 'real heavy' sound.

ToneKING also feels that a line 6 amplifier will never produce a pleasing sound.

Line 6 amplifiers use digital impulse technology to simulate the distortion characteristics of good amplifiers. If a good valve amplifier is avaliable second hand for the same price (such as sovtek, sound city)
it seems ridiculous that people would choose the line 6 at all.

Do you know of any pilots who prefer microsoft flight simulator to flying a 747,

ToneKING thinks not.

In this particular unfortunate situation, toneKING will advise 'clegg' to bypass the pedal and use the 'amp' distortion.

No need to thank TONEKING

ToneKING

I have to say. For those of us who cannot afford to spend more than a few hundred quid on amps and equpiment i have found the Line 6 Spider II Head and 4x12 a very satisfying purchase. It alows me to use a varity of different amp styles and settings that i could not possibly replicate on my meagre budget. If i had a spare grand or so i'd love to purchase a Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier third hand or what-naught but i, and many other people like me simply cannot afford to.

mrlizard · 24th November 2005, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pubic Wig

I have to say. For those of us who cannot afford to spend more than a few hundred quid on amps and equpiment i have found the Line 6 Spider II Head and 4x12 a very satisfying purchase. It alows me to use a varity of different amp styles and settings that i could not possibly replicate on my meagre budget. If i had a spare grand or so i'd love to purchase a Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier third hand or what-naught but i, and many other people like me simply cannot afford to.

you can get a really good second valve head for a few hundred quid though, sovtek, sound city. You could easily pick up a marshall JCM900 for 375 or thereabouts or an 800 for slightly more.

i'll record some a/b comparisons at somepoint, let you decide which you prefer, personally i think its like night and day when its put up against cranked valve amp. I have a pod pro, its pretty useful in certain situations, but it really does sound shit compared when you hear it next to a valve amp. Plus the valve amp will retain its value, the pod will be worthless as soon as the next lot of amp modellers comes along.

Pubic Wig · 24th November 2005, 03:42 PM

Thats my point though, a few hundred quid; £500 at most, cannot buy a very good amp, even 2nd hand. Definetly not enough to buy several different amps. Therefore, i think the Spider Line 6 offers good value for money. It is not going to be as good as the 'real' thing by a long shot but it is more affordable.

Pubic Wig · 24th November 2005, 03:45 PM

Im not making much sense...its cool, i rarely do. I mean its a good place to start when you want to find out what sort of tone/sound/noise you want from your guitar/amp because it gives you the choice.

...that said...i would kill for a mesa boogie...

mrlizard · 24th November 2005, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pubic Wig

Thats my point though, a few hundred quid; £500 at most, cannot buy a very good amp, even 2nd hand.

im saying it can, you could get a JCM800 for 500 quid. JCM800 is like one of the top ten guitar amps ever made ever, not opinion, fact.

my post said you 'can' pick up a cheap good valve amp, i think you mis-read.

Pubic Wig · 24th November 2005, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrlizard

im saying it can, you could get a JCM800 for 500 quid. JCM800 is like one of the top ten guitar amps ever made ever, not opinion, fact.

my post said you 'can' pick up a cheap good valve amp, i think you mis-read.

probably, i am an idiot. haha, but cheers muchly for the advice hombre! I went for the pod cabinet and im happy with it, but i will be saving up to get a more 'metal' head, but that may take a few years coz all ma cash is going into paying for a post-grad...why does the government deprive me of money i could use on equipment??? Why? Why?

mrlizard · 24th November 2005, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pubic Wig

probably, i am an idiot. haha, but cheers muchly for the advice hombre! I went for the pod cabinet and im happy with it, but i will be saving up to get a more 'metal' head, but that may take a few years coz all ma cash is going into paying for a post-grad...why does the government deprive me of money i could use on equipment??? Why? Why?

i was getting some serious metal sounds out of an 800 the other day, wouldn't write it off in favour of a mesa, they are not better or worse, just different. You pay over the odds for mesa stuff in this country because its imported.

paul engage · 24th November 2005, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pubic Wig

Thats my point though, a few hundred quid; £500 at most, cannot buy a very good amp, even 2nd hand. Definetly not enough to buy several different amps. Therefore, i think the Spider Line 6 offers good value for money. It is not going to be as good as the 'real' thing by a long shot but it is more affordable.

you can get a decent amp for 500 quid, no problem.

An 800 for starters - the choice of most pro post-plexi Marshall players. Non-diode-clipping model and 50 watt preferably.

ahh just noticed your post too Robin..

Also I think the mesa rectos are a little overrated- nice, but not as good as cornford etc. A little too fizzy.

krashd · 24th November 2005, 04:17 PM

I found that if i sit inside my wardrobe with my peavey cranked to max it levitates.

but i've only got my mates word to go on.

Pubic Wig · 24th November 2005, 04:20 PM

So the marshal 800 gets big thumbs up yes?

23rd November 2005, 08:55 AM	#31 (permalink)
Gusstav Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Edinburgh/Falkirk Posts: 878 Band: Friday Night Gunfight (vocals)	Hmmmm... Toneking. I am currently looking to get a new set of pickups for my Tobias Pro 5 bass. Which type would you recommend? Also in the new year i may be looking at buying a new head. I have played an Ampeg B2 and thought it was pretty good. Any further recommendations?

23rd November 2005, 11:36 PM	#32 (permalink)
toneking Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 50	Hello Gusstav, Your choice to upgrade pickups is a good one. After studying and considering some of your previous posts toneKING will make the assumption that you are looking for a full, fat sound and that you are looking for a sound that will compliment what some may refer to as 'heavy' music. toneKING believes that the 'soapbar' style pickups in this bass are indeed its weak point, and would suggest you look into pickups by seymour duncan, dimarzio and perhaps EMG. However, finding pickups of a similair style to the stock pickups in your tobias may be difficult, and as different pickups can give an array of various results toneKING would suggest you try playing basses already fitted with potential choices through an amp similair to your own. toneKING would now like to advise you on various choices regarding your bass amplifier. Despite Ampeg's tremendous reputation as a quality bass amp manufacturer, toneKING would not recommend the company's 'B Series' amplification. The B series amplifiers are Ampeg's budget model, and this shows. They are underpowered, limited in tone shaping potential and develop a nasty tendency to distort in an unpleasant fashion. Bass distortion can provide a rich warmth whilst adding the growl you no doubt crave, but the Ampeg B series do not provide this as well as other amplifiers of a similair price. Their reliability is also questionable. For a similair price range solid state bass amplifiers by Eden, MarkBass and Tech21 can be found and provide similair power with a more natural and rich sound, greater power and improved reliability. However, toneKING would advise that you hold off from a purchase and look out for a 2nd hand amplifier such as the Ampeg SVT or Mesa Boogie Bass 400+ which provide a rich tube warmth and can distort in a musical and pleasant way. Despite often coming in at high prices, these are worth the money and will provide you with a lifelong, reliable piece of equipment. There are a huge amount of bass amplifiers available that do not seem to receive much exposure in the UK due to Ampeg, Ashdown and Peavey's dominance - but look out and try mid range amps by Eden, EBS, Tech 21, MarkBass and Aguilar and perhaps something will appeal to you. If you have any more specific questions, feel free to ask. As always, there is no need for thanks. toneKING

24th November 2005, 12:59 AM	#33 (permalink)
DissolveD_JameS Restrained Abuser Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Dundee Posts: 1,264 Band: Dissolved	toneking... i have a question. (I have been looking forward to this day for a while.) After Christmas I hope to be purchasing myself a guitar amp for gigging but I do not know much about guitars or amps so could do with a kick in the right direction. I would like a cabinet and head combo of some sort. Preferably with a few channels I can set. I use a PRS SE and like a nice, deep, raw middle sound for my distorted rythym pieces but leaving plenty of room for some hollow-sounding harmonics. Best example I can think of would be something like the sound Page Hamilton goes for... yet maybe not so cut 'n' dry. So far I like the sound I get from a Laney when using my Marshall Guv'nor yet it seems to lack when it comes to pulling off a nice screaming bit of lead. I want my own amp so I can have a more varied sound overall, yet not lose the enjoyable sound the Laney gives me. Help please. xx

24th November 2005, 03:42 PM	#36 (permalink)
Pubic Wig Dark Lord of the Sith Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Scumdee and Stirling Posts: 1,884 Band: 'Im The Juggernaught Bitch!' - working title	Thats my point though, a few hundred quid; £500 at most, cannot buy a very good amp, even 2nd hand. Definetly not enough to buy several different amps. Therefore, i think the Spider Line 6 offers good value for money. It is not going to be as good as the 'real' thing by a long shot but it is more affordable.

24th November 2005, 03:45 PM	#37 (permalink)
Pubic Wig Dark Lord of the Sith Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Scumdee and Stirling Posts: 1,884 Band: 'Im The Juggernaught Bitch!' - working title	Im not making much sense...its cool, i rarely do. I mean its a good place to start when you want to find out what sort of tone/sound/noise you want from your guitar/amp because it gives you the choice. ...that said...i would kill for a mesa boogie...

24th November 2005, 04:17 PM	#42 (permalink)
krashd Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Kirktonia Posts: 2,064 Band: Crosby, Stills, Nash, krashd and Young	I found that if i sit inside my wardrobe with my peavey cranked to max it levitates. but i've only got my mates word to go on.

24th November 2005, 04:20 PM	#43 (permalink)
Pubic Wig Dark Lord of the Sith Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Scumdee and Stirling Posts: 1,884 Band: 'Im The Juggernaught Bitch!' - working title	So the marshal 800 gets big thumbs up yes?

24th November 2005, 04:28 PM	#44 (permalink)
mrlizard Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: The Glen of Tranquility Posts: 1,034