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Topic: Steel amp as bass amp? |
Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 8 Sep 2014 7:40 am |
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So I'm buying an upright bass, and may decide to play out with it.
I have a Huff closed back cab with the SICA in it, a Super Twin, Session 500 or LTD to drive it with.
With the cab bring closed back, I'm thinking I HAVE a bass amp, no need to go looking, right? Obviously I wouldn't gig with the open back Peaveys
Or am I overlooking something?
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects
Last edited by Lane Gray on 8 Sep 2014 8:14 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Tim Marcus
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 8 Sep 2014 8:11 am
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open back is okay for bass - lots of bands use Twin Reverbs as bass amps, including one of my old bands in which I did that very thing!
Think about a fender bassman - that is a bass amp with an open back cab.
_________________
Milkmansound.com |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 8 Sep 2014 8:18 am
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Cool. I've just seen a mess of folks on here warn against the open back for bass.
The bass in question is a 51 blonde Kay with a bit of distress but in good shape and sweet tone
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects
Last edited by Lane Gray on 8 Sep 2014 12:10 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Scott Duckworth
From:
Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies
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Posted 8 Sep 2014 8:25 am
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Lane, I believe most of the bass cab issue pertains to feedback control, especially with hollow body basses (such as yours).
_________________
Amateur Radio Operator NA4IT (Extra)
http://www.qsl.net/na4it
I may, in fact, be nuts. However, I am screwed onto the right bolt... Jesus! |
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Scott Duckworth
From:
Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies
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Posted 8 Sep 2014 8:29 am
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By the way, congrats on your find, I always wanted one when I was playing bass...
_________________
Amateur Radio Operator NA4IT (Extra)
http://www.qsl.net/na4it
I may, in fact, be nuts. However, I am screwed onto the right bolt... Jesus! |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 8 Sep 2014 9:59 am
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I borrowed it for my dad to play at our wedding. The guy whi loaned it offered to sell it for about what it's worth, minus a little. Needs $400 of work, paying 1175.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Scott Duckworth
From:
Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies
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Posted 8 Sep 2014 11:27 am
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About right, according to eBay prices. I always wanted one of the new fangled electric ones too...
_________________
Amateur Radio Operator NA4IT (Extra)
http://www.qsl.net/na4it
I may, in fact, be nuts. However, I am screwed onto the right bolt... Jesus! |
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Edward Rhea
From:
Medford Oklahoma, USA
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Posted 8 Sep 2014 12:22 pm Sica
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I'm not familiar w/Sica....care to share some qualities/characteristics, about it? Thanks
Cool beans on the Kay Double Bass! Is it a 3/4 or 4/4?
_________________
“TONESNOB†|
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 8 Sep 2014 12:41 pm
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This one came out of a Milkman (I bought it from Tim).
I've not put it in an open-back cab to give it an honest A/B against my other three 15s: Jensen Mod in the Twin, 1502 BW in the 500 and an Eminence Kappalite in my Peavey LTD. The SICA lives in the closed-back Huff cab, where it has sounded great both with a Super Twin and a Session 500.
It appears to have been made, like the BW and Eminence, to emulate the sound of the old JBLs.
Its highs are as clear, but the lows are fatter, but you'd expect that from a closed-back.
It's a 3/4. Not sure I'd want the 7/8 or 4/4. Dad's basses have all been 3/4, and that's what I'm used to.
I'm not the tub-thumper, I'm the tub-thumper's son. I'm just here to thump the tub til the tub-thumper comes.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Roddy Ring
From:
Alexandria, Virginia, USA
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Posted 9 Sep 2014 9:57 am Thumping
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Lane,
And what a thumper he is. I have enjoyed his thumping on countless occasions with my fortunate proximity to the Birchmere. I started as a thumper and only recently took up the steel. I have several electric basses that I can get to sound just fine through a steel amp, and a regular guitar amp for that matter. My Bass VI sounds great, in fact, through the Nash112, especially for tick tack. Have not had any luck getting the tub to sound particularly good through either, particularly the lower strings (using a transducer, haven't tried to mic it as yet). Since I have recently tended to play both bass and steel at gigs, I would love to hear if you find a solution so I can take but one amp. Though I have had good luck running my steel and the tub through a Carvin Bass head into a 15" jbl, it just requires too much re-eq between songs. But I think you are trying to make do with what you have.
Roddy Ring
Alexandria, VA |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 9 Sep 2014 10:26 am
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The choice of transducer is really crucial. I know dad went through gallons of them trying to find a good one for Bessie, who now sounds great through his GK. I'll tackle that step when it comes to it.
Since I can't picture a scenario in which I'd go back and forth from Kay to steel, a one-channel amp should do fine.
Should I go that route, I have a 135W UL Twin with 2 channels (and a 65RI Twin) or the Super Twin with the capacity to deactivate the Active EQ.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Dave Grafe
From:
Hudson River Valley NY
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Posted 9 Sep 2014 12:39 pm
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| The two major concerns would be (1) blowing out the OP Transformer in a tube amp, and (2) blowing out a speaker that is not designed for bass use. If you're not cranking it up and it sounds fine, you should be golden, but if the anything starts sounding even a wee bit fuzzy stop and give it a rest... |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 9 Sep 2014 3:26 pm
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For what it's worth, i loaned my Nashville 400 with a 1502 bass speaker to a friend to use on a medium volume level gig. It worked great, and there are no problems with the amp. I don't what an amplified upright might do to an amp or the speaker. I did a gig with Gal Holiday and the Honky Tonk Heroes when they came to San Francisco. Their bass player played an amplified upright and also slaps it to be a percussion instrument too. I am not sure if he had a stage amp or a DI straight to the board, and don't remember if he had a mic or pickup. I could probably find out for you if you want.
But I think you are OK playing bass through a steel guitar amp as long as you don't push it too far. I would probably use the 1502 though, as it is a bass speaker. I am not familiar with you other speakers.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Joe Kaufman
From:
Lewiston, Idaho
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Posted 9 Sep 2014 4:33 pm
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I recently purchased a Vegas 400 that the owner had been using as a bass amp. It required a speaker repair to the 1502 Blackwiddow and some other . I'm not sure how much was due to its use as a bass amp and how much was plain old abuse and neglect, but it would make me be carefull. If I had been paying a normal shop rate I think it would have been about a $200 repair in all.
On the other hand I read that lots of people are using Super Twins in head cabinets as bass amps. They seem very happy with the results. |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Posted 9 Sep 2014 7:08 pm
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| Tim Marcus wrote: |
open back is okay for bass - lots of bands use Twin Reverbs as bass amps, including one of my old bands in which I did that very thing!
Think about a fender bassman - that is a bass amp with an open back cab. |
What about a Milkman Half & Half? Good bass amp "as is"?
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-𝕓𝕆𝕓- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video |
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Godfrey Arthur
From:
3rd Rock
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Posted 18 Sep 2014 8:50 am
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Can also run a line to the PA to aid in the upright's reinforcement.
_________________
ShoBud The Pro 1
YES it's my REAL NAME!
Ezekiel 33:7 |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 18 Sep 2014 9:10 am
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Indeed, Godfrey. And 4 of my 6 amps have line out. Three Peavey and the Super Twin Reverb.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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David Mason
From:
Cambridge, MD, USA
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Posted 21 Sep 2014 10:52 am
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| I wouldn't worry about the heads too much, if it sounds bad it is bad. With speakers, what you have to watch is called excursion, and you can literally watch it. Just about every bass head in existence has what they call "limiting" to avoid freaking out the anti-compressor priests, and it's to save the speakers. (Peavey calls it DDT - yes, you DO use compression....) Sudden loud low blats will pop a speaker way past where it's supposed to go, and a closed cabinet will resist that a little better. Depending on how loud and blatty you get, you'll either blow them or not. Bass heads & steel heads are pretty much identical functionally, but a loud & inconsistent bass player can kill just about any speaker made. Suddenly discovering 1972-era Phil Lesh bass chords has surprised many an amp owner. |
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