Micro head advice needed

D

Darlacat

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Oct 31, 2017
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#1
I'm in the market for a micro head at around 500w and am looking for some general advice on what to look for. The reason why I'm looking for a micro head specifically is because I need something that won't take up too much space and won't break my back (or bank account).

Amps I've been looking into include Ampeg PF-500, Laney Nexus SL, Peavey Minimax, and Mark Bass Little Mark/Big Bang.

I'm relatively new to bass - I've played guitar for about 20 years but only got my first bass around 18 months ago. I've been using a TC Electronic BG250 at home, which was fine for that purpose, but I need sonething with more guts for a band I've started playing in: think the bass tones from 90s noise rock and similar genres. Although ideally I'd like something quite versatile to allow me to play in different styles.

I play a USA Fender Jazz strung with D'addario ProSteels, if that's any help.

Thanks in advance!
 
#4
Of the amps you listed, I'd probably go for the minimax. Haven't heard the Laney, but the other choices I wouldn't touch, personally. Other great choices might be GK MB500 or Aguilar TH500, assuming you like the sounds. I think the Aggie sounds really cool, but many disagree, so check out clips if you can! Fender Rumble is a no brainer, IMO. Great little budget friendly amp
 
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#7
The Fender Rumble 500 head and the Ampeg PF500 are about the same price and power. ($399 new) The Peavey minimax runs around $350. I have both Rumble 500 and the Ampeg PF500 and they are different but good. I have no experience with the MINIMAX but, if it is anything like the other Peavey equipment I've owned over the years, I'm sure it will be acceptable. Feature wise, The Ampeg has a built in compressor/limiter which I find good and useful. The Fender has a built in, switchable, overdrive, and the Peavey has a built in chromatic tuner. The Peavey and the Fender weigh about the same (5 lbs or so) and the Ampeg is a little bigger and heavier, maybe 10 lbs. hope this helps
 
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#8
I keep trying to find a reason to buy a second amp head, but my humble Rumble 500 v3 head just works for what I do (Motown/R&B/funk and some top 40/classic rock). I use it with three different cabinet configurations depending on the venue and load-in: a single Orange OBC115 (small yet loud setup, very efficient cab), two Rumble v3 2x10 cabinets (medium, yet lightest of the three and sound really good/loud as a stacked pair), or an Ampeg SVT 8x10 cabinet (large and in charge, and probably unnecessary, but it was inexpensive and sounds/feels like nothing else).

Plugged straight in, the Rumble sounds really good, but I do run an Aguilar TLC compressor and Tone Hammer DI (set flat, with with a hint of overdrive via the AGS circuit) into the front end and use the Tone Hammer as my FOH DI. This lets me adjust the amp's volume and bass EQ to match the room/cabinets without affecting the XLR feed. I have tested the Rumble's DI and it, too, sounds good; I just like the volume control independence.

With this in mind, for whatever amp you purchase, you may also want to consider an overdrive/preamp pedal of sorts if you want more variety of overdriven tones. The Rumble's overdrive sounds like it would work for what you're looking to accomplish, but a pedal with more than just a drive and level control offers more fine tuning if overdrive is a core part of your sound.

I might also suggest carefully choosing a cabinet/cabinets, too. You may have noticed I have four cabs for one head and they all sound completely different with the exact same bass, pedals, and amp head feeding them. If you have a budget, the Rumble 4x10 cab is only $400 and pretty light for a 4x10. I use a pair of Rumble 2x10 cabs ($350 each) because they are only 39 lbs. and stacked are almost the same height as my SVT cabinet, making them easy to hear on stage. Don't be afraid to try used cabs locally, too (if possible). My Ampeg 8x10 was purchased for half of the price of a new one and it came with a custom padded cover! Just make sure to try it before you buy it in case it needs major work.

But yeah: Fender Rumble 500 head is my recommendation.
 
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#9
If you get a chance, check out the Quilter Labs Bass Block 800. Tiny, powerful, affordable, and very versatile sounding. It has an unusual tonestack design that puts some people off. But it's actually pretty intuitive to use once you sit down with it for a bit. In some ways it's far easier to dial in the tone you're looking for with that head than it is with the standard B/M/T control set you usually see. Well worth a look.
 
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#10
i'd suggest the gallien krueger MB500 - or MB800 if it meets your budget. they're quite small and sound great. my second choice is already listed here - the fender rumble 500.

i really like the ampeg PF-500, but it's not really a micro head as at 11 pounds as it weighs more than double the fender (5 pounds) or gallien krueger (4 pounds) 500 watt heads. it's also physically larger.

sweetwater has the weight and size specs -

gallien krueger MB500
Gallien-Krueger MB500 500-Watt Ultra Light Micro Bass Head

fender rumble 500
Fender Rumble 500 500-Watt Bass Head

ampeg PF500
Ampeg PF-500 500-Watt Portaflex Bass Head
 
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#12
Darlacat said:
I'm in the market for a micro head at around 500w
Click to expand...

Darlacat

I made exactly the same search as you for myself to have the lightest amp possible because I live in a city , got no car, and sometimes work with an Upright or real Double Bass, … (And my back too) …

Here is the result of my search.
- I just bought a Straight Power amp from Jay Ganz.
It’s a 4" x 6" and weigh 1 lb.
Output is 500 watts with a 4 ohm speaker or 300 watts with an 8 ohm. (THD less than .1%).
I couldn’t find lighter.
I will recieve it in november.
You will need a preamp that put almost + 20 db or more to reach 500 W.
Jay use a small Empress preamp/EQ, but you could find a lighter one, or use an additional box: MXR Micro Amp M133 that reach +23 db if I can remember.
Here is a Talkbass link for the amp:
Jay Ganz Straight Ahead Power Amp
There is also a Facebook link.

Her is a Link to the MXR:
https://www.thomann.de/gb/mxr_micro_amp_m133.htm?ref=search_prv_14

- My Second choice was the GSS BABY SUMO. 1,5 kg 500 W
(Even they make a 1 000 W)
Have a look at this website :
Amplificateurs de puissance (power amp) guitare et basse

- As some Tbears said: the GK MB 500 is a good and light choice. 1,5 kg I think.
They have also the MB 200 but push only 200 W (1 kg).

- And to finish, the new Trace Eliot ELF at 0,73 kg, but puts also 200 W and color the sound.

At 2,5 kg, you got every things you want, a lot of choice.

Hope that could help you for the amp.
Now you just need to find a good light cab.

Alain
 
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#17
40Hz said:
If you get a chance, check out the Quilter Labs Bass Block 800. Tiny, powerful, affordable, and very versatile sounding. It has an unusual tonestack design that puts some people off. But it's actually pretty intuitive to use once you sit down with it for a bit. In some ways it's far easier to dial in the tone you're looking for with that head than it is with the standard B/M/T control set you usually see. Well worth a look.
Click to expand...
Couldn’t agree more. I’ve had pretty much all of the micros listed and find the Quilter to be the best option. I’m a big fan of Genz-Benz and Gallien-Krueger, both great options. The reason I like the Quilter so much is the sheer versatility. It’s small, powerful and very reasonably priced. I like to use pre amp pedals (GK Plex, MXR M80 and SansAmp BDDI to name a few) and the Quilter can be used as a pure power amp. The pre amp section is non traditional but very useful; it’s like they built it from the ground up. By far my favorite amp I’m my 20+ years of playing.
 
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#18
Darlacat said:
I'm in the market for a micro head at around 500w and am looking for some general advice on what to look for. The reason why I'm looking for a micro head specifically is because I need something that won't take up too much space and won't break my back (or bank account).

Amps I've been looking into include Ampeg PF-500, Laney Nexus SL, Peavey Minimax, and Mark Bass Little Mark/Big Bang.

I'm relatively new to bass - I've played guitar for about 20 years but only got my first bass around 18 months ago. I've been using a TC Electronic BG250 at home, which was fine for that purpose, but I need sonething with more guts for a band I've started playing in: think the bass tones from 90s noise rock and similar genres. Although ideally I'd like something quite versatile to allow me to play in different styles.

I play a USA Fender Jazz strung with D'addario ProSteels, if that's any help.

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
GK MB500
 
#19
If you are comfortable with used: (guitarcenter com; reverb com & your local craigs list) -- Any of these Genz Benz can more than do you right. Versatile, solidly built, and can often be found at inexpensive prices.

Shuttle series 6.0; 6.2; 9.0; 9.2 (all four lbs or less in 2.5"H 10"x10" pkg) or the slightly larger Streamliner 600 or 900 at about 6.5 lbs. 3.5"H 10"x12" -- the Genz Benz website is still up if you want more info about those amps; and the youtube has plenty of product videos about those models.

I'm currently using a Streamliner 900 (bought used for $300), workhorse power and tone. I used a Genz Benz Neo-Pak 3.5 for a long time; one heck of a sweet sounding terrific amp -- the Neo-Pak which came on the scene before the Shuttle series, might be a little big for your purposes (8.5 lbs 3.5"x11"x16") ---- picked that gem up used for $200.
 
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#20
this will knock you on your butt...500 watts, 4lbs, gig bag size 9.5x12x2.5", dead quiet fan..made in Canada, by Traynor/Yorkville, the long standing Canadian company of kick a$$ bass, guitar and PA gear...I have the 200 watt version and it sounds great and gets loud, this one even better.... look up: bebass - a fellow TB er and a US distributor and all round good guy (I have no affiliation)
Traynor Amps

sb500h_lg.png
 
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