A digression...

I figured out a while ago that I really liked bass through a Fender blackface-style amp. Of course, like people said here, they crap out pretty early when being run with tube power amps and into guitar speakers. I used to plug by pro reverb into bass cabs for recording. Finally, I took my Fender Champ and I added a line out between the preamp and the power amp. I'd then pull the Champ's power tube and run the line out into a solid state power amp and bass cab. The Replicator "You Are Under Surveillance" album was bass into Champ into Peavey rack power amp into a 2x10" bass cab with two mics.

After that, I built a rackmount version of a Fender preamp and THEN I found out that the Alembic bass preamp was essentially the same thing; Blackface style preamp with a few small changes in a rackmount unit.

Cheers!

benadrian wrote: Tue Jun 01, 2021 1:35 pm
I figured out a while ago that I really liked bass through a Fender blackface-style amp.

I love how my Bassman sounds with bass. I'd totally use it for shows if it was louder or I was in a quieter band!

benadrian wrote: Tue Jun 01, 2021 1:35 pm Of course, like people said here, they crap out pretty early when being run with tube power amps and into guitar speakers. I used to plug by pro reverb into bass cabs for recording. Finally, I took my Fender Champ and I added a line out between the preamp and the power amp. I'd then pull the Champ's power tube and run the line out into a solid state power amp and bass cab.

Oh man, I should really do this with my Champ! Also need to figure out why the signal cuts when I run it on loud volumes or hitting it hard with a pedal, but that's another thread I guess.

Years ago I played in a band where I used an AB165 Bassman with a 12AX7 in the PI into an Ampeg 8x10. Plenty loud (probably from the sheer amount of air the cab moved) and sounded awesome.

benadrian wrote: Tue Jun 01, 2021 1:35 pm I figured out a while ago that I really liked bass through a Fender blackface-style amp.

Yeah man, Blackface Bassman pre is my favorite bass tone. Into a single 15" with a mic on it is how bass should sound to me. I've always wanted to pick up one of those Alembic things but they got kinda spendy. Was hoping the Boxidizer would get me close because I think it is supposed to model a bassman pre, but it doesn't really sound like one at all. I would love to build the front end of a B15n into a little rack unit too. It would be cool to have a couple of little lunchbox style bass preamps that I could plug into any ol poweramp when I needed to.

Kniferide wrote: Fri Jun 04, 2021 7:08 pm

benadrian wrote: Tue Jun 01, 2021 1:35 pm I figured out a while ago that I really liked bass through a Fender blackface-style amp.

Yeah man, Blackface Bassman pre is my favorite bass tone. Into a single 15" with a mic on it is how bass should sound to me. I've always wanted to pick up one of those Alembic things but they got kinda spendy. Was hoping the Boxidizer would get me close because I think it is supposed to model a bassman pre, but it doesn't really sound like one at all. I would love to build the front end of a B15n into a little rack unit too. It would be cool to have a couple of little lunchbox style bass preamps that I could plug into any ol poweramp when I needed to.

We're on the same page. I am currently building a clone of the Sunn O))))) Beta Bass preamp along with an extra drive in front of it in an enclosure to run the bass power amp.

You could get yourself a GK800RB for super cheap and it makes for a great recording and live head and plays on the same level as a Sunn or even a vintage Ampeg. This fits your original idea of a cheap SS amp: it sounds great on its own, but it also takes pedals really well. There's nothing you cannot throw at the sonofabitch. I don't know about an 8" speaker. Depends on the range of tone you want to get. A 10" is probably going to get you more what you want, but a 15 might have the low end more where you want to record, since a 10 would push the lows out further.

More importantly, you'll want a cabinet that is solid and doesn't vibrate and make buzzing sounds.