Bass Gear Talk Notes

Saric Grand Bass

• Description: A unique Saric Grand bass in pink, simple design.
• Pickup: TB Jones pickup, volume knob.
• Features:
  • Short scale.
  • Tone switch for dark vintage sound (250k pots).
  • Built-in fuzz capacitor for tone modification.
• Shoutout: Jake at CEREC, who crafts basses in small batches.

Hurricane Helene Impact

• Situation: Jake's shop faced damage from Hurricane Helene after moving from Chicago to North Carolina (or Georgia).
• Support: Encouragement for fellow builders and artisans to support Jake during recovery.

Discussion Topic: Best Amp and Cab Picks of 2024

• Format: Each presenter will share their top gear picks without prior discussion.

Barefaced Amps

• Notable Model: Barefaced Big Twin 3.
  • Description: Large cab with vertical side vents, excellent design for cooling.
  • Visuals: Can be aesthetically modified to appear vintage but with modern internals.
• Shoutout: Alex from Barefaced for innovative designs.

Noble Head

• Description: Ian's Noble head used with various cabs, highly sought after but not in production anymore.
• Features: Tube preamp, solid state power amp; weighs about 20-25 pounds.

Ampeg B15

• Description: Classic amp seen as essential for vintage sound; used in many iconic recordings.
• Aesthetic: Pairs well with mid-century furniture, enhances room aesthetics.
• Considerations:
  • Not practical for live gigs, mainly for studio use.
  • Offers a distinctive beautiful sound, often seen in major studios.

Jad Freer Amps

• New Arrival: Jad Freer all-tube amp released.
• Features:
  • Simple controls (gain, bass, treble, master).
  • Aesthetically appealing and reminiscent of B-15 design.

Trickfish Bullhead 3K

• Description: High-power amp capable of 3,000 watts, potentially more.
• Features: High-pass and low-pass filter for room acoustics adjustments.

Aguilar Tone Hammer Series

• Update: New aesthetic and features for the Tone Hammer 500 and 700.
• Key Feature: Built-in cab IRs for DI outputs.
  • Allows blending of clean and cab mic sounds without phase issues.
  • Historically popular for its warmer, ampy sound.

Budget Options

Fender Rumble

• Description: Affordable practice/amplifier options with a strong low-mid emphasis.

GK Combinations

• Recommendation: GK offerings for clean, high-power handling bass amps.

Markbass Little Mark

• Description: Renowned for reliability and quality; a favorite among gigging bassists.

Conclusion

• Final Thoughts: Each piece of gear has its strengths and specific use cases. Recommendations are based on personal experiences and preferences.
• Call to Action: Viewers encouraged to share their picks for 2024 gear.