What Amp as the tighest low end?

[Justice4all]

Im going to have to say my Knucklehead 100 R. The bottom end on that sucker is way tight! Whenever i play a gig lately i get comments on how precise and focused the bottom end is . Played an outdoors conceret over the weekend and all the guys using mesa rectos, now want my Knucklehead.

There are alot of other amps that have good tight bottom end but this is "my" amp of choice.

[some_dude]

+1. Lotsa factors to consider. I'd have to think that something along the lines of a Mesa Dual/Triple Rectifier would be a good starting point.

I like my Recto for it's loose, saggy feel.....

The tightest is probably the VHT Ultra Lead, followed closely by most ENGL amps, like the Powerball.

Sorry for being so generic guys. I'm talking about semi high-gain stuff. I want to use my mesa with another amp at the same time... I find my mesa to have a bottom end that gets flabby.

Where's your bass set?

The best and cheapest option I could suggest would be to add an EQ (I prefer a parametric as it really lets you focus what you're cutting) to the loop. I did that recently and it's made a huge difference to the tightness.

Things I found out;

- Before using an EQ, I would reduce the mids as little as possible, but just low enough that the harshness went away....the problem was that three knobs are like trying to do surgery with a broad sword, it still cuts, but it cuts too much, and not neccissarily where you want it to. Using a P-EQ let me cut out that harshess, but only that harsness. I could actually put my mids up much higher as a result, which tightend things up quite a bit.

- Before using an EQ, I was using my bass knob to try to boost my lower mids a bit....the problem was kinda like the broadsword thing above, but now I'm adding and not cutting. I found that by using the P-EQ to boost just my lower mids, it let me have the sound I was after, but without the added bass end. Needless to say, this tightend things up alot

- Lastly, as a result of the adjustments I made above, I found a new boomyness in the bottom end...I used the P-EQ to cut a bit more off the bottom end, which not only reduced the boom, but for some reason also reduced almost all feedback off my guitar....and that lack of feedback has tightend things up alot.

Sorry for the essay....but I'm a newly converted EQ deciple.

Prior to this, my settings were aproximatly G-4, T-4, M-4.5, B-6, P-4.5.....so you can see that using this EQ has changed things alot.

[mindbender]

I've always found that Solid State amps sound tighter than tube amps, but what do I know?

[Quencho092]

its true, dimebag used a solid state right?

For that ultra high gain, i think it isnt even worth it to go tube.

for that matter, a nice 2x15 cab would pound out some tight bass i figure, ala showman.

[mrid]

its true, dimebag used a solid state right?

Yes, but I've heard he almost always had a JCM 900 around as well.

[rainsong86]

I noticed you're playing a rectoverb through a mesa oversized cab.. I think the problem is with the oversized cab.. standard oversized cabs are very smooth sounding and never fart out even with very bassy settings.. but the bass is very saggy and personally I think the mesa traditional cab or a good marshall cab will do the trick to tighten up the bass.. a straight front traditional might work well to get you the kind of bass response you need

[That90'sGuy]

This thread was started in February '05... holy resurrection

[Boogie Bill]

You might find that switching to a Mesa Traditional 412 will tighten up the bass.

Here's what you are looking for, IMHO: Solid State Rectifier. EL-34 or 6L6 will work, 6550 & KT88s will probably be better. Smaller speaker cabinet, and speakers with high power handling capability. (Not Greenbacks, okay? Think EVM or Celestion 80s or 85s.) A lot depends on how the amp is voiced; my JCM 800 probably had the tightest bass of any amp I've owned--right up to where it was really pushed.

I would think the JCM 800s, the JCM 900s might rule in this category. Another one that might be in there would be an ORIGINAL SUNN Model T.

(I don't really want to recommend this one though,....a guy could HURT himself with that amp!)

Bill

[some_dude]

This thread was started in February '05... holy resurrection

+1.

I would hope the problem has been solved by now.

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Use a humongious amp, use big effecient speakers with a huge magnet and specs to match, build a cab that actually has been calculated for the speakers you want to use.
Do not use any saggy tech, tubes and stuff like that.
And practise like a madman in playing tight.....skweeezzzeeeee it!

[D-EJ915]

Speaking of drivers, smaller, lighter cones will produce "tighter, snappier" bass although not have as much "impact" as bigger ones. Bigger ones usually have more power handling though. This is part of the reasoning behind why bass cabinets sometimes have lots of 10" drivers.

[Koreldyre]

VHT UltraLead, hands down.

And not only is it tight, it's huge.

[innerdreamrecords.co]

The problem, or feature, or whatever you want to call it!, with most Mesa's is the sensitive EQing. How do you have your EQ set up? Mesa even goes and tells its users that too much bass makes the sound very flabby/flubby, whatever. Dial in with care with Mesas!, even more so than most amps. They are naturally very bassy. The bass (on most), doesn't add so much low end as thicken up the sound, which results in a very loose flabby sound if dialed in too high. I can only speak for the triaxis, but the vast majority of my high gain settings I have the bass on two, three, even zero at times. More treble, more mids, much less bass if your Mesa is too flubby imo. Of the Mesas though, I think the Mark IV has a better/tighter low end than the Recto series, but its really all in how you EQ it.

If this is the case probably a good eq pedal/rack with a cut of frequencies say below 100 or 120 hz would probably get rid of that flab.

A lot of modern rock bands are using the Dual Rec. on recordings anyhow to get a super tight distortion.

[Lee_L]

ENGL's!

Definitely. My setup right now is an Engl Screamer 50 going through a closed-back Mesa cab. It's got some seriously tight low end.

[Metalman_666]

I would have to say that Randalls are pretty tight generally, but I think that mostly just comes from the fact that they're solid state. If you want tight tube distortion I'm not so sure a Recto will give you that. I was under the impression that they're usually saggier and bassier than most other tube amps.

[taphappy]

The 5150 can be tight or loose depending on its settings.