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BASS V-AMP/BASS V-AMP PRO
5. AM /S EAKER SIMULATION
BRITISH 70s: This virtual amp is based on the 69 Marshall
Major. Its a classic among tube amps, and as used by Jack
Bruce, among others. The sound remains arm even in high
drive settings, and gets a natural-sounding distortion
characteristic, commonly found on old Cream records.
BRITISH 80s: A sound coined in the 80s by musicians such
as Trace Elliot or Mark King from Level 42. Its a very transparent
and irily sound that produced a lot of pressure.
BRITISH POP: Created using the Vox AC-100 as a model. This
amp as very in in the 60s because it had a memorable bass
foundation hile still leaving enough playroom in the highs. The
AC-100 had one very unique feature: the bass control orked
the rong ay around! Turning the control to the left meant
elevating the bass frequencies. Since this feature takes some
time to get used to, e stuck to the more conventional solution,
so that turning the control left ard lo ers the bass frequencies
and turning the control right ard elevates them.
THUNDERBIRD: This simulation leans in the direction of
smaller bass combos, similar to the BEHRINGER THUNDERBIRD
BX108, hence the designation. The result is a full and arm
sound that forgives minor playing impreciseness.
MOSOUND: No other amp as used more often in Moto n
recordings as this one: the Ampeg B-15. The list of artists ho
used the typical B-15 bass sound looks like Whos Who in
Moto n: The Supremes, The Four Tops, The Temptations, Marvin
Gaye and Stevie Wonder to mention just a fe .
ROCK CLASSIC: A little quiz question: hats the name of the
bass amp that has been manufactured for the past 30 years,
ithout modifications, and is still as popular as ever? Correct: it
is the Ampeg SVT Classica true po er package. With its
300 Watts of ra tube po er, this amp has been indispensible
to rock bass players for years. Among others, Van Halen and
the Rolling Stones use this amp.
ROCK 2: Here e have the next stage in the development of
the SVT CLASSIC: SVT PRO II. With this model you can use a
graphic EQ, hich as a feature that made this amp ell liked
among hard rock and heavy metal bands. But pop-rock combos
like those of Bruce Springsteen and David Lee Roth use it often.
SILVER PANEL: This simulation reproduces the 67 Fender
Bassmanits an amp from the legendary Silverface series.
Shortly after its introduction it became many a bass players
absolute darling. Paul McCartney used the Bassman on the later
Beatles albums and also used it on his first solo album ith the
Wings.
WHITE PANEL: What ould the 80s be ithout their typical
bass sound? This decade as hugely influenced by the sound
of Gallien/Krueger bass amps. Some liked the authentic
reproduction of transistor-po ered amps; others yearned for
the armth, for that special something that as missing.
Whatever the case: the Gallien/Krueger as in the early 80s,
along ith Trace Elliot, the amp of choice. Therefore, e chose
the WHITE PANEL as the model for the 800RB, as it is popular
even today, and used by the likes of Flea (Red Hot Chilli Peppers).
RED PANEL: The relatively young company by the name of
SWR started creating the so-called L. A.-Sound in the mid 80s.
The decisive factor as the combination of tubes (preamp) and
transistors (po er amp). Since then, the SWR amps belong
surely to the most demanded amps on the market. The SWR
SM-400 as used as a model for RED PANELits a 500-Watt
mono head that finds its home in many bass racks due to its rich
tone possibilities.
GOLD PANEL: This is a simulation of the Eden Traveller
WT-300. This amp got its name from its developer: David Eden.
He proved his engineering pro ice at SWR before starting to
design bass amps of his o n. Eden amps became famous
through their typically crystal-clear and po erful sound.
CALIFORNIAN: To ard the end of the 80s Mesa Boogie
presented the 400+. This amps head is extremely easy to
navigate, and features four preamp tubes and t el e amp tubes,
delivering a massive 500 Watts of po er.
JAZZ TONE: This amp, ith its typical Marcus Miller sound,
has a classic amp as its role model: the Polytone A101. Its a 15"
speaker bass combo. If youre yearning for a jazzy sound, this is
the right amp for the occasion.
BOTTOM END: Ho times change: no adays, almost all current
music productions feature a markedly deep bass sound that
could previously only be achieved on a synth. But to preserve
true liveliness, it is advantageous to bring in an electric bass.
Only then can you have authentic dead notes and a percussive
ay of playing. A bass player ho became very popular thanks
to his ultra-deep bass sound is Justin Meldal-Johnsen. He played
for Beck and Tori Amos, among others. But hip hop, trance and
rave musicians ill find this sound just right.
TUBE PREAMP: Sound engineers discovered the appeal of a
tube very early on. They use tubes to endo sound sources of
all kinds ith armth. You can modify not only the sound of a
bass, but can for example also run a vocal signal through you
BASS V-AMP/BASS V-AMP PRO and polish it ith the TUBE
PREAMP. (This amp model is ho ever best suited to instill more
life into your bass guitar.)
BRITISH CLASS A: Created by using the Vox AC 30 as a role
model. The roots of this amp go all the ay back to the sixties.
Back then, bass players demanded sound ith a brilliant
characteristic, hich Vox engineers addressed by including
revolutionary bass and treble controls. Brian May and U2
guitarist The Edge are the most famous users of this amp.
MODERN HI GAIN: In this case, sound controls take a back
seat to distortion, giving the extremely distorted sound more
strength. The sound of MODERN HI GAIN is ideal for grunge
guitarists, but also finds its appeal among the guitarists such as
Steve Vai and Joe Satriani. Steve Lukathar, Nuno Bettencourt,
Steve Vai and others made the Soldano sound famous. When
using a Gibson Les Paul, MODERN HI GAIN sounds at its best
hen the volume control on the guitar itself is some hat
supressed.
RECTIFIED HI GAIN: This amps role model as a 1994 Mesa
Boogie Dual Rectifier Trem-O-Verb. Its modern, high-gain-oriented
sound marks this amp, and it orks very ell hen playing in a
band. Sound control takes place post distortion, hich makes a
post-treatment of distorted sounds possible. The amp orks
optimally for heavy metal, but also for achieving Steve Lukather
sounds. The most famous user of this amp is Dream Theaters
guitarist John Petrucci.
CUSTOM HI GAIN: This sound originates in the sound of a 69
50-Watt Marshall Plexi Pate modified by Jose Arrendondo.
Arrendondo as Eddie Van Halens guitar tech. The amp is
characterized by its great mids and the ability to obtain the ultimate
gain ithout blurring the sound. Attention: addictive!
ULTIMATE PLUS: Those to hom DRIVE V-AMP (see belo )
is not enough ill find more gain than they could ever ask for.
CRUNCH V-AMP: This amp is ideally suited for modern blues
or jazz sounds: its sound is neither too lo -key nor too intrusive.
DRIVE V-AMP: This is a modern high gain lead amp. It produces
a soft but still formidable sound ith a lot of drive, therefore ideal
for a lead guitar. The role model as the Mesa Boogie Mark III.
BRIT. HI GAIN: Compare this model ith a Marshall JCM 800.
Even though the original caused a furry mostly due to its distorted
sound, this model produces a similar effect even ith moderate
gain. You get excellent Steve Ray Vaughan/Michael Landau
sounds. When distorting, it is ideal for producing the old Gary
Moore sound as ell as heavy metal sound.
PIEZO SIM: Simulates a piezo pick up. This ay, sound ith
an acoustic character is created. Electric guitars get this accoustic
touch, but ithout the feedback typical for acoustic instruments.