The assembly of a bass amplification system was my project for the summer of 2002, as a "reward" to myself for the new job I had started in August 2001. In the early '80s, when I was just discovering the power and the technique of Steve Harris' basswork with Iron Maiden, all I wanted was to play the electric bass. The fact that it was 1995 before I finally bought a cheapie bass and 2002 before I looked for bass amps (previously, I had used an ever-changing assortment of compression pedals) says a lot about my priorities along the way. However, I've always been drawn to music where the bass guitar helps lead the way (Eric Avery-era Jane's Addiction, Nothingface-era Voïvod, Violent Femmes, etc.). It was past time I did something about it.

     Before I spent any $, I spent a lot of time at Harmony Central, researching various bass amps. Although I had deemed it HIGHLY unlikely that I would be playing out anywhere anytime soon, much less as a bass player*, I wanted to completely skip the underpowered "practice amp" stage. I wanted something that could potentially hold its own in a club setting, regardless of help from the PA. From prior observations, one needs about 300 W of bass amplification to keep up with 100 W of guitar amplification. Budget limitations meant the R 'n R gold standard of a tube-driven Ampeg SVT head on a matching 8x10 cab was OUT, even if dragging an 8x10 cab up the stairs and out of my basement wasn't an issue. However, solid state amps aren't necessarily bad for bass guitar.

     In my price range, I focused my attention on used solid state amps by Peavey (recent 1x15 and 2x10 combos, and their older Mk series of heads) and the Gallien-Krueger 800RB. As the photo above indicates, I ended up with the GK 800RB (~$340 via eBay). Mine is the older (and more highly regarded) design with the horizontal power switch. The 800RB had earned a reputation as a reliable and transparent (tone-wise) power amp, and was bass monster Flea's backline for years (he now uses the newest GK amp). I haven't been disappointed with mine so far.

     By the time I received the GK head, I already had a used Peavey BX 115 1x15 extension cab ($100 via eBay, with local pickup). Since the 800RB could bi-amp a system (powering 300 W into 4 Ohms at the low end, and 100 W into 8 Ohms at the high end), I then sought a 2x10 cabinet. I ended up buying an Avatar B210 cab ($200). Mine is their older rear-ported style, although Thiele-Small parameters aren't very important for a cab that won't be expected to produce frequencies below 100 Hz. I subsequently installed a pair of Eminence Beta 10s, as I did not need the power handling capacity of the stock 350 W Delta 10 speakers (since sold). Overall, I was extremely impressed with Dave Avatar's service and product. If I didn't already have a 1x15 cab, I would definitely buy from him (and my next guitar 4x12 cab WAS an Avatar).

     Other than the "lesser" speakers I retrofitted into my Avatar cab (instantly voiding the warranty!), not much has been modified. The most important addition was a Boss LMB-3 Bass Limiter/Enhancer, which replaced a DOD FX 82 bass limiter, which in turn had replaced a Boss CS-3 Compression/Sustainer pedal that was never used on 6-string guitars. Compression pedals were always a good idea for recording bass direct into a 4-track and for practicing through a guitar amp, and until I bought a BBE DI-1000 DI box with speaker emulation (see 'fx'), my LMB-3 pedal was on at all times. One day I may add a Boss bass graphic EQ pedal to the chain for further tone tweaking. Beyond that, I replaced all of the high-stress screws (cab and amp handles, speaker mounting screws) on the 800RB and both cabs; for the 800RB, one of the two handle-mounting screws was already almost sheared in half from use, and the other could not be extracted (its threads must be stripped). Finally, I added a set of rubber "feet" to the bottom of the 800RB, and installed the casters I bought from Avatar on the bottom of the Peavey. All in all, my complete bass rig cost some $100 less than the price of a new GK 800RB by itself at the "big box" music stores.

     *It's somewhat ironic that the first time I played out in St. Louis, it was on the bass (supporting a couple of co-workers through a set of classic rock tunes at a coffee shop) in August 2003. If that's not a sure sign of getting old, then I don't know what is....

Vital statistics:

• Gallien-Krueger 800RB bass head
  • Serial number: 23649 (made in the U.S.A.)
    
  • Chassis date: 1-85 (transformer dated 8503; pots dated 8448 and 8326)
    
  • Rated power output:
    Full range/Low amp: 300 W @ 4 Ohms or 200 W @ 8 Ohms
    High amp: 100 W @ 8 Ohms
    
  • Channels: 1 (plus footswitchable "boost" gain stage)
  • Tubes: none
    
    
• Avatar B210 cabinet (rear-ported)
  • Serial number: none (made in the U.S.A., 2002)
    
  • Speakers: Two 10" Eminence Beta 10s, 150 W each, plus Foster high-frequency horn
    
  • Rated power handling: 300 W RMS @ 8 Ohms (mono)
    
    
• Peavey BX-115 cabinet
  • Serial number: 07509250 (made in the USA, in the 1990s)
    
  • Speakers: One 15" Black Widow (300 W RMS @ 4 Ohms)