THE POD FARM BASS AMP AND CAB MODELS

On this post we'll get familiarized with the five bass amp models of POD Farm (version 1). Bass playing is not my strongest suit but for this demo it will have to do.The bass on this sound test is an Ibanez GSR 190-T with both pickups active, all knobs on full. I used a medium pick.

The bass modeling on the POD Farm allows for different combinations of amp and cabinet, room positioning of the cabinet, different microphone and mic positions. Top that with customizable amp settings and we get potentially hundreds of sonic possibilities.

For this test, each amp model will have one sound file which contains three clips played in the following order:

Clip 1: Unprocessed

Clip 2: Amp only

Clip 3: Amp and default cab and mic combination.

The following amp and cab descriptions are excerpts from the POD Farm user manual.

Adam and Eve (Default cab based on a 4 x Eden 410)

Adam and Eve Audio Sample

 After David Eden made cabs for SWR® for 3 or 4 years, he went into the business of making his own bass amp and cabinet line. Jim Demeter designed the electronics of the first Eden amps, and they were quickly adopted by a veritable who’s who of modern bass society. POD Farm’s Adam and Eve model is based on* the WT-300, one of Eden’s latter offerings which produces a clean, clear and rich tone.

Rock Classic (Default cab based on an 8 x 10 Ampeg SVT)

Rock Classic Audio Sample

 This workhorse has appeared on innumerable recordings and arena stages worldwide – there is no equal to the original SVT® and its 300 watts of pure tube magic. First introduced in July 1969, the SVT® set the tone, punch and arena-rattling standard for all future big gun bass rigs. Its users have included everyone from The Rolling Stones to Van Halen, and pretty much every “rock” bass player in between.

Eighties (Default cab based on a 4 x 10 Hartke 410)

Eighties Audio Sample

This model is based on the solid state amp that helped define what new bass amps sounded like for the better part of that decade. Geddy Lee had one. Will Lee used one on Late Night With David Letterman. And bands like Def Leppard powered through a decade of pop metal with the 800RB. The GK 800RB produces a very scooped sound, and doesn’t really distort.

Flip Top (Default cab based on a 1 x 15 1960’s Ampeg B-15)

Flip Top Audio Sample

The Flip Top model is based on* a 60’s Ampeg® B-15 Portaflex® — one of the most popular studio bass amps of all time. It’s tuned and front-ported, has a closed back, is 25 watts with a single 15-inch speaker, and set a new standard for cabinet and speaker efficiency, tone and convenience in bass amplification. If we had to sum up the amp’s sound up in one sentence, we would simply say: Listen to James Jamerson’s bass playing on the Motown®/Tamala records of the 1960’s — The Supremes, The Four Tops, The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and many more.

 

Silverface (Default cab based on a 2 x 15 Fender Dual Showman D130F)

Silverface Audio Sample

The Silverface Bass is modeled after* a 1967 Fender® Bassman®. By ’68, when the Beatles went in to record The White Album, they had pretty much done away with their Vox®amps in favor of the new “silverface” Fender® line. John and George each played through a Twin Reverb®, and Paul through the 2x15 “tall cab” Bassman®. This amp remained his favorite through the end of the Beatles’ recording career, and can be seen in the Revolution video (the cab is laying on its side), and all over the Let It Be movie — including the infamous “rooftop” concert which closes the film.

The following video plays clip 3 of each amp and cab model so you can hear them side-by-side.