Reeves Amplification Discussion Group

[SactoBass]

Hello! I did a search and didn't find a thread specifically for the Custom 225 bass amp and 1x15 cabs, so I thought I would start one.

A couple of weeks ago, I received my new Custom 225 bass amp head. I have not had a chance to hear it because I don't have any cabs at the moment to play it through (it's kinda like someone giving me a new Ferrari but telling me I can't drive it yet). On Aug 13, 2009 I ordered a pair of Reeves 1x15 bass cabs as that is when Bill e-mailed me informing me that the cabs are now available. The cabs will be delivered around Aug 20. Needless to say, I am really looking forward to hearing this rig! Once I have it all hooked up and I spend some time playing through it, I will post my comments in this thread regarding the tone.
_________________
USA Lakland BG P-bass and JO J-bass
Reeves Custom 225, two Reeves 1x15 cabs

[Apebot]

hey hey. My 225 was delivered about a month ago. I have gigged with it twice in the interim:

House Of Blues, Dallas TX, through a Henry the 8x8, with a rickenbacker 4001 and a frankenprecision w/ bartolinis: the reeves/precision/8x8 combination sounded thin to me - it was hard to get stage volume to compete with 2 guitars and a kit. The rick, on the other hand, was huge. Defined, clear, that 4001 twang, everything i expected from that amp. I previously played an SVT II (all else the same) and the Reeves is less boomy with better definition in the lows. It is also more sensitive to finger attack, IMO. It is not as loud, but only after you've already hit "insanely loud". I found the tone stack to be less obviously effective, but more usable overall - with the svt a good 30% of the range of each knob drives you into unlistenable territory. With the reeves, i just have to get used to the fact that i can drive the tone controls through their whole range.

Dubliner, Dallas TX through an Avatar 4x10 Neo, with a Rick 4003 and an old Washburn Bantam headless (steinberger style short-scale) - Awesome. Both basses. Just awesome. The rick sounded much like the 4001 - the newer tone circuit sacrifices some high end twang for volume, but still a huge sound with strong low and great definition across frequencies. The washburn was also amazing - it's a dual hb bass but the short scale makes it pretty punchy, and the rig delivered a full, solid sound with a more modern edge than the rick. the 410 is a better match for this head than the 8x8.

Overall i have been pretty impressed with the head - it makes all my basses sound good (the ricks are the standouts). I think the precision/8x8 combo sort of hit the sour spot for midrange accentuation and will probably be relegating that cab to SVT duty.