Product: Yorkville BM400 Combo
Price Paid: 250 LVL (about 350 - 400 $) used
Submitted
03/31/2006
at
02:40am
by
Valters Sprudzs
Features
:
7
I bouhgt it about 3 years ago and since I have used this amp to play rock, gospel and jazz/fusion, and I think there are lots of sounds in it, but You have to find the good ones (EQ), and that takes a little time.
Features: 400W solid state rackmountable head, 15 inch speaker + tweeter, active/passive input, gain knob, footswitchable 10 band graphic EQ with master level control, master volume knob, switchable limiter, footswitchable "Contour", balanced line outputs (post EQ/pre master) and Effects Loops on both the front and back. You can also ad another speaker with impedance not less than 4 ohms.
I wish it had better and bigger handles, because it is really hard to carry this thing, footswitch could be included, XRL output and a footswithable mute would be a nice touch.
I never use "contour" on stage, only for my own fun, because it's too radical for my taste, and it kills the punch. Recently I stopped using EQ, because I bought Yamaha NE 1 EQ box plus I'm also becoming a "clean-sound" freak.:)
I have used this amp in clubs, halls and even outside venues and it had the power to get me through. Limiter is useful when you have to turn it all the way up, but it's a bit noisy. If I had another cab, it would have more power than I'll ever need. My frend used it on recording session recently - it worked just fine.
Sound Quality
:
8
I have played Hohner B5 bass and Yamaha BBN5II trough this combo amp. Sound-wise it has everything - different sounds for styles I play (see above) and good punch for slapping. The speaker is a bit weak in reproducing low B string, but if I added another/second cab, I think the problem would be fixed.
It is a clean sounding amp, no signature "growl" or "sound". It simply reproduces the sound of my bass.
The amp is quite noisy in my appartment, but realy silent on stage, the humm has never been a problem. It might be something to do with the fact, that I'm in Europe and I have to use power adapter from 220V to 110V. Or maybe with groun-lift (or whatever you call it).
The sound is clean even at high volumes, and limiter is very useful in loud situations.
Reliability
:
10
I depend on this amp, because I don't even have a backup and it has never let me down. The only problem I have ever had is with my power adapter.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Never used
Overall Rating
:
8
I have been playing for 6 years now and I have a Yamaha BBN5II bass and NE 1 equalizer.
I would probabbly get something else, if it were stolen or lost.
I love the price - power rating, but now I'm not shure if I need all that power. Now I would look at features, like effects, headphone out, tuner out, aux in, mute switch and light weght (think Roland Cube 100, Ampeg Portabass series e.c.t.)
Maybe I'll buy a light Neodynum speaker cabinet and use this head that way.
Bottom line - if you need lots of power and a good sound for a good price, this might be just it. But if you care to travel light, look somewere else.
