1st ever Soursound tube bass amp...

Pandafist · #1 08-17-2010, 01:37 AM

is being built...

and it's being built for MEEEEEEEEEEE

FWIW, Bryan already makes some of the nicest guitar amps money can buy, so there's little doubt in my mind that this thing is gonna rival any bass amp ever made. And I sincerely mean that! This guy, above anybody I've ever met, KNOWS HIS SHIZ WHEN IT COMES TO TUBE AMPS.

Check out his site, especially his customwork.

http://www.soursound.com/

ps - I play in a band w/ Bryan
pps - It's a guinea pig amp, and it'll be without the crazy woodwork and matching cabs he's known for. He will officially start selling them w/ insane matching cabs once we've worked out all the kinks with mine.

Anyway, I don't have any pics or clips. Project is only just now entering the design stage, so it's gonna be a hot minute before I'll have anything to show.

We're actually tossing around ideas for 300w, a 400w (8 tubes!), or a 200w and a matching 200w slave. I'm leaning towards 300w, as the 400 would be more than I'd ever need and would require a larger transformer, making it in his words "most likely the heaviest bass head ever to be made." And the amp+slave combo seems somewhat pointless unless you ever plan to use 4 cabs (lol, not without roadies!). The 300 will push 2 810s easily, and I typically only use one...

out of curiosity
which would you have chosen?

calebbarton · #2 08-17-2010, 01:51 AM

You are a lucky man. Iv been eying him and the Verellen amp people for quite a while. Very interested in how this turns out as I also live in Portland.

I would probably go with the 300w version also. I have a 400+ and its stupid heavy.

MIJ-VI · #3 08-17-2010, 01:59 AM

IMVHO 2 X 200 Watts would offer scalable power and system redundancy.

funkytoe · #4 08-17-2010, 11:06 AM

I like the idea of a 200 watt head and matching slave as well. 200 tube watts can easily drive a single 810. Plenty for most any show. Also, you might be able to get a little more overdrive out of the 200 watt head without getting stupid loud. When you need the extra power (and weight) you bring the slave. Or just let it sit in your rolling rack until you need it. I like versatility in amps. The 200 + slave option just gives you more choices without sacrificing anything.

poor_gear_whore · #5 08-17-2010, 11:50 AM

I am excited to see the progress on this. I had actually talked to him about building me just a 200 watt slave.

BassmanPaul · #6 08-17-2010, 01:33 PM

I too would endorse the master plus slave option. My only comment would be to ensure that the output section of the master be fused separately from its pre-amp/slave drive circuitry. Thus if you lose a tube in the master the slave will still be operable.

Paul

Pandafist · #7 08-17-2010, 05:05 PM

I've been thinking long and hard about it. Considering the volumes most of my bands have/do/will play at, I'm worried a 200w would be overdriven all the time, and I'd like a little headroom for some loud cleans too.
I just need to talk to Bryan about it some more.
Really I'm gonna have to go with whatever HE decides in the end.
Basically I'm his focus group for the the entire process because he likes my bass playing and tone, so he trusts my opinion... or something. lol
It's still all about him working out a design HE'S happy with.

Oh and I offered myself up as a solder monkey for all the easy stuff, so I'm gonna be neck deep in this from start to finish. I expect I'll learn a lot.
I couldn't be happier about this whole arrangement.

walterw · #8 08-17-2010, 08:09 PM

where's the "400w + 400w slave" option?

Pandafist · #9 08-18-2010, 03:07 PM

We talked at length last night and decided to actually go w/ the 300...
+ a 300 slave

Now, I'm not actually sure I'll end up with a slave, but that's what he decided to design for future buyers. He's just going to use the same power section minus the pre-amp, so there's really very little reason for him to prototype anything beyond the actual amp. That, and I can't afford the cost of parts for both (which I'm assuming I'll at least end up paying for some, if not most, of).

Stay tuned.

oh yeah
ps - if you go to his site and check his custom work, you can see how he always has a piece of wood going down one side of the amp and cab. He intends to stick with that design, but make the slave and its cab have the wood on the opposite side...
HOW SICK IS THAT?!

SC Bassboy · #10 08-18-2010, 03:13 PM

I would go with the 400 watt head because, well, basically I'm an idiot and the headroom is worth the extra weight to me. Super excited about this thread either way.

MAMMOTHvolume · #11 08-18-2010, 03:18 PM

have you got much experience with valve amps? 200watts gets very loud with the right speakers.

johnk_10 · #12 08-18-2010, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pandafist

It'll largely be based off of the golden era SVT design, but he's been telling me he thinks he can actually improve on it significantly.....................

IMO, to 'improve' a golden era SVT is a slippery slope.

yczi · #13 08-18-2010, 03:45 PM

Wow, I'm really liking the slave idea. The 300w x2 is just a crazy amount of power!

I've been eyeballing the Verellen ones from a distance for quite some time now, but now that this has popped up... I can't wait to see more!

EDIT: I'd have to agree with johnk_10, though. Don't fix what isn't broken.

RickenBoogie · #14 08-18-2010, 03:55 PM

I'm usually just fine with 200 all-tube watts, even in the loudest situations. But, the extra 200 watt slave would be kinda nifty, too. Subscribed.

poor_gear_whore · #15 08-18-2010, 03:58 PM

I'll have to contact him about the slave.

Jared Lash · #16 08-18-2010, 04:05 PM

Wow, incredibly interested in how this develops.

Subscribing to see how things turn out and when (and for how much) I can order one.

bongomania · #17 08-18-2010, 04:10 PM

I always endorse consensual master and slave arrangements.

When talking with him about the slave amp, be sure to remind him of the wide range of output levels from various preamps, anywhere from .7V to 1.4V, and make sure his slave can be fully driven by anything in that range.

That way for example somebody could use their favorite pedal-format preamp to drive that huge tube power section.

EKinPNW · #18 08-18-2010, 04:14 PM

Let us know when / where you're playing when it's done, I would love to hear it in action...

shakerattleroll · #19 08-18-2010, 04:26 PM

The wood looks cool, but that would be a nightmare for gigging, probably get destroyed faster than tolex.

poor_gear_whore · #20 08-19-2010, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

I always endorse consensual master and slave arrangements.

When talking with him about the slave amp, be sure to remind him of the wide range of output levels from various preamps, anywhere from .7V to 1.4V, and make sure his slave can be fully driven by anything in that range.

That way for example somebody could use their favorite pedal-format preamp to drive that huge tube power section.

I will have to bring that up for sure. Good looking out man.