Back to tubes!

smemm · #1 09-21-2011, 04:10 PM

After eight years of GK I am getting back into an all tube amp. Prior to the GK stuff I was a die hard tube guy, loved the quickness of it but was constantly knob twiddling and never really found a sweet spot. Had a 700RBII, 1001RBII and an 800RB. The 800 and 1001 both died on me, however I am still a believer in the reliability of GK stuff overall. Most recently the 800 died on me, puking out a cloud of stinky blue smoke. After my tears dried I jumped on craigslist and found a Traynor YBA 200 with a fresh set of KT88 for three hundred bux. Took it for a whirl and was reminded immediately of why I used all tube stuff for so long. Fat, growly and very reactive to what I was playing in other words, tubey. I will always have a soft spot for GK but for now I feel like I've come home.

beatsbears · #2 09-21-2011, 04:15 PM

Sounds like a good deal! Glad to hear you've come back from the dark side!

alembicguy · #3 09-21-2011, 04:18 PM

Music made on tube amps! Welcome back.

chubrocker · #4 09-21-2011, 04:27 PM

I'm in the same situation--Long time GK user. Seeking SVT with 810 currently. Might get 700RBII just to have around.

Alex1984 · #5 09-21-2011, 04:34 PM

NICE! Traynor YBA-200 was what got me hooked on tubes, and the SVT-II drove the dagger home.

Rockmusician · #6 09-21-2011, 04:43 PM

I used GK for about 8 years. I recently switched to an SVT 6 Pro with two SVT 410 HE cabs.

handofseven · #7 09-21-2011, 04:53 PM

I wrestled with SS amps for the longest time without even trying tube (everyone had convinced me of the "great expense of upkeep LOL). I went through some Tubeworks stuff, SWR, Trace Elliot and eventually settled with GK. I loved the 800 RB I was using, but when I finally plugged into an SVT, it was over.

I knew after plucking the first note I had found Nirvana. I still have an 800 RB, it's good stuff, but my SVT is king!

smemm · #8 09-21-2011, 05:30 PM

I will more than likely repair the 800 (depending on cost) and keep it as a backup. The GK was the only amp that could pull me away from the tube stuff so that's gotta be saying something. My previous tube heads have been three SVT's a 74, 79 and an 81 as well as a Sunn 300T so I'm definitely not unfamiliar with tubes.

ChrisPbass · #9 09-21-2011, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smemm

After eight years of GK I am getting back into an all tube amp. Prior to the GK stuff I was a die hard tube guy, loved the quickness of it but was constantly knob twiddling and never really found a sweet spot. Had a 700RBII, 1001RBII and an 800RB. The 800 and 1001 both died on me, however I am still a believer in the reliability of GK stuff overall. Most recently the 800 died on me, puking out a cloud of stinky blue smoke. After my tears dried I jumped on craigslist and found a Traynor YBA 200 with a fresh set of KT88 for three hundred bux. Took it for a whirl and was reminded immediately of why I used all tube stuff for so long. Fat, growly and very reactive to what I was playing in other words, tubey. I will always have a soft spot for GK but for now I feel like I've come home.

You are one forgiving dude...

smemm · #10 09-21-2011, 10:29 PM

I suppose it's one of my better qualities. I was waiting for someone to call me a fool.

Thornton Davis · #11 09-22-2011, 09:19 AM

I too recently went back to tubes. As good as the Class D amps are these days, I couldn't find one that could quite give me the tone I wanted. The one I considered buying couldn't support a 2 ohm load, so it was back to tubes, specifically Traynor's new YBA300. You can't beat its warmth and tone.

TD

alecduncan · #12 09-22-2011, 09:28 AM

Man, how did the 800RB die on you?! I've never heard any stories on that tank burning out. But, I'm in a similar situation, and loving my 1001RB-II and 412 Neo combination. I've been extremely tempted by the Trace Elliot V4/V6's I see lately and if I had the money I'd definitely go to the dark side

Sifl · #13 09-22-2011, 09:38 AM

I am also back on the tube train. Recently purchased a Sound City B150 from TB. So good! I still want to get an SVT, but for now I am satisfied.

Old Fart · #14 09-22-2011, 10:45 AM

Hear here! Tubes rock.

jgroh · #15 09-22-2011, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thornton Davis

I too recently went back to tubes. As good as the Class D amps are these days, I couldn't find one that could quite give me the tone I wanted. The one I considered buying couldn't support a 2 ohm load, so it was back to tubes, specifically Traynor's new YBA300. You can't beat its warmth and tone.

TD

Oh man, I really want one of those YBA300s!

VanillaThundah · #16 09-22-2011, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smemm

... I jumped on craigslist and found a Traynor YBA 200 with a fresh set of KT88 for three hundred bux...

Ok, that part made ME cry

Rezdog · #17 09-22-2011, 11:18 AM

Greetings from the North,

Yup.... I let my old SVT go during hard times in school. Then years later when I started playing again I couldnt afford or lift one without pain lol. This past weekend I was compelled to leave a trail of wreckage and make it to my fave music store before closing time. It's just coming back to me now.... I left the store with a Traynor YBA300. I'm back y'all! And it's worth the pain I'll receive when 'She who must be obeyed' finds out lol. I'm running it thru 2 Traynor TC115's and it's simply awesome!

Rezdog

tombowlus · #18 09-22-2011, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smemm

After eight years of GK I am getting back into an all tube amp. Prior to the GK stuff I was a die hard tube guy, loved the quickness of it but was constantly knob twiddling and never really found a sweet spot. Had a 700RBII, 1001RBII and an 800RB. The 800 and 1001 both died on me, however I am still a believer in the reliability of GK stuff overall. Most recently the 800 died on me, puking out a cloud of stinky blue smoke. After my tears dried I jumped on craigslist and found a Traynor YBA 200 with a fresh set of KT88 for three hundred bux. Took it for a whirl and was reminded immediately of why I used all tube stuff for so long. Fat, growly and very reactive to what I was playing in other words, tubey. I will always have a soft spot for GK but for now I feel like I've come home.

Good call! The Traynor is a great tube head, especially for folks who dig the GK tone.

smemm · #19 09-22-2011, 05:03 PM

Yeah I was pretty suprised too when it quit. At home playing in my living room, quiet enough to hear the tv over. It just made an angry electric fart noise and that was it. I had the opportunity to stack a YBA 200 on top of a YBA 300 and A/B them into a Traynor 8-10 cab. In the end my ears actually prefered the 200. Go figure. Was cool to be able to compare both amps head to head like that. And yes Tom, I have heard the YBA 200 is the preferred amp of most gk users.

skychief · #20 09-22-2011, 05:38 PM

Im your counter-persona!!! Been a tube enthusiast for many years... just got old (me - not the tone) and I got tired of schleppin around a 90-pound head (Ampeg SVT2 pro) and a 70- pound cab.

A year ago, i scored a used GK 800RB on ebay for $275. LOVE IT TO DEATH!! So easy to set up & get playing.

Well anyway, welcome back to the tube world. Have fun with the Traynor YBA200!