best (tube?) practice amps for bass?

[subbasement]

It may be a faux-pas, but I just registered for this forum, and freely admit that I usually play those six-string things. The problem is I have done so for quite some time, and know the benefit of a good vintage tube amp (Ampeg Gemini G-12, which is pretty bassy for a g****r amp). I have only recently decided to work on my bass skills, and have been playing bass at VERY low volumes through my Gemini at home. It's time to get a bass amp though. Mostly for home (apartment) practice, maybe a few small gigs. I've been looking for a relatively low powered tube bass amp that doesn't suck. I tried the Fender Musicmaster Bass amp, it farted out on the low end. I've been looking on ebay, craigslist, reading reviews and forums. I saw a Gibson Thor listed a while ago but it's gone now, see a Guild Maverick Bass now and a Earth b2000, Traynor YBA-1 and YBA-2 seem to show up semi-regular. Will these also fart out on the low end like the Musicmaster? Having experienced the beauty and majesty of tube g****r amps compared to their lesser solid state brothers, I'm reluctant to go the solid state route, but it seems like most of this category for bass is solid state now. I tried the Orange Crush CR50BXT and it was okay, want to check out a Kustom DE-50. I also just like vintage stuff too much for my own good. Would like to get some tube overdrive without getting evicted. Probably need a fuzz pedal to do this. Big Muff Bass?

I have a Fender MIM Jazz Bass, and just found a vintage Fender Pedal Bass (transistor-based monophonic foot operated one octave bass pedal organ). The pedal bass is so I can play those blasted six-string objects and play bass lines simultaneously. Working on my foot coordination. No good putting both through the Gemini alone.

Please tell me whether any of the above mentioned options will leave me dissapointed/looking for a new apartment, or whether my approach is wrong headed and my goals are unreachable.

Thank you.

[Gearhead17]

Don't worry man, it's cool you play guitar! No issues here.

Most bass combo amps are solid state, some have a pre-amp tube to warm up the sound a bit. If you are looking for a good combo for possible gigs, GK Gallien-Krueger Instruments | Musician's Friend

Look on that page for several choices. The bass world of amps and cabs is generally designed for a clean representation of bass tone. Some amps have built-in overdrive and all-tube bass heads usually achieve "tube growl" at high volumes.

Tube power sections are a must for guitar - for the compression, distortion and tightness of tone for guitar players. Solid state amps for guitar are generally very harsh sounding.

I suggest looking for a small practice amp with a headphone out (GK combos work well for that) so you can practice silently, and look for a bigger rig for band activities. Or you could go for the GK MB212 or MB210 and get both items at once.

To get bass guitar style tube growl, you need an amp with a power tube section. Or you could look into the Tech 21 VT bass for something similar sounding.

[bassgod0dmw]

For the type of amp you describe I'd probably find a small SS bass combo of some sort.

If you're really looking for tubes, try to find an Ampeg B15. It's only 30w, so it's not going to get very loud, but it would work for what you describe.

[lomo]

IME the most tubey sounding small setup is simply a Mesa Walkabout combo. Big enough for a small gig, small enough foir the livin' room, with tone that always makes me grin. They are not cheap, but IMHO are worth it.

[s_mcsleazy]

epiphone valve jr into a 1x10 bass cab

[bassgod0dmw]

Originally Posted by s_mcsleazy

epiphone valve jr into a 1x10 bass cab

Those things are like 5w, that would never cut it in any sort of live situation...even a coffee house with an acoustic player and no PA.

[beatsbears]

You can find some old tube bass amps that are less than 100w, but in most cases they won't be the same value as buying a nice modern combo will run you.

I'm currently restoring an old Univox 50w bass head to use for home practice and maybe some very quiet jamming, but IMO it's probably better to just buy a newer combo with a tube preamp. Most of the older low-power tube bass amps are either very expensive because they're collectable and have sweet, sweet tone. Or you can get some lesser known brands for pretty cheap, but be prepared to pay for some tech time to get them running well, and even then their sound may be nothing to write home about.

The valve jr isn't a bad idea, but you'll need a pretty efficient cab in order to hear it in a practice situation, and even then it may be a longshot.

[Alex1984]

+1 to B15N or B12N, and the WalkAbout

[Duke21]

I'll check out the Ashdown little bastard, it all tube and 30W. The best thing about it that you can get it new.

[NecroticImbecil]

Hard to beat a B-15, unless you're playing loud rock/metal gigs with no PA support. Sounds nice with guitar too, as long as you don't need distortion at low volumes. I've used mine several times as a bass/drum amp for in house practices. Bass in one channel, electronic drums in the other. Bandmates all said the drums sounded better through it than the PA we had been using.

At our practices, no farting out with kick or 5 string bass (tuned down a step). We play fairly loud to accommodate the guitar player, the room is about 16' square.

I am not familiar with the particulars of the Gemini. If the speakers plug into the amp part of the combo, you could try plugging it into a bass cabinet of the proper impedance. My Mesa combo works like this. It's too powerful for my music room so the guitarist plugs his 5 watter into the speakers of my Mesa.

[KurtInTheDirt]

Jeez, recommending a B 15? That thing is insanely overpriced! I myself would probably go the craigslist route and find a cheaper low wattage SS amp then throw a tube mic preamp (presonus, art) in front of it for added warmth and save the rest of the money for a real stage rig, preferably tube.

[bassgod0dmw]

Originally Posted by KurtInTheDirt

Jeez, recommending a B 15? That thing is insanely overpriced! I myself would probably go the craigslist route and find a cheaper low wattage SS amp then throw a tube mic preamp (presonus, art) in front of it for added warmth and save the rest of the money for a real stage rig, preferably tube.

Overpriced? It's one of the most recorded amps in music history, for good reason. How is it not a "real" stage rig?

Your idea of a tube pre into a SS power amp is a good idea as well, but the OP asked about tubes...

[Duke21]

Originally Posted by bassgod0dmw

Overpriced? It's one of the most recorded amps in music history, for good reason. How is it not a "real" stage rig?

Your idea of a tube pre into a SS power amp is a good idea as well, but the OP asked about tubes...

He might wanted to say that the B15 is not cheap. That is why I've mentioned the little bastard which is 30W and cost about the same as a GK500.

[tekdiver500ft]

I'm kind of surprise that nobody has mentioned this one yet: Ampeg BA300/115. This is 300 watts of pure Ampeg tone, including a tube preamp. This thing sounds a lot like the B-15, but is more powerful and substantially less money.

[Duke21]

Originally Posted by tekdiver500ft

I'm kind of surprise that nobody has mentioned this one yet: Ampeg BA300/115. This is 300 watts of pure Ampeg tone, including a tube preamp. This thing sounds a lot like the B-15, but is more powerful and substantially less money.

That is a hybrid amp, not a tube amp. The are plenty of nice hybrid amps but the OP wanted a tube amp.

[C.Linton]

Originally Posted by Duke21

That is a hybrid amp, not a tube amp. The are plenty of nice hybrid amps but the OP wanted a tube amp.

If he's only looking for a small practice amp, he may have to settle for a hybrid. Other than the Ampeg B-15 already mentioned, I don't know of any small all tube amps, and the new version of the B-15 is way expensive, if you can even find one now, and an old one can be had for much cheaper, but it's still expensive for a practice amp.

[Duke21]

Originally Posted by C.Linton

If he's only looking for a small practice amp, he may have to settle for a hybrid. Other than the Ampeg B-15 already mentioned, I don't know of any small all tube amps, and the new version of the B-15 is way expensive, if you can even find one now, and an old one can be had for much cheaper, but it's still expensive for a practice amp.

The Ashdown Lttle Bastard is all tube at 30W. Even in Norway it cost a bit below the price of a Class D amp as the GK MB500.
Personally I'll just go for an amp as the PF350 or the GK MB000 which will be good for gigs as well with the right cab.

[335guy]

I agree with most of the replies here, that the OP would be better served getting a nice little SS combo for home practice. It could have a tube pre-amp, or he could get a tube effect pedal. But if he wants a real old school alternative, a 50 watt Fender Bassman paired with a decent cab would sound very good a low volumes. Not too pricey for a vintage all tube head as silverfaced ones often sell for around $500.00. Paired with a nice 15 cab, it would make for a very decent old school bass amp. Of course, he could up the power and go with a Showman. Those are often the same prices. That would be a cool old rig. A Showman with a single D-140 ( or some better speaker )



A couple of Bassman heads on Ebay:

Vintage 1967 Fender Bassman Tube Amp Head (AB165) | eBay

blackface fender bassman amp | eBay

[Caca de Kick]

Practice in an apartment? I used to piss all my neighbors off with a ss 25w combo with 1x12". I'd never recommend a B15 for apartment use....especially at 1100-1400 going rate.

Reason small combos are usually not all-tube is because tube bass amps heavy.

[coreyfyfe]

Originally Posted by Caca de Kick

Practice in an apartment? I used to piss all my neighbors off with a ss 25w combo with 1x12". I'd never recommend a B15 for apartment use....especially at 1100-1400 going rate.

Reason small combos are usually not all-tube is because tube bass amps heavy.

Yeah I can rarely get the volume on mine above 9 o'clock without getting complaints from upstairs. Great sounding amp, and certainly gigable in the right situation, but not always useful for practice at home. Usually I end up running through headphones at home.