clean amps vs dirty amps

[Holliwood]

KK

Let me qualify this question first.
I know tube amps will have grind. I know Mos-fet amps "can" sound a bit like tube amps.

What companies make amp heads that are SS and have grind/dirt?

Which brands/models are know to have clean/transparent uncolored sound?

Are there any particular hybrids that do a good job of producing BOTH clean and grindy sound?

[smemm]

The GK2001RB comes to mind. Mesa BB750?

[chris4355]

Im not a 100% sure about this...

But I do think it also has a lot to do with the brand.

From my experience Markbass amps definitely have a very clean/transparent sound, while most of the Ampeg amps I have heard have a much more colored sound.

[LiamPodmore]

Gallien Krueger RB Series for grind/grit. Something like a Markbass is pretty transparrent, so basically what has been said above.

[Holliwood]

I only ask this question because although it seems as though everyone considers all tube to be the god king of amps and old SVT to be the amp all bass players should aspire to, I'm starting to feel like (since I like so many sounds), I might be better served with real clean SS and use a pedal when I want grind.
Does this make sense?

I'm so sick of tryin to decide on one particular amp head.
As soon as I think I've found what I really want, I hear sumthin that makes me second guess.

[teemuk]

The TC Electronic amps have a control to fade between clean "SS" tone and dirty "tube" tone. Nails the Marshall tube bass amp tone dead on, and in fact, that control even allows to go totally overboard with the dirty setting.

[Mr. Foxen]

Peavey ahve SS amps you can drive, Acoustic have fuzz circuits.

SS and pedals for drive makes total sense.

[Gearhead17]

Originally Posted by Holliwood

I only ask this question because although it seems as though everyone considers all tube to be the god king of amps and old SVT to be the amp all bass players should aspire to, I'm starting to feel like (since I like so many sounds), I might be better served with real clean SS and use a pedal when I want grind.
Does this make sense?

I'm so sick of tryin to decide on one particular amp head.
As soon as I think I've found what I really want, I hear sumthin that makes me second guess.

Find a head that does what you want for clean tones and get that one. Adding a pedal for overdrive/distortion/fuzz, is the way to go. Heads with built-in growl/distortion, typically are not very versatile. It's a tone you have to live with - which is great for some, but for others, versatility is key.

[Holliwood]

This may be a "duh" question but...

Are there any all tube heads that can be pretty clean when you want them to?

[TravTrav]

Old Acoustics can be driven dirty.

[Mr. Foxen]

Originally Posted by Holliwood

This may be a "duh" question but...

Are there any all tube heads that can be pretty clean when you want them to?

Any well designed valve head should be clean if you want it to be. A lot of people prefer dirty ones though. Old British amps other than Marshall tend to aim for clean, Hiwatt and Matamp, stuff made for the US market tends towards being dirtier. Matt Matthias of Matamp quit making amps for guitars because he didn't like people distorting them, distortion says you fail as an audio engineer.

[Ukiah Bass]

Euphonics Audio amps have pristine clean and pure tone.

[brndn123]

Originally Posted by Holliwood

This may be a "duh" question but...

Are there any all tube heads that can be pretty clean when you want them to?

Fender Bassman 300 Pro

Sadowsky SA200

Eden 300t

[Electricblue]

Find a head you like the clean sound of, and crank the input gain. That's what I do.

[eyeballkid]

ashdown abm evo II as the answer to every question.

[seanm]

Originally Posted by Holliwood

I only ask this question because although it seems as though everyone considers all tube to be the god king of amps and old SVT to be the amp all bass players should aspire to, I'm starting to feel like (since I like so many sounds), I might be better served with real clean SS and use a pedal when I want grind.
Does this make sense?

Yes it does. You have much more flexibility buying a clean amp and adding the dirt you want. You can then use multiple pedals to get everything from clean, to light overdrive, to heavy distortion.

[Pilgrim]

Originally Posted by Holliwood

I'm so sick of tryin to decide on one particular amp head.
As soon as I think I've found what I really want, I hear sumthin that makes me second guess.

That won't stop. Find one you like and just resolve to stick with it for a while.

Personally, I like the Genz-Benz Shuttle approach of providing a tube pre-amp with a Class D solid state main section. Cranking up the preamp gain provides some tube sound, but backing it down a bit provides very clean sound. Genz-Benz is noted for a clean sound across all models...and as noted above, it's very easy to add "dirt" (whatever that is). There are only about 30-bazillion pedals out there.

[anderbass]

Originally Posted by Holliwood

This may be a "duh" question but...

Are there any all tube heads that can be pretty clean when you want them to?

My Mesa/Boogie Buster is squeaky clean, Its so clean I didn't like mine much for bass duty, but its turned out to be an absolutely stellar acoustic guitar amp.

[mpdd]

i use an all tube mesa d180, which can be pretty clean or super grindy, but it's 200 watts so it may not be as loud as a 747 landing in your front yard but i like it

[bassboysam]

Originally Posted by brndn123

Fender Bassman 300 Pro

Sadowsky SA200

Eden 300t

i would add the matamp gt200 to that list.