Dual Purpose Head

TheMute · #1 03-31-2011, 10:39 PM

So I'm looking for a about an 100 watt head for two uses.

I hope to play jazz guitar through ( clean headroom/ lots mids) and I suppose rock bass(Punchy/ slight break up when cranked).

I gave up on trying to find one that has 6550's or KT88's that's affordable, but if it could be easily modified by a tech to take those tubes id be down for that.

Thanks for the help.

T-Bird · #2 03-31-2011, 11:41 PM

Hi.

New/used?

Price range?

To an extent, what You're after covers about any 100 (ish) W tube amp ever produced.

If You can find one, Fender PA100 might be the cheapest option.

Almost any EL34 equipped amp can be modded to take 6550 tubes, but obviously that alone won't raise the available power.
So why 6550/KT88? Tone and response?

If an affordable & new KT88 amp is what You're after, the Smarvo (Ashton/Eden/Fame) 300 advertised watt bass head could be right on the money.
Won't have the spring reverb You probably want for the guitar use though.

Regards
Sam

anderbass · #3 04-01-2011, 12:10 AM

If your lucky enough to run across a used Mesa D-180 give it a serious tryout. They were
designed to serve double duty as a bass or guitar amp, and they succeeded quite well.
Ch. 2 would work great for jazz guitar or rock bass. But it has no reverb.

cataract · #4 04-01-2011, 12:20 AM

MusicMan HD 130

A guitarist I played with had one of these, it doubled as a bass amp pretty decently. He had the head/cab setup, but apparently they put it into combos as well. Had a Bassman-ish tone when played through a 4x10 cab.

Energy · #5 04-01-2011, 12:40 AM

EBS Classic T90

Alex1984 · #6 04-01-2011, 02:17 AM

I'd seriously consider the Ampeg V4.

JimmyM · #7 04-01-2011, 02:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex1984

I'd seriously consider the Ampeg V4.

my suggestion as well.

Sartori · #8 04-01-2011, 03:41 AM

I own a Mesa D-180, which is a great bass amp and also a good guitar amp. I don't know if it would be what you're looking for, though. Especially as it has no reverb.

IMO, just get a V4.

Energy · #9 04-01-2011, 03:57 AM

What about Fender? Bassman 70 or 100...

morbina · #10 04-01-2011, 04:22 AM

Traynor yba1? Not quite the wattage you are looking for but they sound great.

TheMute · #11 04-01-2011, 07:17 AM

Wow thanks for all the suggestions!

Reverb is not a problem here. I can always get a separate reverb unit if need be. I use pedals for that now anyways.

I just want those power tubes cause my favored bass tone is a later 70's SVT. Guitar wise have no idea how those will sound. Definitely want all tube though. Wouldn't necessarily be the case if it were just a bass amp. And used or new ok with me if it works well. Price range is probably between 500-1000$

At a first quick glance I like the EBS a lot. Simple is good.

Was looking at a newer VB4 used for a while, you guys referring to the older ones?

Also just occurred to me I could take a power tube out of a Traynor or Smarvo and get it to break up earlier.

Seems like I just got a bunch more gear to research. Seen lots of this used stuff on the classifieds here?

KramerBassFan · #12 04-01-2011, 09:31 AM

Just get a Ampeg V4 or V4B... either one will work. And the V4 already has Reverb. and it will do the SVT tone, just not as much volume.

Trust me there...

Bevo · #13 04-01-2011, 09:34 AM

If you want a lower watt break up then consider a multi watt amp head with a pristine clean channel.
I have a Traynor YCS that is 50 or 15 watt that does a great job with the bass and guitar.

With 50 watts it does not have the clean headroom on bass but overall the amp is stupid loud on guitar.

Another option if you need more power is an SS power amp run off the DI or pre output of your tube amp.

poor_gear_whore · #14 04-01-2011, 10:22 AM

Sounds like a job for an early 70's v4. They are ideally suited to both situations.

kringle77 · #15 04-01-2011, 11:15 AM

Vintage V4. My brother has one with the matching sealed 4x12. He plays both through it and sounds great. He doesn't even touch his svt classic much anymore.

Alex1984 · #16 04-01-2011, 04:43 PM

YBA-1 is about 45W and the YBA-1A is up to 90W, but they only go down to 8 ohms if I recall correctly. I think a YBA-3 would be the best choice out of the Traynor family. I'd warn you against yanking tubes out though.

The V4 can easily do the SVT tone, but uses 7027A tubes instead, I believe it can be modded to take 6550s though, but I'd leave them as they are. Beautiful tone that can stand toe-to-toe against an SVT, and breaks up earlier than an SVT. Like I've mentioned in another thread, Ampeg's the only company that can make me willingly lug around 90 some-odd pounds and still be happy about it, that goes for guitar as well as bass.

But then again, Ampeg's one of the few companies that make amps that heavy.

TheMute · #17 04-01-2011, 10:47 PM

Well looks like ill start my hunt for a v4. Is there a year or range that's preffered?