On the fence about getting a tube amp... Opinions/Exeriences would be great

[Roadkill]

Yah, Tubes Rulz, Bipolar Droolz LOL.

OTOH MosFets are kinda in the middle somewhere. I have several MosFet amps - the Ampeg Micro-VR sounds pretty tubey to my ears with the limiter off into an 8 ohm cab . Some have issues with some 4 ohm loads (a pair of the SVT210AV's in particular ) - Ampeg never got back to us with a definitive answer to that issue. My old (no longer made ) Tube Works amps sound awesome .

[spacebassed]

Originally Posted by nicoli

For all you guys saying a tube pre with a s/s power section is tube tone, do you actually own that rig and believe it? I run a SVP Pro with 5 tubes in the preamp into a s/s poweramp and although I like the sound, it's not even close to all tube tone.

My all tube Marshall head is a completely different sounding rig. They're not even close. Same with SVTs and YBAs when I play them, not even in the same ballpark as a hybrid setup. If it's tube tone the man is after, I've yet to hear anything but the real thing that sounds like the real thing.

+2

its the power section that gives most of that "tube" sound. if you have any doubts, go try any of the current guitar amps made with tube pre's/ss power sections, then try a 70's musicman with the opposite configuration (ss pre/tube power), you'll see that the musicman will sound MUCH more like an all tube amp than one with a ss power section.

[Sartori]

Peavey VB-3 is all tube, 300 watts, and less than 40 pounds.

Besides that, though, you have to keep in mind that there isn't a single "tube sound" that all tube amps get. Various models of tube amps can sound as different from each other as various models of solid state amps sound from each other.

[NorCal Dog]

i've been chasing that " lightweight " warm tube tone for a number of years

hybrids, hybrids / pedals, micros, micro / pedals, micro hybrids, micro hybrids / pedals

they all had some good tones, if they were dialed up right, but tube tone,,, NO

literally thousands spent on the search

finally said ____ it

bought a Fender Super Bassman SB300

search over

[jnewmark]

Originally Posted by spacebassed

+2

its the power section that gives most of that "tube" sound. if you have any doubts, go try any of the current guitar amps made with tube pre's/ss power sections, then try a 70's musicman with the opposite configuration (ss pre/tube power), you'll see that the musicman will sound MUCH more like an all tube amp than one with a ss power section.

As I posted earlier, my Music man HD150, has what you are speaking of. I noticed right away something different in the tone from my SS amps, even the ones that had the 12AX7 in the pre. It's very hard to describe, but words like " butter ", " creamy " kinda nail it, but not quite.

[godofthunder59]

I have a bunch of tube heads, Marshall, Ampeg, Sound City, Hiwatt etc. I recently bought a 500w Orange Terror bass and I love the amp to death. Light and powerful dripping with beefy, growley vintage tone and punch.

[bassdude51]

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

I think your two concerns are well-taken. I've sold off my heavier amps (about 50 pounds each in a rack) and cabs (about 100 pounds each) and gone to micro amps (2 to 9 pounds) and neo cabs (40 to 62 pounds). I don't have any serious back problems, but at my age I don't want to get them.

In a gigging situation, the only one who is going to care what amp you're playing is you and, frankly, any improvement in sound with tube amps (if there is any) isn't worth the hassle and isn't going to be discerned by your audience. I certainly have never gotten any negative comments about my MB800 and Berg AE cabs from audience or band.

Really! +1,000

To an audience listening to a band............no one can hear the difference between sold state vs tubes. Do they care? They are there to enjoy the music and the band and not the bass player.

Do tubes really sound better or is it a "mental thing"? IMHO, a tube bass amp would be great for that wonderful Jack Bruce grinding over-drive sound. This is where tube amps excel. Over-drive distortion still has a musical sound that an over driven SS amp just can not do.

If they do sound better, is it noticeable on stage or in a studio? Use SS for stage and tube for studio.

Markbass makes great sounding amps! They are used by many pro bassists. They are reliable. They are light weight. You can find them used for great prices. Own two. One for back up. At under 10 lbs they can't be beat.

Had a Mesa 400+.................hated it! It's gone. Now an LMII. Got 2 of 'em. Bridged together into 2 cabs for 1,000 watts and plenty of head room.

Good luck and if you can afford it, have both. A sold state bass amp and tube amp.

[redhed]

Originally Posted by Mr. Foxen

Not specifically the new ones. They are Ford Transit, basically right for what it does, used all over. The people that put real money into a superior product to sell at a high price all went out of business. There are things that can be done better, but why try when the name badge covers all the benefits of doing so?

Edit: http://www.chambonino.com/work/ampeg/amp4.html

Well I've never been happier with my 'new' SVT. After 30 years of playing, just about everything else.

[Mr. Foxen]

Originally Posted by bassdude51

To an audience listening to a band............no one can hear the difference between sold state vs tubes. Do they care? They are there to enjoy the music and the band and not the bass player.

Depends on the gig. Not all gigs are the same.

[bigchiefbc]

Originally Posted by bassdude51

Really! +1,000

To an audience listening to a band............no one can hear the difference between sold state vs tubes. Do they care? They are there to enjoy the music and the band and not the bass player.

Do tubes really sound better or is it a "mental thing"? IMHO, a tube bass amp would be great for that wonderful Jack Bruce grinding over-drive sound. This is where tube amps excel. Over-drive distortion still has a musical sound that an over driven SS amp just can not do.

If they do sound better, is it noticeable on stage or in a studio? Use SS for stage and tube for studio.

Markbass makes great sounding amps! They are used by many pro bassists. They are reliable. They are light weight. You can find them used for great prices. Own two. One for back up. At under 10 lbs they can't be beat.

Had a Mesa 400+.................hated it! It's gone. Now an LMII. Got 2 of 'em. Bridged together into 2 cabs for 1,000 watts and plenty of head room.

Good luck and if you can afford it, have both. A sold state bass amp and tube amp.

The question of whether a crowd will be able to hear the difference comes down to how overdriven of a "tube tone" you're going for. At my gigs, I usually never go for a completely "clean" sound. Previously, I used overdrive pedals and SS amps for my main tone. I switched to a 100W all-tube amp last winter, and I run it high enough that it's overdriving most of the time (at smaller gigs, I use a power soak to bring the volume down to reasonable levels).

My friends that have seen us a dozen times or more instantly heard the difference. People who've never seen us before, maybe, maybe not. But I can tell you that I've gotten more complements on my sound in the last 10 months than I did in the previous 6 years combined. I like to think the new amp (and maybe my new Ric) have a lot to do with that.

[CL400Peavey]

Originally Posted by throbbinnut

Want to hear what tubes can sound like in a band setting? To me this is proof that all-tube is worth it. 100 Watt Ampeg V4B, Ampeg 2x15, outside, not running bass or guitars through the PA, plenty of volume, and great big fat sound that actually makes me sound not as horrible as I actually am...

http://youtu.be/6GjUVoyI9JU

Chris

Just listened to the whole thing... You guys sounded great!

[throbbinnut]

Originally Posted by CL400Peavey

Just listened to the whole thing... You guys sounded great!

Thanks, man! Right around the 4 minute mark, when we start into Born on the Bayou, you can really hear tube bass goodness, and I think I get kinda loud near the end of the vid. Also, all the guitarists play through all-tube amps. We're all tube nuts.

Chris

[murphy]

I love tube rigs for the 3D like Clarity....bell like.....depth that I do not hear in any other rigs.
i just can't haul one to gigs.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by bigchiefbc

+1 - not trying to be contrarian here, but I've played through more than a few tube pre's and hybrid amps in my day (hell I own one), and although they may have a nice sound to them, they definitely did not capture the sound of a tube power section that's being driven hard.

+1 IF a key part of your tone is the break-up of power tubes being driven hard, you aren't going to get that from a solid state power section no matter what you put in front of it.

That is why most of us post that caveat.

If, on the other hand, you prefer a cleaner tone, it is quite a different story these days. Of course, for a player with my tone goals, I was never happier than to be able to finally dump my V4B WAY back in the day when good sounding solid state heads came out. Nothing worse for a guy like me who wants a clean, even, tone to have to deal with the darn power section 'changing your tone' as you turn the amp up. Different strokes.

For the OP, since he mentioned he really didn't feel he could deal with the weight, short of that power tube break-up tone, he should be able to find a relatively lightweight head that will make him quite happy.

[bassdude51]

Originally Posted by throbbinnut

Want to hear what tubes can sound like in a band setting? To me this is proof that all-tube is worth it. 100 Watt Ampeg V4B, Ampeg 2x15, outside, not running bass or guitars through the PA, plenty of volume, and great big fat sound that actually makes me sound not as horrible as I actually am...

http://youtu.be/6GjUVoyI9JU

Chris

You are too humble! You are a very good bass player!

Your V4B tube amp sounds GREAT! Hard to believe only 100 watts. Sounds clean, powerful and beautiful to me!

Some credit to the 2-15 cab also. Much needed for your sound.

Also, your bass? 'Bucker on the neck for sure but another on the bridge? Also plays a big part in your sound.

So, IMO.........not all the credit goes to your tube head.

Tubes are still the best in amplification of all sorts (guitar, bass, Hi Fi) but not always so practical because of weight, expense and power. Never heard of a 500 watt or more all tube bass head. Yikes! The weight and expense! The transformers alone in a high powered tube amp can weight 30 or more pounds!

One could go with 2 SVT heads and cabs for plenty of power and head room but we are back to the beginning of this tread about getting away from lugging around a John Entwhistle "Little Manhattan" bass rig.

Tube amps are nice. So are today's modern solid state amps.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by bassdude51

Really! +1,000

To an audience listening to a band............no one can hear the difference between sold state vs tubes. Do they care? They are there to enjoy the music and the band and not the bass player.

Do tubes really sound better or is it a "mental thing"? IMHO, a tube bass amp would be great for that wonderful Jack Bruce grinding over-drive sound. This is where tube amps excel. Over-drive distortion still has a musical sound that an over driven SS amp just can not do.

If they do sound better, is it noticeable on stage or in a studio? Use SS for stage and tube for studio.

It's noticeable no matter what situation you're in. And I don't crank tube amps to distortion and it's still noticeable. Now that doesn't mean I won't show up with a micro sometimes but I hear a clear difference when I use a tube amp. Does the audience walk out on me when I don't use a tube amp? Of course not. But playing to the least musically intelligent people in our crowd is something I just can't do.

[Ukiah Bass]

There's more than just the performance angle. Looking at the math, I clock way more hours in my home studio than performing. So making the bass sound as good as it can be at home is especially important. The tube amp has made practicing so much more enjoyable because the bass sounds better than ever before. At the end of the day, I'm mainly playing for my own pleasure. Tube tone at the gig is an extra benefit!

[J2Kbass]

Again - thanks a lot to everyone for their input.

My main goal is to get as clear and PHAT a tone as possible. Not concerned about overdrive at all really.


I've checked out some clips on different amps and am going to check out some in person at a nearby store. I haven't heard anybody mention Orange AD200B.

Anyone have experience with that speciffically(Orange AD200B)?

[Rezdog]

Greetings from the North,

I can't put my finger on it but...there's just that certain somethin that's there when I play thru an all tube powered rig. And 'I' do notice it's missing when I'm playing thru a hybrid or SS powered rig. Can the audience tell? Put it this way.... I'm the one playing bass and if I'm feelin good from it, chances are I'll be making those that are listening & groovin feel good too.

Ya I'm an old dog and can't clean & jerk an SVT anymore without causing grievous harm to myself lol. My Traynor YBA300 is doable and sounds awesome at 50 lbs and change. Tubes are tubes and I'm not going back to wishing I had the real deal.

And yes that clear & phat tone is there

Rezdog

[Roadkill]

Originally Posted by J2Kbass

My main goal is to get as clear and PHAT a tone as possible.

I always plug in a solid state amp for "clear" and tubes for phat. Dunno if you can get both out of one amp, one or the other will be a compromise. Right now my practice amp is a Shuttle 3.0 (an uber sterile amp) into a single sealed 15 (to fatten it up). If I'm in the mood to "fart" around I'll swap in the '67 Bassman . I generally like to practice with an amp that points out all my weaknesses .