Good Ol' Tube Amps

CJ_Horror · #1 08-06-2010, 09:49 PM

I've been interested in looking into a tube amp for a while, particularly a Marshall or a Hiwatt, but living in Australia doesn't afford me the widest range of gear to try. I was just wanting to hear people's thoughts on what's out there, new and vintage. I know Ashdown have released their new tube line which looks interesting. I'm looking for a good, filthy sound and I love distortion so I'd like to hear any opinions on reliability and sound.

jelwood · #2 08-06-2010, 09:52 PM

There are tons of threads on tube amps in this forum. I'd even go so far as to say maybe 1/3 of the threads are on them and then half of those just solely about the SVT. There should be plenty of info on them if you do a little searching!

That being said, another thing that might interest you is the Mesa BB750, it has a really interesting full tube distortion that I thought was pretty insane when I heard it.

JimmyM · #3 08-06-2010, 10:03 PM

well the good news is that if you want filthy sounds, a good 100w amp into a 410 or bigger is usually enough for most small-medium gigs (and a lot of large gigs), and with pa you can do pretty much any gig. might even have to turn down on some of them. and that opens up a lot more choices. i know those brands cost a lot down there, but 100w amps can be a lot cheaper and still rock a house with a big enough cab. 300w amps usually have to be cranked too hard to get good dirt for most venues unless you're playing doom. turn up an svt to power tube distortion and it's a good way to get your band canned in a lot of clubs. or the cops called on you at home

()smoke() · #4 08-06-2010, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

well the good news is that if you want filthy sounds, a good 100w amp into a 410 or bigger is usually enough for most small-medium gigs (and a lot of large gigs), and with pa you can do pretty much any gig. might even have to turn down on some of them. and that opens up a lot more choices. i know those brands cost a lot down there, but 100w amps can be a lot cheaper and still rock a house with a big enough cab.

+1

i've gigged bass thru a '70s marshall JMP into an 810 or 610 and it sounded great for an overdriven sound...i even sometimes play my bass thru the marshall at home at quiet volumes just for the harmonic richness of the tube guitar amp

as Jimmy points out, if you have PA backing, you don't really need a 300W SVT if you're going for a 'filthy' sound

rockstarbassist · #5 08-06-2010, 10:10 PM

I just got a Boogie 400+ and it's the first and only all tube map I've ever liked. And not just like- but in love. And b/c of the different input/channel voicings and Channel and Master volume, you can get plenty of grind without getting stupid loud.

Is just epic.

will33 · #6 08-06-2010, 10:11 PM

+2

100-120 watts is nice. If you like it dirty, you can turn it up to where it sounds good in more situations. Adjust number of speakers to suit volume needs.

CJ_Horror · #7 08-06-2010, 10:24 PM

Cheers guys!

I'm interested in a Marshall Super Bass 100, I think they sound rad.

Anyone know about the sound of an old Hiwatt Custom 100? Can you get some decent filth out of them?

Deluge Of Sound · #8 08-06-2010, 10:35 PM

If you're in Australia, I'd take a look at Lemons:
http://www.tymguitars.com.au/Lemon%20120.html
Boutique Orange clones.

Thornton Davis · #9 08-07-2010, 05:46 AM

Consider looking for a Traynor YBA-3 Custom Special or a newer YBA-2A. Both are built like tanks and can be found on Ebay

TD

lowend1 · #10 08-07-2010, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CJ_Horror

Cheers guys!

I'm interested in a Marshall Super Bass 100, I think they sound rad.

Anyone know about the sound of an old Hiwatt Custom 100? Can you get some decent filth out of them?

Hiwatts are generally thought of as clean amps. You can get some dirt out of them by running the channel volumes up higher, but with that said, it's a completely different animal than an old Ampeg or Orange which have an "active" Baxandall tone stack. That feature makes the amp a little more flexible, with more "give" than the Hiwatt - which is a relatively linear amp. I'd go for either an Ampeg V4 / V4B or an Orange 120.

joeyl · #11 08-07-2010, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

turn up an svt to power tube distortion and it's a good way to get your band canned in a lot of clubs. or the cops called on you at home

There should be a like button for this comment

HanibalSpector · #12 08-07-2010, 07:02 AM

Hi

I used hiwatt amps for bass. I had a 71 model 100 and a 70's 200.

Both amps had a good grindy sound if they were cranked up, however as stated above they were a very linear sounding amp, just turning up the volume and running the master low didn't give you any gain at lower volumes as a marshall would.

I ran mine with the master full open and had the volume at 12 o'clock and eq flat, they were a bassy sounding amp. The 200 watter had a fatter sound than the 100 and a fraction more headroom.

The hiwatts were fussy with speakers and worked best with really efficient boxes as oppossed to high powered bass specific speakers.

In the late 80s early 90s you could buy hiwatts for about $500, nobody wanted them they were the 'poor mans marshall' much the same as WASP amps were.

Now, I think the price for sound/practicality is a bit out of whack with hiwatts. People want $2000+ for them now.
I bought a Peavey roadmaster 160 tube head last year for $700 which runs rings around the hiwatt 100 for it's versatility and as a bass/guitaramp in general. IMO.

Hiwatts are great amps though, They're incredibly well made and would probably still be rocking in 50-100years.
Unfortunately they're rare in Australia and when you see them for sale now prices are so keen, you could buy a better bass amp for the money.

Other good stuff to look out for are wasp amps, trace elliot V series, peavey alpha bass or roadmaster, mesa 400, ampeg V4, musicman hd130, old eminar amps.

Cheers

CJ_Horror · #13 08-08-2010, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HanibalSpector

Hi

I used hiwatt amps for bass. I had a 71 model 100 and a 70's 200.

Both amps had a good grindy sound if they were cranked up, however as stated above they were a very linear sounding amp, just turning up the volume and running the master low didn't give you any gain at lower volumes as a marshall would.

I ran mine with the master full open and had the volume at 12 o'clock and eq flat, they were a bassy sounding amp. The 200 watter had a fatter sound than the 100 and a fraction more headroom.

The hiwatts were fussy with speakers and worked best with really efficient boxes as oppossed to high powered bass specific speakers.

In the late 80s early 90s you could buy hiwatts for about $500, nobody wanted them they were the 'poor mans marshall' much the same as WASP amps were.

Now, I think the price for sound/practicality is a bit out of whack with hiwatts. People want $2000+ for them now.
I bought a Peavey roadmaster 160 tube head last year for $700 which runs rings around the hiwatt 100 for it's versatility and as a bass/guitaramp in general. IMO.

Hiwatts are great amps though, They're incredibly well made and would probably still be rocking in 50-100years.
Unfortunately they're rare in Australia and when you see them for sale now prices are so keen, you could buy a better bass amp for the money.

Other good stuff to look out for are wasp amps, trace elliot V series, peavey alpha bass or roadmaster, mesa 400, ampeg V4, musicman hd130, old eminar amps.

Cheers

Thanks man, I always got that impression from Hiwatts but I've never really heard one properly, thanks for clarifying. I'll have to look into some of these other brands, like Wasp, they sound rad.

Calaverasgrande · #14 08-09-2010, 12:48 AM

It's funny I remember jamming with a friend a while back and he was complaining how he would rather have a Marshall than his ratty Hiwatt!
As far as tube bass amps:
There are the Ampeg SVT(s)
The Mesa Bass 400 and 400+
Those are pretty much the king and queen of tube bass amps. (you figure out the gender!) with the price tag.
On the cheap check out the Traynor YBA line. The YBA3 custom special is 4 power tubes at about 130-150 watts. The YBA1a is only 2 tubes but I have seen them do 90 watts. I swear the 90 watt YBA1a is louder than is big brother somehow?!Either way they are great sounding. I love my bass 400, but the tone of YBA1a is always in the back of my mind.

Also the Ampeg V4b and whatever the other one is that looks like a V4b but is a different model, B25? Those are monsters as well.
Also dont pass up a silverface bassman. They are dead simple amps and not very loud but they sound good at what they do.

T-Bird · #15 08-09-2010, 02:21 AM

Hi.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deluge Of Sound

If you're in Australia, I'd take a look at Lemons:
http://www.tymguitars.com.au/Lemon%20120.html
Boutique Orange clones.

Looks great, and the price isn't all that bad if all the claims are true.

Since You're in Australia, take a look at Ashton BV300. An Australian TBer Pantsman has one, and I have one of it's siblings, Fame BVH300. Pantsman has posted at least one thread about his, and I have a review thread and a pre amp schematics thread about mine.

A great, affordable amp IME. Not an entirely troublefree amp, but nothing major.

Regards
Sam

Mr. Foxen · #16 08-09-2010, 02:31 AM

No clues about these, but one obvious advantage: http://www.tymguitars.com.au/Lemon%20120.html

rodl2005 · #17 08-09-2010, 02:49 AM

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ORANGE-AD200-...item335fa2e4c4

On OZ ebay - atm Hear NOTHING but good re these!!!! For a DIRTY all VALVE sound- can't be beat I hear!!!!!

Not a bad price for here either. Or U could wait & wait & try & find a Traynor... I waited over a year to find one that was good.

I'd grab it meself if I didn't........... well, U know!!!