I want an all tube head for $1000

[DiabolusInMusic]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

People still do full retubes? Too bad...unless you're in a doom band cranking everything up to 11, it's a senseless waste of money.

Actually I was, oddly enough...

It was my first real tube amp and the ones in it were factory. tubes are one of those things some folks tell you to change regularly some folks tell you to use for 50 years. I figured I would toss in some EHX power tubes and couple GT gold pre-amp tubes and start fresh, it was a new toy to me after all. It honestly was a huge improvement, I thought it sounded great before but it came to life after the change. I probably wouldn't do it again knowing I eventually wanted a different sound. It was a good investment when I was planning on keeping it for years if not forever. It is a shame my foresight isn't as good as my hindsight.

I ended up blowing one of the tubes running my Markbass cab with it though, the Markbass cab was 6 ohms. I got at least a year out of it though. Before you mention it, I was young and stupid and had no idea how the whole ohm thing worked. I do know now.

The SVT prefers 2 and 4 ohm loads.

[bassboysam]

Originally Posted by DiabolusInMusic

I am not a traynor fan, they are Canadian Peavey basically. If you want an attempt at an SVT get one, I would personally pick a real SVT over a YBA ten times out of ten.

Be warned though, tube amps, the SVT especially, are extremely expensive to maintain. A re-tubing on my SVT cost me $400 when all said and done.

You are dead to me.

The YBA-3 is one of the best sounding amps I have ever played.

to the OP:
The YBA-2 is probably too quiet, the YBA-1 and YBA-1A would be ok with the right cab as long as you don't mind some dirt in your tone.

[GregC]

Originally Posted by Caca de Kick

I recently saw an Ampeg SVT-II non pro at my local GC for $850. Cant beat that

+1. I'm not a huge Ampeg fan, but I think the II nonpro is one of the best deals going in tubeland--lots of power, graphic EQ if you want it, and they consistently sell for under a grand.

[Needenaneden]

I've got an Eden E300t that has an awesome tone to it. Maybe there is used one out there to buy?
I would also buy the Traynor YBA-3. Try one out if you get a chance!

[ngh]

Originally Posted by bassboysam

You are dead to me.

The YBA-3 is one of the best sounding amps I have ever played.

to the OP:
The YBA-2 is probably too quiet, the YBA-1 and YBA-1A would be ok with the right cab as long as you don't mind some dirt in your tone.

what would you say the right cab is for a yba-1?

also i was wrong about that yba-2 for a grand it is actually a yba-3. and after that statement I think i am gonna grab the ric and head on down to billyburg and try it out right now!

[bassboysam]

Originally Posted by ngh

what would you say the right cab is for a yba-1?

whatever cab would get you to the volume you need with a 50 watt head. for me it would be an 810 or 2 215s but my band is fairly loud.

[BogeyBass]

dont buy the YB1a

dont get me wrong i have had one before and it was really fun.
destroys tubes and will need work.

I ran it with 2 traynor 2x15s rated at 16ohms which is whats needed for the 8ohm tap.

it just needs alot of speaker to work and the 8ohm tap is very limiting. since most 2x15s start at 4ohms its very limiting.

good heads in decent price range to spend some money on
to get up to snuff

would be the used peaveys or newer traynors mentioned

or older bassman 100 or bassman 135's
same thing gonna need more cab. 2x15's what they were designed for
so any nice 2x15 would be a good start

mesa 400 or 400+ or used SVT ok options
ive owned a 400+ and svt and they both really missed my tech i guess. he must have whispered sweet thing to them or had good pillow talk or something. because they loved to break all the time to go see him again.

[fitz420]

Where do u live? I have a killer SVT that I don't want to ship.

[jbybj]

Originally Posted by BogeyBass

dont buy the YB1a

dont get me wrong i have had one before and it was really fun.
destroys tubes and will need work.

I ran it with 2 traynor 2x15s rated at 16ohms which is whats needed for the 8ohm tap.

it just needs alot of speaker to work and the 8ohm tap is very limiting. since most 2x15s start at 4ohms its very limiting.

Disagree. Traynors are known in the repair world for having very long lived tubes. Unless the bias current is whacked. A common mod is to install a bias trim pot to facilitate proper bias adjustments.

I have owned/used Traynor YBA-1's and YBA-1A's for decades, never failed yet, and the only service needed has been filter caps, and pots.

While it's my experience that Traynor amps are the shiznit, not so much for their vintage cabs. The Traynor 2-15's that I've heard were less than stellar. The YBA's will run 4 ohms all night long, and I had two single 8 ohm 15's for a total 4 ohm load. These were EVM 15's, one 15L and one 15B. It never strained with a Fender Twin, Marshall half stack, and a pounding drummer.

I've never played a YBA-3, but I dream about it. They are not as common, and I can only imagine what one of those would do to a fEARFUL 15/6. Plus, at about 70-80 lbs, you will never have to go to the gym again.

[mpdd]

mesa d180 - quite loud whether clean or distorted with a 215

sunn 2000s - too pricey right now, but amazing tone

[wcoffey81]

there are several new traynor yba-2's @ ebay for under $750. full warranty from a licensed vendor

[Downunderwonder]

D180 is near as rare as rockinghorse doodoo. Love mine, good luck finding one.

Nobody mentioned YBA-300, should be below 1K for a used one these days. Not so heavy for 300W and does 8 ohms.

[Old Fart]

While SVT-CL’s can be had for under $1000, they are generally not preferred over other models. VR’s are more highly prized, as are models built in the seventies (and of course, earlier). The circuitry is different. I happened to stumble upon a very early MTI-series SVT from 1980 that has the earlier “Magnavox” circuitry and American parts for $1000. I may be buried with this thing.

Non-CL SVT’s for $1000 can be had, but you may need patience to await the right deal. I would agree with the poster who feels one of the really good deals out there is a non-pro SVT-II. Rack configuration. 300 watts of tube goodness. Plus, I think they are physically smaller. A full size SVT is large……and HEAVY. Heavier than you might think. There must be a direct correlation between tone and weight. (kidding) (sort of)

[StuartV]

I have an early 70s SVT, an early 70s Ampeg V4, a '73 Traynor YBA-3 Custom Special, and a 2005 Ampeg SVT 2 Pro. I have less than $1000 in any of them. WAY less than $1000 in the V4 or YBA-3.

The last time I checked on GC Used Gear online, they had a number of SVT-CLs for $900 or less, with a couple down at $700.

I agree with previous posts that the Traynor is a great sounding amp. I'm thinking of keeping it and selling the V4.

It's hard to compare, since they're such different power, but I think the YBA-3 sounds as good as my SVT - just a little different and, obviously, not as loud (130W vs 300W).

If I could find a Traynor YBA-1 (or maybe even a YBA-1A) in good shape, for a decent price, I would totally grab it. And I dream of the day I find a YBA-3A Super Custom Special (and, hopefully, that I can afford it).

[ngh]

so i went to main drag music in brooklyn ny today and tried out two heads. they had a traynor yba-3 for $1000 and an ampeg v4b for $750. they did not have any bass cabs set up in the try out rooms so I settled with a fender 412 guitar cab (I was trying not to be too much of a bother as I was clearly not buying). the traynor sounded great. just the kind of grittyness i am looking for in my tone but it seemed a bit saggy and undefined to the point where I was getting alot of mud below the 7th fret, especially with flat wounds (which i prefer generally), but I feel that this can be chalked up to the cabinet. the v4 on the other hand was vary punchy well defined and REALLY LOUD! along with that volume came alot of dirt though and unfortunately i think I need a little more headroom. after about 9 oclock it went from practice volume to unbearably loud and super crunchy and from there on it maintained the ear splitting volume but added saturation. the head over all seemed to have alot of electrical issues, so i am not giving up on the v4 quite yet.

so, overall not that productive of a day, but a whole lot of fun. (I even stoped buy ludlow guitars in the city to check out the new fano px4, which is a dream come true at a price point that I can not get anywhere near).

[Mr. Foxen]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

People still do full retubes? Too bad...unless you're in a doom band cranking everything up to 11, it's a senseless waste of money.

Pretty much don't see how it wouldn't be a waste of money in that scenario either. Playing doom, only time I've retubed entirely is when the tubes in the amp were worth more than the amp, so off they went and in went something I could replace if need be. I have had one JJ EL34 break, and 2 preamp valves need replacing ever from actually using amps (turned over dozens of valves doing repairs though).

[JimmyM]

I've heard of a couple dudes on here frying every tube in their SVT after 6 months by playing in a doom band and turning up to 11.

[two fingers]

Originally Posted by RCCollins

If you DON't need that much power (or clean headroom) you could easily save a couple hundred bucks (or put them toward a tech checkup and new tubes if necessary) and get something like a Traynor YBA200

Good point. An Ampeg V4 would fit that bill as well. Strongest head under 300W I have ever seen. It will take your face off if you aren't careful. Mine fills clubs if I ask it nicely.