Moving to all tube bass amp - is it worth?

correapa · #1 07-01-2010, 07:26 PM

I'm new into this forum ........
I'm a Chilean 57 year-old Architect and a hobby bassist. I play in a family cover band. We mainly play Beatles, Elvis, Eric Clapton, U-2 and REM.
My basses : American Fender JazzBass and German Hofner V-62 R.I. made in 2004.
My Rig : U.S. made Ampeg SVT-3PRO, Ampeg 410HLF cab, DBX 160A compressor, Furman conditioner, Korg DT2000 tuner
In a broad sense I get a "decent" and defined bass sound.
I have been thinking and reading about moving to an Ampeg SVT-CL head, an SVT-2PRO or a BASS 400+ Mesa Boogie .......... keeping the 410HLF cab (the Ampeg 810 fridge sounds killer but hauling it is a major issue at my age).
In Chile is hard to have the chance of testing those all-tube amps.
Is it worth to change? or maybe I just can get a "marginal" improvement?

I'd appreciate your counsel ........

waleross · #2 07-01-2010, 08:18 PM

I would keep the SvT-3pro and add on the CL. IMO you should try to get it new for the warranty. The power and sound is worth it. The 810-E pairs up great with the CL. I do on most occasions go through my 410HLF.
Good luck . . . .

**jmattbassplaya** · #3 07-01-2010, 08:22 PM

While the CL is a cool head, the thing weighs over 80lbs. I`m 20 and can`t be bothered with moving that amp because it`s simply too heavy without roadies.

John Wentzien · #4 07-01-2010, 08:29 PM

Get a TC RH450 and a RS 212...Easyto move and fantastic!
(I am biased on my opinion) I think you would love it!

**B-string** · #5 07-01-2010, 08:32 PM

Every bassist should own an all tube amp at least once. It should be a rule!

BigOldHarry · #6 07-01-2010, 08:37 PM

Hmmm...

I'd say *no* - for what you do, it's not worth it. The music you play uses bass a more "supporting" instrument, and to me, the only reason to have an all-tube setup is to get the big tubey growl for big rock & roll. What you have should do the trick just fine.

Were you a guitar player, I'd have a different answer. Heck, I can hardly abide SS guitar amps (though they have gotten better...). But for bass? I think the whole "Church of the Tube" is vastly overrated.

**B-string** · #7 07-01-2010, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

Hmmm...

I'd say *no* - for what you do, it's not worth it. The music you play uses bass a more "supporting" instrument, and to me, the only reason to have an all-tube setup is to get the big tubey growl for big rock & roll. What you have should do the trick just fine.

Were you a guitar player, I'd have a different answer. Heck, I can hardly abide SS guitar amps (though they have gotten better...). But for bass? I think the whole "Church of the Tube" is vastly overrated.

And thats why every bassist should own one at least once. I've owned more than my share

BassmanPaul · #8 07-01-2010, 09:14 PM

Going to a full tube amp is a decision only you can make. Try one and see. For me I'll not use a tube amp again - just too heavy IMO.

Paul

**nostatic** · #9 07-01-2010, 10:11 PM

7lb head - good

more than 7lb head - bad

I'm a simple man with simple metrics.

The Church of Tube is mission critical for guitar. Not so much for bass imho. Ymmv...heavily.

**jmattbassplaya** · #10 07-01-2010, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

Hmmm...

I'd say *no* - for what you do, it's not worth it. The music you play uses bass a more "supporting" instrument, and to me, the only reason to have an all-tube setup is to get the big tubey growl for big rock & roll. What you have should do the trick just fine.

Were you a guitar player, I'd have a different answer. Heck, I can hardly abide SS guitar amps (though they have gotten better...). But for bass? I think the whole "Church of the Tube" is vastly overrated.

+1

I actually never knew how big of a difference tube heads made for guitarists until I recently did a lot of back and forth work between two different bands (one with a guitarist with a tube head, the other an ss). It was night in day with how much tubes really filled out the bands sound.

I`m still not sold one way or another with bass rigs though seeing as I`ve only gigged a tube amp twice, but my SS Markbass seems to do a great job filling out my band and weighs multiple times less than any tube amp.

Mr_Sore_Fingerz · #11 07-01-2010, 10:39 PM

go for a more lightweight tube head that will give you that tube mojo without as much weight. The Traynor YBA200 is basically a back-friendly version of the SVT with less volume and the Peavey VB2 (the one I have) is actually quite the powerhouse when you pair it up with a big cab like an 8x10 or 2x15. The Traynor will give you that ampeg vintage tone if thats what you really seek, but I traded mine a while back and now I got a VB2 and love it....just make sure you buy it new so you can get the warranty in case you have the infamous internal fuse issue.

seamonkey · #12 07-01-2010, 10:44 PM

You could actually get a much lighter SS head and get great sound and tone improvement.

rh450 as mentioned is a great choice - but there are many good choices.

In the end it's about the music and not the gear.

**nostatic** · #13 07-01-2010, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seamonkey

In the end it's about the music and not the gear.

TB heresy! Burn him!!!

vin*tone · #14 07-01-2010, 10:57 PM

It's a personal choice. If you like the tone of heavy tube amps enough to go hauling them round everywhere then do it. There are a lot of light weight options..... which may or may not be what you're after.

Thunderthumbs73 · #15 07-01-2010, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by correapa

I'm new into this forum ........
I'm a Chilean 57 year-old Architect and a hobby bassist. I play in a family cover band. We mainly play Beatles, Elvis, Eric Clapton, U-2 and REM.
My basses : American Fender JazzBass and German Hofner V-62 R.I. made in 2004.
My Rig : U.S. made Ampeg SVT-3PRO, Ampeg 410HLF cab, DBX 160A compressor, Furman conditioner, Korg DT2000 tuner
In a broad sense I get a "decent" and defined bass sound.
I have been thinking and reading about moving to an Ampeg SVT-CL head, an SVT-2PRO or a BASS 400+ Mesa Boogie .......... keeping the 410HLF cab (the Ampeg 810 fridge sounds killer but hauling it is a major issue at my age).
In Chile is hard to have the chance of testing those all-tube amps.
Is it worth to change? or maybe I just can get a "marginal" improvement?

I'd appreciate your counsel ........

You mentioned hauling things "at your age". I would continue to think about that in terms of amp purchases as well. Sure, tube amps CAN sound nice, but because one is a tube amp, doesn't guarantee that it WILL sound nice.

My sense of it, and having used a bunch of stuff, that solid state amps can sound very nice (and may also not sound nice), weigh less, are less fragile as a general rule, and require less maintenance.

I don't know why your current amp (not cab) isn't doing it for you and/or what you hope to rectify/improve by the decision to go tube.

EricF · #16 07-01-2010, 11:35 PM

I went from a 3-Pro to a CL, and LOVED the improvement in tone. I went from the CL to an Aguilar DB750, and LOVED the lighter weight and (to me) another (slight) improvement in tone. I still have the CL because it's a great amp, and I'm not willing to part with it. However, the DB750 is the amp that I want behind me night after night - especially when I have to move it.

Alexander · #17 07-02-2010, 01:19 AM

Personally, I'm not a big fan of the SVT 3Pro - though it has the familiar Ampeg vibe and sounds okay, the tone feels a bit "plain jane" to me. Nothing compared to the growl, punch and presence of an all-tube SVT, IMO. Sure, its heavy but I do think some of the complaining I hear on TB is a bit much - I've broken my neck\back in several places and have to be very careful about what I pick up\haul around (and how I do it). But with all the other heavy gear a band carries around (PA speakers, drum hardware, guitar amps, etc), it isn't all that bad of a sacrifice to make for the tone you get. I guess that's subjective, though - if you are not hot on the tone, it's not worth the cost\weight. So, a personal decision.

Also, I wouldn't rule out the 810 on portability though you have to have the vehicle with enough room to do so. I gigged one for quite a while and found it easier to move around than just about any other big rig I've used (410s and 412s). Its basically a "tilt and roll" exercise, which is easy - getting into the van is a bit of "tip and slide", which considering the height of the cab is relatively easy to do by yourself. With the exception of a raised stage, there's no picking up and lugging involved. Stairs are also a problem, but no more so than any other big cab.

The 810 is a pretty different sound than the HLF - sealed box vs porting. The HLF sounds great on its own, but I think the 810 blows it away in a mix.

All in my opinion\experience - your mileage may vary...

rpsands · #18 07-02-2010, 01:27 AM

To the OP, my opinion - Bottom line:

No.

I wouldn't waste your time getting started chasing the tone dragon. Chase the convenience dragon, that I can understand

diechris · #19 07-02-2010, 01:36 AM

IMO i think there is a huge gap between the svt-3 and say... a svt-II..

the svt-ii made me switch from a gk mb2-500 4lbs class-d amp to a 100+ lbs SVT-II in shockrack.

Im only 25... But getting that all tube tone is just something I jumped at when I had the chance instead of waiting and wondering later on... I'm still amazed at how much fuller an all tube amp sounds.

cassanova · #20 07-02-2010, 02:46 AM

Just tossing out another option. If you can find one, why not try an older Ampeg SVP-Pro? It's the same preamp that's in the SVT 2 Pro. It's a much less expensive option than new head and you can always use your current head as the power amp.

http://www.ampeg.com/manuals/SVP-PRO.PDF