Is it necessary to have a Full tube amp? - Page 7

Mr. Foxen · #**121** 02-20-2013, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Huh? My 69 SVT's PCB is still being used in its entirety, and if any were a candidate for handwiring, it's mine, as it was grossly abused before I got it.

I would guess its damp that makes them crumbly. Abused like used a lot and thrown about is probably not the thing. This is the one I had a poke about in, number 4 at the bottom: http://www.chambonino.com/work/ampeg/amp4.html

Full on hole through the pcb, guess an exploding resistor did that. And enough abuse to melt the power tranny, hence recommendation to send off to John. Otherwise I'm working of testimony of other techs, not so many of the senior SVTs over here. Pretty sure that pcb was handwired to start with though.

JimmyM · #**122** 02-20-2013, 07:47 PM

Well I do live in Florida

nysbob · #**123** 02-20-2013, 08:09 PM

28 years gigging mine with nothing but routine tube swaps.

treekiller · #**124** 02-20-2013, 08:31 PM

I use a G-K Fusion 550 which is a hybrid tube pre/ss power amp. I'm very happy with it and a P with flats sounds great thru it. However, if you want the sound of an all tube amp, then you need an all tube amp. There is a reason you see an SVT used on stage by many bigger touring bands, because nothing else sounds quite the same.

prd004 · #**125** 02-20-2013, 08:37 PM

I think the correct answer here is to pay close attention to the bass tones you like, and would like to influence your tone.

Then find out what they were using. If its tubes, then you may want to get a tube amp.

Necessary........ nothing is necessary.
Optimal or ideal.......... Absolutely!

Munjibunga · #**126** 02-20-2013, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StrangerDanger

No and no. Sorry.

Apology accepted. But yes and yes.

JimmyM · #**127** 02-21-2013, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

Apology accepted. But yes and yes.

Actually, the answer is yes and no. Yes, you could get backache problems from a high power tube amp. No, they don't have any more issues with upkeep and maintenance than SS amps.

Calaverasgrande · #**128** 02-21-2013, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downunderwonder

LOL, I'm not the only one finding the sportscar analogy too far off base to be worthwhile. I've driiven everything from a Porche Carrera 4 to a Bently Turbo R to a "57 Corvette. Nothing compares to rocking out.

exactly why I didn't name a brand of car. I used to work for a car magazine, I know every brand, model and genre of car and which angles they look best from.
I also know that any metaphor is imperfect, but I like using metaphors.
My point in the metaphor was not about the "ride" but rather the performance characteristics.
Solid state and tube amps sound approx the same to me when I play them at bedroom volume.
If I blast my amp loud enough to annoy the guitarist my amps show their warts and dimples much more.

i_got_a_mohawk · #**129** 02-21-2013, 04:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-string

WTH

What "DIGITAL" amp did you have? How could you even drive a speaker without D/A conversion? Are you confusing SS with digital?

He's got me stumped too.

mystic38 · #**130** 02-21-2013, 05:54 AM

it seems to be a common eupherism to say "digital" for Class D...this is not unreasonable as it reflects the technology used in the amplification..switching.

The output put stage of a class D actually does switch digitally at a hf rate with a PWM relationship to the input. The final output, amplified signal is recovered with a LP filter.

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-string

WTH

What "DIGITAL" amp did you have? How could you even drive a speaker without D/A conversion? Are you confusing SS with digital?

**bassdude51** · #**131** 02-21-2013, 06:20 AM

Is it necessary to have a Full tube amp? No.

Is it necessary to have a Full solid state amp. No.

Does a "token pre-amp tube" in a SS amp really mean anything? You'll have to decide.

Rickett Customs · #**132** 02-21-2013, 06:28 AM

Tube, solid state or hybrid.........it's all preference, not necessity.

mystic38 · #**133** 02-21-2013, 06:33 AM

..put it another way,

Having an all tube amp is as critical as only ever playing a Fender bass.

Mr. Foxen · #**134** 02-21-2013, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mystic38

..put it another way,

Having an all tube amp is as critical as only ever playing a Fender bass.

If you said 'SVT' it might work. Otherwise the comparison would be Having an all tube amp is as critical as only ever playing an upright bass. As in necessary if you want that tone, but you are going to have to treat it right and its a pain to move, and probably more expensive than the little toy basses the kids use these days, but it sounds proper and nothing is going to cop that sound and feel and stage presence.

MICKUSS · #**135** 02-21-2013, 06:36 AM

I HATE lugging my 80 pound all tube head around...until I plug into it.
I've played through lots of SS heads and have NEVER got the same feeling(excitement!) as I get when playing through a tube amp of any kind. I'm not saying that you can't get a great sound out of an SS head though.

Baird6869 · #**136** 02-21-2013, 07:47 AM

I am currently gigging a SS Crest power amp into a Monique Tube per amp into Bergantino Neo cabs. Tonal heaven. Best I have ever heard.

Having said that, I played a few tunes at a friend's open jam recently and he was using a super old Hartke SS head into a mangled but beastly 810 (I think) cab and it sounded killer in the mix.

I really notice tubes when I play alone in my basement or super distorted.

Mark Reccord · #**137** 02-21-2013, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Foxen

That is a whole bunch to do with the fact they are easy to fix. The pcb material on the old SVTs is well dodge, so pretty far from the best examples, they are grafually evolving into handwired ptp amps as the pcbs crumble and get bits replaced.

The ease of fixing them is certainly a part of it.

I've been inside a bunch of old SVTs and have only seen a couple of instances of the PCBs falling apart. Maybe there were a few bad runs of them or something. Lots of burnt ones though! As a PCB designer, the old boards amaze me. Etched with tape and acid. Man, we've come a long way with PCB tech since the 70s. My last board design had 18 layers and had three 1000+ pin chips on it. The smallest traces were 4 mils wide.

Mine is a '76 that's seen pretty heavy usage and the PCBs are in perfect condition.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Huh? My 69 SVT's PCB is still being used in its entirety, and if any were a candidate for handwiring, it's mine, as it was grossly abused before I got it.

I've seen a few with dodgy PCBs but they're in the minority.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mystic38

it seems to be a common eupherism to say "digital" for Class D...this is not unreasonable as it reflects the technology used in the amplification..switching.

The output put stage of a class D actually does switch digitally at a hf rate with a PWM relationship to the input. The final output, amplified signal is recovered with a LP filter.

There have been some epic battles about the digitalness or analogness of Class D amps on TB.

I've decided that it's not worth arguing about.

KodyAudette · #**138** 02-21-2013, 08:03 AM

Gotta say, I like the "tube tone", the warmth and fullness that I can get with a tube pre-amp, but for my purposes I run a 750w amp and to be honest that would be a ton of weight and extra maintenance vs a solid state power amp. So while it definitely does make a difference to have a tube power stage, for me a Tube preamp with Solid state power amp is the best of both worlds.

Jim Nazium · #**139** 02-21-2013, 08:14 AM

Is it necessary to beat a dead horse?

Mr. Foxen · #**140** 02-21-2013, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Reccord

I've been inside a bunch of old SVTs and have only seen a couple of instances of the PCBs falling apart. Maybe there were a few bad runs of them or something.

Be interesting if you could figure the dates. Obviously there was a design change from the one I looked in, since that's a 6146 one.