New Classic Tube Amps?

Pullman? · #1 10-07-2010, 04:59 PM

It would appear that there is an astounding amount of bass luthiers, that excel at their craft, that model the old bass guitars, but where are all the people making classic-era inspired tube amps? I really love the sound and look of those old beasts, not the squashed, super compact, lightweight voodoo that companies like Markbass, Genz-Benz, and Gallien-Krueger are putting out. They sound amazing, for sure, but they seem out of place on top of a stack. Ashdown and Ampeg seem to be the heavy hitters, but as Sadowsky is to Fender, where is the match for Ampeg?

RCCollins · #2 10-07-2010, 05:10 PM

well until they discontinued the 400+, i would have said Mesa.

anarkink · #3 10-07-2010, 05:12 PM

The match for Ampeg is still Sadowsky, check out sa 200.

Pullman? · #4 10-07-2010, 05:38 PM

As beautiful as that amp is, its kinda lacking in the new department. What with being discontinued and all that jazz.

rayzak · #5 10-07-2010, 05:42 PM

Reeves perhaps??? http://www.reevesamps.com/custom225.htm

Pullman? · #6 10-07-2010, 05:49 PM

That is what I'm looking for! There has to be others that make amps along the same lines.

JimmyM · #7 10-07-2010, 06:24 PM

there are a handful of indie tube amp makers...vereillen, old school...and reeves, eden, markbass, orange, hiwatt, b*******r/bu***a, and possibly one or two other major companies i can't think of at the moment do it. but the price of materials for a tube amp is way higher than for basses, so it discourages the less well heeled amp makers.

but honestly, the matchup for ampeg if you're making a fender/sadowsky comparison is nothing imho.

Jawbone · #8 10-07-2010, 06:38 PM

Funny, never seen a sadowsky in an arena, but there are plenty of Ampegs. I think you have it wrong: Ampeg is the pinnacle.

Pullman? · #9 10-07-2010, 06:42 PM

I wont deny that Ampegs sound great, I would like to know who else is making good tube amps. There seems to be a vacuum in that area.

... Pun fully intended.

rayzak · #10 10-07-2010, 06:53 PM

http://www.electricamp.com/main.html

I<34080 · #11 10-07-2010, 07:06 PM

Orange
Electric Amp
Matamp
Reeves
Weber MyWatt
Verellen
Wizard
Divided By 13

I really can't see myself paying for one of these new.

Pullman? · #12 10-07-2010, 07:38 PM

The Weber stuff seems really cool, but the AB200 head has been "out of stock" for at least three years... Does it actually exist? I would love to order one.

waleross · #13 10-07-2010, 07:46 PM

The link for those Reeves heads looked great but I didn't see a price...sounds like a boutique head....I'd guess over $1800 or at least as much as the Ampeg CL.....After trying and sending back a few tube heads, I bought the Fender Bassman 300.........

BigEasy · #14 10-07-2010, 07:52 PM

Its way down at the bottom, just above where it says free shipping, $2499.

KramerBassFan · #15 10-07-2010, 08:16 PM

Jennings Musical Instruments makes a very nice AC100 reissue

Marshall does, and Laney too.

Sartori · #16 10-07-2010, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I<34080

Orange
Electric Amp
Matamp
Reeves
Weber MyWatt
Verellen
Wizard
Divided By 13

I really can't see myself paying for one of these new.

If I had the money, I might get a Verellen.

JimmyM · #17 10-07-2010, 09:01 PM

me, i'm sticking with ampeg. always worked great for me in the past, works great for me now, will work great in the future as long as whatever parent company that owns it doesn't hire a soulless idiot like jaime engen to decimate it again.

Jawbone · #18 10-07-2010, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pullman?

I wont deny that Ampegs sound great, I would like to know who else is making good tube amps. There seems to be a vacuum in that area.

... Pun fully intended.

There a thread somewhere here about Bear Amps and why he choose to design a hybrid instead of a full tube. Genz Benz was asked the same question - answer - start up expenses, build costs, quality control, tube tolerances, etc. That's why we won't find very many "new" tube manufacturers out there. Ampeg and Orange have already worked out all the bugs - that's why they're the leaders. The rest are over priced "hand" assembled boutique models.

JimmyM · #19 10-07-2010, 11:04 PM

most of those "overpriced" hand assembled tube amps cost no more than the orange ad200.

T-Bird · #20 10-07-2010, 11:08 PM

Hi.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pullman?

It would appear that there is an astounding amount of bass luthiers, that excel at their craft, that model the old bass guitars, but where are all the people making classic-era inspired tube amps?

There's not too many regulations, if any, when it comes down to making instruments. However, there's tons of regulations and laws, safety- and others, when it concerns anything that uses mains voltage. And for a very, very good reason.

The cost of components is obviously a concern, but the main reason for the added expense for a small scale manufacturer, which in turn prevents any new manufacturers from stepping in on a larger scale, is still the regulations.

The only way around it (for the time being), is to use a commercially available external PSU to power the device. That's the reason for al the wall wart pre-amps and FX's from the small scale manufacturers.

Regards
Sam