Is there any single ended class 'A' bass tube amps?

[mastershake]

one of low wattage specifically.

[will33]

Not that I've heard if marketed specifically as a bass amp. Could repurpose a guitar amp for recording. Can't get the power out if class A you can from A/B.

[scotch]

Class A is super inefficient, especially for bass! That's why you virtually always see tube bass amps in a class A/B configuration.

That said, I believe (only about 50% certain) that the old Fender Musicmaster combo amps are class A. They work a lot better for guitar, but were designed as a bass amp & work at low volumes.

[fdeck]

I had a Musicmaster combo, and it was Class-AB, with a pair of 6V6's in the output stage. Of course this may have been a later version of the amp.

But they definitely work better for guitar. I sold mine to a guitarist, who was delighted with it.

[SactoBass]

Mastershake: your answer is with Old School Amps.

Here is the link:

Bass Amps

[will33]

My valve jr. sounds pretty cool hooked up to various bass cabs. 5 watts, class A. Tons of cheap easy mod kits out there to change it's tone.

[mastershake]

Originally Posted by will33

Not that I've heard if marketed specifically as a bass amp. Could repurpose a guitar amp for recording. Can't get the power out if class A you can from A/B.

how bout a class 'A' with higher wattage?

[mastershake]

Originally Posted by SactoBass

Mastershake: your answer is with Old School Amps.

Here is the link:

Bass Amps

thanks for link. to bad i cant hear it.

[will33]

The tubes in ab work in pairs each doing half the work, more efficient, easier to get more power. There's a reason why the big class a amps like an AC30 are 30 watts and ab's run 100+.

The class a's are said to be the purest of tone as the tube is amplifying the entire wave. The tradeoff is inefficient,lower power. Plenty of incredibly good sounding ab's around......like most guitar amps and nearly all tube bass amps

[SactoBass]

Originally Posted by mastershake

thanks for link. to bad i cant hear it.

Yeah. I always prefer manufacturers to post sound clips of their products on their website. I have never heard one of Dale's amps, but I know that there is a guy on TB who has one, and he raves about the tone.

That 20 watter is the only single ended Class A bass amp that I know of. Class A is so inefficient (theoretical max effeciency of 50%) that most other tube amps of higher wattage are AB (push pull) AFAIK.

[mastershake]

well than is there any Class AB bass tube amps that are of low wattage?

[SactoBass]

Originally Posted by mastershake

well than is there any Class AB bass tube amps that are of low wattage?

Ashdown comes to mind. Their "Little Bastard" tube bass amp is 30 watts I believe.

[will33]

The sweetest of them all, the b15. Plenty of 100 watters around. 50 watt bassmans.

[SactoBass]

Originally Posted by will33

The sweetest of them all, the b15. Plenty of 100 watters around. 50 watt bassmans.

+1 on old tube Fender Bassmans! Great tone!

I have never played through an old B-15, but they have quite an impressive reputation.

[SactoBass]

There is also the old Ampeg V4B (100 watts) and Ampeg B25 (50 watts).

Both are vintage tube amps that get rave reviews for tone.

[mastershake]

im digging the ashdown.

[will33]

I'm partial to the old bassmans tone. I like my 135, there's also 100's, 70's and 50's. None are incredibly loud.