Thinking I want to go tube amp

pghjeeper · #1 09-15-2011, 12:45 AM

Hey all I am looking for some advice I have been playing through a 1985ish GK RB400 for the past 20 years. And while she has been uber faithfull I miss the tube type sounds put out by my old Bass amp, which was a Sunn don't know what model running into a gigantic West 1820 cabinet. I like the look and sound of the Peavey VB-2 but the price is a little steep for me right now, I just bought a new bass. So I was thinking of finding an old Traynor YBA-3 or something but it seems like all the guitarists have caught on and are hording them now. So I looked at the Markbass Little Mark III.....Now I know its not a tube head but from what I have read its gets that warm, rich tube sound. My GK while insanly reliable and clean is almost serile souning to me anymore.

waleross · #2 09-15-2011, 01:49 AM

Its your own decision. If you can play a tube head (SVT CL) next to the Little Mark III you might like it for its weight ( 6 lbs vs. 80 lbs) . There are so many new heads coming out all the time , Ampeg has their new series which are not heavy weight monsters as well as other makes. Shop around and try to play through as many as you can before you pull the trigger on something......Good luck

pghjeeper · #3 09-15-2011, 01:51 AM

Unfortunatly GC is the only one in town that carries many bass heads. They are limited to what they keep in store. Actually the weight doesn't bother me its all about the sound LOL.

mroekalea · #4 09-15-2011, 01:57 AM

It's indeed a matter of personal taste.

I had a long time GAS for Ampeg, but last weekend I had the oppertunity to try one for 'bout an hour and I did not manage to get my desirable sound, it was always to hard / harsh in my ears. On the other hand the bassman 100 SF immediatly dails the right tone, my dynacord bassking I also does it. So try before buy, I have done it wrong many times (buy in a reflex or because other poeple were delirious) so trying to spare you this one.

Maybee the Markbass 500 TTE is something for you?

JimmyM · #5 09-15-2011, 02:05 AM

There's still no substitute for tubes, but some micros do a really good job of copping the tones. It's not quite the big feeling of playing through a tube amp but the tones get scary close. Ampeg's micro stuff sounds close enough to their tube amps where I use them most of the time nowadays. But a tube amp is a beautiful thing, so if you really want one, get one. Be patient and you'll find deals.

wmheilma · #6 09-15-2011, 02:10 AM

Definitely try a bunch of heads before buying anything. I am familiar with the GK RB400 which is a great head with a signature sound. Only you can decide if it is the right sound for you. The GK sound worked pretty darned well for Flea, but that did not make it the right sound for me. A good tube head when driven hard, gives the opposite effect of what you get from an all-tube head like an SVT. Oteil Burbridge recently described this difference as the tube head 'fanning out' where the solid state head 'tightens up.' The new Genz Benz heads are fantastic. I like mine so much that I have been leaving my sweet Trace Elliot V6 tube head at home lately in favor of a Genz Benz Shuttle MAX 6.0 which has both tube and FET channels I can switch or blend with a foot pedal. If you do test GB, remember that the stock tube is pretty clean and bright. I replaced it with a Mesa ECC83 that has a warm and 'tubey' character when pushed. I also use a Fulltone Fat Boost in the pedal chain quite a bit. I got a lot of use out of the Fat Boost even when I was using my V6 all the time, since I could not always crank the amp and wanted a 'cranked' sound. So try some pedals too. The Fulltone Fat Boost is a bit pricey but is cheaper than a new amp! I have not tried the Fulltone Bass Driver, but I'll bet it's great too!

Slackerprince · #7 09-15-2011, 02:31 AM

Try an SVT 7 Pro.
Check the threads about this head.
I have one and love it.

S

mroekalea · #8 09-15-2011, 03:57 AM

Maybee a Markbass 500 TTE will do it for you, I'm very excited to try on out!

pic:

pghjeeper · #9 09-15-2011, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mroekalea

Maybee a Markbass 500 TTE will do it for you, I'm very excited to try on out!

pic:

That just looks like more than I can afford LOL

mroekalea · #10 09-16-2011, 07:49 AM

Here in europe is goes for about 940 euros, which would be around 1200 dollars i think.

garagebassman · #11 09-16-2011, 10:40 AM

Only experienced advice I can offer is hang on to the old 400RB if at all possible, it would be an ideal backup.

For several years (late 90's or so) I used to alternate gigs between the svt (76 or 77 I think) and the 400 through the svt's 810, and for those times when I didn't feel like hauling the big head.

There is nothing quite like the tubes , but I still have the old 400 (it is a back up for the most part).

I always loved the svt's sound, but found with both flat,the 400 to be a bit brighter which I preferred.
And as long as the boost stayed up between 1 and 2 o'clock, the 400 had enough growl for me.....again not the same as all tube for sure, but for my needs, very good.

btw...my "hybrid" experience with hartkes, edens ( limited I know) gave me nothing to get excited about as far as "tube tone" even when compared to the old 400RB.....I am certain that the newer hybrids and emulators are much better competitors though

also, I've tried the mark bass tube 800 (in store only). Nice old school sound/tone....but I had to eq quite a bit to get either brighter or more "modern" tones out of it....a stout little amp for sure though, and reasonably priced

JimmyM · #12 09-16-2011, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garagebassman

Only experienced advice I can offer is hang on to the old 400RB if at all possible, it would be an ideal backup.

For several years (late 90's or so) I used to alternate gigs between the svt (76 or 77 I think) and the 400 through the svt's 810, and for those times when I didn't feel like hauling the big head.

There is nothing quite like the tubes , but I still have the old 400 (it is a back up for the most part).

I always loved the svt's sound, but found with both flat,the 400 to be a bit brighter which I preferred.

Ya, so twist knobs

cchorney · #13 09-16-2011, 11:49 AM

I know its not "the real thing", but consider trying an amp emulator. I am running a Sansamp BDDI and it does a reasonably good job of "tube-ing" up my sound. $200 US new and is a little bit larger than a pack of smokes, if you get the base model - about $260 US and the size of a carton of smokes (ish) if you get the deluxe model, which just has more presets and ins and outs.

Also, tehre are other brands that do something similar, some searching on these forums will pull up those names. Hartke Attack may be one such other option (never tried it, fyi)

JimmyM · #14 09-16-2011, 04:29 PM

The Bass Attack is pretty sweet. It's a whole different type of crunch from the Ampeg emulators Sansamp makes, but it's got some cool tones in it, a blend knob, and the DI is quality.

Alex1984 · #15 09-16-2011, 05:07 PM

If you want to tube up your sound, VT Bass might be even better than the good ol' BDDI.

u84six · #16 09-16-2011, 05:17 PM

You could get the best of both worlds and get a hybrid (tube pre/ss amp). Something like a GK (because you like GK) MB Fusion 500W that has a tube pre. You can find them for well under $1000.