Tube amp recommendation

yaryaryar · #1 11-07-2010, 09:24 PM

Howdy,

Does anybody want to recommend a bass amp to me?

I love the sound of playing a bass through an old tube guitar amp. The first time I stumbled into this, I was in a recording situation, and the engineer had me play through a Sovtek Mig-50 into a Sovtek 4x10 (guitar) cab. I loved it.

After a few more years of playing through my Ampeg V6-B (which sounds pretty good for solid state), I decided to start experimenting again. I learned that a Mig-50 is basically a Bassman-type circuit, so I got myself a '68 Bassman, which is pretty great. For further experimenting, I even tried a late 70s Super Reverb, which sounded amazing at recording levels...... but a 40 watt guitar amp just wasn't loud enough for shows. After a few trades on Craigslist, I now find myself the owner of an Orange Dual Terror. Again, sounds awesome at relatively low levels, but not quite loud enough for a show.... I guess I like just a tiny bit of tube overdrive, but pushing these amps to show volume (for bass) goes too far into distortionville.

If anyone cares to recommend something, I'm all ears.

I'm using an Ampeg classic 1x15 cab right now... so I'm shooting for something that might work with that. Also, I'm mainly using a Geddy Lee Jazz Bass these days, if that plays into your recommendation.

Thanks!

recreate.me · #2 11-07-2010, 09:32 PM

I don't have to much experience with tube amps, as i have only played a few. BUT you can imagine, i have limited myself due to finding what i want very fast.

I play a traynor YBA3 Custom Special, the one with a master vol, and vol. Its, no doubt loud enough for you, I have played with through 8x10s at shows, and it doesnt need to go past 4. Its around 130Watts, and traynor claims there watts are more powerful then other people watts back then.

If you like that sound (warm, smooth tube awesomeness) and you need more power, traynor made a YBA 3A-Super Custom Special. Its something like 300W (again more powerful wattages they claim) and was built to power two 8x10 cabs they called Big Bs.

anderbass · #3 11-07-2010, 09:33 PM

If you run across a deal on an old Ampeg V4 or V4B give it a try, I think you'd like it although they're almost 27" wide and would overhang your cab a bit.

JimmyM · #4 11-07-2010, 09:39 PM

i'd keep the amps and double up on your speakers. you've got more to gain by adding a second 115 than by doubling your power.

Deluge Of Sound · #5 11-07-2010, 10:58 PM

A word to the wise--the higher powered Sovtek's don't sound very similar to their smaller siblings... sibilance.

Alliteration.

acubass · #6 11-07-2010, 11:28 PM

Ampeg V4BH

Bassmec · #7 11-08-2010, 05:31 AM

I love V4B's too but find one of these monsters if you can, they have a huge partridge UL output transformer with 4 KT 88's at 670 plate volts:

that will even give a good Hiwatt DR 201 a serious kicking for how loud and how clean:

Not exactly nano though.

PS:

Even this fussy old git thought they was OK.

39-Bassist · #8 11-08-2010, 05:35 AM

Sure I can refer a GREAT sounding tube amp if you have the $.....Fender 300Pro....lots of tone and power.....BUT lots of weight because of the tubes of course......or you can get the Hybrids (Carvin BX1500, Markbass III) Just a thought...Also try finding a Fender 100 Bassman...Good luck.

jastacey · #9 11-08-2010, 06:19 AM

If you can find one... I'd recommend the Peavey VB-2 Bass Head, 225 watts RMS, into a 2-4-8 ohm load=any speaker cabinet you have or will acquire

R. Laevinus · #10 11-08-2010, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

i'd keep the amps and double up on your speakers. you've got more to gain by adding a second 115 than by doubling your power.

Adding a second cab will get you WAY more perceived volume than a new amp will.

jastacey · #11 11-08-2010, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R. Laevinus

Adding a second cab will get you WAY more perceived volume than a new amp will.

+1

Son of Bovril · #12 11-08-2010, 07:54 AM

Orange AD200? SVT CL?

NecroticImbecil · #13 11-08-2010, 08:38 AM

How much money do you want to spend? Where are you located? Some common, cheap amps in the UK are not so common or cheap in the US. Buying used OK?

yaryaryar · #14 11-08-2010, 11:10 AM

Wow, thanks for all the recommendations here.

That Ampeg V4 looks pretty interesting... I'd been playing the V-6B for years, only because I stumbled into a cheap one as a beginner. They seem to be relatively inexpensive on ebay/craigslist when they do pop up. Any disadvantages here (other than the hugeness)?

As for the extra speakers/cabs - I actually do have a Kustom 2x15, with Eminence Betas in it, at my disposal. I really like the sound of it, but I I hate lugging the bastard to shows. I'll definitely try the Dual Terror through that next chance I get. But still... probably not a long term solution, as my goal is smaller, not bigger. (I know, a smallish, great sounding tube amp for bass may not exist... but that's what I'm exploring here...)

As for cost... well, I've got this Dual Terror that's probably going to be a good candidate for sale/trade. I figure that's probably $600 or $700, so I'd love to be in that range or lower. The idea of the Orange AD200 or a real SVT sounds great, but probably both are out of my league.

And I'm located in the U.S., near Chicago... so that rules out the cheap UK amps, I suppose.

Thanks again, everyone. Great advice here.

Din Of Win · #15 11-08-2010, 11:15 AM

Used stuff!

You should be able to find a V4/V4b in that range. They sound amazing!!

Not much in the way of new tube heads in that price range though...

stiles72 · #16 11-08-2010, 11:19 AM

+1 V4B / V4BH

yaryaryar · #17 11-08-2010, 11:38 AM

Awesome... a couple more votes for the V4/B.

And just to clarify, I don't need a huge amount of volume here... I'm mostly playing smallish bars/clubs. It's just that the Super Reverb and Dual Terror, while sounding great, aren't quite there volume-wise. The Super Reverb is 40 watts through the stock guitar speakers, and the Dual Terror is 30 watts, and kind of made for its overdrive... so expecting either to work well for bass is kind of silly. But I like experimenting.

Also, I still like the Bassman, but it's become kind of unreliable, so I'm just looking around for other options. Certainly another Bassman is still a possibility.

Thanks again!

NecroticImbecil · #18 11-08-2010, 12:34 PM

Since you like the tone of bass through some guitar amps, you might want to just try whatever 100 watt guitar heads you can. Generally cheaper and easier to find than tube bass heads. The kid at Guitar Center will look at you funny, but you should be able to get them to allow you to hook up a guitar head with a good clean channel to a bass cab to try it out.

I've seen mention here of Bugera 1960 and a couple Peavey amps. Peavey Valve King is supposed to be especially good:

what is it in a guitar head that'll make it good for bass