Tube Bass/Dual Purpose head for under $1000??

[BluesProgMetal]

Hey TBers, I want a tube head but don't want to shell out $2-3000 for an SVT. Any suggestions? Dual purpose heads are welcome as well. I would like a low wattage head if this helps any.

[JimmyM]

You can get SVT's used for under a grand sometimes. But if you want lower wattage, an old V4 or V4B would be cool and can usually be had around $600. 100w...not too shabby.

[Spectrum]

Used 100W Peavey guitar heads show up on craigslist around me all the time for 300-600 bucks or so, usually Valvekings or Windsors. I've been tempted to grab one, but I'm not sure they'll be loud enough. But if you can live with the lower wattage they're out there for the taking.

[Downunderwonder]

There's a d-180 mesa looking for new home in the classifieds, a bit less then 1K. Can't get any more dual purpose, as in guitar or bass?

[BluesProgMetal]

Originally Posted by Spectrum

Used 100W Peavey guitar heads show up on craigslist around me all the time for 300-600 bucks or so, usually Valvekings or Windsors. I've been tempted to grab one, but I'm not sure they'll be loud enough. But if you can live with the lower wattage they're out there for the taking.

I've actually considered guitar heads like Bugera 1960 and the Peavey you mentioned. The reason I like lower wattage is because I like the fact that they are easy to overdrive. 100-150 watts is plenty loud to me.

[BluesProgMetal]

Originally Posted by Downunderwonder

There's a d-180 mesa looking for new home in the classifieds, a bit less then 1K. Can't get any more dual purpose, as in guitar or bass?

Yes both guitar and bass

[Downunderwonder]

Have a squiz at that d-180 then, the channels are in series and you can lower the master to get any amount of gain at any volume.

[Downunderwonder]

Actually, the one I was looking at, the cascading channels thing is not working. There is one for sale at GC for 800 though.

[Munjibunga]

What two purposes are you interested in? Behringer has a doorstop that doubles as a boat anchor.

[BluesProgMetal]

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

What two purposes are you interested in? Behringer has a doorstop that doubles as a boat anchor.

An amp that sounds just as good on guitar as on bass is what I call a dual purpose amp

[otherclef]

Originally Posted by BluesProgMetal

An amp that sounds just as good on guitar as on bass is what I call a dual purpose amp

A 64' ford mustang is not going to be able to haul 12000 lbs.
And what a sweet car that is. different tool for different apps.
Why the urge to compromise both into one???

[BluesProgMetal]

Originally Posted by otherclef

A 64' ford mustang is not going to be able to haul 12000 lbs.
And what a sweet car that is. different tool for different apps.
Why the urge to compromise both into one???

Because I play guitar in one band and bass in another. Im just trying to kill to birds with one stone.

[edbass]

Any of the vintage Sunn 2 x KT88/6550 amps will do a good job as a dual duty amp for well under $1K.
You may want a pedal in front of them for high gain guitar applications.

[Sartori]

Originally Posted by otherclef

A 64' ford mustang is not going to be able to haul 12000 lbs.
And what a sweet car that is. different tool for different apps.
Why the urge to compromise both into one???

I dunno about that. Bass amps and guitar amps aren't actually all that different.

My D-180 sounds great for either instrument. Channel 1 for guitar, channel 2 for bass.

[icks]

An old Fender head?

[NecroticImbecil]

D180 comes first to mind. Enough wattage to get you a clean bass tone for many situations, though extremely loud rock w/out PA support you will probably get distortion even if you do not want it. With careful tweaking you can get a good clean or distorted guitar tone at most volume levels, though it does sound better the louder it gets. Always reminded me of the earliest Sabbath albums when cranked w/guitar. While it is very versatile in the tones you can get, you are limited to one at a time - no footswitching clean/dirty with this amp. You can get some mileage with your dynamics and guitar's volume.

If you can get by with 100 watts or less, you might be able to use a guitar head. Hard to say, don't know what tones you're looking for.

[CL400Peavey]

Peavey does have a few heads that might fit your purposes. The vb-2 is 225 watts all tube and can be had for way less than $1000. If you can find one, the classic 400 is 400 watts all tube, but you will have to hunt for one. The vb-3 is 300 watts all tube, but I have yet to play through one so no idea one the tone.

[bassmanrocke]

There's a Peavey vb-2 in the Classifieds for $500. I doubt you could do much better than that.

[LowEndMan2112]

Originally Posted by bassmanrocke

There's a Peavey vb-2 in the Classifieds for $500. I doubt you could do much better than that.

+1! Sweet sounding heads and lighter than the old school Ampegs. That being said, they don't have that old school tone!

For a dual purpose amp I would be inclined to go with a bass amp for guitar as well as bass than vice versa, but that's just me.

[RickenBoogie]

A dual purpose amp is one thing, but what about speakers. Doesn't work very well there.