tubes vs a hybrid with a preamp

AndyW83 · #1 07-21-2010, 05:04 PM

i havent played anywhere enough of either to really tell a difference... i hear that tubes dont make a huge difference in sound when it comes to bass as they do with guitar... im thinking of getting a hybrid hartke vx3500- but was also thinking of buying an ampeg b410hlf and teaming it up with a less expensive solid state head... mistake? or wont i reall see a difference?

seamonkey · #2 07-21-2010, 05:38 PM

You don't have to try them all. Go find a store with a good amp collection and a good return policy and try a few amps out in real life. "Just because a piece of gear has a tube in it doesn't mean it sounds good". Try some stuff without tube. Amps like like the rh450 have an ideal tube sound - that you can adjust.

Don't forget to walk over to the PA/FOH department and try out a few pieces of gear and cabinets there.

Check out the Harke stuff at "Best Buy". They're pretty good about taking stuff back.

JimmyM · #3 07-21-2010, 05:43 PM

the age old question...what matters the most is HOW you play, not what you play. but i went back to all-tube full-time a couple years ago because it just didn't get it done for me to play solid state anymore. there are some fantastic ss and hybrid rigs out there, but i've yet to find any that i like as much as my svt and b-15n. for some, it's worth it not to have to move an 80 lb amp. for some it's worth it to move an 80 lb amp. it's a decision you have to make for yourself.

Oh!Carson · #4 07-21-2010, 05:54 PM

I too went through this same situation. I had a SVT4 with a Tech 21 Sansamp RBI (tube emulator) and was very happy with my tone. But, it sure was a complex setup. Having about 30 knobs to EQ just wasn't my thing. Sooooo... I traded it all in for a SVT Classic. And man, I thought I was getting the "tube" sound with my preamp, but it wasn't even close to the sound I have now. And it's extremely easy to EQ. If I were you, I would go straight to tube and never look back.

It could be a bit pricey, but it's definitely worth it.

waleross · #5 07-21-2010, 05:58 PM

The Hartke vx3500 looks like a good selection. The head can come out seperately and you can add to it. I would start out with this type system and hold off on the Ampeg 410HLF cab until you get another head that can handle (2) 4ohm cabs which is 2 Ohms..................If this is your first amp + cab then go to a GC or such and see how it sounds with your bass......Best of luck. . . . .

AndyW83 · #6 07-21-2010, 06:07 PM

im just concerned that if i go with the ampeg... im still going to have to go spend another $500 or so for the head... when im sure i could still get an awesome sound out of the hartke combo...if i need to would i be able to add a 115 to that combo or would the amp not power all that?

AndyW83 · #7 07-22-2010, 09:33 AM

would a solid state head still stand up to the hartke hybrid?

protoz · #8 07-22-2010, 10:13 AM

I started on solid state and eventually moved over to tubes but I still like that solid state sound so I keep a Sunn Coliseum 300 around for when I want to get that nice clean sound.

If I were to go back to SS I would get an Orange Terror Bass for portability and keep my tubes at home for studio work.

For now I'm going to keep lugging around my 80lbs tube monster because I can't find a better amp.

AndyW83 · #9 07-22-2010, 02:04 PM

next question...is there a big difference between difference between an amp with a tube pre amp.. and one thats solid state all together?

guroove · #10 07-22-2010, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyW83

next question...is there a big difference between difference between an amp with a tube pre amp.. and one thats solid state all together?

IME an amp isn't a tube amp unless it has a tube power section. The hartke amps have a nice tube preamp, but some of the old SWR gear in the early 90s sound identical to SS amps to my ears. Very nice amps, but not 'tubey' at all.

EricF · #11 07-22-2010, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyW83

next question...is there a big difference between difference between an amp with a tube pre amp.. and one thats solid state all together?

Maybe. Maybe not. It all depends on the specific amps you're talking about. Not all SS amps sound alike, not all hybrid amps sound alike, and not all all-tube amps sound alike.

NineSpine · #12 07-22-2010, 02:16 PM

Every amp is going to sound a little different. Tubes give amps certain characteristics, but there are so many other factors that contribute to the sound that using tube vs solid state as basic classifications doesn't really work.

The best thing you can do is try out lots of different amps in lots of different rooms with lots of different cabs/basses/effects/whatever and see which models you like, and to do this without any preconceptions about what certain amps are "supposed" to sound like. Your ears are easily tricked. When I first switched over to using an Orange Terror Bass after years of being all-tube, I had multiple people comment "Man youve always had such a good, warm, tubey tone", not realizing that I wasn't using an all-tube amp anymore. It's just that people I was around expected me to always have a tubey sound, so they projected that onto what they were hearing.

In short: You can use your eyes to look at amps and read about them, but you can't use your eyes to hear them.

Gav4003 · #13 07-22-2010, 02:17 PM

I've recently got an old (1990) hartke 3500 head, the sound was much better than any of the SS heads I've owned over my 13 years gigging. I replaced the stock valve with a jj/tesla 12ax7 valve and I couldn't ask for more really, the sound is never going to be as good as a full valve top end head but Garry Tallent still uses the same head and if it's good enough for him...

AndyW83 · #14 07-22-2010, 02:25 PM

well obviosuly a tube preamp isnt as good as all tubes... but im not trying to spend $1,000 on a head... ide like to try and find a good ss amp with a tube preamp to get as close as i can to the sound of having all tubes. it will power a 400w b410hlf ampeg cab. any suggestions on a decent head to pair it up with thats a reasonable price?

AndyW83 · #15 07-22-2010, 02:27 PM

and how would a hartke 3500 head pair up with a 400 watt cab at 4 ohms? im a little new at the whole watts ohms thing so bare with me and thanks for the help

guroove · #16 07-22-2010, 02:30 PM

The early Hartke heads with the dual gain stages had a nice tube sound. Other than those, I haven't ever played through a hybrid amp that sounded like tubes.

guroove · #17 07-22-2010, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyW83

and how would a hartke 3500 head pair up with a 400 watt cab at 4 ohms? im a little new at the whole watts ohms thing so bare with me and thanks for the help

That would work just fine. What kind of cab do you have?

JackANSI · #18 07-22-2010, 02:32 PM

Seamonkey has the best advice on this, go try some stuff out and find what you like. Don't concern yourself with all the little details. If it sounds good to you, who cares if its tube or solid state?

Far too many people get their panties in a twist trying to pawn off solid state or tube as king... It doesn't matter till it sounds good to YOU.

AndyW83 · #19 07-22-2010, 02:36 PM

dont have it yet.. im going to be getting an ampeg b410 hlf ...svt is a little too much and honeslt more than i need.. i was going to get the hartke vx3500 combo but really want an ampeg cab.. as far as worrying about it being ss or tube... i just hear so many people say that buying a solid state amp is a waste of money ...that im almost biased

JackANSI · #20 07-22-2010, 02:42 PM

If you're planning on playing out live, the only people in the crowd that care if you're playing through tubes or transistors are going to be other bassists... As long as the tone fits the music and sounds good, no one cares.. really.. its true..