Tube amps for upright?

DBass2000 · #1 12-23-2009, 07:49 PM

Hey guys,
I am deciding on a new head to buy. I am considering several tube heads, specific models aren't important. I want to know if tube amps are okay for upright. I haven't heard anything from anyone about it, so if you have any ideas let me know. Much thanks and God bless.

bassteban · #2 12-23-2009, 08:14 PM

I test-ran my DB through my D-180 & liked it. Keep in mind the fact that unlike most DB guys, I am not neccesarily after *the sound of my bass only louder*(sacrilege, I know

)
Additionally, when I asked much the same question here, I did not get a lot of encouragement.
If possible, I would advise playing your bass through any & every rig you're considering; if you like it, bam- your rig.

waleross · #3 12-23-2009, 08:30 PM

Like I 've posted before I don't have a db (yet !) but I know the sites that sell some nice looking stuff. As far as amps this site have some nice Db amps...
http://www.gollihurmusic.com/manufac...TIC_IMAGE.html and also http://www.stringemporium.com/bernadel.htm
Worth window shopping

Mudfuzz · #4 12-23-2009, 08:36 PM

Tube amps good for upright?

Yes, yes they are. Anyone that tells you different needs to set down their crack pipe.

koricancowboy · #5 12-23-2009, 08:44 PM

They sound great for upright. The problem is how much weight do you wanna schlep? Personally my Acoustic Image head (Maybe 5 lbs) and LDS Cab (maybe 20 lbs tops) make for a one trip load in. That's important in the city where the chances of scoring parking right in front are not exactly great. Also I don't need more than a Ford Focus hatchback to fit it all which is also good for the city. I just wait for SUV's to not be able to squeeze into a spot that my car will. But if you wanna schlep a 75+ head and a cab and drive a van be my guest.

thejumpcat · #6 12-23-2009, 08:51 PM

I play through an Ampeg BA115T - but that's not my rig by choice. I sold my upright last spring and bought a cheap (but hip) Kay electric. And it sounded great through the Ampeg, so I bought it. Then I got another upright. It's taken awhile to figure out where the sweet settings are for the upright, but now it sounds pretty good.

chuck3 · #7 12-23-2009, 08:54 PM

basically agree with cowboy - don't pile on the weight, especially if you're already playing a DB. The Acoustic Image amps are great, but I would also recommend the Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 head, which has a 12AX7 tube in its preamp, and the whole thing weighs like 3.5 lbs. Although I don't own this exact model (I have the 6.0-210T), it's hard to see how a Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0-12T wouldn't cover just about any situation for DB. The DI output is great for the front of the house so you are covered for larger venues too.

jrlynch · #8 12-23-2009, 09:49 PM

i think the issue is far more complex than "ain't tube amps great". perhaps more than any instrument, there's a tremendous challenge in amplifying double bass. i guess if your simply going for a "stylized" sound, then anything goes, but if you're actually trying to present an honest representation of the acoustic sound of the bass, then there's a lot more going on than simple "tubes" ... i'd look at the whole signal chain from mic and or pickup to the room itself then ask yourself "is it worth hauling a tube amp around?"

this forum is chock full of info on getting a great amplified double bass sound, so ...

jeff.

Mike Arnopol · #9 12-23-2009, 10:22 PM

I hate tubes for DB. ( better get out my crack pipe) I've tried and owned the best. Not enough control. Don't get me wrong---I'm an audiophile junkie---love tubes for that. I'm super picky and can't stand most solid stage stuff. Which is why I used a 70's bass preamp (Intersound ) for 25 years before switching to EA stuff. Their new stuff is some of the most tubey sounding new gear.

Jefenator · #10 12-23-2009, 10:39 PM

I've been very impressed with my Mesa Bass 400 for upright. Since the output from the bass is very hot (Full Circle w/ Fdeck buffer) and I don't want much coloration, I bypass the tone controls and go straight in the effects return jack (still get the master volume, which has a nice, useful sweep). I love the response it has and I get a certain presence, can feel & hear myself better even when I'm not so high in the mix.

When I used to schlep the head without a case, it was an easy one-hander for me. I'd love to find something even more manageable with less wattage overkill for mellower gigs.

HTH

stiles72 · #11 12-23-2009, 10:45 PM

Ampeg B-15's were originally made with upright (double) bassists in mind. In fact, Everett Hull didn't even allow an electric bass in the factory until they started importing the Burns basses.

Mudfuzz · #12 12-24-2009, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrlynch

i think the issue is far more complex than "ain't tube amps great". perhaps more than any instrument, there's a tremendous challenge in amplifying double bass. i guess if your simply going for a "stylized" sound, then anything goes, but if you're actually trying to present an honest representation of the acoustic sound of the bass, then there's a lot more going on than simple "tubes" ... i'd look at the whole signal chain from mic and or pickup to the room itself

Yes true, everything changes.
Everything has a sound: pickups, mics, amps ect.
So you use what you like.
Realistic is subjective after a point. Realistic to you? to me? to anyone?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Arnopol

I hate tubes for DB. ( better get out my crack pipe) I've tried and owned the best. Not enough control. Don't get me wrong---I'm an audiophile junkie---love tubes for that. I'm super picky and can't stand most solid stage stuff. Which is why I used a 70's bass preamp (Intersound ) for 25 years before switching to EA stuff. Their new stuff is some of the most tubey sounding new gear.

I was joking for the most part do to previous threads over the years. You like what you like. But I find I also don't like a lot of popular DB "amped" sounds, I hate that scooped "HiFi" sound that a lot of people use, which I tend to hear mostly from "modern" amps and "acoustic" amps. I've played through some SS amps that are even sounding and very nice but I still like what I get out of tube amps better.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jefenator

I've been very impressed with my Mesa Bass 400 for upright. Since the output from the bass is very hot (Full Circle w/ Fdeck buffer) and I don't want much coloration, I bypass the tone controls and go straight in the effects return jack (still get the master volume, which has a nice, useful sweep). I love the response it has and I get a certain presence, can feel & hear myself better even when I'm not so high in the mix.

When used to schlep the head without a case, it was an easy one-hander for me. I'd love to find something even more manageable with less wattage overkill for mellower gigs.

HTH

I use a Mesa 400 [mine is a +] most of the time. But I use the whole amp, I like channel 2 for just about everything, it sounds "to me" flatter then channel 1.

For small stuff I use a Old Fender Bassman 20, it is a loud 18 watts

and will fill up a small hall.

fdeck · #13 12-24-2009, 01:21 PM

My bass is plywood, so it doesn't crack.

Something to consider if trying out tube amps is that a few brands are fairly heavily voiced due to using the Fender passive tone circuit. Examples include: Fender (who would have guessed) and Mesa. Ampeg tube amps appear to be designed for flat response when the tone knobs are centered. The famous SVT head devotes three triodes and a tapped inductor to a midrange control that can be dialed flat, so their engineers obviously cared about it. Ampegs with 2 tone knobs use the James circuit, which is also flat when the knobs are centered.

Many solid state bass amps fall into one of these two camps too, but most of the micro heads popular among DB players tend to be flat.

So, without biasing anybody's preferences, I would suspect that the primary variable when trying different kinds of amps is the preamp voicing.

Mudfuzz · #14 12-24-2009, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fdeck

My bass is plywood, so it doesn't crack.

Something to consider if trying out tube amps is that a few brands are fairly heavily voiced due to using the Fender passive tone circuit. Examples include: Fender (who would have guessed) and Mesa. Ampeg tube amps appear to be designed for flat response when the tone knobs are centered. The famous SVT head devotes three triodes and a tapped inductor to a midrange control that can be dialed flat, so their engineers obviously cared about it. Ampegs with 2 tone knobs use the James circuit, which is also flat when the knobs are centered.

No, a SVT is still colored, I have one, everything centered has "some" mid boost. If you look up the manual to the 400 mesa tells you where flat is "supposed" to be. I can get closer to my pickups direct sound with my Mesa then a my SVT. For what it's worth.....