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Is All Tube Worth It?

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bassgod76

bassgod76

Garbage bassist, but I love this goofy instrument
Mar 13, 2003
5,329
1,133
South Florida
#1
I have a buddy who is set on getting an Ampeg SVT Classic. I'm more of a guy who prefers a hybrid amp setup due to weight and reliability.

He's in a band that gigs infrequently, but practices 2-3X a week.

What's your take on the all tube bass amp?

Maybe I'm missing something by choosing my Eden WT-500 over an all tube amp????
 
#3
It's really simple. Play through a tube amp and then play through a SS one. Which do you prefer. If it's the tube one and you prefer it enough to deal with the weight buy one. If not then SS is the way to go.

My opinion FWIW is that I like tube amps but I am not prepared to go through the hassle of toting one around. I use a Class D SS amp. That said, I do like to have a tube in the chain.

Edit: A properly designed and maintained tube amp should be just as reliable as a properly designed and maintained SS one.
 
#4
weight: legit concern.

reliability: not a legit concern. all amps can break, and there's nothing inherently unreliable in tube amps that gives hybrids or all-ss amps any edge. tubes are not like light bulbs...they're actually pretty rugged, otherwise the svt-cl wouldn't be the most popular rental bass amp out there.

me, i'm a tube amp nut, except for the weight. i'm not crazy about the weight. but the tone, to me, is way better. however, others feel that the tone of ss and hybrid amps is better. so it's a matter of taste. are you missing anything? that's totally up to you.
 
#5
I use Marshall DBS heads which are a hybrid Tube/SS preamp (variable) and a SS power side.

The amp sounds rich and full, and responds so well, I would never switch to all tube, unless it was a B-15 or something for recording purposes.
 
#6
I'm a tube nut as well, and when I go on tour, it's all tube all the way. Personally, I love the kind of compressed sound you get with slightly overdriven tubes and I love the range of dirty sounds you can achieve with the gain knob. That said, I don't love ALL tube amps just as I don't love all SS amps. I think for the average gigger, especially in a big city like NYC where I live, SS class D amps are really the way to go. You just can't beat the size and weight. But in the end, sound is everything. If you like the sound of an SVT over a Markbass F1, then that's how it goes. For about 90% of my gigs I use a class D EA IAmp Pro and it always gets the job done. Does it sound JUST like my Trace Elliot V6? No way. But it's close enough that it's a joy to gig with and I forget it's only a SS head....
 
#7
Amps are different to each other, if they have tubes or not, you might rank a tube amp over another, but a solid state over both. Take each amp on its own merits, and try each with various cabs. Finding the right amp can be a lifetimes work.
 
#9
Tube amps are niether more fragile nor more durable than SS. However, as the gain elements on a tube amp are socketed it is easier to swap them out for maintenance. I have seen this on a few SS mic preamps where the opamps are socketed, but I dont think it is common on bass amps.
Essentially tube amps are heavy SS are not. For some folks nothing will do except tubes for the sound they want. For others they aren't necessary at all or might even be objectionable.
So the question should be, "is the tone of an all tube amp worth the weight?"

For me it is.
 
#11
Here's my take - I've played through Ampeg V4/V4B and SVTs and SS amps.
Tube amps tend to have a warmer, less focused sound, and you can usually get a touch of overdrive edge that can really pleasing. They are always heavier and are a bit more delicate than SS amps.
Solid State amps tend to be a little more focused, punchier, and easier to get really 'shaped' sounds. You also get a smaller form factor and almost always a lighter box (especially with Class D).
But Seamonkey says it best: try as many as you can and get the one that makes you happy.
 
#14
I actively use a '63 B-15 (all tube) and have had no relaibilty issues so far. Pretty good for being 40+ years old. As for tube vs. solid state, I tend to prefer all tube but I do use hybrids and solid state amps as well. All depends on what the gig calls for, and which amp best serves the purpose.
 
#15
I think I hear a more focused sound with tube amps actually. Solid state seems so flat and hard. I would almost compare it to TV and film. The film has more noise and grain but the blacks are blacker, the colors brighter and more saturated.
I'll leave it up to someone else to make the HD analogy.
 
#16
Generally, people who are happy with the stuff they have think it was worth it. So, the same answer applies here that works with most of the threads here: It Depends.

To address one common misconception: There has actually been more than 1 tube amp produced in the history of amplification. They are no more the same than every solid state amp, bass, or human are the same.

The amps I like the best are good amps. I had an Eden 15 years ago. I liked it. Had tube amps since then. Like them. Have a Genz Benz. Like it. My favorite clean tone is from a 435 watt Fender tube amp. I've gotten great distorted tone from 70's solid state Acoustic and Peavey amps. I've also played tube,hybrid, and solid state amps I didn't like.

The biggest difference is weight, a 300 LB tube amp won't be fun to move solo if you live on the 3rd floor and gig frequently. Not so bad if you are in a band and on good enough terms that you can help each other move gear. If you have PA support, such a big amp might not be needed, and you could get by with a 30 watt with an out to the board or a mic in front of it.

I've also tried some modellers, disposable Line 6 hardware and some pricey software. The software was fun to mess with when it was working, but ultimately the experience just left me realizing that computers are best used for porn or games. Anything else is just taking valuable drive space from one of those noble pursuits.
 
#18
That's my other question. Is it just me or does someone like Mesa build a more solid amp versus an Ampeg SVT-CL? Maybe it's just the rugged exterior that leads me to believe this.
 
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