Looking for feedback on the sound of this switch. Does the tube setting really sound like a tube amp with some tube snarl, or is it just more of a tone change?
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Thunderfunk SS/TUBE Switch
- Thread starter Rhythm5
- Start date
I am a very happy TF550A owner. I must say that I can barely tell the difference with my amp, switch on or off. Subtle is a kind understatement...that said, the TF is still my favorite amp behind many others I have (SVT, GBE1200, Acoustic stuff, etc.). I think the charm of the TF is that you get great tone without a lot of work finding it plus for 500 watts it's loud as hell.
The TF stays clean in both modes, and you won't even hear the difference at all IMO until the amp is pushed. However, when the amp is pushed, the 'tube emulation mode' will provide a slightly more pronounced and gritty mid response that sounds quite good for certain playing contexts... the amp will just sound a touch fatter and a touch warmer, with a little less clean treble emphasis.
It is pretty subtle, but when the amp is pushed, you can really hear it, and most have their favorite setting. It's really not meant to be used to switch back and forth on a gig, but rather to 'voice' the amp closer to what you want... the tube emulation mode is the 'standard TF tone' (i.e., the same voicing as the 'pre switch' TF's... the 420's, etc.), and is a little fatter. The 'SS' mode is a touch cleaner and crisper and my guess is the funk/pop guys appreciate a touch more snap and clean upper mid presence.
Again, without an articulate cab and without really pushing the amp a bit, you won't hear much difference.
I think kjung is onto something...for my taste I use SS for louder performance at an echoey church. seems to get lost in the room if I use "tube", however at home at waaay lower volumes TUBE sounds better, more full.
I've never owned or spent much time with an all-tube amp, but I don't think it probably sounds like "tube", just fuzzier, less clean on attack, but not growly. its just a different "color" on you tfunk pallete.
I think my eden wt550 sounds fatter, rounder than the TF, both great amps, just different...
I've never owned or spent much time with an all-tube amp, but I don't think it probably sounds like "tube", just fuzzier, less clean on attack, but not growly. its just a different "color" on you tfunk pallete.
I think my eden wt550 sounds fatter, rounder than the TF, both great amps, just different...
+1... another way that I describe it is that the amp sounds very similar at all volumes in the SS mode, whereas it grunts a touch more when pushed in the Tube mode. I also agree that 'tube emulation' is probably not the best descriptor... can't quite think what else to call it though...... 'warm' versus 'crisp' maybe? I guess tube vs. SS is pretty good if you don't take it too literally.
Thanks for the input guys. Picked up a LMII and thinking it's not my thing and was going to try a Thunderfunk. Maybe I'm barking up the wrong tone tree. I know someone selling a Mesa Walkabout. MAybe that is a better direction.
What's the main issue with the LMII for you (i.e., too much low end, not enough low end, too much sizzle, too mid present, not warm enough, etc., etc.)? That would help determine if the TF or the Walkabout (or something else) might move you more to where you want to go!
I think I after the last 6 months of playing everything I can get my hands on, I am just realizing that I way prefer a tube amp. Or at least a tube in there somewhere. I am certainly not saying the LMII isn't a nice amp, just not my thing. I must admit that I do get a sound I like out of the LMII by running my bass into my EBS ValveDrive and then into the LMII. It doesn't seem to sound near as good in the effects loop. I just set the gain on the ValveDrive very low, basically as clean as that unit will get. I don't play slap, but I will do a Entwhistle type typewriter thing on some parts that just seems to sound way better through a tube amp with some overdrive going on.
I was wondering if I would like the Thunderfunk better as it has more EQ control. I really like a boost at 1.3k on my Ashdown, and I could do that on the Thunderfunk. I also like the bass and treble EQ points on the Funk as well. IF the LMII and the Funk sound very similar than it is probably not for me either.
I saw a Steely Dan cover band the other night and the bass player had an amazing sound coming out of an Eden WT550 so maybe that is worth a listen too.
I guess if I could get an SVT on 10 sound thru something small and portable I would be happy....oh yeah, and maybe world peace while I am wishing for the impossible.
I was wondering if I would like the Thunderfunk better as it has more EQ control. I really like a boost at 1.3k on my Ashdown, and I could do that on the Thunderfunk. I also like the bass and treble EQ points on the Funk as well. IF the LMII and the Funk sound very similar than it is probably not for me either.
I saw a Steely Dan cover band the other night and the bass player had an amazing sound coming out of an Eden WT550 so maybe that is worth a listen too.
I guess if I could get an SVT on 10 sound thru something small and portable I would be happy....oh yeah, and maybe world peace while I am wishing for the impossible.
Have you tried any tube emulation pedals like the Sansamp BDDI, MXR M80?
You might consider an Aguilar AG500. A lot of people really love the tube emulation of the second channel and it's warmer than the LMII on the first channel.
There's also the Traynor YBA200. It's not quite an SVT and it's not entirely portable like the LMII but it's fairly lightweight and has great overdriven tube tone.
I don't think you're going to get what you're looking for out of the Thunderfunk without some offboard gear like the aforementioned pedals or something like the Aguilar Agro.
As much a fan of the thunderfunk as I am, I don't think that it is what you are after given your stated tonal preferences. I'd definitely check out that Walkabout head you mentioned earlier.
walkabout is pretty cool if it has the volume you need...I know I almost pee'd my pants when hearing the walkabout scout combo...
- Mar 11, 2005
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+2... or the 600 if you need more power... amazing tube sound, two rack spaces, under 30 pounds... 600 watts into 4ohms.... no 2ohm operation.
i found unless you're cranking the gain to about 3/4 of the way up, and the master to least over half does the switch make any diff. if you turn off the compression, it is a touch more easier to tell which is which. real shame dave couldnt rejigger the switch to be a bit more apparent at lower volume. but even then, dont expect a power tube like bloom. just aint gonna happen. more like a tight, taut, usual SS sound that's good for fingerstyle, to an ever so slightly less stiff, but somewhat milkier sound.
I don't think I've ever turned my TF up that loud
Actually, if you are playing a very widely voiced bass with strings capable of producing deep lows and sizzly treble, and are using an articulate cab, the switch driven tone difference is quite apparent at MUCH lower level IME. Again, Dave did not design this switch to be a 'tone control', but rather a subtle revoicing of the amp from slightly more vintage to slightly more modern/bright/crisp. I totally dig this option on the amp, and use the different switch settings to optimally match the head to various cabs I have. I would agree, if you are using, for example, a PBass or playing through some versions of theAccugroove cabs or more vintage sounding cabs without tweeters, etc., there might not be any impact at all in a real world setting.
However, I agree, the amp stays very clean in both settings at all levels... hence my comment above that the 'tube emulation' descriptor is a touch misleading.
Edit: From other posts by the TO on other threads, it seems that the AG500 might be a great option for him, along with the MB R500 or the Mesa MPulse600... all quite 'tubey' sounding heads that are still relatively small and light (especially with the MB R500!)
