Affordable, clean tube-amp?

[G On Bass]

Carvin BX500, BX1500 or BX2000. All are hybrid tube amps with gobs of tone controls and are made in San Diego, CA.

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I have owned 2 Carvin amps (BX250 and BX1200) and they have been rock solid.

 

[Nate Plays Bass]

What's your budget? There are plenty of amps in all price ranges. If you're looking under $1K then you'll want to go used or vintage, but if you've got the cheddar there are some real boutique amps out there.

My budget is about $300-500 for a full setup.

 

[SurferJoe46]

A ski mask and a large caliber handgun comes to mind with that money limitation - but there [DEL]are[/DEL] [DEL]might be[/DEL] could be exceptions.

 

[Nate Plays Bass]

There's an ampeg svt iii ( not the pro). For $300 at a guitar store near me.

 

[coreyfyfe]

There's an ampeg svt iii ( not the pro). For $300 at a guitar store near me.

That one's a hybrid, and definitely not one of my favorites but some people like them. If it's at a store near you I'd definitely say go try it out and see it it's up your alley.

 

[SurferJoe46]

I've read quite a few reviews of that amp, and some players bring a backup amp in case it decides to quit. These apparently are known to die rather unexpectedly, tube-wise.

One link here: SVT-III Review | Ampeg | Bass Amplifiers | Reviews @ Ultimate-Guitar.Com

...and a CL advert asking for lots more than $300.00!

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Me? I don't care for the voicing of anything Ampeg - but you might.

 

[scotch]

My budget is about $300-500 for a full setup.

For an amplifier + cabinet? That's gonna be tricky if you want all-tube. Even a 'hybrid' combo is going to run more than that used (at least if you want clean headroom at average gigging volume...).

 

[zachoff]

Maybe a Music Man HD amp? Tube power, solid state pre?

 

[jastacey]

I'd say look for a Peavey VB-2 head, they can be found for not much money, on craigslist

 

[sammyfallen]

Look for a Fender Bassman 300 Pro. Scored mine for $300 (which is absolutely absurd, but, I happened to be in the right place at the right time) They tend to go for $650 - $800 used in my area...

 

[pedalguy1]

I'd say look for a Peavey VB-2 head, they can be found for not much money, on craigslist

+1
I love my VB-2. I got it at guitar center for 500 bucks. (It was a floor model). This thing is very versitle, you can get modern and old school sounds out of it, and it doesnt weigh a ton. Stays nice and clean too. Theres an overdrive channel that gets a little over the top, but a little sounds really nice if you ever want to get a not-so-clean sound.

 

[scotch]

Look for a Fender Bassman 300 Pro. Scored mine for $300 (which is absolutely absurd, but, I happened to be in the right place at the right time) They tend to go for $650 - $800 used in my area...

Wow! Thats the deal of the century! How did you get one for $300?

 

[JimmyM]

My guess is estate sale or meth head.

 

[Nate Plays Bass]

My dream is to find a 1972 Pbass with an Ampeg SVT with an 810 at a garage sale for $50 because it was the son's dad's set up (who passed away) and the son just wants it out of his basement.

 

[SurferJoe46]

Last summer I missed an Ampeg 810 and a SVT head (not sure which one) and five hardcases with Fender basses in them being loaded into the back of a pickup truck.

It was a yard sale and at 5:30AM, I thought I might be the first there, but I was wrong.

Anyway - the woman selling the stuff was in the garage and I asked her where they were going. The conversation continues below:::

"Well, that nice young man bought all my husband's old bass guitars and those speaker-things and I'm glad to see them gone, but in a sad way".

"Why?" I asked.

"Because they were really old and nobody likes old things any more. I think he had some of them from 1960 or so. He played in a Jazz band and he was always out all night long. It's good to get rid of old things and get on with my life."

"Would you mind telling me how much you got for that stuff?" I asked.

"That nice man gave me a hundred dollars for the whole thing, praise the Lord! I thought I'd never get anything for that junk".
​

I went out to my car and just stared at the rising sun for a while.

 

[Nate Plays Bass]

Last summer I missed an Ampeg 810 and a SVT head (not sure which one) and five hardcases with Fender basses in them being loaded into the back of a pickup truck.

It was a yard sale and at 5:30AM, I thought I might be the first there, but I was wrong.

Anyway - the woman selling the stuff was in the garage and I asked her where they were going. The conversation continues below:::

"Well, that nice young man bought all my husband's old bass guitars and those speaker-things and I'm glad to see them gone, but in a sad way".

"Why?" I asked.

"Because they were really old and nobody likes old things any more. I think he had some of them from 1960 or so. He played in a Jazz band and he was always out all night long. It's good to get rid of old things and get on with my life."

"Would you mind telling me how much you got for that stuff?" I asked.

"That nice man gave me a hundred dollars for the whole thing, praise the Lord! I thought I'd never get anything for that junk".

I went out to my car and just stared at the rising sun for a while.

That's my dream, my brother's friend missed out on a vintage Gibson guitar because he went home to get a few hundred dollars and a lady sold it for $10 to a guy a minute before he for back.

 

[SurferJoe46]

Like my dad always said: "On the day it rains soup, all I'll have is a fork".

 

[Nate Plays Bass]

So anyways, thanks for the help TBers, but I'm probably just gonna wait for a deal on craigslist and post a thread for help. That's how I got blessed with my Spector. Thanks, Nate.

 

[JimmyM]

Patience is key, bro. Good call.