all-tube bass combo?

[coreyfyfe]

Why does it have to be a combo???

My assumption was that the combo idea was in keeping with the low-wattage practice amp theme. I agree with you that a nice, low watt, all tube head would probably be a cheaper and easier solution as you'd be able to shuffle the cabs to match the room/studio environment or to better suit your sonic needs.

 

[JimmyM]

but would it look as cool as a b-15? i think not!

 

[georgestrings]

but would it look as cool as a b-15? i think not!

What can I tell you - I'm not much of a "style over substance" kind of guy - hahaha!!!

Besides, with all your obsessing over Navy Random Flair as of late, your decorative tastes *might* be seen as a bit questionable to some, Jimmy...



- georgestrings

 

[georgestrings]

My assumption was that the combo idea was in keeping with the low-wattage practice amp theme.

Oh, I know - it just doesn't seem very practical, nor cost effective, IMO...



- georgestrings

 

[JimmyM]

HOW DARE YOU!!! navy random flair is by far the prettiest tolex to ever exist. blue checker ranks a close second, but nrf rules.

anyway, i am usually a substance over style guy, meaning i won't play a pretty amp that sounds like crap, and yes, i do own a markbass head, but who says you can't have both?

 

[RCCollins]

HOW DARE YOU!!! navy random flair is by far the prettiest tolex to ever exist. blue checker ranks a close second, but nrf rules.

anyway, i am usually a substance over style guy, meaning i won't play a pretty amp that sounds like crap, and yes, i do own a markbass head, but who says you can't have both?

your owning a markbass seems to indicate that you're not above playing an ugly amp that sounds good, though...

 

[oggdawg]

Find a Bassman 20. If you want a small tube combo and don't want to pay Fliptop prices, this is the one.

 

[georgestrings]

HOW DARE YOU!!! navy random flair is by far the prettiest tolex to ever exist. blue checker ranks a close second, but nrf rules.

anyway, i am usually a substance over style guy, meaning i won't play a pretty amp that sounds like crap, and yes, i do own a markbass head, but who says you can't have both?

Ummm, beauty is in the eye of the beholder??? - just bustin' on ya, Jim...



- georgestrings

 

[georgestrings]

your owning a markbass seems to indicate that you're not above playing an ugly amp that sounds good, though...

ZING!!! - and it does lead one to question his sense of aesthetics, hahaha!!!



- georgestrings

 

[JimmyM]

i had a feeling that markbass admission would bite me on the ass. can't say i didn't ask for it...

 

[COOL AND DEADLY]

What about the new Fender TV series? I havn't tried or heard them yet, but they look prett nice.

 

[oggdawg]

The new Fenders are not all tube.

 

[JimmyM]

not all tube, but i played the tv 15 and it sounded like a bassman into a 115 to me. there are some amazing tube recreations being done with ss/hybrid technology these days. the feel is nothing like a tube amp but the tones are there.

 

[quickervicar]

there are some amazing tube recreations being done with ss/hybrid technology these days. the feel is nothing like a tube amp but the tones are there.

That's what is so hard to get across to people: the intangible benefits to tube amps. Feel, response, lower listening fatigue.

BTW, I never cared for the Navy Random Flair, but was always a big fan of the blue-check tolex. Classy!!

 

[joebar]

try the mesa walkabout . about as good as it gets for size power, and an incredibly warm , useable tube preamp. a little pricey, but you will be satisfied.

 

[Boot Soul]

The Fender Studio Bass is for me, one of the greatest all-tube bass combo ever. (But I have never tried out the Trace Elliot or the Mesa Buster combos that have been shown here!...would like to.) Made from about '78-'81 I think, these were 180 to 200 Watts, from 6, 6L6GC tubes. I have two of them, I like them so much.

How many players have given up on their Bassman heads because, despite their great tone, they just cannot produce enough volume? Essentially, this is a Fender Bassman that has enough power to actually use in a rock band. And with both an input gain volume, and a master output volume, (and also a five-band EQ), lots of warm tones can be dialed in, even at low volumes.

The downside is that these are top-heavy and quite awkward to move, at around 95 pounds or so. They are a good candidate for having their head removed and re-cased in a reproduction case (as in the last picture here). The combos show up on Ebay occasionally and they usually go cheap (like <or=to $800). In Europe, scarcity drives the price a bit higher, over $1K in this case
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320506675941&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

One other negative is that these amps have only an 8 Ohm tap on their output transformer. So, an extension cab cannot be added to the combo, despite there being enough power to drive more than just a single 15. The separate head version I have will drive a Bag-End 4x10 nicely, but always the total load must be 8 Ohms.

As a plus, there is a very nice (unbalanced, but clean) line output on the back which can drive an external power amp and cabinet perfectly. It is a post-output transformer line-out, so it carries all of the power tube tone and not just what the preamp provides. Many DIs that can handle a line input (like a Countryman for instance) work fantastic if connected to this line out........all of the power-tube tone in a DI line, with no need to mic the cab. I don't have a recording to share, but this DI arrangement sounds great.