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are there small tube amps?

#41
gnjpowell said:
Could someone please explain why "you cannot use headphones on a full tube amp" ?

Thanks!
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Some tube amps have a direct output from the preamp where a device can be plugged in to facilitate headphone use. It would be more accurate to say that one cannot run the power section of a tube amp without a resistance load attached (such as speakers or other ample power soakers). Otherwise, electrical charge travels to the output transformer and either goes to ground or has nowhere to go (depending on amp design and/or whether or not a patch cable is attached w/o a load at the other end) and that's when the magic smoke appears.
 
#42
I replaced the baffle in my 1973 Traynor Bass Mate with one that I put an Eminence S2010 in. It's about 1.35 ft^3 gross, 1.25 ft^3 after ports and speaker. It sounds great. The 15" in that small box was a boomy mess that was no fun to play. I think I tuned it to about 45 Hz.

KO
 
#43
The Epiphone valve jr is pretty nice. The lack of tone stack and being a single ended amp means it just has one 12ax7 and one EL84. This makes it great for listening to what the differences in tubes are.
I also find that it sounds pretty good on bass if you are using a bass cab and your bass itself sounds good. For the record I havent done the mercury magnetics mod, just swapped out tubes.
As far as bigger amps. Used silverface Bassmans go for a lot less than the more desireable blackface Bassmans. But they still cost quite a bit. I have heard some good ones, but apparently you have to be a total fanboy to be able to suss the good Bassmans from the duds.
The "Poor mans bassman" is the Traynor Bassmaster.
AKA the YBA-1. These sound so good I am reticent to even mention them in public.
There is also a YBA-1a which is about double the watts of the YBA1. And the YBA3 which is about 4 times the watts of the YBA1.
They also made a cute little combo that was called the YBA2 or the YBA4 which was bout 20-40 watts depending on the version. Very tubey, pretty much apartment jamming or recording only for those combos.
 
#44
The YBA4 is a BassMaster combo. The YBA2 is the Bassmate (two EL-84's or two 6V6's depending on the era). The YBA3 is the Custom Special (four EL-34's run at a high plate voltage for around 180 watts). The YBA3a is the Super Custom Special, which had some odd ball tubes and are higher voltage.

I've got a Bassmate, a BassMaster and a YBA1A, the Mark II.

KO
 
#45
Its not out yet, but will be soon, but the Fender Excelsior seems promising for a cheapo low watt 1x15 tube combo. And you could invite your accordion playing chums over to jam too.

I use a 70's vibro champ into a little 1x15 for home recording, and blended with a DI it sounds awesballs.
 
#47
dustinfennessey said:
so these amps youve named like kustom defender, vht, and epiphone valve jr....has anyone played them with bass without making modifications?
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Yes, I play my Epiphone valve jr into my mesa cabs all the time. It sounds great for recording because it not only gets that tubey sound at lower levels (though 5 watts is loud when you are playing hard!) it is class A so it sounds great when it overdrives.
 
#48
Calaverasgrande said:
Yes, I play my Epiphone valve jr into my mesa cabs all the time. It sounds great for recording because it not only gets that tubey sound at lower levels (though 5 watts is loud when you are playing hard!) it is class A so it sounds great when it overdrives.
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no modicifcations right? i have a fender 100t but need a super low watts amp for practicing in my room and i need that tube crunch :)
 
#49
HuntYouDown said:
I think you would be as happy or happier with solid state. I have a Vox AC30 also I have a GK 400RB combo. I was like, oh yeah tubes are the secret to killer tone. Well, yes this is true for guitar, but not necessarily bass. I prefer my GK over the Vox, when playing bass. It is more verstaile, controllable, and works good at any volumes. I guess GK is 280 watts solid state vs. Like 40 watts tube on the AC30. Really the high watts of a bass amp are what makes them sound good in their solid stateness.
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That is your opinion. The OP seems to be interested in something tubed. The GK 400RB, while being a great head, does not sound even remotely like a tube head.
I would also make the distinction that what sounds farty and lo-fi when played by itself in a bedroom (or guitar center) often sounds warm and pillowy when played in a band context.
 
#52
RC52 said:
I have a Pignose B100V. Great little all tube combo! 100w 1 15".

The only limitation is the speaker and cab. I ran the head thru Avatar 2 12" neo cab, it pumped!

I may yank out the head And build a cab for it.

Great amp!!!!!
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I've got a Pignose B100V head, with two of the 6L6 power tubes removed, and play through a homebuilt 4 c.f. 1x12 cab. It can be way too loud for most club-bar-tavern gigs with 4-piece rock band, if I want it to be. I KNOW for certain that 50-watts tube power and an efficient speaker is all I need. If i ever get a chance to play a bigger venue, I'll mic the cab... the heck with DI! (a la JimmyM)

.
 
#53
Tim1 said:
Hey Dusctinfennesy, I have a Fender Bassman 100T too and I find switching it to 25watts on the back is great for practising. I just run it into a Bergantino 12 for that, although I must say the new Fender 115 cab tempts me.
Click to expand...

Hey man- yeah the 25 watts capability rules, but unfortunately my amp is at a practice space so hauling it back and forth sounds like a drag so i'm just looking for something super small/cheap/tube for practice.

How you digging the amp? I'm amazed with it.
 
#54
I was looking for something similar... I ended up with this rig

new_rig.jpg


It's an Engater Tweaker-40 (on my Bag End D12-B). 2x 6L6 and 3x 12AX7 rated at 40 watts. It's 2 channel with a shared EQ but with a LOT of cool tone tweaking options (detailed descriptions on the Invalid Link Removed)

It get pretty loud for 40 watts and has a pretty good range of usable tones.
 
#55
hdracer said:
Epiphone Valve Junior. Change the output transformer a d some good tubes and it makes the perfect practice amp. You can find them used for $80-100 add in the transformer & tubes and you are well under $200. Add a nice 115 cab and you have a nice "Poor mans" Ampeg
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This^^

My version 3 or whatever the newest ones are don't need a transformer change. Mine does have JJ tubes but try it with originals first. Openback guitar speaker and everything, mine sounds good just like it is, and for practicing in an apartment is plenty loud. Set the volume between 10:00-11:00. You can then use your right hand to go from warm/cleanish to some hair on the notes.

Normally I advise against playing bass through guitar speakers full range, especially openback cabs, but it's only 5 watts man. A really loud 5 watts that sounds great.
 
#56
b-b-b-bass said:
I've got a Pignose B100V head, with two of the 6L6 power tubes removed, and play through a homebuilt 4 c.f. 1x12 cab. It can be way too loud for most club-bar-tavern gigs with 4-piece rock band, if I want it to be. I KNOW for certain that 50-watts tube power and an efficient speaker is all I need. If i ever get a chance to play a bigger venue, I'll mic the cab... the heck with DI! (a la JimmyM)

.
Click to expand...
You, sir, rock.

:bassist:

Pignose made some great stuff in their day. Never heard that amp but I hear it kills.
 
#57
Not sure if you meant small in watts or in general. Anyways DAR makes a small amp called the TUZZIA it has these HUGE tubes not sure about the watts though. Orange, Electric, and Mat amps (all of which are almost the same brand) orange has the ones like Tiny Terror (I personally wouldn't get one for the price) Electric has these rectifiers (which are VERY expensive but I've always found them interesting) and Mat amps has the MiniMat. All the amps I listed are mostly used by those high gain guys
 
#58
Look around for used gear.
You can find small tube amps fairly inexpensively.
Look for those like the Traynor Bassmate, Kay and Harmony 1x15 combos (Supro Thunderbolts in disguise) Some of the old Guild and Gretsch amps.

You’ll have to fight the blues guitar and harmonica players for them though.

MM
 
#59
the evilbay can yield goodness, if you hang in there: 90ish bucks got me a little tube amp combo-- in vintage electronics-- not musical instruments. back in the day, movie projectors (like in schools) used powered 1x10 or 1x12 cabs. here's how it looked.
 
#60
here's one, on the pricey side, but wow talk about something crying for a living room to sit in:
Philco SA-3000 Tube 6L6 Amp Electrostatic Vintage Powered Speaker Rare OHIO | eBay

or even on the low end:
General Electric Model AS-3A Tube External Power Speaker | eBay

provided they work when u get them, a simple trip to a tech for a safety check and simple component and power cable update would be all you'd need (not expensive).

and they aren't black boxes being the proverbial sore thumb, if that is a factor.
 
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