Bass Tube Amp Help

[smtp4me]

Hi,

I am looking for an all tube bass amp - preferences are 50 watts or less, DI output, and a combo. I've done some searching on Google, but have yet to find a simple list of manufacturers and models that fit the criteria. So I'm asking the experts here.

I welcome personal recommendations, but my main goal is to build a list and compare on my own.

Thanks in advance!

 

[beans-on-toast]

Ampeg PF-50T or PF-20T. Both are heads but when attached to the lid of a portaflex 210 or 115 cab, it becomes a combo. See the demos on youtube.

 

[two fingers]

The bottleneck in your wish list is the combo part. There simply aren't many all-tube combos....and even at that many are vintage amps that were designed as practice amps....the original fliptops being the obvious exception. And even those won't have a DI line out.

My suggestion to greatly increase the number of choices would he to broaden your search to heads and cabs. As for lower wattage heads, there are Bassman varieties, Ashdown 30W heads, Ampeg PF heads, and others. Scoring a newer reissue or a true vintage fliptop would set you back quite a bit of cash and wouldn't have a DI out.

Short version. There may be one other than the suggestion above of getting a PF head and using it fliptop style, but I honestly can't think of it.

 

[aproud1]

Mesa buster?

 

[Downunderwonder]

The short list of mainstream manufacturer, 50w and less, was given by 2F.

There are some exotic ones if you have plenty of money.

 

[Munjibunga]

The short list of mainstream manufacturer, 50w and less, was given by 2F.

There are some exotic ones if you have plenty of money.

Alessandro?

 

[Anachronism]

Mesa buster?

Great amps, but way over 50 watts. OP is going to have a hard time meeting all his criteria, however, so it's worth suggesting.

 

[deathness]

Not in production but ashdown used to make a fliptop style combo as did matchless. The ashdown will prolly be easier and cheaper to track down than the matchless, but like the chorus above sang, not much at all out there that meets all your criteria.

 

[nostatic]

The bottleneck in your wish list is the combo part.

^^^ this

Ashdown makes a 15W drop-top combo. There are other boutiques that have in the past (may still?) do lower power bass heads - Divided by 13, 65 Amps, etc.

 

[Bigwan]

Trinity Amps do the Trip Top combo, a hand built fliptop clone, but it's not cheap...

 

[gregmon79]

Mesa buster?

That is a PERFECT recommendation. If you can find one. Great amps!

What is your budget @smtp4me ?? That could be quite limiting too as tube heads are usually not cheap. At all. But so worth it.

 

[smtp4me]

Thanks to all for the suggestions so far! Although I prefer 50 watts or less and a combo, I would be willing to step outside those requirements if they are too limiting.

I currently own a GK 200 watt combo (class D solid-state), and I'm looking for a tube amp to either supplement or possibly even replace the GK. New or used are both acceptable. My primary use case is home recording with the possibility of gigging at small venues (very small, hence the 50 watts or less). I am thinking that I can either use a mic or DI in any situation where more power is needed, and for home recording/playing/practicing, 50 watts is more than enough.

Although I could go as high as $1k, I would prefer to keep the budget lower if possible. I could be wrong, but it seems that guitarists have more options in this area - there seem to be more manufacturers making smaller/lower power all-tube amps for guitar. So I'm just trying to find out what is available for bass, and as I mentioned in my OP, so far, it's hard to find a simple list of smaller tube bass amplifiers.

 

[Mvilmany]

I'd suggest the Ampeg PF-50T or the PF-20T. They're heads, not combos, but they do have direct out, and you can pair it up with any small cab you like.

 

[morgan138]

If you're looking to play bass through a small tube amp, I'm guessing you're hoping to get a fairly old-fashioned sound out of it? If so, you might want to look at small/old guitar heads to pair up with a bass cab. This will give you a lot more options than specifically focusing on small+tube+bass heads (which is a pretty narrow field), and you might find some cool bargains.

EDIT: if you're dead set on a DI, that'll limit your options again though. On the other hand, I'd imagine any venue where you'll need PA support will have a DI, and why bother having a low-wattage studio amp if you're going to DI yourself in the studio?

 

[pbassnut]

Ampeg PF-50T or PF-20T. Both are heads but when attached to the lid of a portaflex 210 or 115 cab, it becomes a combo. See the demos on youtube.

I auditioned a PF-50T @ my local GC a while back and it was a serious tone machine.

 

[JimmyM]

The PF-50T can be made into a fliptop combo with the purchase of a PF210he or PF115he.

 

[LowG]

DI can be added to any tube amp by using a speaker level one like the Countryman. Do you care if the DI will allow silent recording? (If you want silent then this idea does NOT do it).

 

[azfatboy]

If you're looking to play bass through a small tube amp, I'm guessing you're hoping to get a fairly old-fashioned sound out of it? If so, you might want to look at small/old guitar heads to pair up with a bass cab.

After the obvious (and probably best) suggestion of the Ampeg PF series, I was also going to suggest a smaller guitar tube amp head with a bass cab. Although I haven't tested it myself yet (I have several all-tube guitar amps, and I *will* be testing them with my bass cabs), I've heard a lot of folks really like that sound, and like morgan said, it greatly expands your options. Something to consider anyway...

 

[Nickweissmusic]

Hi,

I am looking for an all tube bass amp - preferences are 50 watts or less, DI output, and a combo. I've done some searching on Google, but have yet to find a simple list of manufacturers and models that fit the criteria. So I'm asking the experts here.

I welcome personal recommendations, but my main goal is to build a list and compare on my own.

Thanks in advance!

Stop what you are doing and go anywhere you can try the Ampeg PF-50t. I was not a big Ampeg guy until this year when I tried that amp and one of their new combos. The 50t is exquisite. Well thought out output and silent use options as well. Perfect for everything you're asking for. From what I gather it works with their flip top 15" cabinets (the top flips over and the amp stores inside the speaker box like some classic B-15's), so you can really go old school combo.

 

[Nickweissmusic]

The PF-50T can be made into a fliptop combo with the purchase of a PF210he or PF115he.

Maybe I should read past the OP they fit the 12 flip top too? Outstanding. Incredible amp, haven't tried the cabs, but that's the nice thing about a separate head, init.