best modern tube amp.

[Duke21]

If you're looking for a lot of power Markbass makes a killer:

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If you're looking for simple, great tone with less power check out this EBS:

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On the boutique end these Divied by 13's show up used occasionally:

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All tend to be pricy. Here is the tube amp I've owned since 1975 (new) and it sounds GREAT!:

MusicMan 65 Stack pictures by kensmithphotobucket - Photobucket

The EBS T90 is very nice retro amp. Great sound, very simple and have DI.

 

[Session1969]

I watched the reeves demo on their website and heard a sonic interaction with the guitar player and drummer that sounds amazing. It's a sound you just don't get from solid state amps. I know it's out of my price range but I'm wondering if a V4 can hold a good volume with a guitarist having a half stack. This particular project is a three piece that reminds me of the offspring and greenday. So , yeah, the guitarist/singer plays pretty loud but not super ridiculous.

 

[Tom Howland]

I used to own a Matchless Thunderchief, made by Mark Sampson. That will forever be the standard against which all other amps are measured. Rich, warm, articulate...simply perfect IMO.

I have played quite a few other tube amps, and I agree that the Reeves and Sadowsky are far ahead of most in the tube amp game (at least Sad was). However, the Matamp GT200 also rocks, but in a harsher, less refined (not to be misinterpreted as "worse" though) way. Beyond those, I'd say the SwampWorks Possum Stomper is more than worth a listen, though it's a hybrid and a "true" tube amp. I've always been a fan of the Aggie DB359 as well.

EDIT: I should mention that Matchless is still willing to build a TC, but I'm not sure how it would differ from the original. Price tag $2500, not too bad.

Nice call, I forgot the Thunderchief.
Only played one, along with the Thunderman combo.
They were wonderful.

 

[Mr. Foxen]

I watched the reeves demo on their website and heard a sonic interaction with the guitar player and drummer that sounds amazing. It's a sound you just don't get from solid state amps. I know it's out of my price range but I'm wondering if a V4 can hold a good volume with a guitarist having a half stack. This particular project is a three piece that reminds me of the offspring and greenday. So , yeah, the guitarist/singer plays pretty loud but not super ridiculous.

If you have enough cab, you have enough volume.

 

[Muziekschuur]

So what about this:
You'd want less weight;
20 KG's max. So either 100 watt's with normal iron and sensitive speakers
Or 300 watts with computer transformers
Some tubeprotection. A circuit wich warns and protects against failing tubes and does biassing per tube by itself.
Graphic eq and a footswitch for some sort of (semi) channelswitching.

Something that gives tube tone. And maybe has a pushbutton between modern and vintage shape.

If possible something that can take out two tubes so you can have tubedistortion at low levels (practice).
A built in way to be able to play the head in a studio without a speaker attached.
So either a way to shut off the powersection or some sort of loadbox.

I think those items would stand for a modern tubehead..

 

[Mr. Foxen]

My Ashdown did most of that, but it was a guitar amp. Had triode/pentode for power drop, and the VU meter on the front acted as a bias meter. Each valve had individual bias and its own fuse. Had footswitch for more gain.

 

[Session1969]

Fender and Ampeg have those features . I know someone selling an SVT2 built in the eighties. Not the SVT2Pro.

 

[Korladis]

Mesa has the:

400+
Mesa Boogie Bass 400+ Amplifier

and the D180, and the original 400.

Peavey has the VB-2 and the VB-3.

Eden has the WTB300V, as already mentioned. I love that head, I wish I had the funds to buy one.

Markbass makes the Classic 300, which I personally hate, but it's still an all-tube option.

My vote for the best modern all-tube amp is probably going to be the Mesa 400+. Man, that baby is incredible. But, if I was allowed any one "modern" tube head I'd probably steal a WTB300V, just fits my tone better.

The thread is about modern tube amps. I interpret that as meaning amps that are currently made. The 400+ is a 20 year old amp, and has been discontinued for years. The 400 and D-180 are even older.

So, though they are great amps, I'm not sure they really qualify.

 

[Duke21]

I think the Laney Nexus Tube is a good example of a "modern" tube amp as it contains lots of features and a parallel Solid State preamp and amp sections. The Nexus is just as feature reach as some of the class D amps.
The Ampeg SVT2 pro is also modern in features compares to the CL.

 

[Muziekschuur]

The NEXUS weighs. 34 kgs... But I've seen it has indeed that lush rich featureset.

 

[Mr. Foxen]

The NEXUS weighs. 34 kgs... But I've seen it has indeed that lush rich featureset.

It has great handles and is rackable though. It didn't seem that heavy, because its easy to move and well balanced.

 

[bezbass]

Ampeg svt pro 5 is a beast and can be set at 2 ohms powering 2 8x10's or 16 x10 and trust me , this sounds like the bomb especially everywhere haha

 

[dlenaghan]

I don't think it's a current model, but I don't think it's very old either (though frankly I have no idea), but Peavey makes/made a SS/tube hybrid amp called the T-400, and that this is a bamofo. Seriously..

 

[Duke21]

Ampeg svt pro 5 is a beast and can be set at 2 ohms powering 2 8x10's or 16 x10 and trust me , this sounds like the bomb especially everywhere haha

Is the 5pro all tube amp?

regarding the Nexus. 34kg is not that much for 8 power tubes and all what they require. I do not know how much can a man reduce the weight of a tube amp, with all of that iron they weight is kind of a constant.

 

[Muziekschuur]

As you can read in this thread. The alltube Peavey weighs 17 KG with a switch powersupply (computer).

The biggest thing we see when experienced bassplayers get older... they ditch the SVT because of the weight. And since the neodynium drivers and the switching powersupply the weight is getting old...

 

[johnk_10]

yeah, at 58 i've been playing bass since '67 but i gotta say, i used my SVT on the gig last night, and even with my bad back, it was worth schlepping it, because it sounded awesome.

 

[Duke21]

As you can read in this thread. The alltube Peavey weighs 17 KG with a switch powersupply (computer).

The biggest thing we see when experienced bassplayers get older... they ditch the SVT because of the weight. And since the neodynium drivers and the switching powersupply the weight is getting old...

Well, I've no big experience with all tube or the new power supply used on the new class D amps and the Peavey. Sound very promising that they are implementing this in all tube amps, I guess one save at least 10kg just on that.

 

[Sound Chaser]

I'm pretty surprised that I haven't seen Verellen mentioned here yet. The Meatsmoke sounds fantastic in their demo videos. Also, I think Bad Cat is working on some kind of tube bass amp.

 

[roadkill2309]

No love for Ashdown? They've got a whole bunch of tube amps going now.

 

[dr. z]

I used to have an Aguilar db 359 200w all tube amp until I hearniated a disc in my low back. It was my giging amp and I hated to part with it as that was a killer sounding. I did not like the DI output... always had a problem getting a signal to the main board and just a little noisy hum is all that was the down side.
Anyway imo tube is the only way to go so does any one know of light weight (or reasonably so) all tube amps out there? I'm too old to cart around a heavy beast. Thanks