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Considering a switch from SVT3PRO to something solid state. Will I miss my tubes?

mattie13

mattie13

May 30, 2023
59
118
Philadelphia, PA, USA
#1
I love my SVT3PRO but at 40-something pounds (plus whatever my rack case and rack drawer weigh) it's a bit too heavy for me to comfortably schlepp with my history of back problems. I'm considering a switch to a lighter, solid state amp head (Tone Hammer 500 mayhaps?).

My question is: am I likely to notice the lack of tubes in the SS amp, given that I exclusively use my SVT3PRO with the tube gain knob turned all the way to the right (meaning, the voltage going to the driver tubes is minimal, which should result in a more modern, tubeless sound as I understand it)?

I'm sure the best answer is "just try it and see how it sounds" but I'm hoping to get some additional opinions in case a trade opportunity arises and I need to act fast.
 
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#2
You really do need to try out other amps and see if they do what you want. I had an Ampeg SVT, moved to an Aguilar DB750, and now play a Mesa D800. They all sound great in their own way, and I’ve been satisfied with each of them. But what I miss most about the SVT is the glow and smell of the tubes. Weird, right? The sound is also great, but other amps sound just as good (albeit different) for literally 1/10th of the weight. The SVT is just impractical for most folks. I know the 3PRO is a different consideration, but the point still stands that you can likely find something you enjoy just as much but in a much more portable package.
 
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#3
There’s lot of good lightweight solid state gear out there. As always, best thing is to get to a store and listen to a few. But if you still want those tube vibes, you can pickup a small amp head like the Genzler Magellan, which is Class D with 3 tubes. It’s nice!

Or check out a good tube DI for running to FoH. My recommendation would be the Khan DI. Obeid Khan designed the original Ampeg SVT-DI. He has since perfected it and it is truly amazing.

Khan DI
 
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#5
I hear your tubes can be reattached if you want to have children at a later age again.

But on topic. I never had a tube amp. However I do understand what people look for. I think new amp modelers are just as good as the real thing. I would prefer to have a powerful clean amp and add effects later. But that's just me. I like modern bass sounds better. Meaning that I think the older stuff was far from reproducing the actual sound of a bass guitar string.
 
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#7
Adding an Edison or Hagerman Value [or similar] to your signal chain will give some tubey goodness to your Class D.
IMG_2801.jpg


IMG_8779.JPG
 
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#8
mattie13 said:
I love my SVT3PRO but at 40-something pounds (plus whatever my rack case and rack drawer weigh) it's a bit too heavy for me to comfortably schlepp with my history of back problems. I'm considering a switch to a lighter, solid state amp head (Tone Hammer 500 mayhaps?).

My question is: am I likely to notice the lack of tubes in the SS amp, given that I exclusively use my SVT3PRO with the tube gain knob turned all the way to the right (meaning, the voltage going to the driver tubes is minimal, which should result in a more modern, tubeless sound as I understand it)?

I'm sure the best answer is "just try it and see how it sounds" but I'm hoping to get some additional opinions in case a trade opportunity arises and I need to act fast.
Click to expand...
You can try a Fuchs hybrid amp, it's lightweight and voiced like a SVT

Or the new Ampeg Venture amps, solid state with a B15 and a SVT voicings

Or the Quilter Bass Block v803
 
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#9
My solution was to go with a lower wattage tube head.
I have a 50 watt "recording" tube amp that works just fine for many gigs and weighs around 20#. For larger shows, the line out gets all the power tube & transformer mojo to the FOH and I'm happy as a pig in dung in my zone onstage.
I also deploy 800 watt class D amps for some occasions - like when I have to cover a large dance floor without PA support. Or when I really want to avoid any extra trips.
They get the job done – but they don't deep down satisfy me; solid state power just never quite has.
But YMMV. Some people go to micro-heads after decades with SVTs and don't miss a thing. Sometimes I wish I was more like them. OTOH, that 20# really isn't that hard to manage.
 
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#10
If you have the scratch for it, I'd check out some of Mesa's newer amp heads. A lot of that tube warmth and response without the tubes. If there's minimal voltage (which I'm assuming renders "less" in the mix) to the preamp tubes, the sound you're looking for may be possible with many different amp heads. I'd also check out some compressors if you don't already have one, as I've been surprised how much previous tube amps of mine were applying that (naturally) to my tone.

There's also a lot of EXCELLENT preamps out there and plenty of class D mini heads that have a preamp bypass option (via Effects Return or something of that nature). You can run said preamp into the power amp of that head to great results. I hate to parrot the same sentiment, but I'd grab your favorite bass and try some different heads out. Also be cognizant that whatever cab you're playing out of has a MASSIVE impact on your tone as well.
 
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#11
I played SVT3Pro's years ago and loved the tubes in the Preamp. I eventually switched to Ashdown ABM500's which have 1 tube in the pre.
These days I am primarily using the Mesa D800+ and the Quilter Bass Block 803. I don't miss the tubes at all as the new SS amps have great tube emulation in their preamps. At worst case scenario you can also just get a Sushibox FX pedal and run it last in your signal chain.

FWIW

I also own a Genzler Kinetix 800 which has 3 preamp tubes.
I was never a fan of the Aguilar TH and AG amps.
I tried the Ampeg Venture series and found them to be nothing like the SVT's.

At $700 the Quilter Bass Block 803 is IMO the best thing out there right now and I can get mine to sound 98% like my Ampeg V4B!
 
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#12

Will I miss my tubes?​

No. Thirty years ago I sold my SVT head (yes, an original with a 12DW7 tube) for a Carvin PB300 watt head. My back couldn't take the SVT any longer, even then. Moreover, the cost of re-tubing it, even back then, was more than the cost of a new head. I still use the PB300 as my rehearsal hall head. The only reason I don't play it live is that as with all heads, after thirty years, the capacitors have started to degrade and I get a little hiss in the DI out. Solid state is cleaner, more controllable, more dependable, and less weight.
 
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#14
mattie13 said:
I love my SVT3PRO but at 40-something pounds (plus whatever my rack case and rack drawer weigh) it's a bit too heavy for me to comfortably schlepp with my history of back problems. I'm considering a switch to a lighter, solid state amp head (Tone Hammer 500 mayhaps?).

My question is: am I likely to notice the lack of tubes in the SS amp, given that I exclusively use my SVT3PRO with the tube gain knob turned all the way to the right (meaning, the voltage going to the driver tubes is minimal, which should result in a more modern, tubeless sound as I understand it)?

I'm sure the best answer is "just try it and see how it sounds" but I'm hoping to get some additional opinions in case a trade opportunity arises and I need to act fast.
Click to expand...
FYI ... Ampeg SVT3PRO heads are only 26 pounds. I have mine housed in a lightweight molded 2-space SKB rack which is something like 10 pounds so the whole package isn't all that heavy. I also have an Ampeg B2-RE head that's housed in a 2-space Gator rack bag that's only 8 pounds and isn't too bad of a schlepp. Rack drawers and power conditiioners are nice to have but are not mandatory ... particularly when you have back problems.
 
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#16
S-Bigbottom said:
Tech21 makes snow shovels now!!!
The perfect winter gigging accessory. :woot:

I'm there dude. :hyper:
Click to expand...

iiipopes said:

Will I miss my tubes?​

No. Thirty years ago I sold my SVT head (yes, an original with a 12DW7 tube) for a Carvin PB300 watt head. My back couldn't take the SVT any longer, even then. Moreover, the cost of re-tubing it, even back then, was more than the cost of a new head. I still use the PB300 as my rehearsal hall head. The only reason I don't play it live is that as with all heads, after thirty years, the capacitors have started to degrade and I get a little hiss in the DI out. Solid state is cleaner, more controllable, more dependable, and less weight.
Click to expand...
Failing caps do not cause hiss.
 
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#17
tb-player said:
There’s lot of good lightweight solid state gear out there. As always, best thing is to get to a store and listen to a few. But if you still want those tube vibes, you can pickup a small amp head like the Genzler Magellan, which is Class D with 3 tubes. It’s nice!

Or check out a good tube DI for running to FoH. My recommendation would be the Khan DI. Obeid Khan designed the original Ampeg SVT-DI. He has since perfected it and it is truly amazing.

Khan DI
Click to expand...
Actually the Kinetics is the new 3 tube preamp design. It is a great amp. The Magellan is a great amp as well.
I use a Genzler MG350 SS head but run a Khan (I also use it for my DI/IEM board) in front and it sounds fantastic.
 
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#19
If you run a solid state amp and want to add some tube goodness then add a tube pedal to the mix.
I am 99% sure Sushi Box is working on developing a SVT (SBVT) tube pedal right now and it should be very close on being finished, the last prototype he made went back for another slight tweak to make it just a little bit better.
I believe he is even replicating the special inductor needed in the tone control circuit in the SVT, he even tried the new inductor in his own SVT amp and he will sell them to people who needs one to repair their own SVT amps in the future.

Sushi makes several great high voltage tube pedals and DI's that still run on a normal 9V - 12V pedal supply.
There are other tube pedals out there as well.
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/the-sushi-box-fx-secret-society.1484792/page-1104
 
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