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

[iiipopes]

Failing caps do not cause hiss.

Whatever. It has more hiss now than it did new, whatever the cause, and it is just enough that I can't keep the essentially zero noise floor I prefer to work well with my party band's Behringer digital board.

 

[Old Fart]

Yes I think you will miss the tubes but you will also enjoy the light weight, additional features, etc. My main gigging rig is a WD-800 and a Bergantino 212 cab but my SVT/810 rig gets out of the house at times, depending on the venue.

....most of the magic happens in the preamp.....

Respectfully, I don't agree with this. If I had to use a SS/valve hybrid, I'd prefer a SS preamp and tube power section. Same as with hifi systems. A 12AX7 is what it is and a 12AT7 is pretty much the same thing but with less gain. Much depends on the rest of the preamp circuit.

But when it comes to output tubes, there are major differences. EL34, EL84, 6550, 6L6, KT-88.....there are big differences in these. According to my ear, some of them can do stuff that SS gear cannot do.

 

[MUppet]

I moved from the SVT3PRO to something lighter as well. I filtered through Carvin, and then A ToneHammer 500 until I settled on the Mesa Boogie W800+.

I honestly didn’t miss it, and I thought I would. The newer heads sound so much better and have better clarity & control over the SVT3PRO.

I REALLY don’t miss lugging around that boat anchor anymore.

 

[chris_b]

I played my SVT3 Pro for about 8 years, moved to Thunderfunk and finally landed on Aguilar TH500/700 and AG700 for the last 10 years or so. Before the SVT I played a Mesa 400+. I don't missed tubes at all.

Make the move.

 

[GreyBeard]

The biggest difference I noticed back in the 90's when I switched from my old Sunn 200S to a Peavey Mark IV was the feel and the tone of the upper mids. The amp responded differently to my touch. A tube in the preamp will give you a tube-ish tone but it will still have a SS feel. Like anything, it will take some time to get used too.

 

[agedhorse]

Whatever. It has more hiss now than it did new, whatever the cause, and it is just enough that I can't keep the essentially zero noise floor I prefer to work well with my party band's Behringer digital board.

There may have been more noise, but it wasn't due to a bad cap. It might have even been the perception of more noise because the noise floor of the PA system decreased.

Respectfully, I don't agree with this. If I had to use a SS/valve hybrid, I'd prefer a SS preamp and tube power section. Same as with hifi systems. A 12AX7 is what it is and a 12AT7 is pretty much the same thing but with less gain. Much depends on the rest of the preamp circuit.

.

A 12AX7 has more voltage gain but a 12AT7 has more current gain, so the CIRCUIT's voltage gain may be higher with a 12AT7 if the load exceeds the current that a 12AX7 can supply.

The biggest difference I noticed back in the 90's when I switched from my old Sunn 200S to a Peavey Mark IV was the feel and the tone of the upper mids. The amp responded differently to my touch. A tube in the preamp will give you a tube-ish tone but it will still have a SS feel. Like anything, it will take some time to get used too.

This may just as easily been due to comparing 2 entirely different amps, both the amps you mentioned are voiced entirely different (regardless of tubes versus transistors).

 

[logdrum]

Get any used or current production Mesa, Genzler pr used Genz Benz with 3 tubes in the preamp (TT-800, Kinetix, Streamliner)

and GK Fusion S.

All designs are excellent and all tubey, maybe even more than your SVT

 

[Jazzjames]

SVT-7 pro? Much lighter and still has a preamp tube. Same general vibe. The new Quilter 803 would also interest me if I were in your shoes. Tonehammer 500 is a bit overpriced these days, but I used one for years and it never let me down (didn’t ever inspire me though).

 

[InhumanResource]

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.

Maybe? The tone hammer sounds very different from the Ampeg, it would be best if you had an understanding of what you want (and aren’t getting from the 3 PRO) and whether the TH is going to provide it. Otherwise you’re just kind of randomly swapping components.

 

[Pep]

One word answer: BERGANTINO

 

[Azari]

I’m a bit of a solid state bass fanatic

In my opinion, Tech 21 is the king of solid state bass tone. I don’t bother using any mics in my rig, but two different SansAmp DI’s. I plug one or both of my quarter inch outs into a powered PA speaker for monitoring. My active bass’s preamp cleans up the low frequencies, much like a HPF, so it sounds great in basically any room or recorded mix without too much fuss. I also have a QSC RMX 1450 power amp paired with an Avatar B410 with a Tech 21 Q/Strip preamp that I use sometimes. I don’t have any desire at all to use any bass gear with vacuum tubes in it really, unless I play one and utterly fall in love with it which hasn’t happened yet.

 

[TomB]

Quilter (QSC) has come up with a version 3 of their bass block 800 that promises a tube-like voice and performance. I haven’t pushed one hard enough to suss out its overdrive characteristics, but it has a very warm basic voice, much like an unpushed tube amp when set on its “Q-tube” setting. Its “warm” setting is voiced similarly. It adds a cab sim to the DI output in either setting (non-switchable, post-EQ) which is likely a matter of taste. The “clean” setting features an uneffected DI, but it is also post EQ.

 

[DJ Bebop]

I solved my problem with a Mesa WD800 and currently a JFA Sisma head. Both have a tube in the preamp.

This is the answer ^^^^

I had the WD already and played the Sisma for an extended period of time. Either one would be a satisfying amp as well as the Genzler Kinetics. I would have them all if I was independently wealthy, or single

 

[rodl2005]

Honestly, altho I use tube amps half the time, I've been wishing the larger, backline supplied festivals, that 90% of the time have an SVT and SVT810,

would actually have a quality class D amp on top of a quality big cab.
Next year I might take mine.

 

[pepj]

If you like tubes, there is no substitute imv.
Do not go for the tube emulation. Imo.
At least have a valve in the pre.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Not at 2am you won't.

 

[agedhorse]

If you like tubes, there is no substitute imv.
Do not go for the tube emulation. Imo.
At least have a valve in the pre.

Yet there are players that prefer (good) emulations better than the real thing because emulations can emulate the better parts of tubes in an idealized environment without the negative attributes such as noise, heat, reliability, expense, size and weight.

 

[Killing Floor]

There’s no best amp and you can always find things you like.

But if you like your current rig and you are planning to change because it weighs a lot let’s ask a different question.

How much time in an average gig cycle do you spend carrying it?

I’ve had really large and really small rigs, multi rack and tube amp rigs and big cabs and small Phil Jones amps.

And I could never guess the exact number of gigs but it’s a lot.

I don’t ever recall having to carry stuff that far. Put it on a cart or hand truck. Or put casters on your rack. If you love your rig don’t ditch it because it’s heavy. Most of the gig it’s sitting on the floor or cab. If you had to carry it while you play I’d get that.

There’s more to rock’n’roll than worrying about how much your stuff weighs.

 

[rodl2005]

Yet there are players that prefer (good) emulations better than the real thing because emulations can emulate the better parts of tubes in an idealized environment without the negative attributes such as noise, heat, reliability, expense, size and weight.

Count me in here
Both my class D amps are tube- less and I think they do better than my previously owned ones WITH tubes. But that's just my opinion.

They are :-

TH500 Aguilar
Bergantino B|Amp

But I still love using my V4B, AD200B and Fender Super Bassman ALL tube amps in situations where they work well too

 

[TomB]

Yet there are players that prefer (good) emulations better than the real thing because emulations can emulate the better parts of tubes in an idealized environment without the negative attributes such as noise, heat, reliability, expense, size and weight.

You forgot inconsistency !