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Favorite all tube amp?

#82
johnk_10 said:
the earlier tube rectified ones were rated at 120 watts and i believe that the later SS rectifed ones ('71 like mine) at 140w, but both of them feel more like 200-250 easily. it feels louder/more powerful than my YBA 200-2 and almost as loud as either of my SVT's. i've had a few of both the tube rectified and SS rectified ones, and i prefer the latter. it was also known as the 350B (as in 350 'peak' watts).
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Yeah, the GZ34 rectified ones are 120w, and the SS versions were rated at 150w. "Supposedly". I was talking to Edbass recently about tuning up mine, and he said that his, with KT88s, grounded AC, new filters, and SS rectification, his was tested at 190w clean, and 260w peak. He also said with a bit of fooling with biasing and resistors, it could probably push 200w clean.

That said, I absolutely love my '68 2000s with tube rectifiers. Best tube amp I've ever played. I like my Bassman 300 too, for skull crushing power, but for all around amp with tone and volume, my money's on the 2000s.
 
#84
I have been very fortunate to own the following tube amp rigs:

blackface Fender Dual Showman w/2X15 JBL D140 sealed cabinet
1969 Ampeg SVT w/ two 8X10 CTS equipped, flatback cabinets
same SVT w/ two Sunn 200S cabinets w/JBL D140 speakers
Sound City Bass 150
Sunn Model T
Sunn 300T w/ two JBL Cabaret 1X15 cabinets

I still own these:

Mesa Boogie M-180 power amp w/Alembic F2-B preamp
Eden VT300 w/ JBL Cabaret K145 cabinet
Sadowsky SA200 w/two EA CxL-112 cabinets

Which is my favorite? I would be happy with any of them. For a time I was searching for a Fender Showman again but since I started using the Sadowsky SA200, I'm not in any hurry.

Gale
 
#88
The only one I've owned is an Ampeg V-4B, and I love it. I also think it's the best bargain among tube amps today; you can get one in good condition for $500-$700, and IF you need new power tubes, it's not gonna break the bank.

I lust after a Reeves and/or an SA-200, but I don't know if they'll suit me quite as well tonally as the V-4B. I'd love to have an SVT, but I doubt I'll be playing big enough rooms anytime soon to drive it to the point where it's starting to break up (which is where I'd want it).

Maybe one day, the stoner/doom guys will ditch the Sunns, latch on to V-4Bs and they'll get bid up, too.;)
 
#94
I've owned four different all tube SVT heads. None of 'em have been bad. ;) I still have two.

Now I've got a V4-B that was modded to run KT-77's in the power amp section. Sometimes I'm playing this thing and I don't believe how good it sounds. :cool:

All that said, I think my favorite tube amp ever was the 300 watt Fender Rumble Bass head. I had one of the original 6 prototypes on loan for a while. I've spent the last 15 years kicking myself in the butt for not buying it.
 

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#96
Bunyo said:
I got 400+ and I could have plenty of distortion with it. Believe me.
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I've used both the Bass 400+ and the Bass 400. The difference is that the 12 tubes give you much more headroom. The way Mesa designed those amps the master doesnt really do anything past 6 or 7. It just gets hissier, not louder.
I am familiar with what the channel 2 preamp overdrive tone is. I am also VERY familiar with what the poweramp overdrive tone is. Never heard it come out of a 400+. Maybe I would need to run it down to 2 ohms to really tax it?
Either way this is why I have stuck with the 400. The 400+ sounds too sterile to me in comparison. And heck if the Bass 400 didnt sound too sterile to me at first when I was coming from a Traynor YBA3!
 
#97
Calaverasgrande said:
I've used both the Bass 400+ and the Bass 400. The difference is that the 12 tubes give you much more headroom. The way Mesa designed those amps the master doesnt really do anything past 6 or 7. It just gets hissier, not louder.
I am familiar with what the channel 2 preamp overdrive tone is. I am also VERY familiar with what the poweramp overdrive tone is. Never heard it come out of a 400+. Maybe I would need to run it down to 2 ohms to really tax it?
Either way this is why I have stuck with the 400. The 400+ sounds too sterile to me in comparison. And heck if the Bass 400 didnt sound too sterile to me at first when I was coming from a Traynor YBA3!
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Ok. So whats the difference between tube distortion and overdrive. I must tell that I dont use any pedals on it, but it can provide much of dirty sound if I want.
 
#98
I have to give yet another vote for the Sunn 2000s/350b

I realized when I got mine that this was the tube bass tone that I had been wanting the whole time. Huge, Powerfull, and just the sweetest tone ever. Mine has Phillips 6550's in it, with RCA pre's.


I don't even miss my 200 watt Sound City/Hiwatt that I traded for it, although that was my previous favorite.
 

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