Finally played an all-tube amp!

[-Asdfgh-]

You likely know, but 50 tubes watts will sound a lot more substantial than its SS equivalent.

Not my experience. I like the sound of all-tube, not the weight, but didn't notice it being louder if you throw some compression in to the SS mix.

 

[Bobo]

Do I miss playing though an SVT or a V4-B, or even my ‘66 B-15n? You betcha; however, I’ve got a 69 year old back, and no roadies…so my 1.6 pound TE Elf is my go to amp these days…

 

[-Asdfgh-]

View attachment 4434143

I was tempted as my current SS amps are 300W Warwicks (the unpopular ones with linear volume controls - it was hard to find a second example but cheap) and even they aren't exactly light. I wasn't sure it would offer enough Watts, though. I might never have pushed it that hard, but if I do push it to 131W (it's 130W, yes?) then that's not ideal.

The Warwicks also have built-in compression, and see my previous comments about a bit of compression helping to give a little extra in the feel department, at least for me.

 

[rodl2005]

I was tempted as my current SS amps are 300W Warwicks (the unpopular ones with linear volume controls - it was hard to find a second example but cheap) and even they aren't exactly light. I wasn't sure it would offer enough Watts, though. I might never have pushed it that hard, but if I do push it to 131W (it's 130W, yes?) then that's not ideal.

The Warwicks also have built-in compression, and see my previous comments about a bit of compression helping to give a little extra in the feel department, at least for me.

Which is your Warwick amp? Gotta pic?
I liked, and almost bought one a few yrs back. Sounded great

 

[-Asdfgh-]

Which is your Warwick amp? Gotta pic?
I liked, and almost bought one a few yrs back. Sounded great

Profet 3.1. The 300W with linear volume that was 'too quiet: (it's perfectly loud). Before that I briefly used Ashdown (muddy) and before that Trace Elliot. The Warwick is like a warmer sounding TE with fewer features, but also cheaper. But not muddy.

Edit : ref is' classic ' period TE.

 

[rodl2005]

Profet 3.1. The 300W with linear volume that was 'too quiet: (it's perfectly loud). Before that I briefly used Ashdown (muddy) and before that Trace Elliot. The Warwick is like a warmer sounding TE with fewer features, but also cheaper. But not muddy.

Ahhh ok, I don't think I've tried that one. The one I was looking at was a WA600, or 300 maybe.

 

[drumvsbass]

In as much as I would say that every bassist needs to have a 'P-bass' phase, there should also be a tube amp phase. Once you know what that is all about, you can play through what ever solid state class D amp your back will agree too. But there is a reason I traded my PF500 for a PF50T.

One thing I have always found strange is that tube amps seem to be more immediate than solid state. Like the note gets there sooner, much sooner. It's a weird feeling. Not enough to be off putting playing through a solid state amp, just the tube amp feels better because it feels more accurate in relation to time. Anyone else feel that?

 

[tshapiro]

Not my experience. I like the sound of all-tube, not the weight, but didn't notice it being louder if you throw some compression in to the SS mix.

You said louder, I didn't. And once you start throwing compression into the mix we're no longer talking apples to apples.

 

[Relsom]

Oh, I hear that! None of use are getting any younger. Funny thing, one of those same Bassman Ten amps (1972 silverface) was posted for sale today locally. Some may consider that "fate", but I value my lower back too much to do anything crazy

Wouldn't it be funny if in a couple of weeks you go back to that same bar and find a WD800 or some other modern ss head sitting on top of that 4x10 and you ask the guy, "Where's the Fender head?", and he responds, "Sold it locally a couple of weeks ago".

 

[Bobo]

Oh, I hear that! None of use are getting any younger. Funny thing, one of those same Bassman Ten amps (1972 silverface) was posted for sale today locally. Some may consider that "fate", but I value my lower back too much to do anything crazy

I never should have sold my Bassman Ten! What a great amp that was, and pretty lightweight, all things considered…

 

[Bobo]

In as much as I would say that every bassist needs to have a 'P-bass' phase, there should also be a tube amp phase. Once you know what that is all about, you can play through what ever solid state class D amp your back will agree too. But there is a reason I traded my PF500 for a PF50T.

One thing I have always found strange is that tube amps seem to be more immediate than solid state. Like the note gets there sooner, much sooner. It's a weird feeling. Not enough to be off putting playing through a solid state amp, just the tube amp feels better because it feels more accurate in relation to time. Anyone else feel that?

I know what your saying. I do feel that a bit with the SS amps

 

[x52dcd]

Put the damping on your Mesa amp to low, and change the ohm selector on the back to 2 ohms. The ohm thing will essentially lower the power of the amp when driving a 4 or 8 ohm cab... meaning you could probably drive it more to it's full potential.

I've had a lot of tube amps, and they are all pretty different, but I've generally had a really good experience. Love Fender amps especially. There is something really great about only having 2-3 knobs - get a sound a play - it forces you to focus on your playing rather than the features of the amp.

You might like a fender style preamp before your Mesa rig... it might bring that something extra without getting a whole new rig.

Great tips! Never even thought of trying 2 ohm. These are on the todo list!

 

[x52dcd]

V4b 212av

View attachment 4433993

Yep, this one is now on my radar. Big, but possibly not *too* big!

 

[x52dcd]

I can’t imagine using just one 2/10 cabinet bringing out the most of such an amp. Try adding a matching one or an additional 1/12 or 1/15, or upgrade to a 2/12 or 2/15 if the above post advice about changing settings does not work.
Maybe @agedhorse will chime in.

This was one of my first thoughts as well. I'm definitely going to try and borrow/rent something to test. My only thought was could this end up being too over powering with the mesa's high wattage? Could I reach a "sweet spot" for feel without too much volume?

 

[x52dcd]

Your experience is very typical of an old tube Fender. You could mimic it by using a compression pedal in front of your current rig.

I usually run a darkglass Super Symmetry with light compression blended in at all times. Used it with that Fender as well, out of habit. Switched it on and off a few times, and felt the compression made it even better! Probably from a little more signal input?

 

[-Asdfgh-]

You said louder, I didn't. And once you start throwing compression into the mix we're no longer talking apples to apples.

Apologies. Usually people say louder. With tube amps pushed, there is a natural level compression, so the apples-to-apples comparison then is to something with compression involved, in terms of loudness. In terms of richness of tone, yes, my old Traynor had that in spades.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

I know what your saying. I do feel that a bit with the SS amps

Yup. Ss is immediate, accurate, and consistent.

But, that's why tube amps are so popular. Because they are slow, saggy, and have a sort of reactive overtone to them. It's subtle, it's all subtle, but it's all there.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

One thing I have always found strange is that tube amps seem to be more immediate than solid state. Like the note gets there sooner, much sooner. It's a weird feeling. Not enough to be off putting playing through a solid state amp, just the tube amp feels better because it feels more accurate in relation to time. Anyone else feel that?

It might suggest how subjective it is, but I feel the reverse is true (I'm not trying to be contrarian), or at least that tube amps subjectively have more 'bloom'. But then it's very subjective, so I am not sure what exactly I might be hearing and how much it is really there.

 

[x52dcd]

In as much as I would say that every bassist needs to have a 'P-bass' phase, there should also be a tube amp phase. Once you know what that is all about, you can play through what ever solid state class D amp your back will agree too. But there is a reason I traded my PF500 for a PF50T.

One thing I have always found strange is that tube amps seem to be more immediate than solid state. Like the note gets there sooner, much sooner. It's a weird feeling. Not enough to be off putting playing through a solid state amp, just the tube amp feels better because it feels more accurate in relation to time. Anyone else feel that?

Absolutely! Everything instrument related is so subjective, and there is so much variety out there now, it's basically a stroke of luck to find that perfect combination of gear. The rising prices isn't helping. I live in a pretty small area, so unlike the big cities it was really just a fluke to have just stumbled on this opportunity. I think that's why I found it to be a special experience - I never would have sought it out on my own.

 

[Corigan]

The first few notes on my svt-cl and I thought to myself, this is what I've been missing. Its either your thing or its not.