Finally played an all-tube amp!

[gstaats]

I agree with @_Some Dude . I love tubes because of the vintage vibes and the low-tech factor. My most recent iteration for live has a pedalboard with an MXR M-81 preamp (1/4 out to my power amp, xlr to FOH). Some gigs I won't even need an amp if FOH support is there.

 

[monkeyfinger]

Plus, your correction only applies to the location of the measurement mic.

Conclusion: balancing a room is hard and rarely has perfect results.

 

[Chickenwheels]

‘78 Studio Bass (180 watt Bassman), my favourite sounding amp. I’d check out an Orange AD200 if this thing pooped.

 

[x52dcd]

I consider myself a tube snob.

That said, I think the WD800 is a killer sounding amp and is one of the few solid states that I’ve really liked the feel of.

I fk’n love the sound of an SVT, and with the WD800 I don’t feel the sound is inferior so much as it is different and cool in its own way. Further, the WD800 gets a lot of gigs specifically because of the portability, and if I’m going to jam or audition I don’t exactly want to be rolling an 810 into someone’s basement.

And like some others in this thread, I’d recommend adding the Subway 115 to your setup.

Not that I’m trying to talk you out of getting a tube amp. I think they’re awesome.

View attachment 4434757

I'd love to try adding the 115...if I could find one! None locally, and where I live getting something like that shipped will cost a small fortune. Was only a fluke I was able to score the 210 (the 15 was my preference from the start).

 

[spiritbass]

From taking my SVTs around
View attachment 4434509

 

[_Some Dude]

I'd love to try adding the 115...if I could find one! None locally, and where I live getting something like that shipped will cost a small fortune. Was only a fluke I was able to score the 210 (the 15 was my preference from the start).

There’s an L&M in St John’s.

 

[signine]

I play guitar primarily, though I suspect that's going to be changing because I haven't put my bass down for more than a couple of hours since I bought it. I've had quite a collection of low-watt tube guitar amps over the past few years, and I can confirm there is literally nothing that sounds better in guitar land than tubes. You can emulate it and get really close but being in the room with a cranked tube amp both requires hearing protection but is a glorious experience.

I don't know if the same is going to be true for bass, but my ears are way less picky in the lower ends of the frequency band.

 

[Wasnex]

I have a digital room correction program on a laptop. I am not sure I would want to try and run my signal through that for an entire gig to correct for room acoustics, but then I have also never worked out how to actually use it!

When I run sound I prefer to ring out the PA and dip problematic frequencies. This frequently makes a very noticeable improvement on the sound.

Your device may do something similar. My guess is it senses the acoustic field with a mic and then uses some sort of algorithm to program itself.

 

[x52dcd]

There’s an L&M in St John’s.

Yeah, heading in there later this week to rent the Traynor tube amp! They don’t have the 115 in stock at the moment, only the 210, and from what I understand I'd still be on the hook for shipping from another store?

 

[projectapollo]

Does the Ampeg PF-50T get it done tone-wise?

 

[coreyfyfe]

For a time I was addicted to my Sunn Coliseum. But then I got old. And then I got hurt. This began my quest for lighter gear that didn’t suck. Through that experience I spent some time using EA and Acoustic Image gear and liked hearing that sort of fidelity to the instrument. That ultimately took me to Bergantino and I’ve been there ever since.

I use EA and berg stuff for my upright rig, great sound stuff, but I generally prefer tube amps for my electric gigs. I’ll grab my little class D EA when the load in would otherwise suck or I’m being lazy, but otherwise I prefer the tube heads. Tend to stick to small/neo cabs though. Can’t all be oversized heavy stuff.

 

[spiritbass]

View attachment 4434771
‘78 Studio Bass (180 watt Bassman), my favourite sounding amp. I’d check out an Orange AD200 if this thing pooped.

This is one Fender amp that I would love to hear/play, but have never had the opportunity. I have the luxury of not having to transport gear anymore, so weight is not a factor for me. That and @tombowlus' review of the Reeves Custom 200 led me full circle (I first played through my uncle's 2-12 Fender Bassman) back to a superb all-tube amp. A few years ago, I traded for the best (mostly) solid state amp that I've experienced, a Mesa Subway 800+. It was high time that someone finally put an adjustable HPF in the control set of a bass amp, IMO, and thanks again to Andy for doing it! To prevent this becoming overly long, I pick both.

 

[walking Bass]

I had a 1965 Fender Dual Showman with 2x15 Lansings. I loved the sound from small clubs to large - smooth and clean. I didn't really like distortion and never pushed it, but it always seemed to have sufficient volume. It fell out of the van when someone forgot to lock the door. I tightened up the tubes and it was good to go. My 2 year stint in the army forced me into a situation where I couldn't keep it.

I now have a GK400rb with a 410 - good but not as good. Since I don't gig anymore, I really don't want to go chasing tone. I bought a tube front end and it helps, but not enough.

My question is - if I won the lottery - old and tube or Bergantino?

 

[Auspuff]

Tubes are just a hopped up light bulb with some extra support hardware.

 

[spiritbass]

I had a 1965 Fender Dual Showman with 2x15 Lansings. I loved the sound from small clubs to large - smooth and clean. I didn't really like distortion and never pushed it, but it always seemed to have sufficient volume. It fell out of the van when someone forgot to lock the door. I tightened up the tubes and it was good to go. My 2 year stint in the army forced me into a situation where I couldn't keep it.

I now have a GK400rb with a 410 - good but not as good. Since I don't gig anymore, I really don't want to go chasing tone. I bought a tube front end and it helps, but not enough.

My question is - if I won the lottery - old and tube or Bergantino?

That's another reason I invested in a Reeves - I wanted a new tube build. That was five or six years ago and it's been rock solid.

 

[agedhorse]

Conclusion: balancing a room is hard and rarely has perfect results.

This qualifies at the understatement of the month!

When I run sound I prefer to ring out the PA and dip problematic frequencies. This frequently makes a very noticeable improvement on the sound.

Your device may do something similar. My guess is it senses the acoustic field with a mic and then uses some sort of algorithm to program itself.

There are many different algorithms, some work ok, very few word really well and many are pretty awful.

It's a little bit like bass tuners, or pitch to MIDI converters. Such a simple appearing task in theory yet so very difficult to do very well in practice.

 

[Chickenwheels]

I had a 1965 Fender Dual Showman with 2x15 Lansings. I loved the sound from small clubs to large - smooth and clean. I didn't really like distortion and never pushed it, but it always seemed to have sufficient volume. It fell out of the van when someone forgot to lock the door. I tightened up the tubes and it was good to go. My 2 year stint in the army forced me into a situation where I couldn't keep it.

I now have a GK400rb with a 410 - good but not as good. Since I don't gig anymore, I really don't want to go chasing tone. I bought a tube front end and it helps, but not enough.

My question is - if I won the lottery - old and tube or Bergantino?

Both. I run my Berg with my Fender Studio Bass and that’s as good as I’ve ever heard a bass rig.

 

[Levin Hannaford]

This rig does all the right stuff for me. Even though I have lighter, Class D heads to go with the F115, nothing roars quite like the SVT

 

[denton57]

Owned many tube heads and still have a 68 Showman. I think I like the Fender tone more than the Ampeg, but I had a V4 that was incredible so I hate to make that comparison. But man the Showman sounds fantastic. 85 watts, pretty light at I think 35 or so lbs.

It can run out of gas with my single JBL k140 cab, so I picked up an 8 ohm DB 410 this weekend and will use it on a outdoor gig this weekend. I also have a TH700 coming tomorrow, but I think the Showman will win in the tone department. We will see! Plus the Aguilar DB 410 should put out plenty of tube tone to where I can run the Showman at 4-5 on the dial. If not, I’ll roll with the TH.

Point of story...get a Showman, Dual Showman, or Bassman 100/135. They typically go in the 600-800 range. I loaded my Showman with NOS Sylvania 6L6’s, so mine has more $$ in it. But the tone with my series wound Jazz with flats...

 

[TTA]

the traynor stuff is good. Ask if they are selling any rental gear. My 1x15 and h&k were both originally rentals but in like new shape. Also… i still need an excuse to get a yba300.

Yeah, heading in there later this week to rent the Traynor tube amp! They don’t have the 115 in stock at the moment, only the 210, and from what I understand I'd still be on the hook for shipping from another store?