have the D's toppled the SVT's?

[MJ_Sotti]

With the ToneHammers and Subways, has the big iron fallen?

There's CLs and older models for sale everywhere and nothing seems to move, yet the D's fly off the shelves like hot cakes.

Preamp/poweramp is popular (I've used it, it's great)

Ampless is getting more and more popular too...

 

[CL400Peavey]

No. There will be a market for just about every tech out there.

I have two 100+ pound tube amps, a class D micro, a class D rack amp, and an old lead sled. All have their place and purpose.

 

[buldog5151bass]

I will plug into an SVT if one is there and be very happy. But for what I (any many others) do, it is not worth the expense, time, and weight and space issues of dealing with one if you have to pack it up at 2am.

 

[Bass'd on a true story]

Don't confuse the horrendous economy of the western world with unpopularity of high end items.

 

[Ric Vice]

With the ToneHammers and Subways, has the big iron fallen?

There's CLs and older models for sale everywhere and nothing seems to move, yet the D's fly off the shelves like hot cakes.

Preamp/poweramp is popular (I've used it, it's great)

Ampless is getting more and more popular too...

Everyone has their personal preferences, mine just happen to align with lighter Class D amplifiers. Since the only tube amp I ever owned was a B-15N(C), that amp is what

I compare everything else with in terms of tone quality and warmth. My Walter Woods MI-400-8 has a very similar sound to the B-15N with @ 16x's the power. I realize that not

everyone is able to afford a Woods, but I think the Subway gets a great sound. Although my 3Lear Audio Enabler, affords me the luxury of going ampless, I only go that

route in venues where I know they have independent monitor sends and mixes for everyone on stage. It's wonderful when you can do it. To each his/her own.

Ric

 

[quickfix]

I see solid state class A/B and D everywhere in the bass world. Hybrids too.
Rarely, and I mean rarely does a full tube amp make an appearance these days.

I see 300 watts of clean tube and 300 watts of clean solid state as the same thing.
The tubes will go higher of course, but at the expense of clean tone.
Where solid state, especially class D excels, is when looking for 1000 watts clean. Tube amps are shut out at that level.

Not so in the guitar world though, as tubes are definitely where it's at generally because loud guitarists are looking for a little dirt.

 

[Mvilmany]

1. Do you mind spending $2k+?

2. Do you mind schlepping a 90 lb head?

Important questions.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

dealing with one if you have to pack it up at 2am.

^This

 

[drummer5359]

In my opinion SVT heads have always been on the higher end of the food chain, I don't see that fading. Class D heads are the latest thing. They sound good, are convenient and affordable. I think that they are going to put a much bigger dent in the overall solid state market.

Large, expensive tube amps like the Ampeg SVT Classic, Fender Super Bassman and Mesa Strategy are a niche item. For some buyers, real tube amps are where their mind is. They don't even consider Class D amps.

To me they seem marketed to different people. Yes, there are tube aficionados who have Class D amps in their stable for the sake of convenience, but they don't see them as competitors. At least I don't.

 

[quickfix]

Still, I'd love to have a nice Traynor YBA-3 of pretty much any vintage.

 

[matti777]

I just had a bass player tell me they only used class D for practice. I'm sure there are lots of players who think like this although they are not using the SVT.

 

[CatSquare]

When I finally played through my first all tube amp this year I was amazed at the difference when compared to my class D. I'm not exactly a fan of carrying around something that weighs so much, but it's a small sacrifice for such a massive upgrade in sound. I don't necessarily believe in tube amp supremacy forever, but class D isn't going to be the SVT slayer.

 

[seamonkey]

Tubes are made in China and Russia
The technology crunch is going to pass them by if they don't keep up!

 

[brianrost]

Tube bass amps went out of fashion four decades ago. Noone makes a full line of tube amps from practice combos to huge stage rigs any more.

Big tube heads like the SVT will probably stick around as long as there is still rock music.

 

[quickfix]

When I finally played through my first all tube amp this year I was amazed at the difference when compared to my class D. I'm not exactly a fan of carrying around something that weighs so much, but it's a small sacrifice for such a massive upgrade in sound. I don't necessarily believe in tube amp supremacy forever, but class D isn't going to be the SVT slayer.

I agree with everything you said except for the last statement. The all tube has already been slain by solid state class D. Even the lowly hybrids outsell the full tube amps by a wide margin, and solid state class D outsells the hybrids again.

 

[Kevan Campbell]

I own an Ampeg Heritage SVT & matching 810e, a racked Aguilar DB659 & DB728 into an Aguilar GS410 and I recently purchased a Bergantino B Amp (I'm currently saving up for a Bergantino HDN212).

It's a matter of the right tool for the job to my ears, wallet and back. As much as I am impressed by my Bergantino (it does capture about 95% of a tube amp's sound and feel to me) there are plenty of instances where my Ampeg or Aguilar rigs go out instead (or the Bergantino goes along as the "backup amp"). Sometimes a bandleader wants that Ampeg onstage for the sound and/or looks, sometimes I think the Aguilar's tone is a better match for the music I'm playing that night and sometimes I'm playing a show or run where I need an extremely flexible sound or want to take my gear with me and not trust it to the safety of the trailer...hence the B Amp.

We're seriously blessed as bassists to have so many great options nowadays.

 

[RickyWoo]

Having owned and gigged with an SVT and 215 cab, I say good riddance. The rig was pretty insane, although now that I own a smaller, far more practical amp, owning the SVT and and 215 cab seemed equally insane. No slight on anyone with bigger rigs... I love plugging into them too. It's everything else about them that just doesn't work for me.

In hindsight, I probably would get an Ampeg set up again, on the condition that I can afford to employ a roadie. And that's not happening soon.

 

[spaz21387]

I love my svt but it rarely leaves the house. I have my lightweight amps. For me the tube amp goes to the studio and thats about it. I love it but its not practical for gigging. Especially at multipal band shows. They want you off the stage in less than 5 minutes.

 

[Al Kraft]

People still take buses and trains when airplanes are available. They still drive large cars when there are very comfortable smaller cars that go faster, cost less to own and get better gas mileage.

As long as there are choices, people will gravitate towards what they like most if they can afford to and it's practicable/convenient.

 

[quickfix]

Tubes are made in China and Russia
The technology crunch is going to pass them by if they don't keep up!

lol...I still remember during the cold war that our old S2F-3 Trackers were still using Soviet tubes in the old radios and other avionics. Right up until just after the wall fell.