have the D's toppled the SVT's?

[Korladis]

I didn't say never. Do you think you're out of the ordinary or not?

I'd say I'm pretty typical. At least for someone in the rock/metal scene.

A lot of players I know only have one bass amp. Some have more, but often they run them together (this is usually the case with the louder doom/stoner bands).

Most of the players I know are 20s-40s. For most of us, weight doesn't seem to be that big a deal. I think Talkbass can often give people a skewed sense of how much weight matters due to the user base being, on average, significantly older than just the average gigging musician. Lots of people in my scene are in bands where we all help each other move gear, as opposed to hired guns who only move their own gear. So little distinction is made between heavy guitar amps versus heavy bass amps. They're all just "our amps." While not all guitarists use high powered amps and 4x12 cabs, guitar combos are still pretty hefty. So the weight of my particular amp is not that significant in the grand scheme of things, compared to the sum total of the band's gear.

Personally, I'm happy enough with my amp that the only thing that would replace it would be another tube amp. I've tried a lot of the newer Class D heads out of curiosity, but they all leave me unsatisfied.

 

[XrisThaBassman]

The best is a totally subjective question, just like asking who the greatest bassist of all time was (after Jaco, of course!)... so it's really a matter of what you like. I'm super happy with my setup, I get a variety of tones and my rig sounds dope. I have much love for the SVT, but I'm all about class D and neos now, and a tube pre that can fit in my pocket. YMMV, that's what makes America great.

 

[Korladis]

The best is a totally subjective question, just like asking who the greatest bassist of all time was (after Jaco, of course!)... so it's really a matter of what you like. I'm super happy with my setup, I get a variety of tones and my rig sounds dope. I have much love for the SVT, but I'm all about class D and neos now, and a tube pre that can fit in my pocket. YMMV, that's what makes America great.

Yeah, just because I haven't liked the class D amps I've tried doesn't mean I think they're bad. Just not for me. I don't want them to disappear any more than I want tube amps to. Variety is great, something for everyone.

 

[Jeff Bonny]

I'd say I'm pretty typical. At least for someone in the rock/metal scene.
- - -
Most of the players I know are 20s-40s. For most of us, weight doesn't seem to be that big a deal. I think Talkbass can often give people a skewed sense of how much weight matters due to the user base being, on average, significantly older than just the average gigging musician.

I totally agree that the Talkbass gear weenie perspective is skewed in a lot of ways but what's typical in the Bay area rock/metal/doom/stoner scene might not be an accurate across the board representation of the "average gigging musician" either. A lot of players make a living playing quieter gigs and depending on the city and venue they might not have load in parking like rock clubs typically do so they're often moving gear several blocks. In some cities working players regularly use public transit. Having an amp that fits in a gig bag pocket is going to be more important to those players. And those players are not an insignificant segment of the "gigging musicians".

 

[Korladis]

I totally agree that the Talkbass gear weenie perspective is skewed in a lot of ways but what's typical in the Bay area rock/metal/doom/stoner scene might not be an accurate across the board representation of the "average gigging musician" either. A lot of players make a living playing quieter gigs and depending on the city and venue they might not have load in parking like rock clubs typically do so they're often moving gear several blocks. In some cities working players regularly use public transit. Having an amp that fits in a gig bag pocket is going to be more important to those players. And those players are not an insignificant segment of the "gigging musicians".

Sure. But you asked whether I felt I was typical. That kind of question can only really be answered with my personal observations.

And from my personal observations, I am pretty typical for a gigging bassist in my age group (20s-40s). I would also say that players who actually completely make a living off their playing is a fairly small proportion of gigging musicians. Most people I know do not.

Also, I'm not just in the metal scene. One of my bands is folk/rock, much lighter fare. The same practices seem to rule there (weight not being that big a concern, though you don't see the giant backlines of stoner doom bands), with bandmates generally helping each other load in (someone who doesn't would quickly earn a reputation for being a jerk).

Basically, to me, talkbass often seems very much separated from the real world I actually gig in. There are a ton of people in their 50s-60s on talkbass. Far more than I see regularly at gigs (not just my own, but ones I attend as a patron).

 

[Jeff Bonny]

Sure. But you asked whether I felt I was typical. That kind of question can only really be answered with my personal observations.

And from my personal observations, I am pretty typical for a gigging bassist in my age group (20s-40s). I would also say that players who actually completely make a living off their playing is a fairly small proportion of gigging musicians. Most people I know do not.

Also, I'm not just in the metal scene. One of my bands is folk/rock, much lighter fare. The same practices seem to rule there (weight not being that big a concern, though you don't see the giant backlines of stoner doom bands), with bandmates generally helping each other load in (someone who doesn't would quickly earn a reputation for being a jerk).

Basically, to me, talkbass often seems very much separated from the real world I actually gig in. There are a ton of people in their 50s-60s on talkbass. Far more than I see regularly at gigs (not just my own, but ones I attend as a patron).

Fair enough, I don't think anything you're saying is especially inaccurate. Still of all the working players I know from part time mooks like me to guys playing arenas the majority do in fact own and use a class D amp sometimes. It's like one friend who loves his vintage SVTs and who's played arenas all over the world says, "So I got this $100 Saturday afternoon gig in the house band at a blues jam. You think I'm gonna schlep a '74 SVT or throw the Genz Benz Streamliner in the pocket of my gig bag?" All I'm saying is a class D amp is a tool that has a place in the arsenal of many working players these days.

 

[chadds]

The SVT is an evolution of tech that allowed for loud very punchy work. It is late to Rock music however. It's legendary. Yet it's not the beginning or end. A lot of great legendary players used and use something else.
As was stated if you look at it's design parameters it makes for a formidable beast because of those parameters. It's not just portability. Bassists seek other capabilities. Each amp's signature sonic character. Breadth of frequency response. Accuracy. Speed. Clarity during transients. There are too many musical domains to say one size fits all.
Of course it's not going anywhere. Like the P & Fender Deluxe they are musical instruments.

 

[Clouz]

I love my tubes but I hate the fact that I have to choose the vehicle I want to drive based on the fact that my SVT can fit in it...lol Current rig is a Subaru Forester. I can fit the 810, head and two Basses in it plus a big gig bag. But...no room for my girlfriend Invalid Link Removed

 

[Korladis]

I love my tubes but I hate the fact that I have to choose the vehicle I want to drive based on the fact that my SVT can fit in it...lol Current rig is a Subaru Forester. I can fit the 810, head and two Basses in it plus a big gig bag. But...no room for my girlfriend

A friend of mine used to fit his SVT, 810, bass, and still have room for a passenger in his compact Hyundai sedan.

 

[Handyman]

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.

I'm seeing more and more guitarists using digital modeling rigs running into powered monitors with class D power amps inside all the time.

Its a strange world when even guitarists are starting to ditch tubes and want to DI into the FOH.

 

[Clouz]

 

[pie_man_25]

I'm using my little $100 BA108 on tomorrow's gig just after using an SVT/810e on last night's gig. I'm the world's worst tube snob

That's weird, if I have a lower volume thing going on, I actually bring out my 115 and my Epiphone Valve Junior, and bigger stuff gets my Class D and 212.

Also, if it's low-volume enough, I'll just bring my double bass.

 

[quickfix]

I'm seeing more and more guitarists using digital modeling rigs running into powered monitors with class D power amps inside all the time.

Its a strange world when even guitarists are starting to ditch tubes and want to DI into the FOH.

Even I've embraced the modelling machines. More and more I turn to my little Fender Mustang III v2 for those jazzy, low volume guitar gigs.
I still have a Peavey Valve King 212, but it's heavy, and has proven to be an unreliable gigging platform. It stays in my workshop for testing guitar repairs, and etc. Both are 100 watt.

One of my band mates just ditched all of his guitar tube amps and now uses a Roland Blues Cube Artist. He started accumulating amps and guitars in the late 60's.

 

[One Drop]

I love my tubes but I hate the fact that I have to choose the vehicle I want to drive based on the fact that my SVT can fit in it...lol Current rig is a Subaru Forester. I can fit the 810, head and two Basses in it plus a big gig bag. But...no room for my girlfriend Invalid Link Removed

I can get an SVT head, two large Bergantino NV cabs, a few basses, and a still have room for a girlfriend in mr Impreza.

Now I just have to find the girlfriend.

 

[Korladis]

My friend's was a regular compact sedan, not a wagon/hatchback. Basically he'd fold the front passenger seat down, open the front passenger door, and the rear left door, and angle the cab in and then push it so it was resting on the folded down front passenger seat and the rear right passenger seat. Then the head went in the trunk, as did the bass, if I remember right. Then a passenger could sit in the left rear seat.

Myself, I just drive a minivan.

 

[Fishheadjoe]

It's interesting that many folks feel that tube amps can only make driven tones and not clean tones. Not my experience at all.
Dime the master and use the gain as a volume knob and you will have clean all day.
I'm nothing more than a weekend warrior and likely to be lucky to maintain that position. I play a Marshall VBA400 that comes in around 100lbs, give or take.
I have the option of using a Class D head, RH450 or a Hartke SS 350. I use the Marshall.
The Hartke stays at rehearsal and the Marshall and TC come to the gig. The TC stays in it's bag and will continue to, unless the Marshall dies. The Marshall won't die!!!!
I guess I am lucky, because myself and my band mates all contribute to load in and out. I arrive early with our drummer at every gig and we schlep his and my gear. The Marshall makes for only one extra trip. We all agree that it is worth it!
Tubes are here to stay.
Fishheadjoe

 

[The Bass Clef]

For bands that make a few hundred bucks playing till 2am at the local bar, class D micro heads are very practical, easy to transport and set up, and they do the job fine. For bands playing major festivals and stadiums, SVTs, 8x10s and the like aren't going anywhere soon.

 

[pie_man_25]

It's interesting that many folks feel that tube amps can only make driven tones and not clean tones. Not my experience at all.
Dime the master and use the gain as a volume knob and you will have clean all day.
I'm nothing more than a weekend warrior and likely to be lucky to maintain that position. I play a Marshall VBA400 that comes in around 100lbs, give or take.
I have the option of using a Class D head, RH450 or a Hartke SS 350. I use the Marshall.
The Hartke stays at rehearsal and the Marshall and TC come to the gig. The TC stays in it's bag and will continue to, unless the Marshall dies. The Marshall won't die!!!!
I guess I am lucky, because myself and my band mates all contribute to load in and out. I arrive early with our drummer at every gig and we schlep his and my gear. The Marshall makes for only one extra trip. We all agree that it is worth it!
Tubes are here to stay.
Fishheadjoe

Depends on the amp, a yba-1 just plain doesn't have much headroom for live rock bands, so overdriven is probably what you're getting.

 

[Fishheadjoe]

Very true, but the discussion was mainly centered around big tube amps.
Fishheadjoe

 

[tattooSAM]

I used Fender tube amps for years of gigging. Sounded great but I suffered with the volume output. Went to solid state and the tone suffered some, but I was loud.
Now I have an Acoustic amp with a Tech21 VT bass preamp and I am almost there. I have the volume but the tone is not perfect. Considering a class D with an Alembic preamp. Volume and tone for days. Class D is the future, but tubes are still holding their own.