High End Tube Amp/Head Recommendations Under $2k

The Klystron series aren't full tube heads, they just have a tube preamp stage, there is no power tube stage, just fyi, might help make the choice easier

 

If you're looking for all-tube goodness at a reasonable price you can find these amps for sale on this site or Ebay under $1500. I love mine. The sound is huge, fat and warm. I got mine from Long & McQuade in Vancouver. Another player here found one in Florida and had it shipped up.

 

Peavey and Traynor both make ~200 watt tube heads, not boutique but not $2K either.

Markbass makes a tube head but it's expensive.

Fender/Sunn makes a 300 watt head.

Then there's the good old Traynor Bassmasters from the 60's and 70's. Get one that's been serviced and you have good tone for about $500.

Fender tube guitar heads like the Showman sound good with bass cabs.

 

high end? reeves.

http://www.reevesamps.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27&Itemid=50

 

Eden has a new all tube head, 300T, it's supposed to be around $1000. I've not heard one but the reviews have been very favorable.

 

There's a Sadowsky SA200 in classifieds here if you have $2800.
Is that high end enough?

 

I played though a Sadowsky head several times and thought that it was about the best thing I had ever heard. I use an Aguilar DB750 though and I really think that it is the light and the way.

 

if you like SVT's then i would recommend the new SVT-VR. I like mine just as much, or more than my vintage SVT.

 

I love the sound of my Ampeg V4b. I'm also considering Peavey's new 225 watt tube head. From what I hear its quite loud and fairly lightweight. And at $900 seems pretty affordable all things considered.

 

I'm in Canada also
There is nothing like the sound coming from Tubes
My holy grail of sound is my B-18, I've got an old SVT I'm having a hard time justifying(I never play places big enough to warrant it) and the aforementioned SA200 which sounds the way basses are supposed to sound.
I have an Aguilar DB 359 as well and I think those are great alternatives, I'm probably going to need to sell mine because I have too much stuff!

 

The Orange AD200 should be on your list:
http://www.google.com/custom?domain...;S:http://www.talkbass.com;LP:1;FORID:1&hl=en

 

Throw Mesa Boogie into the hopper of possibilities.

 

In alphabetical order, you should consider:

Aguilar DB359
Ampeg SVT-VR
Ampeg SVT (vintage model)
Eden VT-300A/B
Laney Nexus
Markbass Classic 300
Mesa Boogie Bass 400/400+
Mesa Boogie D-180
Orange AD200
Peavey Classic 400
Peavey VB-2
Reeves 200
Sadowsky SA200
Trace Elliot Twin/Quatra/Hexa
Trace Elliot V4/6/8
Traynor YBA-200/B

And anyone who knows me knows which one I pick as my top dawg.

Tom.

 

I guess I don't know you as well as I should but I'd love to see you re-sort the list in terms of preferences.

 

Well, here's about as far as I get:

#1 - Sadowsky SA200
#1a - Trace Elliot V8

 

As an old Ampeg nut, I would suggest just getting an old Ampeg.

 

Thanks Tom.

 

That really is another great suggestion.

 

The SA200, is one of the nicest heads I've played.
Through a NV6x10 it was heaven.