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Home Studio Tube Amp?

JBass66

JBass66

Oct 2, 2018
21
7
Toronto, Ont
#1
Recently I've been looking into finding a good tube amp suitable for a home studio, by which I mean something that can produce good tones and some dirt, while not shaking the whole house. This might seem unrealistic, but I'm going to put it out there anyways

Here's a approximation of the tone I'm trying to go for; [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

All suggestions appreciated, Thanks
 
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#3
wagdog said:
Ampeg PF-50T.
Click to expand...
I was going to suggest this or the PF-20T, depending on the cab(s) the amp will be paired with and the desired volume before breakup. I believe that both of those amps (check before buying) will also allow for recording sans cab, which most tube amps won't, via an internal dummy load or something. Whether those amps will get the tone in the recording posted in the OP sans a pedal or not, I can't say.

There are also various, low wattage, boutique amps and tube preamps available, depending on your budget and preferences.
 
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#4
wagdog said:
Ampeg PF-50T.
Click to expand...
Or the Ampeg PF20T
Edit, as suggested above. Both the 20T and 50T (& the Fender Bassman 100T) can be used without a load (cab attached), very handy for studio use!
The Fender Bassman 100T is switchable from 100w to 25 watts.
I've not used the 100T, but own it's big brother, the Fender Super Bassman, and they're GREAT amps. VERY versatile, with the simple Bassman channel 1, and the ACTIVE channel 2, with its blendable overdrive and sweepable mid frequency.
 
#6
rodl2005 said:
Or the Ampeg PF20T
Edit, as suggested above. Both the 20T and 50T (& the Fender Bassman 100T) can be used without a load (cab attached), very handy for studio use!
The Fender Bassman 100T is switchable from 100w to 25 watts.
I've not used the 100T, but own it's big brother, the Fender Super Bassman, and they're GREAT amps. VERY versatile, with the simple Bassman channel 1, and the ACTIVE channel 2, with its blendable overdrive and sweepable mid frequency.
Click to expand...

Thanks man, those all seem like really good options, Especially the 100t because of it's switchable wattage and the blendable OD channel
 
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#7
NecroticImbecil said:
I haven't actually seen one in person, but an Ashdown CTM-30 Little Stubby, judging solely by its ad copy, could be just the ticket. I'd love to try one out.

CTM-30 Little Stubby

I've gotten a surprisingly good distorted bass sound from my Mesa Rocket 440, an EL84 guitar amp that has a recording out and a silent recording mode.
Click to expand...

Or Ashdown Little Bastard 30, CTM30. These two are more readily available on the market than the stubby.
 
#8
I gig my CTM-30 regularly, and really like it. I've also recorded with it, the DI off the output transformer is nice.

Keep in mind it needs a load (speaker, or dummy load) connected at all times. When I used it for recording, the speaker was in an isolation booth, since it's only 30W it didn't rumble the building foundations. The PF-50T and PF-20T can be operated with no speaker attached.

I've also recorded with tube preamps, I think that works really well. For the price of a small tube head, you can buy a pretty nice preamp. I'm really partial to the Arkham Zephyr these days, but I've also used the preamp in my Ampeg SVT-3PRO.
 
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#9
I think the Fender 100T can be used without a load (speaker attached) too.
The Super Bassman can't, it NEEDS to see a load, but please, don't take my word.
Those PF's seem like great li'l all tube tools. Small and light and, probly, the 50w, enough to do some gigs on its own, or simply run it into a power amp from the DI etc....
 
#11
What did you use to get that recorded tone?

Is that what you're looking for?

Did anyone listen to that recording before just replying to the title?

Replying to the title alone, the little Ampegs fit the bill and are super pretty, the Fender even prettier, but that recording seems like a rat pedal and a small Rumble combo would be more than sufficient.
 
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#12
Great topic!

I just listened to your Tone Demo: Cygnus X-1.

I am an Ampeg PF-20T owner, and I have to say, I'm not hearing the similarity. I can't get that sort of "grind" out of my PF-20T, unless maybe I hit it with a boost pedal.

This idea might sound a little crazy, but have you considered a low-wattage guitar amp for achieving this tone? Lately I've been fooling around with a 1 watt Fryette Valvulator GP/DI. In particular its Gain 2 channel reminds me a bit of the crunch/grind in your audio example. Or one lower-budget option is the 5 watt Bugera T5. If you do a search, you'll find a few Talkbass members who have tried it with bass.
 
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#13
That recording sounds like a Damnation Audio MBD-1 to me. Is it?
Or is it a real tube amp?

I suspect a Darkglass Vintage Ultra could also replicate that, but I would have to test to confirm.

I have a 1966 Ampeg Portaflex B15N which is 30 watts. If I cranked it up anywhere remotely close to enough to get that kind of dirt, I would be knocking things off shelves and making myself go deaf.
 
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#14
twinfallsbass said:
Or Ashdown Little Bastard 30, CTM30. These two are more readily available on the market than the stubby.
Click to expand...
Beat me to it...

ASHDOWN_Little_Bastard_30.jpg


[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
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#15
xnewyorka said:
I have a 1966 Ampeg Portaflex B15N which is 30 watts. If I cranked it up anywhere remotely close to enough to get that kind of dirt, I would be knocking things off shelves and making myself go deaf.
Click to expand...
yeah, it would be loud in a small room. and, the eq? On my '76 I'm certain that I'd have to have the treble dimed and the bass ~9:00 to even get close without a pedal.
 
#17
xnewyorka said:
That recording sounds like a Damnation Audio MBD-1 to me. Is it?
Or is it a real tube amp?

I suspect a Darkglass Vintage Ultra could also replicate that, but I would have to test to confirm.

I have a 1966 Ampeg Portaflex B15N which is 30 watts. If I cranked it up anywhere remotely close to enough to get that kind of dirt, I would be knocking things off shelves and making myself go deaf.
Click to expand...

It was actually recorded with a GED-2112 & a cab sim with some graphic EQ , but other than that you were right it wasn't an actual tube amp
 
#18
Mushroo said:
Great topic!

I just listened to your Tone Demo: Cygnus X-1.

I am an Ampeg PF-20T owner, and I have to say, I'm not hearing the similarity. I can't get that sort of "grind" out of my PF-20T, unless maybe I hit it with a boost pedal.

This idea might sound a little crazy, but have you considered a low-wattage guitar amp for achieving this tone? Lately I've been fooling around with a 1 watt Fryette Valvulator GP/DI. In particular its Gain 2 channel reminds me a bit of the crunch/grind in your audio example. Or one lower-budget option is the 5 watt Bugera T5. If you do a search, you'll find a few Talkbass members who have tried it with bass.
Click to expand...

Definitely, something to look into, thanks for the suggestion
 
#20
Love this for recording bass

Drawmar 1960.

Bass plugs into the front panel Aux jack. The switchable, (on/bypass) soft knee compressor, sounds great, and the Aux in tone controls can do some slick things; those switchable in/out tone controls are only available on the Aux In.

Simple and easy to use. The mic pres are nice and I also like this unit for stereo overheads on a kit. Unit can also be used as dual mono. I've had mine since the early 90's.

Invalid Link Removed
 

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