How much experience do you have...?

[Passinwind]

I just posted this thread because I was curious. I'm not trying to gauge the value of anyone's commentary, and this thread wasn't posted to garner any commentary.

That's cool Mark. I think it's an interesting poll, albeit maybe a little too black and white for my taste. But that's your business, of course.

I was just taken aback a bit by that one aside you posted. I would have just voted and moved to the next thread if you hadn't posted that.

 

[Mark Olson]

No problem! Rock on.

 

[Selta]

With about 6 years on my SVTs, I played probably near 250 gigs total. Not a ton really. I also don't understand the point of the thread... nor do I think that someone with 100 gigs on one versus someone with 1000 gigs on one makes one more valuable than the other.

 

[ddbassGA]

Hundreds dating back to 1965. Silvertone Piggyback 115, Ampeg B15, Fender Bassman, Guild Thunderbass, Ampeg V4B.

But also hundreds with solid state GK, URB mixed direct to PA or no amp at all.

 

[Rebop]

doesnt matter what amp you use. your amp is a stage monitor. the house and soundman takes you DI through his PA 99% of the time.

LOL! "house and soundman" and "99% of the time".

Who are you? Sting?

nor do I think that someone with 100 gigs on one versus someone with 1000 gigs on one makes one more valuable than the other.

THIS^

 

[JimmyM]

doesnt matter what amp you use. your amp is a stage monitor. the house and soundman takes you DI through his PA 99% of the time.

not on my gigs. if i'm using my stuff, it's mic 99% of the time. if i'm using rented gear, it's mic 50% of the time.

 

[paganjack]

there should be an option between "a handful" and "hundreds"... thats where i fit.

Me too. Somewhere in the dozens right now.

 

[Rockmusician]

When I frist started playing I only used tube amps. Over the last 12 years, I have used solid state except for a year where I went back to using Ampeg. Currently using solid state.

 

[kdiggity]

Yeah, but is tube better than SS?



(I kid, I kid...)

 

[bassboysam]

Never owned a SS or hybrid head other than some practice amps and one Traynor MonoBlock.

Other than that my amps have been:
Traynor YBA-200
Traynor YBA-3
Fender 300 PRO
Ampeg SVT (vintage)
Mesa 400+
Sound City B150
Matamp GT200

I have played a few gigs with the MonoBlock but otherwise it has been nothing but tubes for me.

 

[Korladis]

there should be an option between "a handful" and "hundreds"... thats where i fit.

Same. My regular gigging amp is a tube amp. I gig, but I've not even played hundreds of gigs yet.

 

[Korladis]

LOL! "house and soundman" and "99% of the time".

Who are you? Sting?

My sentiments exactly.

 

[cripula]

hundreds.

 

[Bassmec]

Done a few since 72, most on tube. how about You?.
Mark Harwood.

Link Removed
"We boogied in the kitchen. We boogied in the hall. I got somethin' on my finger so i wiped it on the wall."
Chuck Berry

 

[Russell L]

I played a blackface Fender Bassman 6-nights-a-week for 19 months in the early '70s, but I played guitar through it. Guitar gig, but bass amp. Does that count?

Other than that, purely on bass, the only other experience I've had playing bass through a tube amp is at blues practice, playing my bud's Ampeg V4 through his 810 cab. I love the sound. Oh, and I played bass some in the '60s through a Standel tube amp (my bandmate's equipment, we switched instruments a lot). My own bass amps have all been strictly solid state, no hybrids, since I switched to being a full-time bass player in '88.

 

[Bassdirty]

I think your poll is skewed. You take 3 positions to go from practically none to a handful of gigs in small increments, then jump from there to multiple hundreds without leaving any room for carrots. Hardly accurate.

+4

 

[RedLeg]

LOL! "house and soundman" and "99% of the time".

Who are you? Sting?



THIS^

lol. guess I have it pretty good with the army gig. Dont hate!

 

[brianrost]

When I started out in the 70s you could buy used Bassmans and similar amps for $100-200. I gigged with a Bassman, Sunn Sonaro, Traynor BassMate and Mesa D-180 until the early 90s.

Oh by the way, **I** am Sting.

 

[Mark Reccord]

I've owned my mid-70s SVT since 2000 and have done hundreds of gigs with it. I've had one failure caused by a cracked solder joint that I fixed at the gig in 5 minutes. I still have the original Magnavox coke bottle power tubes that test fine and sound great. I don't use them day to day but I usually stick them in if I'm using it for recording.

And I'm not Sting but I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of gigs I've done in the past 10 years that didn't have a professional PA and a dedicated soundman. I always use a mic.

 

[grimniggzy]

I've only played around with one all tube bass amp, an SVT Classic.
So I answered "I've mucked around with tube amps a bit."
All my own bass amps are Solid State and mostly Sunn. Its really only an ease of operation/upkeep thing to me. I feel like I sound like me regardless so I just use whats easy and has always worked for me.