Hybrid or all tube?

[GreyBeard]

It is all in what you get use too. I played an all tube Sunn 200S until it got dropped off the end of the truck and one of the transformers broke loose and just flopped around. It STILL worked fine but, I figured it was time to replace it. I bought a Peavey MK IV. It sounded totally different but in time I got use to it. Now I'm into small 500 watt class D amps and have gotten totally use to the way they sound and I wouldn't consider going back to a heavy all tube amp.

 

[monsterthompson]

I wouldn't stress about tube or hybrid. I'd find an amp that works for the purpose.

There's also a lot to be said for a transparent amp that can be colored with pedals. Of course a lot of that depends on how the cabs are voiced too.

What's the budget?

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I must have the worst luck in the world. I had an Ampeg SVT3 and a Portaflex PF50T and both were stolen. I have mourned the loss of my babies long enough though! So here is my dilemma. I'm not sure exactly what type of amp I want next. I really loved both of those amps. I'm not worried about wattage. I just thought I'd throw the question out there and see what yall preferred and why. I also don't have to have an ampeg. I have found a couple of Peavey VB2s and like those. Anyway, I sure would like to hear your input! Thanks!

Sorry for your loss. Man is that a sh+t sandwich!

i have both, a hybrid and an all tube head. In the band I work with, I prefer my hybrid when playing live, especially when using both of my 210 cabs. Using one cab with a slightly lower volume, I prefer the tube head.

As for your choice, Mesa's TT has a great reputation that a lot of us old tube players really like. If I were in the market for an amp, I'd start there.

 

[40Hz]

I prefer more classic old school type bass sounds. But I don't really have any preferences for whatever technology gets used to obtain it.

Right now I have four amps:

1. Ampeg B-15N (tube)
2. Ampeg BR100 (solid-state)
3. SWR SM-400 (hybrid tube/class AB)
4. Alembic F-1X (tube pre) into a Crown XLS (class-D power amp) I'll also use a DiCosimo 360+ preamp in place of the F-1X to get a vintage Acoustic 360 sound. I can also use a custom preamp pedal I was fortunate to get from Josh Broughton that gets me that B-15N thing to pair with as big a power amp stage as might be needed.

So I think the takeaway is to think in terms of the sound you're after and not get too hung up on the engineering. Acoustic Control Corp produced solid-state amps back in the 70s (i.e. the legendary 360 and 370) that held their own tone-wise against the finest tube amps of their day, including the equally legendary SVT.

Mesa is producing amps that lack for nothing in tone compared to a vintage tube head. They'll even get you that tube sound if that's your thing. If I were shopping for a gigging amp right now (remember gigging? ) I'd be seriously looking at their D-800 Plus and TT-800 depending on how much tonal flexibility I felt I needed. The fact one amp is solid-state and the other hybrid wouldn't factor into my purchase decision at all. Lightweight, 800W, affordable, and comes with a real warranty? What's not to like?

But that's me. Like everything concerning bass guitar, YMMV.

 

[Jefenator]

I got my 50 watt all-tube Valvetrain Brandywine for mellow gigs, but have wound up using it more for rock.
The SS approach of out-gunning drums & guitar doesn't really apply. What it does do is occupy its own low frequency niche where the notes blossom in ways I can hear and feel even in a pretty dense mix.
And when I dig in, it automatically goes from clean to glorious dirt. I have a programmable digital unit with infinitely flexible distortion capabilities - thus far I haven't come anywhere close to being able to replicate the effortless, deeply satisfying musicality of the tube power breakup.
It doesn't always work as intended, but when it does, there's really nothing like it IME.
I still deploy SS amps when I need more fidelity and/or predictability. I wouldn't mind swapping a couple of them out for another tube head with 100 watts or maybe even 200 for those occasions where I could use an extra bit of clean headroom without PA support.
Or I could just stick with the 50 watts. My biggest current rock project is trending towards softer, not louder stage volume.

 

[Sharko]

Who still records music? Sample is the future.

 

[Jim C]

What is your budget?
Assuming you really want an all tube head, I had a V4B and a SVT-CL at the same time. The V4B sounded better (to me) but sold it as it just wasn't enough clean headroom.

I was not aware that a TT800 sounded like a tube amp but plan on trying that and the WD800 when they are back in stock which may be 6 months or more.

 

[FunkHead]

I really like the TT800 but when I plug into my Traynor YBA300 it's true love. I would love to try an SVT because so many people like them but I am skeptical that I'll like it as much as my Traynor.
At 48 LBs, It's light enough for me to bring to gigs. My Hartke LH1000 is a fantastic rehearsal amp and I put a B3k in front of it. Sounds fantastic!

It also depends on which bass I am playing. I like the TT800 for passive basses and not at all for actives. But I have heard others say they love it for Actives. Go figure. I just can't see it.

 

[west al]

Tubes! Always tubes!



Yep, 100% agree.

The V-4B.

 

[bobyoung53]

I've been an SVT and Ampeg user for years, mostly all tube heads and SVT's are still my favorite sounding heads of all time. That being said if I were to ever consider getting a lightweight class D head at least at this time and admittedly only from listening to different videos it would probably be a Mesa D-800, they sound very close to an SVT to me or at least the person who did the video made it sound like one, @DJ Bebop did a great video with his triple pickup '62 P bass on youtube and played through one of the Mesa 800 heads (don't know the difference) and it sounded great, maybe he'll post it here.
I also agree sticking a preamp tube in a SS head doesn't do much at least for me, it would be nice to have but I have never experienced a hybrid head that sounded anything like an all tube head, the heads I've tried just lost crunch and clarity with the tube engaged but didn't get any of the all encompassing bottom you would expect with an all tube head.

 

[Steve J]

I must have the worst luck in the world. I had an Ampeg SVT3 and a Portaflex PF50T and both were stolen. I have mourned the loss of my babies long enough though! So here is my dilemma. I'm not sure exactly what type of amp I want next. I really loved both of those amps. I'm not worried about wattage. I just thought I'd throw the question out there and see what yall preferred and why. I also don't have to have an ampeg. I have found a couple of Peavey VB2s and like those. Anyway, I sure would like to hear your input! Thanks!

I have a late 90s model SVT3 that I'll probably sell, if you're interested. Runs good....missing one of the eq levers. I never have used the eq, anyway.

 

[DJ Bebop]

I've been an SVT and Ampeg user for years, mostly all tube heads and SVT's are still my favorite sounding heads of all time. That being said if I were to ever consider getting a lightweight class D head at least at this time and admittedly only from listening to different videos it would probably be a Mesa D-800, they sound very close to an SVT to me or at least the person who did the video made it sound like one, @DJ Bebop did a great video with his triple pickup '62 P bass on youtube and played through one of the Mesa 800 heads (don't know the difference) and it sounded great, maybe he'll post it here.
I also agree sticking a preamp tube in a SS head doesn't do much at least for me, it would be nice to have but I have never experienced a hybrid head that sounded anything like an all tube head, the heads I've tried just lost crunch and clarity with the tube engaged but didn't get any of the all encompassing bottom you would expect with an all tube head.

Thanks man!

I thought my video was crap but I'm glad you got some use out of it and maybe a smile

Planning to do some more with the WD and some bi-amping silliness