• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

i need a new head

N

narcopolo

Sep 12, 2005
378
1
richmond, va
#1
i've got a nice avatar 210 cab, and i really don't feel like my carvin solid state is cutting it. i'm in a five piece americana group, so i need a decent amount of volume (at least 200 watts, i would think). i play a jazz bass and i really like a nice, round, warm tone - which makes me think i should go tube. however, i'm a working man, and i don't really know if all-tube is in my budget. i was thinking maybe i could get a good sound with a hybrid (SS power section), but if that is a huge compromise in sound, i'd rather save up for the real deal.
so, for the kind of tone i'm looking for, i was hoping some of you nice folks would have a suggestion for a +200W head between 500 and 800 bucks. i've never really been too into gear, so i'm kind of intimidated by the options (seems like there are 100 different types of bassmans - bassmen?). anyway, i've rambled enough. any advice you guys have will be both considered and appreciated.
thanks!
 
#10
I'd recommend the EA Micro 300. No tube, but retailing at $525 for 300W+ it exceeds all your other goals. IMHO, you won't miss the tube, but if you do there are plenty of great tube pre's in either rack or stomp box form on the market and you will still be under your $800 ceiling. I play mine through an Avatar 210 Neo and find it plenty warm.
 
#14
stingray56funk said:
Yeah...but those 200-225 watts are TUBE WATTS. Completely different world!
Click to expand...

Well, I would agree concerning guitar amps, as I was involved in an A/B test with a solid state guitar amp versus a Marshall combo, and the Marshall with same wattage had a bigger middle range presence dominating over the solid state amp.

But as for bass amps, we are dealing with pushing air on lower frequencies including clarity, so I doubt the tube back-end is of any benefit with lower-wattage systems. As for a tube pre-amp, that's for sure saturates the sound nicely, not that a GK could do a good job with that, too. --Kent
 
#17
ksandvik said:
Well, I would agree concerning guitar amps, as I was involved in an A/B test with a solid state guitar amp versus a Marshall combo, and the Marshall with same wattage had a bigger middle range presence dominating over the solid state amp.

But as for bass amps, we are dealing with pushing air on lower frequencies including clarity, so I doubt the tube back-end is of any benefit with lower-wattage systems. As for a tube pre-amp, that's for sure saturates the sound nicely, not that a GK could do a good job with that, too. --Kent
Click to expand...

Oh. So what you are saying is that you have never played through a tube rig. So why are you giving advice about something you don't know anything about, and pushing your GK preference?
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back