I Want a Tube Amp

[jlo95]

I'm interested in acquiring a tube amp for the dirty pre-amp and aesthetics. I need help surveying my options.

I'm currently running an Aguilar TH500 thru a pair of Ampeg SVT 112 speakers. I play in a rock power trio and the guitarist plays a Marshall JCM 2000 thru a 412. The Aguilar is plenty loud, but it'd be nice to have a big, heavy, dirty amp that's in the same echelon as the Marshall. Also, as cliché as it sounds, the Aggie doesn't look cool next to the Marshall.

What are my options? No price constraints. But weight is a factor. Can we keep it close to 50lbs?

Ampeg V4B, SVT-CL; Aguilar DB751; Fender Super Bassman -- All come to mind immediately.

Just looking to work this problem out out-loud. Let me know your thoughts.

Thanks!
John

 

[Dave W]

Any examples for the tone you're aiming for?

The V4B will get dirty for sure, you just may not have enough clean headroom if you're hoping to get both clean and dirty sounds.

An SVT will stay cleaner longer but will get dirty as well once you push it hard enough.

Super Bassman has the dirty channel but I've never played one myself.

There is also the 400+. When running both channels it can get pretty dirty.

The DB750/751 isn't a tube amp, it's a hybrid. Tube pre with SS power.

 

[socialleper]

The DB751 isn't all tube. It has a class A/B power section and a tube pre.
I like mine. It has authoritative low end, and is very quick. Not the brightest amp out there. At around 45 lbs the weight is manageable. But that is because it isn't all tube.

 

[Element Zero]

All tube? Ampeg SVT for sure. Maybe a Mesa Prodigy/Strategy/400+ if you can find em used.

 

[coreyfyfe]

The DB751 isn't all tube. It has a class A/B power section and a tube pre.
I like mine. It has authoritative low end, and is very quick. Not the brightest amp out there. At around 45 lbs the weight is manageable. But that is because it isn't all tube.

At 45lbs it's heavier than some modern tube amps. The ampeg V4B reissue is 41lbs. The traynor YBA amps use toroidal transformers and lightweight chassis designs to come in at 22 lbs for 100 watts, 44 lbs for 200 watts, or 51 lbs for 300 watts.

OP what's your budget and what wattage range are you aiming for? Do you want overdrive from the amp itself?

My most used amps right now are a science mother (based on a hiwatt DR201) and an orange ad200b. The science has a better driven sound, but it also has a dedicated drive stage and the newer amps come with a two channel option. The orange is kind of chunky when pushed into distortion territory, I prefer to run it cleaner. I also have an ampeg V4 which is great and always was enough volume for me into a pair of ampeg 112 cabs when I had them, but I have an older model without the master and always got my gain from pedals.

 

[Nighttrain1127]

Fender superbassman . It has a nice fat sounding clean channel and a much brighter OD channel that you can blend to get a sound that you want. A bit more versatile than My SVT and still has that authority in the lows but not as mid grindy as the SVT

 

[cheapbasslovin]

Peavey Alphabass. 160w (6-6L6) 3u tube amp with a switchable graphic eq. Under 40lbs (based on the scale at my house).

Sweet spot is a little louder than my band plays at with my cab, so I rarely got the killer warmth, but it's in there. 4 ohm or 2 ohm only.

If you can find one they're usually pretty inexpensive compared to others.

 

[socialleper]

At 45lbs it's heavier than some modern tube amps. The ampeg V4B reissue is 41lbs. The traynor YBA amps use toroidal transformers and lightweight chassis designs to come in at 22 lbs for 100 watts, 44 lbs for 200 watts, or 51 lbs for 300 watts.

OP what's your budget and what wattage range are you aiming for? Do you want overdrive from the amp itself?

My most used amps right now are a science mother (based on a hiwatt DR201) and an orange ad200b. The science has a better driven sound, but it also has a dedicated drive stage and the newer amps come with a two channel option. The orange is kind of chunky when pushed into distortion territory, I prefer to run it cleaner. I also have an ampeg V4 which is great and always was enough volume for me into a pair of ampeg 112 cabs when I had them, but I have an older model without the master and always got my gain from pedals.

While I can't speak for the Traynor amps, I know the DB751 will blow the doors off a V4B. It is a fun way to get an all tube amp, but its performance is somewhat lacking.

 

[patrickhowell]

You want a tube preamp, vintage aesthetics, and light weight? Have you checked out the Fender Bassman 800?

 

[gtirard]

If price isn't an issue, you have several nice boutique options.

Rheingold B300 - 300 Watt Tube Bass Amp Made in Germany

This is full tube, seems to be super high end, probably very expensive (price on request), beautiful in a modern way, 300 W, 46 lbs. Handmade in Germany. The 100 W model costs 3,490.00 €.

the Offset XL – Bass Amplifier

This one is full tube also, beautiful in a vintage way, you can ask for any color, knob style etc, handmade in Greece, 100 W and only 7.1 kg!!! The preamp section is very versatile. Not sure 100 W is enough for your needs, but maybe if you have a super good 212 with very high sensitivity?

Have fun, and tell us what you decide.

 

[gtirard]

There's also this one: it's only a tube preamp (+ class G power section, whatever that is), but I really love the sound on the demo

Sisma – Hybrid Tube/Class-G Bass Head | Jad Freer Audio

 

[cfortner]

My very best valve amp is the Mesa Strategy (8x KT88). More than 500 WRMS and a very very good sound.

 

[john_g]

I would say go for a good condition used SVT because there are so many out there and are relatively easy to find. But, my SVT weighs 92 pounds. Compare that to my solid state quilter amp that is something like 5 pounds and alot of the time i end up taking the quilter. I have an outdoor gig tonight in a large pavilion, which would be perfect for the SVT but Ill probably take the light amp.

 

[mikewalker]

Traynor YBA series! Pick your size to suit the volume. I can still gig with 100W tube, (and lots of speakers) because there is plenty of FOH and stage volumes need to stay reasonable! I dunno about where you live, but back in the 80s I actually used to be able to carry an 800-seat room with nothing more than a V4B and six ten cabinet...

PS: an LPB-1 will make ANY tube amp dirty (in a very nice way...)

 

[overit]

I'd go full SVT-CL if that matches your cabs. Then again, that's the ultimate rig for me w/ a fridge though. It's 30lbs. heavier than you wanted but heavy is heavy.

Seems like aesthetics may be a factor and a Marshall on one side and an Ampeg on the other is pretty classic.

 

[cfortner]

Traynor YBA sounds good, but there is not so much clean headroom.

YBA-200 I measured with 130 W RMS, YBA-300 200 W RMS.

But if you like distorted valve sounds, they may be a good choice. 130 W from 4x KT88 and 200W from 12 (!) 6L6 are the basis for a very stable distortion sound.

 

[Killens84]

I would suggest looking into the JT Amplification Alpha tube pre/DI. It has the heft and warmth of a tube amp, it can do dirty tube overdrive really well, and would keep your setup light. I would assume it would pair well with your TH500.

 

[Dave W]

While I can't speak for the Traynor amps, I know the DB751 will blow the doors off a V4B. It is a fun way to get an all tube amp, but its performance is somewhat lacking.

I wouldn't say it's performance is lacking. It's more of a niche amp. If you want a tube amp that has the Ampeg sound and overdrive at a reasonable volume its one of the better ways to get there.

 

[Wasnex]

I suggest taking your time and playing as many amps as you can get your hands on. People seem to break it down into tube VS solid state. If you do this you miss a lot of important nuance, because different models tend to have their own unique personality attributes. Ampeg SVTs and Hiwatt DR201s are both all-tube amps, but the sound and way they respond to your touch is drastically different. Even amps that can be dialed in to sound similar tend to have a range of tones that are a bit different from each other. Also not all tube amps are great for distortion.

Rather than lumping everything together into this idea of "tubey-goodness", you need to identify and explore the types of characteristics that make an amp sound "tubey" to you. The mix of characteristics you prefer are likely to be a bit different from the next person.

Also as far as distortion goes, most die-hard tube fans seem to prefer a pushed output section rather than preamp drive. When you push the output section the sound typically thickens up and the way the amp responds to your touch changes. It's sometimes described as a sensation like the amp is pushing back.

The problem is being tied to a pushed output section limits our ability to make volume adjustments. You have to push the amp into a certain power level and range of overload to get the desired level of saturation. Turn up or turn down very much, and you are out of the sweet tone zone.

One benefit of preamp drive is you can crank the gain to whatever level of saturation you want, and then adjust the amps master to get the desired volume. Sometimes it's cool to push both the preamp and output section right to the edge of distortion. IMHO, pushing multiple stages to the edge tends to produce a richer and more complex sound. But the two tube amps I own that I think produce the best distortion can't even produce preamp drive.

One final bit of advice: Don't underestimate the value of pedals. If you buy a tube amp for distortion, it's likely to be sort of a one trick pony. Pedals tend to allow you to create a wider variety of distortion sounds. Also if you have not already done so, I suggest fully exploring the range of the Drive control on your TH500.

 

[SJan3]

I'm interested in acquiring a tube amp for the dirty pre-amp and aesthetics. I need help surveying my options.

I'm currently running an Aguilar TH500 thru a pair of Ampeg SVT 112 speakers. I play in a rock power trio and the guitarist plays a Marshall JCM 2000 thru a 412. The Aguilar is plenty loud, but it'd be nice to have a big, heavy, dirty amp that's in the same echelon as the Marshall. Also, as cliché as it sounds, the Aggie doesn't look cool next to the Marshall.

What are my options? No price constraints. But weight is a factor. Can we keep it close to 50lbs?

Ampeg V4B, SVT-CL; Aguilar DB751; Fender Super Bassman -- All come to mind immediately.

Just looking to work this problem out out-loud. Let me know your thoughts.

Thanks!
John

Aggie DB751 all the way. Built like a tank, big big sound with tube preamp and...
It looks the part! I'd never be ashamed of that big chunk of iron next to any Marshall
and I'd expect many years of reliable service considering Aguilar's reputation for reliability. You see them on big stages with national acts all the time.