- Feb 12, 2006
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- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
The bias pots are for the output tubes, not the preamp tubes.
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I Want a Tube Amp
- Thread starter jlo95
- Start date
No one has mentioned Orange yet??? Tsk tsk tsk…
Natural aesthetic with a Marshall powered trio.
50 lbs, there are IMHO only the V4BH (40 lbs) and the Orange (58). Maybe some Ashdown?
***Edit: Ashdown CTM100 is 30 lbs, probably using toroidal transformers.
The CTM300 is 60…
As mentioned, Traynor amps but I wasn't impressed… I bought one and returned it the next day. It felt more like my YGL-3's « guitar » amp. So, I've bought a second YGL-3 instead, the next day… My opinion obviously as some really enjoy the tubed Traynor modern offerings.
***Edit: Ashdown CTM100 is 30 lbs, probably using toroidal transformers.
The CTM300 is 60…
As mentioned, Traynor amps but I wasn't impressed… I bought one and returned it the next day. It felt more like my YGL-3's « guitar » amp. So, I've bought a second YGL-3 instead, the next day… My opinion obviously as some really enjoy the tubed Traynor modern offerings.
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Totally agree!!!
I have one and LOVE it! Would have mentioned it if it wasn't all of 65lb. We also don't know the OP's budget. AD200B's are expensive.
'I have an Eden 300 WTBv 300 watt tube amp that Weighs in a tad over 40lbs. It's a great amp, but it doesn't do the down and dirty thing like others. It has an overdrive button, but I have a feeling it's not what you are looking for.
Which Garnet do you have? I really miss my very first one - don't know the model, but it was about 80 watts, had enormous knobs, and came with a folded horn cabinet...
When I think of a tube bass amp that can compete in a rock band, my first thought is Orange AD200B.
All of my Axe-Fx patches are based on an Orange AD200B.
All of my Axe-Fx patches are based on an Orange AD200B.
If you want to play then get ready to pay. Don't say you want the all tube experience and then think you can puss out on weight. Not going to happen. I once had an Ampeg SVT and 2xBerg NV115. Put the volume at 11:00 and holy f'ing christ! Everyone looked at the stack like they couldn't believe what they were hearing! That Ampeg was 90lbs So be it. I was young and destroyed all before me. You should do the same. Forget these weight weenies.
It's a Deputy « bass » combo… I really use it with bass. Sounds darn good, all electrolytics replaced for good measure and the two Sylvania's that came with it (6L6GC 's) are still fine. The OEM knobs were busted so I've replaced them with chicken head knobs that looks similar to those on my YBA-3.
I like to think it's my take on the B15. Not sure it sounds like an Ampeg but I love my three 40-45 watters: The Deputy, an YVM-1 and a YBA-1.
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Aesthetics? No argument there; I love the look, smell, vibe of old tube amps.
But...my LEAST favorite sound out of a tube amp is clipping the preamp.
IMO 90% of the charm of a tube amp comes from that tube preamp running clean into a tube power amp that's crossing into and out of clipping. When that power amp clipping goes through the output transformer is when things get insanely meaty and touch-sensitive.
I think if you just had a custom case built for your Aguilar TH500 you'd get the aesthetics you want, with more control over when and how that clipping happens.
Sadly, yes, heavy and expensive on that AD200B…
if the tube preamp/class D output are on offer, cheap and light would be the Terror Bass. 500W, effects loop, DI out under 11 lbs. ( <5 kg) under 900 Spacebucks US. Mmmmm.
Terror Bass – Orange Amps
Just playing my new Crush 50 combo today. You need an Orange.
(…drops mic)
60 pounds: Reeves Custom 225 (benched at 250 I think by Bass Gear Mag): Custom 225 Bass Amp - Reeves Amplification
I use the V4B or the Mesa 800+ with my 2 x 12L Schroeder cabs. keep in mind the SVT is for 2 & 4 ohm the V4b can do 2,4 or 8 and the Mesa can do 2-8 ohm. Either way they both sound awesome.
Really, as people have mentioned, what it comes down to is what characteristics you are looking for in an amp. There are tubes and then there are tubes. Traynor has been mentioned a few times, and I personally like those. I have all 3. They don't necessarily sound the same. The 100 and 300 are close (the 100 sounds thinner to me, I wind up using the Resonance button on it to drop the high pass filter for more bottom and I rarely do with the 300). The 200 on the other hand is, to me, my personal choice for a dirty, grindy amp. I kind of gets into that range of an Orange ADB-200 kind of grind. Not super deep, but plenty of mids. The Super Bassman had been mentioned. I don't have one of those, but I do have a 100t. I like it. It doesn't sound like the Traynors though. I think it's Vintage channel is amazing. The Overdrive channel I could take or leave. If you like the Super Bassman, there's always the hybrid 800 which has the same preamp section. I use my 100t for home and studio and my 800 for live work. In a mix it's hard to tell the difference, and I still have the same controls with less weight and less tubes to break. Then you have the whole Ampeg line, which has it's own sound. The only tube I have is the PF-50, and it has a sound none of the others I own have.
Best advice I can give is to second (third of fourth maybe...
) the advice of listen to as much as you can of all of them (I mean really there are only 5 or so major manufacturers of all tube bass amps - Ampeg, Ashdown, Fender, Orange, and Traynor) and see what you like the sound of. Do you like versatility? A 2 channel like a Fender? Do you like simplicity? Gain, Volume, and 3 band EQ? Orange might be the way. If you can, try them out personally (not always an option).
Edit - I should say there only so many major manufacturers of NEW all tube bass amps these days. The used market of course has more.
Best advice I can give is to second (third of fourth maybe...
) the advice of listen to as much as you can of all of them (I mean really there are only 5 or so major manufacturers of all tube bass amps - Ampeg, Ashdown, Fender, Orange, and Traynor) and see what you like the sound of. Do you like versatility? A 2 channel like a Fender? Do you like simplicity? Gain, Volume, and 3 band EQ? Orange might be the way. If you can, try them out personally (not always an option).Edit - I should say there only so many major manufacturers of NEW all tube bass amps these days. The used market of course has more.
JeezyMcNuggles
Inactive
- Feb 23, 2018
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- I suck, but nobody really notices
Tube preamps, the really good ones, can be wonderful things. specially so on guitar, but also can be on bass.
Tube power amps, for the power you need for bass guitar, are NEARLY always (yes I am aware of a couple of exceptions) very heavy, expensive, heavy, hot, heavy, weigh a lot, picky about the cab impedance, heavy, and are not light.
At least in my 50s now that is the biggest memory I have of the tube amps I used to play through as a bassist. And I played through ampegs off and on for years, ampeg all tube heads, as well as music man tube power amps, for bass.
the only tube amp I still own is a Genz Benz El Diablo 112 combo... the single greatest guitar amp I've ever owned in my life. But it just lives in my music studio.... way too heavy for me to move around. But WHAT an amp. It is the only non-presettable guitar amp I've owned over the years that I still own, other than cheapos lying around the house for convenience. All other guitar amps (and non amps, like modelers) I own can be configured for total recall of all parameters with footswitch etc... but if I am searching for the ideal tone on guitar, that Genz Benz amp is far more versatile than any other tube amp I've worked with, while having exceptional tones all over the map.
Still, that being said, you may well love the features you are looking for in a tube preamp, as has been discussed already, without a very heavy and hot tube power amp stage.... a good bass tube preamp, like you said, that is sexy. I even agree that they can be sexy looking, although that often isn't the priority for bass amp designs, from my experience.... looking "tube-y".
Tube power amps, for the power you need for bass guitar, are NEARLY always (yes I am aware of a couple of exceptions) very heavy, expensive, heavy, hot, heavy, weigh a lot, picky about the cab impedance, heavy, and are not light.
At least in my 50s now that is the biggest memory I have of the tube amps I used to play through as a bassist. And I played through ampegs off and on for years, ampeg all tube heads, as well as music man tube power amps, for bass.
the only tube amp I still own is a Genz Benz El Diablo 112 combo... the single greatest guitar amp I've ever owned in my life. But it just lives in my music studio.... way too heavy for me to move around. But WHAT an amp. It is the only non-presettable guitar amp I've owned over the years that I still own, other than cheapos lying around the house for convenience. All other guitar amps (and non amps, like modelers) I own can be configured for total recall of all parameters with footswitch etc... but if I am searching for the ideal tone on guitar, that Genz Benz amp is far more versatile than any other tube amp I've worked with, while having exceptional tones all over the map.
Still, that being said, you may well love the features you are looking for in a tube preamp, as has been discussed already, without a very heavy and hot tube power amp stage.... a good bass tube preamp, like you said, that is sexy. I even agree that they can be sexy looking, although that often isn't the priority for bass amp designs, from my experience.... looking "tube-y".
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