I know this subject has been threaded to death but here is my 2 cents. I was looking at the new Bugera line of guitar and bass amps and thought wouldn't it be great if they or some other manufacturer would come up with an inexpensive all tube amp for bass that was put together good as well. I know Peavey and Traynor have some decent offerings but it would be nice as a bassist to have some more choices. I know i'm probebly preaching to the choir and I also realize that all tube bass amps are a niche market but I think if Bugera came out with their own all tube amp say between 500-600 bucks and they would sell a lot of them. Bugera model 5500 tube hybrid looks interesting and very similar in appearance to the Ampeg pro series of amps why not come up with say 200 watt all tube version of the SVT or V4BH. Lets face it the SVT is the classic sound associated with all tube bass why not a less expensive version? I would buy one in a heartbeat and I know other bassist would as well if for nothing else to be used as a backup or rehearsal amp. Anyone remember SOVTEK back in the early 90's perfect example. Hey they had a literal cloned version of the Fender Bassman head. I wish I had a couple of grand on hand to get an Orange or SVT but I don't and I don't hate those that can afford them more power to you. It just seems that for every 50 or so all tube guitar amps released maybe one tube bass amps gets released LOL. Sorry for the long post just putting it out there.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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.
Inexpensive well made all tube amps.
- Thread starter Gnosticbass
- Start date
There is a limit to what can be made for a reasonable price, you can't have your cake and eat it in the bass playing world.
MOST players are using solid state, or at least hybrid amps. If that is what the general bass playing world are buying then thats what companies will supply. There is a certain boom in all tube amps lately, on the second hand market, maybe they might cotton on.
MOST players are using solid state, or at least hybrid amps. If that is what the general bass playing world are buying then thats what companies will supply. There is a certain boom in all tube amps lately, on the second hand market, maybe they might cotton on.
If you don't need alot of power (ie., used for practice/recording) there are guitar tube amps that can be had for cheap. Somewhere on TB people mentioned some filter cap mods to make them work even better for bass apps.
http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Vox-Night-Train-NT15H-15W-Guitar-Amp-Head?sku=581333#used
http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Vox-Night-Train-NT15H-15W-Guitar-Amp-Head?sku=581333#used
Bugera probably will come out with one just to fill a niche.
Once they've saturated their current guitar market and SS bass market.
And after they come out with some lightweight bass amps.
It may be a while.
Nobody is going to be able to beat them on the price/quality mark. They've got excellent distribution channels (they're everywhere) and mass production facility. and Bugera is doing good on the quality.
I'm sure parts suppliers are looking to sell to them first just to get orders for large volumes of parts. Other manufacturers may be begging for parts soon.
Once they've saturated their current guitar market and SS bass market.
And after they come out with some lightweight bass amps.
It may be a while.
Nobody is going to be able to beat them on the price/quality mark. They've got excellent distribution channels (they're everywhere) and mass production facility. and Bugera is doing good on the quality.
I'm sure parts suppliers are looking to sell to them first just to get orders for large volumes of parts. Other manufacturers may be begging for parts soon.
Im going to keep an eye on Bugera and their product line. I really like what they have done for guitar amps, in fact I really like the whole trend of inexpensive all tube boutique style guitar amps that has cropped up over the last couple of years hence my tread. With Ampeg becoming what it has become and don't get me wrong the overseas SVT's that I have tried out sound great but the price they are asking is crazy considering where they are produced now. A void has been created for an all tube bass amp or amps that is much more reasonably priced hey its happening for the 6 stringers out there and yes Im jealous in a good way. Throw us bass players a bone LOL.
I'm not familiar with the Bugera brand, are they made in China?
I used to go to the Gear Page site, I don't recall many inexpensive boutique all-tube guitar amps, other than tweed-clone kits. When I think boutique guitar amps, I mostly think of 5 to 30 watt amps at $1500 & up.
Do many bass players still use Sovtek amps? I rarely see them mentioned here on TB. Were they generally considered to be well-built, reliable amps? If so, I might look around for one.
Yeah, that's kinda what I remembered. I think the old adage of "you get whay you pay for" would generally apply to tube bass amps.
Well,
I've tried boutique guitar amps (THD Univalve) and it was a fantastic amp, but not voiced suitably for bass.
Satellite makes a sweet looking 50 watt bass amp, but it is a bit pricey!
EBS is coming out with a T-90 all tube 90 watt head, probably cost a pretty penny as well.
I think the least expensive option I've seen is a used Traynor YBA1 or similar on ebay
ps...if you fink a good inexpensive midsize bass amp (40-100watts) please be sure to tell me about it first!
I've tried boutique guitar amps (THD Univalve) and it was a fantastic amp, but not voiced suitably for bass.
Satellite makes a sweet looking 50 watt bass amp, but it is a bit pricey!
EBS is coming out with a T-90 all tube 90 watt head, probably cost a pretty penny as well.
I think the least expensive option I've seen is a used Traynor YBA1 or similar on ebay
ps...if you fink a good inexpensive midsize bass amp (40-100watts) please be sure to tell me about it first!
Bugera is the same company as behringer and it is hell not the french pronunciation.
Taylor Livingston
Commercial User
I have a 100w Univox 1011 head that I like a lot. All tube. It has tremolo and reverb, but most bass players aren't into that (I am). It is a great-sounding amp for bass. Tubey, but doesn't break up easily. It has pretty huge transformers, and I don't find it lacking in bass at all. I got it for around $375 on ebay.
You may not be able to find this specific head, but the key is to get an all-tube guitar head with enough power for your needs. There were tons of companies making tube amps in the 60s and 70s, and those that haven't yet become internet phenomena are still affordable, but sound great.
Oops. I think it is the Latruvian pronunciation of it.
Tried like hell not to flame.
Weber, maker of superb replacement speakers and tube amp kits for guitards, is working on an update of the classic B15N combo.
It will have about a 40 wrms head that is mounted in a drawer that pulls out if I have it correctly. It will also have test points easily available to set bias so that you can easily change tubes.
it will be called the Weber AB15N...I am really anxious to see this. It might be my next rig!!!
It will have about a 40 wrms head that is mounted in a drawer that pulls out if I have it correctly. It will also have test points easily available to set bias so that you can easily change tubes.
it will be called the Weber AB15N...I am really anxious to see this. It might be my next rig!!!
I played an Eggnater at GC that was just awesome. You could pan it from 5 to 25 watts if I remember right. Great amp, lists for $600 at GC. I think I read on their website (Eggnater's) that they are working on a bass amp. May be something to watch out for.
I've played through some Weber guitar amps and they sound great. Really cool kits for people who want to try their hand at building an amp themselves. I think Weber is known for his replacement speakers as well, so if he does this B15 thing right in every way (amp, speaker, cab construction) it could turn out to be a great deal.
Eggnater is another one to for sure watch for their line of guitar amps especially the all tube offerings sound great and once again a perfect example of good quality that is very reasonalbly priced.
I've been trying to talk my old friend Bruce Collins into producing a tube bass amp kit. His kits are second to none. My guess is he doesn't think there is a big enough interest out there so drop him a line and give him an idea of what you'd like to see. It happened when the guys on Link Removed clamoured for a 5e3 tweed clone kit of which he's sold hundreds of. Maybe it would work again with your voice. I can easily garauntee it would be better than any mass produced cheap to mid priced amp available, not to mention you'd learn a great deal about tube amps in the process.
I emailed Egnater concerning the amp to which you most likely refer, as to it's use as a bass amp and their thoughts. Their Reply:
"The Rebel may work OK as a bass amp as long as you go through a bass cab.
Guitar amps aren't full range so I'm not sure how it will sound but it
should work. We may in the future do bass gear but we have no plans for the
next couple of years to produce anything. Thanks for you interest.
john"
I would love to try it out for myself.
CSM672,
I'm optimistic with your trial of the Egnater. Would you elaborate on your thoughts of it's use with bass? Did you go through a bass cab? Did the eq interact well for bass? Well, all truth told.... I really need to hear for myself what the Egnater sounds like and if it fits for me. Any other thoughts are greatly appreciated.
...... Lapicide
"The Rebel may work OK as a bass amp as long as you go through a bass cab.
Guitar amps aren't full range so I'm not sure how it will sound but it
should work. We may in the future do bass gear but we have no plans for the
next couple of years to produce anything. Thanks for you interest.
john"
I would love to try it out for myself.
CSM672,
I'm optimistic with your trial of the Egnater. Would you elaborate on your thoughts of it's use with bass? Did you go through a bass cab? Did the eq interact well for bass? Well, all truth told.... I really need to hear for myself what the Egnater sounds like and if it fits for me. Any other thoughts are greatly appreciated.
...... Lapicide
