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Is There A Future For Tube Amps?

#41
Neon Blues said:
I have noticed, both in myself and others that I am seeing less and less Tube amps around and particularly in stores.

I find that the compromising middle ground of using a Tube-like Preamp/Pedal/Hybrid and a lightweight cabinet is getting closer and closer to a Tube tone and much more acceptable for gigging bassists.

I have been gigging a Fender Stack with a Vintage Microtubes Deluxe over the weekend. Is it Tube-Like? Yes it is. Does it sound the same as a Tube Amp? Hell No it doesn't, not even close.

My current rehearsal and small gig amp weighs 20kg all up, fits in the back of the car and I can carry my bass, cabinet and a back-pack with my Bass head, pedals and cables in 1 trip and my previous rig weighed 70kg or 150 lbs and needed a Wagon to put it in without scratching the car.

It's a pretty easy decision.

Whilst there are a huge number of Bassists that will never go Solid State, which is completely understandable. It seems that the demand for Tubes is dwindling each year.

A Solid State with a Tube Pre-amp or a Tube Emulation Pedal/Overdrive is now cheaper, lighter and also cheaper to maintain than the 300w Monsters.

Is there a future for Tube Amps? How far are we from replicating the Tube amp sound flawlessly? Will it ever happen?

Discuss!
Click to expand...
SANSAMP TECH21 RPM RACK MOUNT BASS PREAMP has an amazing TUBE EMULATION. You turn that blend knob which is the Tube knob, the more you turn that knob up the Tube sound gets warmer and fatter, so incredibly realistic, IMO. I would like to see if they used that same technology on a really nice MESA BOGGIE AMP HEAD what that would sound like. WOW, MESA BOOGIE AND SANSAMP WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE AN ALL TUBE EMULATION AMP HEAD, BET PEOPLE WOULD LIKE IT AND BET IT WOULD SOUND PRETTY FRICKIN AWESOME....
 
#42
Just out of curiosity, those of you who swear by tube amps . . . do you like a slightly overdriven tone?
I really prefer a very clean bass tone so I would think that would require a pretty hi wattage tube amp.

I did love playing guitar through my late 60's fender deluxe reverb, so I can appreciate some tube tone.
 
#44
In my particular case, I've seen a role-reversal. I used to lug around a MusicMan HD-150 (30+ lbs.), with four GL6s and a solid-state preamp. Now I have a Genz-Benz 6.0 (5 lbs.) with a tube preamp and solid state amp. Jeez, what's up with that? If I had roadies and played lots of big halls, I'd use an SVT too. But I am the roadie, I play small-to-medium clubs, and work maybe four big hall/outdoor gigs a year, so...I don't.
 
#48
Looking at what the industry is doing is a good benchmark.
Mesa Boogie introduced two new bass heads after spending a few years on the sidelines.
Ampeg reintroduced the VB-4 and has been doing some limited reissue of B15. Also a few years back introduced the Heritage SVT as an upscale American made head.
Fender issued two new heads.
Ashdown has been covering everything from a 15 watter little lunch box head to 300 watt big boy amp.
Traynor continues to have a couple of interesting heads as well.

I don't know if these manufacturers have been rewarded with sales that mirror their development efforts but I concluded tubes are alive and well.
 
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#49
morgansterne said:
Just out of curiosity, those of you who swear by tube amps . . . do you like a slightly overdriven tone?
I really prefer a very clean bass tone so I would think that would require a pretty hi wattage tube amp.

I did love playing guitar through my late 60's fender deluxe reverb, so I can appreciate some tube tone.
Click to expand...

Reeves has about the cleanest tube tone, but you can make them grind if needed.
 
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#50
When the time comes for SS and Hybrid heads sounding exactly like a tube amp, i think Tube amps days are gone. But from all the SS and Hybrid heads i have tried my guess is theres a lot a days for tube amps still going on.
 
#51
I think Solid State amps have come a tremendous way in the last decade alone. However they still leave a lot of space for a true all tube sound. They just don't get the tube emulation quite right. Some get pretty close, but not perfect...

I think there will always be a certain crowd that absolutely has to play through a tube amp to feel like they are getting the sound they want, even if they can perfectly produce exactly the same sound with a solid state amp... It's a matter of personal preference...

I know several people that still use quill pens and ink wells because they like the way their writing looks using them... Just like the tube amp, it's not for me...
 
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#53
The first part of my career was performed using tube amps. There were no transistor amps at the time. I still love tubes and design and build using them. I've moved away from tubes 'cos I can't deal with the weight. I also find their output capability inadequate for my needs. I use Acme speaker cabinets that need a fair chunk of power to get them moving. This is provided by a 2000W Class D power amp that weighs in at about 10Lb. I do use tubes to drive it however and I'm more that happy with the result.

Some full tube amplifier manufacturers are moving to SMPS to power their offerings. This removes a good chunk of weight but there still remains the weight of the necessary output transformer. Still the maximum output of a tube amp is less than about 500W. I know amps have been built with higher outputs but these are more of a curiosity than an available product. I shudder to think of an average user poking around inside these amps in an effort to "fix" a problem. Running B+ lines of a Kilovolt and more is deadly to someone who does not know exactly what they are doing!!
 
#54
The problem for our friends outside of the U.S. is not having the availability and affordability of better tube amps that we have here.

The selection of high quality, hand built tube amps for bass is far more limited than the availability of tube amps for guitar.

Places like Guitar Center and Thomann are selling primarily mass production, consumer grade, entry level & novice quality when it comes to amps.
 
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#55
I have been using a Genz Benz Streamliner 900 for the last 2.5 years on stage and I love it. In fact I have nearly always used a Solid State amp the whole time I have played, but after really enjoying the tube front end on the Streamliner I have been seriously thinking about getting a proper tube amp to play onstage. Honestly the only thing that gives me pause is going from a head that weighs 6.5lbs to one that weighs upwards of 80lbs.

Hell, I don't like dragging my gear out at the end of a gig already!
 
#57
Neon Blues said:
I have noticed, both in myself and others that I am seeing less and less Tube amps around and particularly in stores.

I find that the compromising middle ground of using a Tube-like Preamp/Pedal/Hybrid and a lightweight cabinet is getting closer and closer to a Tube tone and much more acceptable for gigging bassists.

I have been gigging a Fender Stack with a Vintage Microtubes Deluxe over the weekend. Is it Tube-Like? Yes it is. Does it sound the same as a Tube Amp? Hell No it doesn't, not even close.

My current rehearsal and small gig amp weighs 20kg all up, fits in the back of the car and I can carry my bass, cabinet and a back-pack with my Bass head, pedals and cables in 1 trip and my previous rig weighed 70kg or 150 lbs and needed a Wagon to put it in without scratching the car.

It's a pretty easy decision.

Whilst there are a huge number of Bassists that will never go Solid State, which is completely understandable. It seems that the demand for Tubes is dwindling each year.

A Solid State with a Tube Pre-amp or a Tube Emulation Pedal/Overdrive is now cheaper, lighter and also cheaper to maintain than the 300w Monsters.

Is there a future for Tube Amps? How far are we from replicating the Tube amp sound flawlessly? Will it ever happen?

Discuss!
Click to expand...


Bands that are big enough to have a road crew will always use tube bass amps or rack systems. Bands that aren't will use micros more often because it's easier. That's really all its about.
 
#59
Yes. There's a future for tube amps just like there's a future for vintage muscle cars.

Sometimes there's just no substitute for the real thing.

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