Is tube really worth the money?

[chaosMK]

Go used (just take your time and be careful about it) and you can get a pretty much world class tube amp for less than a new, probably made in China, SS/hybrid from Guitar Center.

Traynor YBA sounds cool- I've been interested in it.

One thing you wont get out of an SS power section is the awesomeness of tube compression, or OD (you'll get clipping instead, which sounds horrible)- if you like that kind of thing.

Tube emulators are great. They sound even better through all tube heads!

 

[RCCollins]

yes. Check out the traynor yba200-2. It's cheap and gets dirty quick.

that's the problem. it doesn't have much clean headroom

 

[JoshuaTSP]

I'm not gigging yet, so I don't need to rush out and buy anything......just preparing for the future. We will gig as soon as we have a solid set of originals down.

Just thinking about gigging with PA's that can't handle the low....and needing to compensate with amp volume.

 

[seamonkey]

I'm thinking about purchasing a tube bass amp......but am skeptical that it sounds any better then a nice SS or hybrid amp.

Plus the added cost of maintenance with tubes...

Is it really worth it in the end?

Do a blind test. Let somebody else swap the amps and you listen to decide what you like best. Do it while playing with the band.

As far as power amps go, modern power amps are state of the art. Totally transparent, powerful, reliable, ... all the reasons that are used in recording studios to high powered concert PA/front of the house applications. These amps reproduce anything put into them.

You can get any and all sounds out of a good SS amp. Through signal processing (preamp, modeling, etc.) you can add any sound and count on the amp reproducing it. What's left here is the pre-amp section of a bass head. Check out the amount of offerings in the bass heads. The range and versatility is amazing. Also try out some of the pedals available.

You are right there is added cost and maintenance with tubes. Going back to all the old tube books and the manuals released with the tube amps the maintenance is clearly documented. The manuals point out tubes need replacing. Bias needs to be adjusted. And overall - high voltage is hard on components. Much of this work takes a qualified tech. Some of the newer tube amps have improved maintenance ability. Markbass has a microprocessors to do maintenance adjustments automatically, others like the Eden, and Fame provide user test points so you can plug in a meter and adjust bias as needed.

 

[JoshuaTSP]

I'm no amp tech, but replacing tubes and biasing is cake.

I've rebuilt a few "project" amps too......most recently a '72 Orange OR120. :love:

I actually think the OR120 would make a decent bass amp. Right now I've only got two tubes in it though....since it's so gosh darn loud.

 

[Din Of Win]

I'm playing loud stoner rock in a band right now, so I'd need something that can overdrive.
Clean is something I'm not really interested in with this band.

That doesn't necessisarily mean tube amps are the answer. I also play loud doomy sludge stuff and i sware by solid state. Between my Kustom200 and Peavey mark vi, i run through a 2x15, 1x15, 6x10, and 1x18/2x10. I have never had the desire to replace my $150 and $200 amps with much more expensive and labor intensive tube amps when i already have the sound i want and need.

Would i like to own a nice Matamp?.. hell yeah!

Would i like to pay for one and maintain it?.. hell no!

 

[JoshuaTSP]

That doesn't necessisarily mean tube amps are the answer. I also play loud doomy sludge stuff and i sware by solid state. Between my Kustom200 and Peavey mark vi, i run through a 2x15, 1x15, 6x10, and 1x18/2x10. I have never had the desire to replace my $150 and $200 amps with much more expensive and labor intensive tube amps when i already have the sound i want and need.

Would i like to own a nice Matamp?.. hell yeah!

Would i like to pay for one and maintain it?.. hell no!

This is what I'm worried about. I know all amps fail from time to time. Never know.

...but playing really loud stuff night after night....really punishes gear. Not sure most tube amps will make it through that for as long as SS or hybrid.

I'm looking for the best sounding most reliable amp I can find. Same with cabs and speakers.

 

[Rugaar]

Also, using guitar amps with bass cabs is totally cool, so hook up one of your tube guitar heads to the Traynor cab, and let it rip!!

This seems to have been passed over but it definitely deserves a look. I've gotten some GREAT overdriven bass tones from tube guitar amps through bass cabs. I currently use an Ampeg V4, which was a guitar head that was so well loved by bassists that they made a few minor changes and created the V4B, designed specifically for bass. I also play lower volume at home through a Crate Vintage Club tube guitar amp and it sounds great.

 

[Rick Auricchio]

Listen for yourself and decide.

 

[Din Of Win]

I'm looking for the best sounding most reliable amp I can find.

I agree and feel the same way. But it's neigh impossible to find one specific one that will do this. So, my approach has been to invest in cheap but good sounding amps that won't break my heart or bank to replace: Acoustic, Kustom, Sunn and Peavey.

...Ok, due to the trendieness of Sunn Amps that's not as do-able these days, but you get the idea...

 

[Rick Auricchio]

Best sounding? That's like asking all of us for to tell you what's the tastiest meal. It's your tone, not ours.

Reliability, on the other hand, is an objective evaluation. Assuming an amp isn't abused, we can all offer that info for you. In over 18 months here, I've read about more issues with Behringer amps than with others, but all brands have had problems now and then. What's more important is manufacturer support. With older tube amps, you're usually on your own.

 

[rpsands]

I'm thinking about purchasing a tube bass amp......but am skeptical that it sounds any better then a nice SS or hybrid amp.

Plus the added cost of maintenance with tubes...

Is it really worth it in the end?

In my opinion, no. It will sound different, to some better, but rarely enough to justify the cost (to me).

In the mix, it doesn't seem to make much of a difference to me.

 

[Vic Winters]

For me it isn't, especially with the improvements in modeling technology (GK + VT Bass for me). Tubes are far more important for guitar IMO.

 

[T-Bird]

Hi.

Since You have tube guitar amp(s?) and a bass cab already, why don't you try that combination. Often the only difference between a tube guitar and a tube bass amp is a bit of different tone stack and different Fs on the OT.

Once upon a time, before it was stolen from me (never recovered ), I played through Marshall 1959 and the old school bass tone was incredible. That was through a 4*12 and 2*15 Marshall bass cabs though so that might have had something to do with it .

Regards
Sam

 

[seamonkey]

It doesn't hurt to try any amp, including a tube guitar amp. Tube guitar amps can lack bass response.
One of the first design parameters for an output transformer is frequency response you want to recreate. The narrower the response, the smaller and cheaper the transformer. Guitars play an octave higher and the transformers don't need to be able to go as low. Also if you're not going to go as low, the power supply doesn't need to support large amounts of bass.
Those that like to play to guitar amps probably like that it doesn't have the bass. Or that it easily overdrives since bass will suck up all the power and cause the amp to distort.

On the other hand, bass players usually don't need as much bass response as they think.

 

[Badmuthaplucka]

IMHO it's not only about tone but about feel also. Tube amp seem to react better to my technique. If I hit the strings hard I get some nice grit. If I back off a bit the sound rounds out. It really allows me to put the sound of my instrument literally into own my hands.

 

[Jefenator]

^^^ that

 

[maevinj]

IMHO it's not only about tone but about feel also. Tube amp seem to react better to my technique. If I hit the strings hard I get some nice grit. If I back off a bit the sound rounds out. It really allows me to put the sound of my instrument literally into own my hands.

+1

 

[rotagen]

Not sure about their bass heads, but Ampegs 2x12 guitar amps with valve-emulating circuitry are kick ASS !

I much prefer tube tone, but I'm getting really SICK of the repair bills gigging with tube amps, and if I did it over again I would go with ampegs newer solid-state stuff, just amazing and no more headaches.

Of course, if you want that incredible Phil Lesh tone, you gotta pay the repairman.

 

[RickenBoogie]

I would have to say, with no offense meant, that if you're asking TB at large if a tube amp is "worth it", then it probably isn't going to be, for you. There are so many amps available to us all, and tube amps, usually, are alot more money. A solid state or hybrid amp will more than likely fit the bill, make you happy, and save you a ton of dough.