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Least expensive All Tube Amp Head

Sundogue

Sundogue

Apr 26, 2001
8,795
481
65
Wausau, WI
#1
I'd really like to save for a tube head. It's the sound I'm after and though I loved my Ampeg SVT back in the day, I love my back more.

It's been years since I played through a tube head, so though I did a search, I'm not finding any consistent answers for what I'm looking for.

What is the lightest and least expensive all tube head out there right now? I also want it to be able to go down to 2 ohms (two 4 ohm 115's). I play in a classic hard rock band (AC/DC, Sammy Hagar, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, Poison, Ozzy, etc.) and we're pretty loud. New or used, doesn't matter.

Recommendations?
 
#2
Well I think the Peavey VB-2 amp would fit for you perfectly. Well it's not that cheap compared to all amps,but it's cheap compared to other tube heads. (Invalid Link Removed) It sais it sells $1099. Thoug my personal favourite is the Orande AD 200B,but its almost twice as much as the peavey. And if I remember correctly Traynor had a decent full-tube head aswell,someone please confirm me...

Anyways why do you need a full tube head? The Markbass Little Mark II has a really nice tubeish sound,it's light,and affordable,and puts out 500 watts. Isn't it enough for you? :)
 
#3
How about a Traynor? They are not that expensive for a tube head. One bit of advice though, you can get real close to that tone (IMO) with a Markbass Little Mark II and a VT bass pedal (and its only 6 lbs!) Again, thats just my opinion but I am amazed with this LMII and at 500 watts, it shakes the whole band when we are playing.
 
#5
jazzboi said:
Well I think the Peavey VB-2 amp would fit for you perfectly. Well it's not that cheap compared to all amps,but it's cheap compared to other tube heads. (Invalid Link Removed) It sais it sells $1099. Thoug my personal favourite is the Orande AD 200B,but its almost twice as much as the peavey. And if I remember correctly Traynor had a decent full-tube head aswell,someone please confirm me...

Anyways why do you need a full tube head? The Markbass Little Mark II has a really nice tubeish sound,it's light,and affordable,and puts out 500 watts. Isn't it enough for you? :)
Click to expand...

I've been down the whole SS/tube preamp road...it's a road well traveled. For all the great tones one can get from that kind of amp, it just doesn't sound like an all tube amp. Tube Preamps do not sound like all tube heads...Close ain't close enough.

I'm looking for something under a grand that will handle a 2 ohm load, and be loud enough. I won't be buying it right away...I'm just trying to find a range I need to save for...but something under a grand would be ideal.

EDIT: Checked out the Peavey VB-2. Like the weight for a tube head (69 lbs....which weighs more than both my cabs combined) and it goes to 2 ohms. Don't like the price (well, for a tube head, it's a good price...just wish it was bit lower) and it's too new to find used ones cheaper.

Anything else? I think the Traynor looks attractive but I don't think it goes lower than 4 ohm.
 
#6
Link Removed
It doesn't go down to 2 ohms though. The Peavey VB-2 is probably your best bet. Why 2 4 ohm 115's?
I won't lie to you I play in a band with an ac30 and marshall half stack and the traynor running through two 8 ohm cabs is loud and keeps up with them fine.
 
#8
Lightweight tube heads using SMPS are pricey. The Markbass though pricey includes features that help a lot with maintenance of the amp so it could be lower cost in the long run.

You could modernize and try some modeling. Some today are very good.

A lightweight SS head and a Tech21 vtbass.
Line6
Or many other options.

Software wise:
For Ampeg sound Ampeg SVX
Peavey Revalver will let you build your own custom amp.

Pair with a lightweight solid-state amp and full range cabinet for best results.
 
#9
maevinj said:
Link Removed
It doesn't go down to 2 ohms though. The Peavey VB-2 is probably your best bet. Why 2 4 ohm 115's?
I won't lie to you I play in a band with an ac30 and marshall half stack and the traynor running through two 8 ohm cabs is loud and keeps up with them fine.
Click to expand...

Because I own two 4 ohm 115's that I will not get rid of. I like them too much to part with. They are the lightest, loudest, best sounding cabs I've ever played through/hauled around.

I don't mind a heavier head as much. It's smaller than a cab so it isn't as bulky to move around. If a tube head were as large as my cabs, then the weight would be more of a concern.
 
#10
I was going to say Traynor YBA-200, but I don't know if it does 2 ohms. It mentions 2 ohms in the manual, but technically only has 4 and 8 ohm positions on the back (but which are interchangeable...??)

If you want the SVT sound back, you could look for a V4, they're much cheaper and get a similar tone.

Other than that, I would second the Peavey, or suggest looking for a used Traynor (YBA-3, etc). Other options, like old Sunn, etc.
 
#12
Sundogue said:
Least expensive All Tube Amp Head

It's the sound I'm after and though I loved my Ampeg SVT back in the day, I love my back more.
Recommendations?
Click to expand...

The least expensive one is a used one.

There's more to life than SVT's. I prefer the sound of Mesa tube heads, and they weigh almost 1/2 of what an SVT weighs.
 
#13
seamonkey said:
Lightweight tube heads using SMPS are pricey. The Markbass though pricey includes features that help a lot with maintenance of the amp so it could be lower cost in the long run.

You could modernize and try some modeling. Some today are very good.

A lightweight SS head and a Tech21 vtbass.
Line6
Or many other options.

Software wise:
For Ampeg sound Ampeg SVX
Peavey Revalver will let you build your own custom amp.

Pair with a lightweight solid-state amp and full range cabinet for best results.
Click to expand...

I'm already using an Ashdown Superfly amp (10 lbs.), and a Zoom B2 pedal as kind of my "preamp" using modeling and I'm already "close" to a tubish kind of tone.

I don't want tube emulation, I'm not looking for a SS amp with a tube preamp. I'm looking for an ALL Tube amp. Every time I've plugged into an ALL tube amp, I always get that same epiphany...There's the sound I want! I'm looking for ALL TUBE.

I already have "close". I'm looking for the real deal.
 
#15
I think you can get an Ampeg V4-B for around $500 - but you'll probably have to put another $200-300 or so to get it recapped, tubed, maintenence etc. Still way less than an SVT but extremely awesome amp.

I just sold mine a week ago and this thread is already giving me GAS for another...:rollno:
 
#16
Sundogue said:
I'm already using an Ashdown Superfly amp (10 lbs.), and a Zoom B2 pedal as kind of my "preamp" using modeling and I'm already "close" to a tubish kind of tone.

I don't want tube emulation, I'm not looking for a SS amp with a tube preamp. I'm looking for an ALL Tube amp. Every time I've plugged into an ALL tube amp, I always get that same epiphany...There's the sound I want! I'm looking for ALL TUBE.

I already have "close". I'm looking for the real deal.
Click to expand...
It's apparently his mission in life to discourage people from buying tube amps. Why he cares so much, I have no clue.

If you think you could get away with (a loud) 100w, I would say look for a used V4 or V4B. You can usually pick them up for $500 or less. Otherwise, I'd hold out for an SVT. There are other amps out there and they're all great, but there's only one SVT...OK, well two SVT's ;) (500 if you count all the hybrids they call SVT, but only two all-tube amp designs)
 
#17
Yeah, I still have a D-180, & likely always will. Heavy, LOUD & sweet for guitar through channel one- that's where it stomps the AlphaBASS(that's how they print it, silly I know). I was also told by an amp tech that the construction/layout of the Alpha makes it difficult/labor intensive to work on. Something about caps & filters being hard to get to w/o major disassembleage.
 
#18
JimmyM said:
It's apparently his mission in life to discourage people from buying tube amps. Why he cares so much, I have no clue.

If you think you could get away with (a loud) 100w, I would say look for a used V4 or V4B. You can usually pick them up for $500 or less.
Click to expand...

+1

the dude keeps pushing the software too. play live with your bass and laptop, really cool man:eyebrow:


used v4 is a good bet or fender bassman.
 
#19
JimmyM said:
It's apparently his mission in life to discourage people from buying tube amps. Why he cares so much, I have no clue.

If you think you could get away with (a loud) 100w, I would say look for a used V4 or V4B. You can usually pick them up for $500 or less. Otherwise, I'd hold out for an SVT. There are other amps out there and they're all great, but there's only one SVT...OK, well two SVT's ;) (500 if you count all the hybrids they call SVT, but only two all-tube amp designs)
Click to expand...

Anyone who KNOWS what real ALL tube amps sound like will NEVER be convinced that SS amps sound the same, regardless of all the technology one throws at it.

Well, we all know that we never actually push all the rated watts into our cabs. I don't know how a 100 watt tube amp will do in my situation though.

I'm running a 250 watt (per side) amp into two VERY efficient and loud 15" cabs. So maybe a 100 watt tube amp would do.

What's the difference between the V4 and V4B?
 

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