Least expensive All Tube Amp Head

[Sundogue]

There's a VB-2 for sale in the classifieds for $550 shipped in case you didn't see it.

While I want (and will get) a tube amp, right now it is not a priority. I seldom jump on gear on a whim. I put this thread up so that when I'm ready to jump...I'll know it's worth to me. I still need to put more pennies in the tube amp fund for now. I'm expecting a very lucrative deal to come through with my business within a couple of months, so I will be in full buying mode then.

But if I had the cash for that VB-2 right now, I'd snag it up in a heartbeat. I like the used VB-2 for it's price and lighter weight (64 lbs.), power (225 watts) and it can handle 2, 4 or 8 ohm loads.

Once I get a definitive list here, I'll look into each one more thoroughly. But at $550 used, that VB-2 is really hard to pass up. By the time I can afford that VB-2 in the classifieds, it'll long be gone. Oh well, time to go pout.

 

[MIJ-VI]

You make a very valid point about the audience not knowing the difference. I wouldn't call it a harsh reality though. It's a reality I'm embracing.

I switched from rounds to flats for that very reason. I don't give a FL/FU what "my" tone is. I want tight, in-your-face, beat-you-about-the head, SIMPLE low end bass. That is the VERY reason I want an ALL TUBE head.

For all the technological advancements and the new crop of bass guitard wankers, I just want to go back to providing a tight, powerful rhythm section.

Bass (with Flatwounds) > Tube head > Cabs. To hell with everything else. Nothing could be simpler or more basic. This has less to do with "tone" than going back to basics. I'm not interested in pissing around trying out all the latest crap (expensive and advanced as it may be). I just want what I had when I started. Ampeg SVT was it. Now? As long as it gives me the same simple power, I'm game for any tube amp that will deliver (without costing me over a grand and not being quite as heavy).

Hi Sundogue.

A suggestion:

One Traynor YBA200-2 (42lbs) for each of your 4 ohm cabs = 400 combined/slaved watts + system redundancy for a MSRP of about 2K Can.

Swap the 12AX7's for 12AT7's in one head (to tame the edgy, gritty tone these amps have).

Then you can plug into your choice of big & clean, or big & nasty!

 

[Sundogue]

I think the Mesa 400+ kicks some serious butt. Should be able to find a nice used one for around $800. 2-4-8 ohms, it doesn't care.

I owned an Ampeg SVT back in the mid/late 70's. Was too young and ignorant to know what I got rid of.

I've played through a Mesa 400+ a couple of times over the last few years.

I tried out a Traynor YBA in a store last year, but the salesman was a dick, so I've never been back.

I've really liked every tube amp I've played through more than any SS I've ever had (and I've owned a boatload of them over the last 30 years). So I'll take any worthwhile tube amp over the best SS out there.

Thanks to all so far...Keep adding to my ALL TUBE GAS list.

 

[Sundogue]

Hi Sundogue.

A suggestion:

One Traynor YBA200-2 (42lbs) for each of your 4 ohm cabs = 400 combined/slaved watts + system redundancy for a MSRP of about 2K Can.

Swap the 12AX7's for 12AT7's in one head (to tame the edgy, gritty tone these amps have).

Then you can plug into your choice of big & clean, or big & nasty!

Ooh...2 ALL Tube Amps! Not a bad idea...but not an idea my wife will embrace (if I want to continue to be embraced, if you catch my drift).

EDIT: Just looked at the manual online. Perhaps it is a misprint, but in the Traynor manual it says that as long as the total load is not lower than 2 ohms, you can use the settings switch in either 4 or 8 ohms depending on the sound you want. Does that mean it can handle a 2 ohm load or not? Probably a misprint.

 

[MIJ-VI]

Ooh...2 ALL Tube Amps! Not a bad idea...but not an idea my wife will embrace (if I want to continue to be embraced, if you catch my drift).

EDIT: Just looked at the manual online. Perhaps it is a misprint, but in the Traynor manual it says that as long as the total load is not lower than 2 ohms, you can use the settings switch in either 4 or 8 ohms depending on the sound you want. Does that mean it can handle a 2 ohm load or not? Probably a misprint.

Mmm... Being a belt & suspenders guy, I'd prefer to run everything within spec.

For me, the peace-of-mind factor of having two complete rigs would be golden!.

Then there's the two year unlimited warranty--a nice security blanket.

A U.S. street price: USD 749.99 - FREE SHIPPING IN U.S.A.

(Please note: The YBA200-2 uses KT88s, not 6550s as claimed by these folks.)

--------

Then there's used.., perhaps even here.

EDIT: Re 2 ohms? Product / Service Questions

 

[seamonkey]

...
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.
...

...
Every time I've plugged into an ALL tube amp, I always get that same epiphany...There's the sound I want!

Everytime you played through one years ago?
I'm not sure I'd agree your current rig is "close". I'd have to hear it.
You might want to go out and try some new amps all the way around. Rent or borrow some, so you know for sure they're gig worthy for you.

 

[iualum]

A suggestion:

One Traynor YBA200-2 (42lbs) for each of your 4 ohm cabs = 400 combined/slaved watts + system redundancy for a MSRP of about 2K Can.

Swap the 12AX7's for 12AT7's in one head (to tame the edgy, gritty tone these amps have).

Then you can plug into your choice of big & clean, or big & nasty!

I don't know much about Traynor other than it's an old & respected name. I need to read up on the characteristics of the head, although, like you say, tubes can be changed to anything. So the only real thing to consider, I guess, is the integrity/reliability of the electronics themselves.

Your suggestion is excellent, though. 400 monster watts of tubey lusciousness for very reasonable coin, even new. Better still used.

Only real question I have is about the Ohms. Since the head info specifically states 2 Ohm load minimum, gotta believe that two 4 Ohm cabs can be run from the head. Going to contact Traynor, but does anyone already know the answer for sure?

 

[pedro]

Not cheap and am not sure if they do 2ohms but the Orange 200 watter is really sweet and right in the same power range as the Peavey.

As for the Peavey you might want to do a search as there have been a number of threads on them.

 

[MIJ-VI]

I don't know much about Traynor other than it's an old & respected name. I need to read up on the characteristics of the head, although, like you say, tubes can be changed to anything. So the only real thing to consider, I guess, is the integrity/reliability of the electronics themselves.

Your suggestion is excellent, though. 400 monster watts of tubey lusciousness for very reasonable coin, even new. Better still used.

Only real question I have is about the Ohms. Since the head info specifically states 2 Ohm load minimum, gotta believe that two 4 Ohm cabs can be run from the head. Going to contact Traynor, but does anyone already know the answer for sure?

Hi iualum.

Please contact T's tech support re 2 ohms? Safety first!

Brains to pick.

 

[johnk_10]

i can hardly play thru anything but tube amps anymore, so i tend to agree with the OP.
IMO, if you had an SVT, you liked it, and you regret selling it, get another one. they run at 2 and 4 ohms all day long.

 

[rodl2005]

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.


What's the difference between the V4 and V4B?

+1 to 1st comment. ( tho a BIG transformer in output stage- as in the Hellborg thingy... I've not heard in S.S.)

V4B is the bass version onf V4, but VERY li'l diffference in the 2 AFAIK

 

[johnk_10]

What's the difference between the V4 and V4B?

the V4 has reverb. the V4B doesn't
the V4 has 3 position input sensitivity switches for each channel. the V4B doesn't
the V4b has an "ultra-lo" switch. the V4 doesn't
the V4B goes approx 10hz lower in the low frequency cutoff than the V4 due to a few coupling capacitors so a bass' lowest notes are said to be a bit clearer (but its very hard to tell the difference).
both of them have the same middle eq cut/boost frequencies.

here's a pic of three of mine (the V4B is in the middle of the stack):

 

[MIJ-VI]

the V4 has reverb. the V4B doesn't
the V4 has 3 position input sensitivity switches for each channel. the V4B doesn't
the V4b has an "ultra-lo" switch. the V4 doesn't
the V4B goes approx 10hz lower in the low frequency cutoff than the V4 due to a few coupling capacitors so a bass' lowest notes are said to be a bit clearer (but its very hard to tell the difference).
both of them have the same middle eq cut/boost frequencies.

here's a pic of three of mine (the V4B is in the middle of the stack):

Whoa! These are nice!

 

[Sundogue]

Everytime you played through one years ago?
I'm not sure I'd agree your current rig is "close". I'd have to hear it.
You might want to go out and try some new amps all the way around. Rent or borrow some, so you know for sure they're gig worthy for you.

Years ago, as in a couple of years ago...and by that I mean played an entire gig through one...not just trying one out. I've been playing for 30 years and my first amphead was an Ampeg SVT. I've played through numerous ones over the years (sadly, never my own). Thus my comment about "Every time I played through one".

Your agreement of my rig is of no concern to me. I KNOW what a tube amp sounds like and I know how to use amp modelers and tube pre's, etc.

You're being a little condescending to me saying you doubt my rig sounds close. I certainly have been playing long enough and used enough gear over the years to not have to validate my comments or opinions to anyone. I use my Zoom B2 as my preamp, and my Ashdown solely for it's EQ features and as the power section. The Ashdown alone doesn't come close to copping a tubish tone on it's own.

I'd like to try out a bunch of tube heads, but very few shops around here carry tube gear.

 

[MIJ-VI]

the V4 has reverb. the V4B doesn't
the V4 has 3 position input sensitivity switches for each channel. the V4B doesn't
the V4b has an "ultra-lo" switch. the V4 doesn't
the V4B goes approx 10hz lower in the low frequency cutoff than the V4 due to a few coupling capacitors so a bass' lowest notes are said to be a bit clearer (but its very hard to tell the difference).
both of them have the same middle eq cut/boost frequencies.

here's a pic of three of mine (the V4B is in the middle of the stack):

A-HEM!​

​

 

[mattq]

YES, the yba200 does 2 ohms! it runs down to 2 ohms and the ohm selector switch is near irrelevant at that point. search for the yba200 megathread and there's great big section of the thread on that very subject. the position of the switch apparently sounds different and it's whatever sounds better to you. but yes, 2 ohm capable.

i should have never looked at the rest of this thread and seen the two amp suggestion....

 

[rodl2005]

MIJ-VI.... damn thats a NICE collection there!!!! I got a SLM V4BH that I LOVE... but there's a Magnavox era V4 on OZ ebay now that I'm letting out serious gas for.... damn it!!

 

[js1]

I'll side with the original poster here. For us that grew up on tubes, there is no substitute.

I had to dig out an old modded (to 100W) 64 Bassman when my Eden WT400 went on the fritz. It felt like home to me. The band wouldn't let me go back. Guys from the audience came up to me commenting on how good my tone was.

It's not like the WT400 is a slouch. But it ain't all tube.

js

 

[MIJ-VI]

MIJ-VI.... damn thats a NICE collection there!!!! I got a SLM V4BH that I LOVE... but there's a Magnavox era V4 on OZ ebay now that I'm letting out serious gas for.... damn it!!

I WISH those were mine, but they're not.

Please check some earlier posts.

I was merely/mirthfully trying to draw the OP's attention to these three BEAUTIFUL 'pegs.

 

[johnk_10]

I'll side with the original poster here. For us that grew up on tubes, there is no substitute.

I had to dig out an old modded (to 100W) 64 Bassman when my Eden WT400 went on the fritz. It felt like home to me. The band wouldn't let me go back. Guys from the audience came up to me commenting on how good my tone was.

It's not like the WT400 is a slouch. But it ain't all tube.

js

i agree. for me, just one of the things about tube amps, besides their tone, is there dynamics. you can play really really softly and they capture every nuance and subtley. then, without changing the volume on the bass or amp, you can play it really hard and it just opens up. it may sound crazy, but its as if they're alive. i have never played thru a solid state amp that reacts the same way. for some reason i just don't feel as 'connected' to a SS amp, as they always feel a little veiled to me.