Least expensive All Tube Amp Head

[Sundogue]

I think you read it wrong. I'm usually ultra-sarcastic but I was actually supporting you in your search and conviction for an awesome all-tube head. No prob.

Thanks for clarifying.

I was getting a bit irritated by others. I feel I should have earned some degree of respect by being around here for the past 7 years, and as a bass player for 30 years (in working bands...not in my bedroom, or as someone put it once..."Madison Square Living Room"). I've actually discovered a thing or two about working, real-life gigging sound along the way.

I've just about had it with pseudo-scientific lab mumbo-jumbo (accurate as it may be) telling me why the sound that works for me must suck, according to their data.

It's not like I'm some newbie who wanks away in his parent's basement and I need someone to show me where to set the suck knob.

 

[Shane Carter]

Here you go, YBA200 with the Traynor -2 conversion sitting on top of the Ampeg PR410HLF (the herniator.)

 

[zuokinis]

Did you look at any of the tube power amps? Youve got a tube pre amp somewhere i suppose.

 

[dokazaado]

I'm not a big fan of the Traynor YBA-200 or Peavey VB-2.
Neither one of 'em quite have it for me and I can't put my finger on it.
I don't know if it's the toroidal transformers or what.
I like the idea of a tube amp under 50 lbs, but the sound isn't there, imo.

Be on the lookout for used Fender Bassman 300 Pro, Mesa 400+, or a Peavey Classic 400.
The Fender and Peavey especially can be had for VERY cheap sometimes used,
and are good, extremely powerful amplifiers.

 

[gnr_her]

hey guys! maybe it could be a bit far away from you... but in my country (Argentina), there's a brand named "Vintage Electric" that are building handmade 100% tube heads for 2300 pesos argentinos (about 620 dollars)

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The head is 300w...

Somewhere there's lot of cheap and really nice amps there!

 

[MIJ-VI]

hey guys! maybe it could be a bit far away from you... but in my country (Argentina), there's a brand named "Vintage Electric" that are building handmade 100% tube heads for 2300 pesos argentinos (about 620 dollars)

Link Removed

The head is 300w...

Somewhere there's lot of cheap and really nice amps there!

Link please!

 

[johnk_10]

hey guys! maybe it could be a bit far away from you... but in my country (Argentina), there's a brand named "Vintage Electric" that are building handmade 100% tube heads for 2300 pesos argentinos (about 620 dollars)

Link Removed

The head is 300w...

Somewhere there's lot of cheap and really nice amps there!

that's a nice looking amp regardless of the price. and the trannies look nice and big too.

 

[gregbackstrom]

I'm not a big fan of the Traynor YBA-200 or Peavey VB-2.
Neither one of 'em quite have it for me and I can't put my finger on it.
I don't know if it's the toroidal transformers or what.

I'm not fond of toroidal transformers in tube amps either. The VB-2 has great, big traditional EI transformers, which I do love.

I've had a couple of Mesa 400+ amps, and for me, the Peavey VB-2 has all the volume and more useable tone options. I still can't get over how great the VB-2 and Mesa cabinets sound together!

Different strokes for different folks, of course!

- Greg

 

[MIJ-VI]

that's a nice looking amp regardless of the price. and the trannies look nice and big too.

Yup! And likely point-to-point too.

 

[JimmyM]

I just tried to search on them and came up with nothing. Do they have a website?

 

[MIJ-VI]

hey guys! maybe it could be a bit far away from you... but in my country (Argentina), there's a brand named "Vintage Electric" that are building handmade 100% tube heads for 2300 pesos argentinos (about 620 dollars)

Link Removed

The head is 300w...

Somewhere there's lot of cheap and really nice amps there!

A Google search of 'Vintage' & 'Electric' = 'needle' & 'haystack'.

I even tried 'Argentina, Vintage Eléctricos, amplificador de bajo' and only turned up the same rigs one can buy in North America.

If the folks who build Vintage Electric brand amplifiers wish to market their products globally, then they'll have to come up with a non-dictionary type name like 'SONY' or 'Kodak' which will leap to the top of a Google search.

 

[gnr_her]

here's the vintage Electric web:

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don't know if they ship to other countries, they usually work only in Argentina... but send them an e mail!

They also build a kind of Fender-clean & Mesa distorted guitar amp tube too!

 

[MIJ-VI]

here's the vintage Electric web:

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don't know if they ship to other countries, they usually work only in Argentina... but send them an e mail!

They also build a kind of Fender-clean & Mesa distorted guitar amp tube too!

Link Removed

 

[FFTT]

Even if you add for shipping and any import fees, which could be hundreds more,
the price on this unit is reasonable.

It also shows you just how much Ampeg is over charging for the SVT CL and VR
with even cheaper parts and labor.

 

[CosmicRay]

Eden makes a lightweight tube head -
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I saw the eden head on ebay for less than $700

So does Peavey -
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I don't know their prices...
Good Luck!

 

[johnk_10]

Eden makes a lightweight tube head -
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I saw the eden head on ebay for less than $700

So does Peavey -
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I don't know their prices...
Good Luck!

yeah, IMO, an Eden for $700, is a bargain, but also IMO, the Peavey at $2499.00 (retail) not so much so.

 

[JimmyM]

Man, it'd be cool to be able to try one of those Argentina heads. The price is certainly right. Wall Breaker...lol!

 

[gnr_her]

A couple of pics about the argentinian Vintage Electric's Wall breaker, the pics were taken by an endorser of the company and posted in an argentinian forum.

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I've read that the preamp es based in the old AMPEG's...

I must try one and tell you, 'cause I'm looking for a Geezer Butler's tone in the new Heaven&Hell record or John Wetton's warm and distorted tone... Solid State is no longer my friend.

 

[roflol]

It is cool - same stuff you use in the studio you can use live.

You don't need to use a laptop.
Keyboard players and Guitarist even drummers are showing up more and more with it.
And for the OP - it's still lighter.

But if they think they want only real tubes - then have at it. Shouldn't be any problem offering alternatives on this board. Even in the days when there was only tube amps - there were still many brands and alternatives to buy.

i've never heard ANY digital stuff that i've thought sounded good i'd rather go straight into the desk than use digital modelling stuff.
People have got very good at copying the svt sound but not all valve amps sounds like svts.

 

[MIJ-VI]

A couple of pics about the argentinian Vintage Electric's Wall breaker, the pics were taken by an endorser of the company and posted in an argentinian forum.

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[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I've read that the preamp es based in the old AMPEG's...

I must try one and tell you, 'cause I'm looking for a Geezer Butler's tone in the new Heaven&Hell record or John Wetton's warm and distorted tone... Solid State is no longer my friend.

Hi gnr_her.

Thank you for raising awareness of this amp.

It makes me wonder what else might be out there beyond the big name rig makers.

The Wall breaker sure is a handsome piece of work.

Do you know how much it weighs? Does it use KT-88's? Are there any big music stars in Argentina, or South America who are know to use amps made by Vintage Electric?

BTW. What is the household AC in Argentina? 230VAC?