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Double Bass Lets talk about Tubes again.

#22
You might look into the Presonus TubePre. I have the more recent one channel version, I think it's "v2". It's not EQ'able as such but the controls that it does have give you some flexibility. It's a nice little unit and versatile.

I mostly use the Radial PZ-Pre for upright but I know your question is about tube preamps, which the Radial is not. I definitely share your interest but at the price point I'm willing to spend only the TubePre is in that category.
 
#23
I recently went pf50t from a pf350, full circle equipped ply bass here. It's a very good sound. Both heads sounded good through my 210av cabs, but I now have a rumble 115, really good sound, just looks like a bastard child b15. I keep the pf350 in the car as backup, or in the event I need more juice (usually happens with loud electric gigs), I run a di from the pf50 into the effects return of 350. The di's both sound great. I do use a fdeck and boss geb eq in front of the head. When I go back to just the pf 350 head I feel flat. I can record some clips if you want an idea on the sound, pm me. I'm sold on tubes!
 
#24
SS power amps disturb an overloaded input signal almost immediately in an unpleasant way, so you need to keep the volume under that level. Tube power amps disturb the signal only a bit in the beginning and rising the disturbance slowly and in a much more pleasant way, so you can get more acoustic output from a tube amp of the same wattage than a solid state amp.
Think that the solid state amp cuts (limits) the amplitude above a certain point giving sharp corners, whereas the tube amplifier rounds the amplitude (like a graceful compressor before it enters the limiter stage of compression).
 
#25
chuck3 said:
I mostly use the Radial PZ-Pre for upright but I know your question is about tube preamps, which the Radial is not. I definitely share your interest but at the price point I'm willing to spend only the TubePre is in that category.
Click to expand...

I have that preamp as well (currently for sale). It was not my cup of tea. A good piece of gear, but not my thing. I felt like it was a one-size-fits-all acoustic preamp for strings, and not exactly voiced well for my bass. They all play differently though.
 
#26
bdowd said:
I recently went pf50t from a pf350, full circle equipped ply bass here. It's a very good sound. Both heads sounded good through my 210av cabs, but I now have a rumble 115, really good sound, just looks like a bastard child b15. I keep the pf350 in the car as backup, or in the event I need more juice (usually happens with loud electric gigs), I run a di from the pf50 into the effects return of 350. The di's both sound great. I do use a fdeck and boss geb eq in front of the head. When I go back to just the pf 350 head I feel flat. I can record some clips if you want an idea on the sound, pm me. I'm sold on tubes!
Click to expand...

I'd love to hear some clips, along with your string choice. My "big" setup right now is a PF350 with two 210AV cabs. If I need a DI, I'll run the sansamp in front of that. If I don't, I can get away with just the head and cabs. There are some other threads about the 210AV's, but it's worth mentioning again for anyone who doesn't know - they are great upright bass cabs.
 
#27
your hpf/lpf pedal should be able to eliminate any peizo quack, then use the mid control on your amp to voice your mids where you want them, i usually slightly nudge the 250 range when im using the tone hammer pedal. you could do that with your ampeg amp i think. if not, put the pz pre after the hpf pedal just to see...
 
#28
I know this is not exactly answering your post:

I haven't played with tubes in many years but I have used an Aguilar ToneHammer 500 for my electric upright for the past couple of years. It is one of the more tubey-ish class D amps out there. Can be super clean if you want (you can run it with the gain at absolutely zero). The Drive control is very useful, when first engaged it adds some tubey harmonics, then it combines a variable LPF and HPF. Takes a little getting used to but it has been making the somewhat clanky piezo in my NXT sound really nice. Running through a Radial pre, TH and into either a Bergantino NV115, CN112 or Barefaced One 10 cab.
 
#29
My keepers are the
- Monique M700: makes all my basses sound better, and all my other amps sound average. Extremely high sound-quality. If you can afford it, start here.
- Thunderfunk 550: superb EQ/control, a real chameleon (if you put in the time to learn to use it properly).
-> yet to try the Grace Felix. Put that on your Shortlist too.
-> others here like Ampeg V4B also.

Also used:
- SWR, Ampeg B100, Aguilar DB900, Mesa WalkAbout, GB Shuttle, Sansamp BDDI/VT/Paradriver, GK MB200, (trialed an AI Clarus at one point too).
- Demeters are sweet but not Tubey enough for your tastes.
- Agi Tonehammers are on par with Sansamps, just a different flavour.
- Eden are worth a look too. I know some DB guys who swear by the Eden DI.


You've gotta find right cabs too:
- love my Berg CN212 for loud gigs or for meatier sound (212 girth), &
- Baer ML112 for quiet-mid sized gigs has clarity (without sounding sterile), & for difficult rooms the feedback resistance is just magic.
-> TC Hathor 1203 on my radar too.
 
#30
Even more great posts here. I think this thread might be helpful to others as well because the amount of information being shared. Thank you to the collective brain trust around here!

Just to clear, I am not unhappy with my current SS setup or tone. There isn't a sound in my head I'm chasing really. I'm just a serial tinkering gear whore. I just can't help myself, and tubes are current flirt.

As far as cabs go, there's no way I'm changing right now. The SVT210AV's are great for my back, and respond great to upright. Plus they look cool.
 
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#32
I just have to smile at you guys and get all misty eyed, when I hear you all singing the praises of vacuum tube based amplifiers. I gigged with a B-15N for a few years and loved it. It worked just fine in the small Ramada and Holiday Inn lounges we used to play in. The B-15N is unique in that it uses a Double Baffle Reflex cabinet in combination with a tube head that sports 6SL7's (Octal Tubes) In its preamp. So I think tubes have their place, but realistically, after schlepping an 85 lb B-15N for years, I'm more than happy to use a Grace Designs Felix or Walter Woods because those amps, to my ear sound incredible.

Ric
 
#33
Chris Fitzgerald said:
Pics or they don't look cool. :)
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IMG_20161029_140922.jpg
 
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#34
Jay Corwin said:
I'm just a serial tinkering gear whore. I just can't help myself, and tubes are current flirt.
Click to expand...

You and I could start a 12 step program. "Hi everyone, I'm J** (this is an anonymous group), and I'm just a serial tinkering gear whore.

PS The Ampegs DO definately look cool.
 
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#37
Jay Corwin said:
If you're ever in Buffalo, look me up for a beer.
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And we'll wash down some of those original Buffalo Chicken Wings!!! My son went to PA school at D'Youville College. If I visit I think I'll come in the summer. That wind off the lake in the winter can cut you in half.
 
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#38
Don Kasper said:
If you ever find yourself actually IN Buffalo, you'll need more than just "a" beer.
(Former resident of "Tonawanda", one of Buffalo's 'Burbs.)
Don-awanda! Kasper
Click to expand...

Meanwhile, in 'beautiful downtown Burbank' I imagine it's all about that wackie tobackie.
 
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