Lighter all-tube SVT alternatives?

[paujones]

How about a tube pre-amp like an Alembic F-1X?

It is 1 RU, has the simple volume, bass, mid,treble knobs and bright / deep switches, built in DI and return loop. Run it through a QSC PLX amp and you can have up to 3600 watts in 2 RU at 2 ohms. I use a PLX3602 that weights about 24 pounds. All said in a rolling rack case it's about 30 pounds. I frequently play through powered speakers and don't even need the power amp, but still get the tube tones of the Alembic.


Paul Jones

 

[LiquidMidnight]

I don't know what my 400+ weighs, but after picking it up after picking up my SVT-II np, it feels like a light weight class D amp in comparison. Also, while the Mesas are great amps, they are very different in tone stack and sound than an SVT (I actually did a comparison of my 400+ and SVT-II a while back).

The Smarvo amps are closer to a Bassman vibe than an SVT to my ears. My E300T lacks the shimmery highs and high-mid gank that SVTs are known for, even through a tweetered cab.

If it's an SVT sound in a lighter package you're after, from what I understand the /13 TBL200 may be up your alley. However, they are somewhat rare, and even a used one is gonna be around $2k.

 

[bluesdogblues]

Isn't Invalid Link Removed (65lbs) lighter all tube ?
Invalid Link Removed

SVT CL Heritage & SVT VR = 85 lbs
SVT CL = 80 lbs

 

[rodl2005]

As mentioned already- if 100w of all tube goodness will suffice- Ampeg V4B RI.
If more power is needed both the Fender Studio Bass/Super Twin or Traynor YBA200/-2
IF 300w all tube is needed the Traynor YBA300 is great, underrated and only 51lbs.
My pick is the fantastic Fender Super Bassman 300. 300w all tube and 65lbs.
Or, if Super light but very powerful is required, the Aguilar TH500 will do a superb job of sounding likean SVT into a sealed 810 cab. Or the Ampeg PF500/PF800 or even SVT7 PRO.

All great choices.
I've had the Traynor YBA300 & 200, SVTII, SVT-VR, Fender Studio Bass 200 and the Fender Super Bassman 300 is my pick of em all.
The Aggy TH500 is my pick of the light weights to get the all tube vibe.

 

[xk49w]

SVT's aren't all tube? Funny, but when I looked inside my Heritage SVT-CL and when I looked inside the SVT-VR and SVT 2 Pro, sure enough, it was an all-tube design. Only ones currently available that aren't all tube are the SVT 3, 4 and 7 Pro.

It is all tube if you ignore the odd silicon diode here and there. My point was not whether the SVT is all tube so much (because it isn't by a rather strict definition), but questioning what the OP meant by the phrase.

 

[JimmyM]

Oh, the old diode argument again. Didn't we conclude those diodes were there merely to prevent the SVT from having some kind of overload I can't explain because I'm not a tech, and didn't kick in until it reached some crazy voltage and had nothing to do with the sound?

 

[Jeff Scott]

Diodes don't count.

 

[Dave W]

Tube preamp section + tube output section = all tube

 

[nshuman]

First, diodes, resistors, capacitors, transformers, biassing systems are not vacuum tubes/valves. If the definition of All Tube was just tubes and wires, there would be NO All Tube amps out there, no matter what some boutique vendors say to try and distance themselves from the pack. And, yes, the SVT is a Tube amp with preamp tubes and power section tubes. I think that that is the most widely used definition of all tube amps.

Second, circuit boards, auto biassing systems, modern control/monitoring/tube isolation systems, newer diodes/capacitors/power sources just might be included to make amps more reliable, easier to use, and less prone to catastrophic cascading failures that take out all your tubes. Sure point to point is great and easy to maintain but technology has changed over the years and even some newer point to point designs use modern components.

If your definition of all tube is "does not use materials/components designed after 1951", then, yes, you might be right

On an hilarious side note, I know of at least one boutique manufacturer that still does point to point with ONLY old style components not because it is better but because they don't actually know what they are doing. They are just copying a few old models that they have on hand.