Mr. Foxen
Commercial User
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Looking for Bass Tube Amp Recommendations
- Thread starter Cnivek61
- Start date
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- Tags
- tube amp tube bass head
Jim Carr
Dr. Jim
- Jan 21, 2006
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- fEARful Kool-Aid dispensing liberal academic card-carrying union member Musicians Local 72-147
While it's not vintage, the Mesa Prodigy is 200 watts, all tube, and sounds great.
correction: 250 watts rms — how could I have not known this, LOL?
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+1 on the Fender Studio Bass. Originally built as a 1x15 combo in the late '70's, a common modification is the amp removed from the combo and put in a head case ... either hand made, or bought from Mojotone. They are not super rare and deliver a 180w of all tube Fender tone with the added benefit of a switchable 5 band rotary EQ section. I think there was even one f/s as a project here on TB not too long ago .. may still be around.
good luck OP
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I'm not allowed to recommend anything due to one of my endorsements, but they do make tube amps 
At any rate, I salute you for wanting to join the Fraternity of Glowing Glass!
At any rate, I salute you for wanting to join the Fraternity of Glowing Glass!
The Fender version is the Bassman 300 Pro. It is the same circuit and cosmetically almost identical to the Sunn 300T. However, there were some reliability updates to the Bassman after the Sunn was discontinued. If you go through the respective Sunn and Fender schematics, a few of the components have different values or ratings.
The output section is basically an updated Ampeg SVT power section. It's supposed to be loud and clean.
The preamp has lot's of bells and whistles, and also a lot of solid state circuitry. I don't have anything against solid state, but I don't particularly want a bunch of it concealed inside an amp that was marketed as "all tube." For the record my Aguilar DB359 and Sadowosky SA200 also have some solid state components in the signal path, but it's very minimal.
Occasionally these amps pop up for around $750.
You honestly can't go wrong with a Traynor. Run some KT88s in the YBA200 and you'll be happy for years. I had one and wish I hadn't sold it. Great head.
The Bassman 300 is a nice amp, had one many years ago, and yes, the preamp section is loaded with lott's of OP amps, and there is some preamp tube circuitry going on, I will say the power section had the ability to really move some air, the amp has a easy bias setting scheme, provided you have a high quality Digital meter, it had 2 channels, that can be blended, all in all a good amp, provided, someone hasn't messed with it
Another chime in for the traynor yba200. Responds really well to tube rolling! Swapping out the 12ax7 in v1 for a 12au7 was a game changer, also fun to try out other 12a_7s in v2.
Takes a little getting used to the passive eq (or cut only), you have to think of it a little differently, but once you wrap your head around that it's fantastic. Cleanest tube amp I've ever played. Solid, too, toured it without issues (though I did have the -2 mod done to it just to be safe).
The only thing I'll disagree about is the DI, heard it recorded a few times and was underwhelmed. Get a countryman 85 (or any DI that accepts speaker level) and run it in between the speaker out and the cab, its 1000x times better, and you get to capture the sound of the power tubes, which is why you bought the damn thing in the first place!
Takes a little getting used to the passive eq (or cut only), you have to think of it a little differently, but once you wrap your head around that it's fantastic. Cleanest tube amp I've ever played. Solid, too, toured it without issues (though I did have the -2 mod done to it just to be safe).
The only thing I'll disagree about is the DI, heard it recorded a few times and was underwhelmed. Get a countryman 85 (or any DI that accepts speaker level) and run it in between the speaker out and the cab, its 1000x times better, and you get to capture the sound of the power tubes, which is why you bought the damn thing in the first place!
If tone is paramount, Ampeg PF-50T.
I chased tone for years. Bought one and the search was over. I run mine through a EV TL-606 with a reconed EVM-L or a pair of Ampeg SVT-210AV cabinets. I was so happy once I got the Ampeg I lost interest in Talkbass.
I chased tone for years. Bought one and the search was over. I run mine through a EV TL-606 with a reconed EVM-L or a pair of Ampeg SVT-210AV cabinets. I was so happy once I got the Ampeg I lost interest in Talkbass.
@Cnivek61: Lots of excellent recommendations in this thread!
Another all-tube option for your consideration is the Fender Bassman 100T which is 100 watts, switchable to 25 watts. If you want more power than that, there is the Fender Super Bassman which is 300 watts. 
I’ve used the following all-tube amps and can recommend any of them:
Ampeg B-15N
Ampeg B-18
Ampeg SB-12
Ampeg SVT (early 70s)
Fender Bassman (mid-60s)
Sunn 200S
If you don’t insist on a tube power section I can highly recommend the Jule Amps Monique preamp/DI.
That’s the extent of my experience.
Ampeg B-15N
Ampeg B-18
Ampeg SB-12
Ampeg SVT (early 70s)
Fender Bassman (mid-60s)
Sunn 200S
If you don’t insist on a tube power section I can highly recommend the Jule Amps Monique preamp/DI.
That’s the extent of my experience.
Depends on budget and wats power. If you would like to have a good and powerfull tube amp check out Aguilar DB series.
D
I would look for 100-200w British tube amps from the 60s/70s. Basically anything with Partridge transformers. Stuff like Hiwatt, Carlsbro, Matamp(or early Orange), Sound City, Simms-Watts, Laney. There are others too but these are probably the easiest to find.
Anything 100-200w from the 60s/70s with Partridge transformers is usually great for bass.
Anything 100-200w from the 60s/70s with Partridge transformers is usually great for bass.
My all time favourite is the Invalid Link Removed. This one sounds very tuby.
The Sunn 300T / Fender Bassman 300 Pro is a good sounding amp, but I think, this one is overhyped too.
The Sunn 300T / Fender Bassman 300 Pro is a good sounding amp, but I think, this one is overhyped too.
Ampeg V4. I took an amp out of an Ampeg VT22, that works too you just have to build an amp case or buy one from Fliptops
Mr. Foxen
Commercial User
Hiwatt -originals Partridge, post being bought, all sorts, including dodge 'partridge designed' made to look like partridge labels
Carlsbro -sometimes Partridge
Matamp(or early Orange) -sometimes Partridge
Sound City -sometimes Partridge, also EV
Simms-Watts -Never used Partridge
Laney -usually Partridge Supergroup through Klipp era.
Partridge made various grades of transformer, Hiwatt and Matamp used the high grade ones, others not so much.
