Repair vintage or Buy newer?

[buldog5151bass]

If you are planning on doing much gigging, I would go new - it's lighter, more powerful, more reliable, and would allow you to keep the Silvertone in good shape.

For under $1200 you can get a good rig which puts out 500 watts at 4 ohms (weighing about 5 pounds and a tube preamp), and a 2x12 cab that weighs under 40 pounds. Including your bass, music stands and mic stand, you could have an easy one trip carry to your car that sounds great.

You still want to go old school?

 

[static0verdrive]

oooh I forgot to mention I have a Link Removed! Thanks for the reminder Buldog

 

[Kaden Daniels]

Old tube amazing old solid state solid junk

 

[B-string]

I don't want to rain too hard on your Silvertone, but honestly they were built point to point only because the builder could use untrained workers. They were not known for build quality. If it has memories and mojo for you that is good, have the caps replaced and made safe for a practice or quiet jazz/blues for fun amp. It is really not a candidate for a serious gigging amp (even the tube amps), the construction was sloppy which made them rather "fragile". Montgomery Wards Airlines were made by the same build house.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Class D tube preamps certainly are not the same as a full tube powered head. But at 2am, your back will thank you.

 

[BassGreaser]

Thanks guys. Oh I know Silvertone wasn't made to high standards. As for class D amps.. They just never sounded as full and thick as the older SS heads from 2004 and earlier.

 

[BassmanPaul]

The Sears amp was a cheap piece of junk when it was new. Today it's not worth putting money into. Go for a new amp.

As for class D amps.. They just never sounded as full and thick as the older SS heads from 2004 and earlier.

Disagree completely. I have replaced most of the lead sled power amps that I own with Class D versions. In use I feel no difference. I feel that your attitude to them is more emotional than factual.

 

[B-string]

I have to say that I have not spent much time with a class D output bass amps. My PA is all class D for several years now and is a blessing both in carry and sound over my old class A/B lead sleds. Class D by the way is not digital, it is analog PWM (pulse width modulation). The SMPS (Switch Mode Power Supply) is where the real weight savings comes in and there are SMPS class A/B "micros" available. Long made short, go out and listen/play a few with an open mind.

 

[Gaolee]

That's just a head. How are you going to move a head, your bass guitar, and a cabinet on mass transit? If I were in the position it sound like you plan to be in, I would look at a lightweight combo amp. I have a Carvin MB12 that is versatile and can make all kinds of sounds. It's more hi-fi than what you are looking for, but a pedal or two can modify the sound however you want. Carvin sells them for a little over $450 and they weigh a little over 30 lbs, including the drivers, cabinet, and everything else. Wouldn't have to go for a Carvin since there are plenty of other options that are similar.

Another thing that confuses me is why you have to decide what you need before you get to Philadelphia. If you live in the boonies now, but are going to be somewhere else soon, there's no reason not to buy what you need when you get there. Especially if that's the difference between buying blindly and having the ability to check things out before committing.

Am I missing something here?

 

[Gaolee]

Old tube amazing old solid state solid junk

Some old solid state is junk. Some is fantastic. Same with tube gear. 30 years from now, I have no doubt we will be saying the same thing about class D.

 

[Kmonk]

I'm not trying to insult anyone but if you want to be taken seriously as a musician, you have to upgrade. Keep the Silvertone for memories but I wouldn't be gigging with it.

 

[InhumanResource]

My best recommendation would be to trade me something cool for my Shuttle 6.2.

 

[PeteBass51]

I found one of these at a yard sale for 10 bucks. Kinda worked, pots were shot, tolex slightly ratty. Took it to a gig to see if it could drive a 15.
Some dude in the club came up and offered me 150.00 for it. Paid for almost half of my TC BG250 15.

 

[devnulljp]

Repair it, sell it, buy something else (Tone Hammer!)

 

[jjmuckluckjr]

Yo BassGreaser,
How do you expect to roll a combo and a bass on the El or Orange line let alone one of Septa's wonderful trolleys. Ditch the Silvertone, get a 100 or200 watt Rumble and a heavy duty folding luggage cart. Good luck til you get home sunshine, you probably haven't had a decent pizza let alone a cheesesteak out west. Don't let sentimentality crowd out practicality. Do your back and wallet a favor.

 

[BassGreaser]

Yo BassGreaser,
How do you expect to roll a combo and a bass on the El or Orange line let alone one of Septa's wonderful trolleys. Ditch the Silvertone, get a 100 or200 watt Rumble and a heavy duty folding luggage cart. Good luck til you get home sunshine, you probably haven't had a decent pizza let alone a cheesesteak out west. Don't let sentimentality crowd out practicality. Do your back and wallet a favor.

Luckjr, thanks brother. Yo, when I was living out in SW Philly I couldn't even get my upright bass on the trolley. Also no one knows about white and red pizza out here let alone a cheesesteak haha

 

[BassGreaser]

Also I was looking into getting a heavy duty folding cart to caring a Rumble 112 with the 400RB on top all strapped in.

My deal with new amps.. Is that most have way too many knobs and features that I'm not really interested in.

 

[jjmuckluckjr]

They probably think gravy is brown.

Those "new fangled" knobs are easier to use than you think. Take an afternoon, find your tone or three and stick with it.

 

[jjmuckluckjr]

Ampeg B15- 21"x 27"x 14", a whopping 76 lbs.
Rumble 500- 23"x 19"x 14", 36 lbs. The Rumble 200 - similar just 2 lbs lighter. The Rumble 100 only 22 lbs.

Who doesn't love the Ampeg sound? But humping that puppy and a bass on and off busses and trains is a fool's errand. The 500 will dominate 80% of the bars/ clubs/ venues here. They have PAs for the rest. The future is here brother, take advantage of it.

 

[BassGreaser]

LuckJr, you are right the Rumble is my best option. I'm just such a sucker for vintage technology. I'll probably end up getting the Rumble 200 when I move out there.