Smaller lighter tube amp?

[mellowgerman]

Do yourself a favor and check out an old guild tube amp. Thunderbass and Thunderstar Bass models are amazing. They're very affordable and light too.
I owned a Thunderstar Bass amp and can't say enough good things about it. It's 55watts but has sooo much low end power, it's unbelievable. Perfect amp for small gigs. I think it weighed about 37 lbs.

 

[gbarchus]

I use an Eden VT300 and a Sadowsky SA200. ...both at around 40 lbs.

Gale

 

[Tom Howland]

Ashdown is coming out with a new line of tube heads.

200 watt, 300 watt 427 watt.

Spring 2010.

 

[Rumblefisher]

Tecamp bad bull... it's not under $1000 though. Carvin has two that are pretty light as far as tube amps go. B1500 and B2000. Doubt they are pure tube...but the VT pedal will get you there, and tube amps don't have nearly as many watts as these Carvins do. Also, they fit the budget. (FYI, I'm a tube amp guy, but they do have the shortcomings of being heavy and must be treated with lots of care respect...well, all gear should).

 

[CapnSev]

I think you should take a serious look at the Walkabout. I know it doesn't have a tube power section, but it is really close to sounding tube to me. In fact, it's so close, I wouldn't consider an all-tube amp over it.

(IMO, and IME of course.)

 

[LuvMusic]

Ashdown is coming out with a new line of tube heads.

200 watt, 300 watt 427 watt.

Spring 2010.

AND, just for fun, a 30 watt. Here's a link where you can find more info, if desired.

http://www.ashdownmusic.com/press/releases/newvalveseries/index.asp

 

[disssa]

EBS Classic T90

 

[funkifiedsoul]

If you're like me, it's beyond your budget, but thought i'd share for interest sake. Click "images" on the left to see some tube beauties.

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[LuvMusic]

If you're like me, it's beyond your budget, but thought i'd share for interest sake. Click "images" on the left to see some tube beauties.

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YUP, both this and the EBS look very nice and out of my price range. Well, one can dream.

 

[sunbeast]

If you're like me, it's beyond your budget, but thought i'd share for interest sake. Click "images" on the left to see some tube beauties.

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Wow...for fun I personalized one on that page with all the most expensive options- only $55,600!

I wonder how it makes an electric bass sound like an upright? Or why you would even want that degree of coloration from the "only" true hi-fi amp ever made specifically for bass?

Still pretty cool looking at the least!

Karl

 

[thedude77md]

Mesa made the Buster 200 watt tube bass combo. You may be able to find them used.

There is a Buster1 x 15" combo at the Towson GC here in Baltimore which I do not think is too far from the OP. It used to be mine actually! Sweet amp.

 

[chimpbass]

The Peavey VB-3 is 300w all tube and weighs under 40lbs, thanks to some sort of newfangled switching power supply. Their VB-2 is 225w tube and weighs under 60lbs.

 

[A_E_A]

AND, just for fun, a 30 watt. Here's a link where you can find more info, if desired.

http://www.ashdownmusic.com/press/releases/newvalveseries/index.asp

Interesting the 30w little bastards eq goes Mid Bass then treble. Odd...

Same with the 427 and sfter the eq it has gain then master.

yet the 200 and 400 have a more traditional layout. curious...

 

[Korladis]

From what I read, your Ampeg weighs in at 80lbs. Here are few that weigh quite a bit less:

Eden WTB300V 41bls 320w [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Sunn 2000 65lbs. 120w
Markbass Classic 300 48lbs. 300w@2/4ohms 175w@8ohms [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Traynor YBA 200-2 41lbs. 200w 2/4/8 ohmshttp://www.traynoramps.com/products.asp?type=5&cat=40&id=399
Reeves Custom 225 59lbs [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Orange 200B/Mk3 59lbs http://www.orangeamps.com/products.asp?Action=View&ID=79
Peavey VB-3 37 lbs 300w Invalid Link Removed Invalid Link Removed

Here's more to look at: http://www.bassplayer.com/article/all-tube-bass/jun-08/85595

Or maybe a SS amp with a tube pre-amp will work for you (there are a bunch out there). Here's one:
Aguilar db 751 42lbs (975watts@2ohms) [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Good list. Mesa Bass 400 and D-180 are both about 40 something pounds as well.

 

[Korladis]

Interesting the 30w little bastards eq goes Mid Bass then treble. Odd...

Same with the 427 and sfter the eq it has gain then master.

yet the 200 and 400 have a more traditional layout. curious...

My Mesa goes mid, bass, treble. Old SVT's go Treble, Mid, Bass

 

[EthanTheHeathen]

There is a Buster1 x 15" combo at the Towson GC here in Baltimore which I do not think is too far from the OP. It used to be mine actually! Sweet amp.

There is also a Buster 1x15 combo for sale/trade by me in the classifieds here.

I'm just now starting to warm up to the possibility of shipping this. It'll be expensive though . . . But still, well under the $1000 budget mentioned . . .

 

[jokerjkny]

Tecamp bad bull... it's not under $1000 though. Carvin has two that are pretty light as far as tube amps go. B1500 and B2000. Doubt they are pure tube...but the VT pedal will get you there, and tube amps don't have nearly as many watts as these Carvins do. Also, they fit the budget. (FYI, I'm a tube amp guy, but they do have the shortcomings of being heavy and must be treated with lots of care respect...well, all gear should).

the bad bull is definitely something i want to check out...

courtesy of bassgear mag:


a weirdo amp with what's normally a guitar amp power amp tube, i.e. the EL84, into a much more powerful, but much lighter class D power section? color me fascinated...