I agree about the Prodigy. I've tried one, and it is awesome, and pretty loud too, but I have a hard time paying that much $$. I have a TH 500 currently. Pretty good amp, but after hearing a a DB75x a couple times doing sound for bands in the past, its not the "mini" DB that some people say it is.
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Solid state/class d vs tube amps
- Thread starter Sparkl
- Start date
- Feb 21, 2013
- 23
- 81
- Disclosures
- owner Demeter Amplification
If you want the best of the best. I never heard anything that sounded better than My HBP-1 running my 300 watt all tube power amplifier but coming in at over 60 pounds, I sure wouldn't want to be moving it.As always, many will agree with you and many won't. I would pretty much always prefer a hybrid setup over a full-on SS setup, sure, but there's just something about a good full-on tube amp that makes me have to play them. That said, on today's gig, it's outdoors and the stage is way too tiny for 8 people so I'm bringing my little 25w SS practice amp
You'd be surprised by how long they do last. 75% of the time tubes do not need to be changed when someone changes them. They can indeed last for 20yrs or more. Of course this depends on what tube it is and a number of other factors that I'm not going to get into. But the typical people change tubes around the 5yr mark. I take their old tubes and use them.
In comparison many people use a car till around 100,000 miles let's say, well these tubes being swapped at 5yr mark is about 10,000 miles on your car saying it should be junked. Well maybe not that much but you get the idea. Tubes last for a long time if their quality stuff, and taken care of. But if let's say you live in Chicago, and it's winter, and the amps been sitting in your car trunk all day cause you got a gig that night, and have to cruise to show right after work. So you get to the show plug in your gear and turn it on before it's had a chance to warm up to room temp naturally. Well that's gonna put a lot of stress on your tube, which will make it burn out faster. That's just one way of ruining your tubes mind you, but you get my gums flapping.
Now if you just don't like tubes..hey everyone likes different shite, to each their own. I will say that Solid State is cleaner that tubes so on the lows you get more fidelity, well and all around, and that by putting a tube pre in their you can have both to a certain degree. But don't be kidding yourself when a chick tells you it's not about size, she's just being nice! It's always about size! Bigger is always better! And that my friends is a fact! Well most of the time, I'm hung like a 5yr old so.....hahahaha
If you don't wanna lug around a 100lb, 2000$ head then stick with the 5lb chepo heads, as long as they work for you.
Still Aguilar makes the 751 head and it's one of my favorite heads ever, (have heard many you probably have never heard of, not all by any means, just a reference)and it's about 50lbs with just 3 tubes in the preamps stage. So it ain't super light by any means. But it sounds amazing! One of the best instances of blending the 2 technologies together imo. But opinions are like as*holes, everyone's get one....
Now for me I ,obviously from my above post, have never found a light amp that sounds better than a heavy amp! Whether it's all tube, or a hybrid they're gonna be heavy and big. Don't get me wrong I hate lugging around my 80lb Accugroove El Whappo, and my 70lb Fender SuperBassman, but I'm a tone slut. I just can't find any combo or small rig that can at least passably sound decent! The less speakers you have the less air you move, the smaller your transformers the thinner your sound. It's just physics really. Really wish TV manufacturers would figure this out. Rather have a 100lb tv, than a 1lb tv that I can't freaking hear! Micro this and micro that...it's so annoying. And I'd rather have a 2lb phone than a 1/16th of a pound phone that I can't freaking hear! Oh btw get some good earplugs! Earasers are super comfortable, way more than the Eytomic Research ones.
Yes, and some people don't seem to hear it at all. That's the part I find difficult to understand. Respectfully. Night and day difference. I'm happy to schlep the weight and bulky-ness in and out of clubs. And I'm throwing no stones here. I've heard Class D amps sound really good. They make nice backup amps. It fits under the passenger seat and just stays there. Except that.....
I haven't had a tube amp fail me yet. Set up right, tube amps are as reliable as a passive bass <grin>. For sound and string feel and fatness and timbre and overtones and compression and growl-capability.....night and day difference. And tonal adjustability. Certainly the vintage Ampegs, anyway.
My humble opinion.
Passinwind
I know nothing.
- Dec 3, 2003
- 23,042
- 45,890
- Disclosures
- Designer/Toaster Tech @ Passinwind Electronics
Lots of us do hear it though, and simply don't prefer it for our playing situations.
+1
this is why i always bring my ampeg to a gig. if you're gonna play, sound as good as possible, every time.
Not in my experience. Dropped my D-180 while on tour. Finished the tour and then went another year before having to go to the tech.
You don't have to baby tube amps.
I prefer an SS pre through tube power rather than the reverse, personally.As always, many will agree with you and many won't. I would pretty much always prefer a hybrid setup over a full-on SS setup, sure, but there's just something about a good full-on tube amp that makes me have to play them. That said, on today's gig, it's outdoors and the stage is way too tiny for 8 people so I'm bringing my little 25w SS practice amp
For whatever reason, tube heads seem to handle fuzz pedals better, too.
Yes. Yes, you should. When it affects you like that, yep. Go for it! Be happy. There are lighter amps. I love my Walkabout and I'd love to own one of these…
All Tube Bass Amp Series | MESA/Boogie®
I guess I am the odd duck. My first bass amp was my dad's 60 's Ampeg B 15n he used for his piano. I was never happy with it. Not because I was a kid into rock which I was but, I also played blues and did some jazz, swing dates with my dad. I found the amp lacking power (duh) and (here it comes, don't kill me) tone :Ol. Sure I was young but, that "tone" was never in my head. I get the blooming fuzzy thing that folks crave, even today. I guess it's not for me all the time. It is a texture. I always was looking for a full clean sound. Powerful enough that I don't need to rely on even harmonic distortion to add definition to my notes or to stand out in the mix. I always was looking for a hi fi back though the mix monitor sound before I knew that was what I was looking for. Old guy now, I love all the high power clean stuff. I know crazy talk huh.
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You ever hear a B-15 with a speaker level DI going through a nice PA or studio monitors? You'd change your mind about thinking it's not hi-fi right quick! Ask Charlie
Passinwind
I know nothing.
- Dec 3, 2003
- 23,042
- 45,890
- Disclosures
- Designer/Toaster Tech @ Passinwind Electronics
Crazy? Not in my world. My first "real amp" was a B-15 too, and I couldn't get rid of it fast enough. Like so many other pieces of gear, sounds fab in other peoples' hands though, of course.
Passinwind
I know nothing.
- Dec 3, 2003
- 23,042
- 45,890
- Disclosures
- Designer/Toaster Tech @ Passinwind Electronics
You ever hear a B-15 with a speaker level DI going through a nice PA or studio board? You'd change your mind about thinking it's not hi-fi right quick! Ask Charlie
It can be, absolutely. Not in my hands though.
I do but it seems that more and more I run a very mild overdrive. I'd say it's on about 80% of the time these days. Can't really tell it's on, though...until I turn it off
Well, clean as defined by the various "hi-fi" rigs I've heard over the years and DI sounds. DI sounds especially I think sound like crap.I do but it seems that more and more I run a very mild overdrive. I'd say it's on about 80% of the time these days. Can't really tell it's on, though...until I turn it off
I used to think so, too. Turns out it doesn't if you throw a butt-ton of money at it to de-hi-fi it
I still prefer micing but I have come to enjoy the DI sounds I get a lot more than I used to, thanks to the REDDI and speaker level tube amp DIing. And high and low pass filters to cut out the freqs I don't like. Anyone who says tube amps don't do hi-fi never heard one speaker DI'd, so the H and LPF are a necessity if you don't give a rat's ass about pure clean sound 
I play bass a lot at different kinds of gigs. I use a Genz-Benz Streamliner 900 or my Custom made all tube Organdonor Amp. Tube amps just have that tone that satisfies !! You need both! I use a LDS 15/6 and a custom made 4x10. Tubes my friend!! You can also change the character of your amp swapping pre and power tubes..
I used to think so, too. Turns out it doesn't if you throw a butt-ton of money at it to de-hi-fi it
I set my HPF to 20kHz and everyone said my bass sound was much improved.
I do but it seems that more and more I run a very mild overdrive. I'd say it's on about 80% of the time these days. Can't really tell it's on, though...until I turn it off
That's the thing. Drive makes the sound immediately fatter and beefier and mire dynamic. I also can't live without a bit of drive. If you turn it off, the sound immediately becomes boring and much thinner.
