Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
solid state or tube?
- Thread starter Asa Samuel
- Start date
Mesa Bass 400 with the Ric
GK 800RB with my Precision
They Mesa is kinda like the GK of Tube amps - it sounds very clear, but distorts in a really cool way - grindy and nasty
They are both nice for rock
Mesa Bass 400 - Paul D'Amour
GK 800RB - Duff McKagan
See? Tube and S.S. can coexist
GK 800RB with my Precision
They Mesa is kinda like the GK of Tube amps - it sounds very clear, but distorts in a really cool way - grindy and nasty
They are both nice for rock
Mesa Bass 400 - Paul D'Amour
GK 800RB - Duff McKagan
See? Tube and S.S. can coexist
i recently switched from hybrid to all tube.
there is no substitute for that barky larky tone that comes from power tubes turned
up loud!
its heavy but its a keeper you know. i may buy a used SS as a alt/backup someday , but i would not likely sell the tube amp
there is no substitute for that barky larky tone that comes from power tubes turned
up loud!
its heavy but its a keeper you know. i may buy a used SS as a alt/backup someday , but i would not likely sell the tube amp
I'm one to be going along with dave on this one as well, must be an ACG user thing. Theres alot of intrest on basschat.
Spoke to Dave about some of his new concepts and got completely won over by his new design. I was very much after the best of both worlds tube tone in a lighter smaller box.
I've always been taken in by the valve tone but settled on hybrid to cut down on cost, size and weight. So I think this will be the answer Im looking for.
I have received a few questions about my new design from members so I hope this helps.
I think the important thing to remember with the DHA VT5-400-Bass is that it is a tube amp as it has a tube output stage that then feeds a class D 400W power stage. This way you get the nice warm output tube distortion which SS and modelling just can't do but it doe's not cost as much as a high volume all tube head.
You can also get volume levels of over 300W which most tube amps have a problem with, in fact I am offering 180W, 400W and 700W versions but the only limit is on the SS modules available. So, 1KW and Stereo versions are also options. Another version will not have the SS power stage, just low power speaker out, DI and Line out so you can use existing power amps, PA or even mic a tube driven speaker cab for recording.
The tube output stage I am using is a Mullard EL90 which provides about 2-3 watts driven and up to 2 watts clean which can drive a cab, this is neat for playing at home. The pre-amp, compressor and FX loop are all tube as well so a pure tube signal path is provide all the way to the output transformer and dummy load. The signal to SS power stage, DI and line out are all taken at the dummy load on the tube output transformer so keeping the tube and output transformer tone in tact. This is where hybrid amps differ as they are normally tube pre-amp only and so not producing tube output distortion just pre-amp distortion.
We have a manufactoring site in the US now and these new products are available via them.
Dave at DHA
Link?
Link Removed - nothing on there yet about the amps as they are so new, should be there within 2 weeks. But we are taking orders.
[email protected] - Donn Hall in the US.
Any questions on the amps I am happy to answer via this forum or direct via the website
Dave
I voted SS, but I also have a "hybrid" amp with a tube preamp section. I'm not sure how much this affects the tone compared to the mos-fet SS amp section, but my Eden 550 has a much rounder warmer tone to my ear than my Thunderfunk.
I love them both in different ways.
to further explain the comment above... One time while borrowing a Eden wt300 (similar tone but less power than 550) I needed more power, so I connected the headphone output to my stewart world 1.2 amp, at the time, and got more volume, but lost quite a bit of "eden tone". so maybe the SS Mosfet amp design does have an effect on tone...??? or is stewart drying out the tone?? not sure...
I love them both in different ways.
to further explain the comment above... One time while borrowing a Eden wt300 (similar tone but less power than 550) I needed more power, so I connected the headphone output to my stewart world 1.2 amp, at the time, and got more volume, but lost quite a bit of "eden tone". so maybe the SS Mosfet amp design does have an effect on tone...??? or is stewart drying out the tone?? not sure...
Well, the Stewart would have been expecting a line-input level signal, and the headphone out on your Eden wouldn't have been line out. Yes, there is a difference.
It's comments like these that worry me when people talk about AB'ing various equipment, or just test driving equipment.
This makes at least 3 Manufacturers doing this kind of small tube amp followed by SS power amp.
Are DHA amps using an internal reactive dummy load to simulate the speaker impedance curve?
It sounds like it's a class-a tube amp?
I will actually disagree with you on the "modelling just can't do", but I doubt there will be any blind tests soon to prove either way. Both technologies feed off each other and fuel a lot of profitable products.
from the Eden 550 manual: "Headphone Jack Accepts a standard ¼ inch stereo or mono headphone plug. It can also be used as a Master Output send to slave another amplifier."
see page 5
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Why would eden suggest something that would not yield good sound? BTW it sounded good, loud, etc, just not same fatness of the eden speaker output.
Hi,
Yes, there is an internal reactive dummy load.
Yes, it's a singled end class A tube output stage. I fit a Mullard EL90 but this can be swapped for a 6AQ5A, 6HG5 or 6005 for different tones.
I only say modelling just can't do it as Line 6 say it as well and now make valve amps. But, I agree some modelling can be very good if used correctly.
Dave at DHA
i've tried tube amps but they are just too heavy and fragile for the road. i use a crown power amp with a BBE pre
Who are the other two? I find this very interesting even though I'm quite happy at the moment and the gear budget is at an all time low.
Tec Amp
http://www.tec-amp.de/
Warwick
http://www.warwickbass.com/amps/tubepath10-1.htm
Neither is that cheap, although this technique does have the potential to be produced at a fairly low cost.
For example, Use a Epiphone Valve Jr, into a reactive dummy load,
http://www.duncanamps.com/technical/dummyload.html
Followed by a DI that feeds a power amp.
I play SS but I prefer all tube heads. I just don't like the extra weight and bulk of the all tube heads .
My current SS pre/power set up is almost as heavy as most tube heads but it's in a 4 space rack that is easier to move around than an SVT.
I'm waiting for that 37 lb Peavey VB3 to come out before I make the move to an all tube head.
My current SS pre/power set up is almost as heavy as most tube heads but it's in a 4 space rack that is easier to move around than an SVT.
I'm waiting for that 37 lb Peavey VB3 to come out before I make the move to an all tube head.
