Solid State/Tube Hybrid Amp Heads with Character?

[Deleted member 271037]

Sure, one of these!

View attachment 4947108

I've always wanted one of these! Having a solid state preamp and a tube OUTPUT stage they are of course a bit different than most hybrids. For guitar I always found these amps a bit "stiff" and lacking in warmth but I love them for bass.

They're not very portable (or particularly powerful) by modern standards though. I think most people looking at hybrids these days want more watts pr kg. With this size/weight you might as well go all-tube and get a 70s Bassman 100.

I still want one though!

 

[cjs2000]

Yknow, I've seen this amp before and it totally skipped my mind. Thanks!

I guess I should have posted a photo…

 

[mambo4]

this one [Genz-Benz Streamliner] is special and a "lifer" for me personally, it's got power and a unique warmth and tone that just works well with the music I play.

same here. I have literally stopped looking for other amps because of my SL 900.
Plus , even thought Genz-Benz is no more, they seemto have better customer service than larger , still in existence, companies.

 

[DJ Bebop]

If I run something in to the power amp in, does that get affected by the dampener control? If so, that interests me...

Yes, very much so and you go through the power tube emulation circuit mojo.

 

[Jeff Scott]

I've always wanted one of these! Having a solid state preamp and a tube OUTPUT stage they are of course a bit different than most hybrids. For guitar I always found these amps a bit "stiff" and lacking in warmth but I love them for bass.

I still want one though!

In the early '80s a friend and I did a bunch of recording of original material. He had a 112RD Sixty Five amp that sounded great for all the guitar work.

 

[57pbass]

Yes, but you'll have lifetime warranty...

I would imagine it being a super high quality product but shipping from the STATES to Italy for a repair could be tricky.

 

[agedhorse]

If I run something in to the power amp in, does that get affected by the dampener control? If so, that interests me...

Yes, the damping control is within the power amp, after the aux in and effects return.

 

[hennessybass]

Jad Freer Audio Sisma.

Haven’t seen one in US ..

There is a DI pedal version... I just saw posts on Instagram about it from Kevin Scott, Tim Lefebvre, and Sean Hurley all endorsing it.
I know Kevin Scott uses the amp as well as the pedal.

EDIT-- not sure how similar the DI and Amp are. The DI has a separate / bendable clean and dirty side.

 

[matbard]

There is a DI pedal version... I just saw posts on Instagram about it from Kevin Scott, Tim Lefebvre, and Sean Hurley all endorsing it.
I know Kevin Scott uses the amp as well as the pedal.

EDIT-- not sure how similar the DI and Amp are. The DI has a separate / bendable clean and dirty side.

The Sisma and the Capo (the pedal...) have completely different preamps.

Sisma has a tube preamp with a (modified) B-15 schematics, when the Capo is completely S/S

 

[matbard]

@Andrea Lo could explain the main differences

 

[Andrea Lo]

@Andrea Lo could explain the main differences

As you said they are completely different preamps. Sisma is a modified B15 with baxandall passive eq + two semiparametric bands of active eq. The capo is all SS, three different saturation circuits plus one clean preamp, blendable in parallel and series with different routings.

 

[Coot]

WD 800 is such an Awesome piece of gear…I think I’m going to buy the Subway 15 just to hear them paired together..

You won't regret it ..it's what I finally discovered after many years of trying different gear.

 

[tunewriter]

My GK MBFusion 500 makes every cabinet sound like it has a broken speaker. Even when I plug it directly into PA speakers. What could be causing this?

 

[agedhorse]

My GK MBFusion 500 makes every cabinet sound like it has a broken speaker. Even when I plug it directly into PA speakers. What could be causing this?

Have you considered limiting your question to a single thread?

 

[DJ Bebop]

Have you considered limiting your question to a single thread?

GK MB Fusion 500 problem
Bad noise/crackling from GK MB fusion 500, help!
GK 700RB-II vs MB500 or MBFusion
Solid State/Tube Hybrid Amp Heads with Character?

 

[LiptonJigglers]

Probably impossible to find outside of Australia but the VP600HP (top) by Lab Systems is Solid State that has a nice tube preamp.
I remember plugging into the SS600 (bottom) for the first time and bingo, instantly, there was the tones I was looking for. No messing around. No fighting with dials. Just pure unadulterated heavenly tone with no fuss.
Then came the VP600HP and whoa baby...
You'll find samples of these amps/cabs on early Silverchair and Killing Heidi albums.

 

[hennessybass]

Probably impossible to find outside of Australia but the VP600HP (top) by Lab Systems is Solid State that has a nice tube preamp.
I remember plugging into the SS600 (bottom) for the first time and bingo, instantly, there was the tones I was looking for. No messing around. No fighting with dials. Just pure unadulterated heavenly tone with no fuss.
Then came the VP600HP and whoa baby...
You'll find samples of these amps/cabs on early Silverchair and Killing Heidi albums.

View attachment 4956656

Those look very cool!

 

[gtirard]

As you said they are completely different preamps. Sisma is a modified B15 with baxandall passive eq + two semiparametric bands of active eq. The capo is all SS, three different saturation circuits plus one clean preamp, blendable in parallel and series with different routings.

I wonder why you didn't make a "Sisma Preamp", that would have allowed a modular config, like Sisma preamp + Coda = Sisma Amp?
Or you could have done a "Capo Amp" with Capo preamp and Coda power section in one unit?

 

[Andrea Lo]

I wonder why you didn't make a "Sisma Preamp", that would have allowed a modular config, like Sisma preamp + Coda = Sisma Amp?
Or you could have done a "Capo Amp" with Capo preamp and Coda power section in one unit?

It started like the idea to make a capo amp, then it felt better to have all that options on the pedal and not in an head. We'd like to make a tube pedal in the next future!

 

[gtirard]

It started like the idea to make a capo amp, then it felt better to have all that options on the pedal and not in an head. We'd like to make a tube pedal in the next future!

There is certainly a market for that!