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The Eagle Has Landed!!! Sadowsky All-Tube Head!!!

#321
bucephylus said:
Thanks Tom. Did you do this? Were there any issues? Why wouldn't Roger just sell it this way? It's hard to believe the incremental cost increase would be a deciding factor.
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I have not done a swap yet, but I've talked about it with Roger and confirmed that it can be done. It is my understanding that the EL-34's were chosen for their tone, not for any cost issue. And I have to say, I can't argue with the results. While I am curious to hear how it sounds with a nice set of 6550's or KT-88's, I am so in love with the sound with EL-34's that I'm not really in any big rush to swap.

And I do think that it's plenty loud with the EL-34's (certainly louder than I expected). I look forward to trying it with an NV610 that I just picked up. According to Jim Bergantino, it should be a bit more efficient (with more motor area) and get louder with the SA200.

Tom.
 
#322
tombowlus said:
I have not done a swap yet, but I've talked about it with Roger and confirmed that it can be done. It is my understanding that the EL-34's were chosen for their tone, not for any cost issue. And I have to say, I can't argue with the results. While I am curious to hear how it sounds with a nice set of 6550's or KT-88's, I am so in love with the sound with EL-34's that I'm not really in any big rush to swap.

And I do think that it's plenty loud with the EL-34's (certainly louder than I expected). I look forward to trying it with an NV610 that I just picked up. According to Jim Bergantino, it should be a bit more efficient (with more motor area) and get louder with the SA200.

Tom.
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Thanks. I am also getting an NV610. In fact, that's the reason I'm asking all these pesky questions. I'll be interested to hear how yours matches up.
 
#323
Furthermore, I am mostly interested in tone more than volume. My sense is that the 6550's have more girth. A few weeks back, I happened to play through an SVT at the studio with my Tobias. The Barts really sat up and spoke with the beefy tube/sealed cab combo.
 
#324
HI

Hi Guys. Tried the amp again at the shop a couple Mondays ago. As soon as it makes financial sense, I'll be owning one. With all the gigs I play, Im sure I can find a few nights to lug it onstage! LOL. What tone!! Fantastic. Mates with a Sadowsky bass like magic

Rob
 
#325
tombowlus said:
I have not done a swap yet, but I've talked about it with Roger and confirmed that it can be done. It is my understanding that the EL-34's were chosen for their tone, not for any cost issue. And I have to say, I can't argue with the results. While I am curious to hear how it sounds with a nice set of 6550's or KT-88's, I am so in love with the sound with EL-34's that I'm not really in any big rush to swap.

And I do think that it's plenty loud with the EL-34's (certainly louder than I expected). I look forward to trying it with an NV610 that I just picked up. According to Jim Bergantino, it should be a bit more efficient (with more motor area) and get louder with the SA200.

Tom.
Click to expand...

I've got to second that about El-34s. Once I got my NV610, on a whim I tried my STT-1 preamp through my Herbert's power amp (Ruby EL-34B STR's) and my Mesa Dual Rectifier (JJ El-34's). What a sound! Really touch responsive, the more you dig in the better it sounds. I switched back to my K2/El Whappo for a comparison, and swiftly changed back. What used to sound good to me is history now, it lacks life. EL-34's rock! Plus a Jazz bass through this combo sounds awesome with a pick too, something I've been avoiding until now. I'll have a KT-88 loaded amp soon, I only hope that I don't lose too much tone for the sake of volume.

Just a point about "speed" of tube amps...using the STT-1 on the Class A solid state section, through a tube power amp and in to an NV610, there is NO loss of attack and speed IMO. Slapped notes exit like a cannonball (the VN610 is almost percussive it's so fast). Changing to the tube preamp section definitely slows the attack, with for me no perceived benefit for fingerstyle or other techniques. My opinion...it's the tube preamp that loses speed, not the poweramp. Tube poweramps just sound better in every way to me, although YMMV.
 
#326
bikeplate said:
Mates with a Sadowsky bass like magic
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I'm all about finding gear that matches up well together, and it's not surprising to hear heads and cabs from a given company sound especially great together (EA, for instance), but I must emphasize how absolutely magical the SA200 made my Sadowsky bass sound. I'm sure that Roger worked from what he knows best when voicing the SA200, and this may explain this phenomena, but as much as I liked my 25th Anniversary 24F 5 with other amps, it's just glorious with the SA200. I can't wait to hear it with a Sadowsky 4x10! :bassist:
 
#330
I think it depends a lot on plate voltage. My Herbert with 6 x EL-34s is 150Watts (plate voltage = 480Volts), at a guess around 250 Watts with KT-88s, whereas a V6 outputs 380Watts with 6 x KT-88s, it's plate voltage is much higher (600Volts+??).
 
#331
link wray said:
There must be some pretty impressive technology in this amp for it to be rated 200 watts... my (vintage) tube amp with 6 EL 34's is only rated 120 watts. I guess 30+ years of progress certainly makes a difference!
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Tubes have a limit to the power they can dissipate but they can be used in circuits that operate them at various ranges of their power dissipation capability.
 
#335
bikeplate said:
HI

Hi Guys. Tried the amp again at the shop a couple Mondays ago. As soon as it makes financial sense, I'll be owning one. With all the gigs I play, Im sure I can find a few nights to lug it onstage! LOL. What tone!! Fantastic. Mates with a Sadowsky bass like magic

Rob
Click to expand...


Played it at NAMM. Sounded fantastic. Not sure I'd buy one because it doesn't make sense my situation BUT it is an awesome amp. Jorg Schroeder loved it too.
 
#340
jdwinva said:
Is the SA-200's power enough to compete with a rabid drummer and screaming loud guitarist?
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From Tom's earlier posts and my discussions with him, I do not get the feeling that this head is meant for that applications. I believe Tom described the output as 'a little more than the recently discontinued Ag all tube head... I forgot the number). That head have relativley soft output, but amazing tone. I would guess the Sadowsky would be similar... very warm, full, fat, but not 'SVT screaming.
 

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