Double Bass Tube Amps For Double Bass

[Jefenator]

I used to swear by my G/K 150S. Then for a long time I used my Markbass LMII with the Acme 1x10.
I've been using this little combo since the beginning of the year:

I would not have predicted this to be the most workable pairing: a low-wattage amp with a notoriously inefficient cab. But onstage, it actually comes through quite nicely and I can move the whole rig (bass and all) in one trip!
This setup works particularly well in combos without a drummer, and/or in "cocktail Jazz" scenarios where the acceptable volume ceiling is quite low. For a little more volume, I swap in a larger, more efficient cab. (Aguilar GS112.) For yet more volume I also have a couple of larger tube heads, Sunn 200s and vintage Ampeg V-4B. (Though these are both somewhat beyond what I'd normally want to schlep for a Jazz gig - especially that Ampeg!)
I've settled on buffering my Fishman Full Circle pickup with an Fdeck. The high pass filter is pretty important - straight in to the head is much too boomy and undefined. (Also just found the signal is much hotter and clearer when I run the pickup straight in to the buffer - no 6' cable in between.)

I find I am now quite hooked on the response of an all-tube amp head. I find the amplified double bass feels more "acoustic" and dynamic - when I try my old solid state amps now it feels like there's something missing. Almost like I'm playing an electric bass (not in a good way). It will obviously never be the most practical way to go but there are multiple workable solutions and the benefits seem very real.

I'd be curious to hear from fellow double bassists with tube amp experience. What small cabs pair nicely? (Tweeter or no tweeter?) What other vintage heads are almost Jazz gig practical? How are those new Ampeg PF 20 & 50 heads working out?

 

[rllefebv]

I've used my PF50T / 115HE pair to good effect. The fdeck is mandatory with that setup! Like yourself, I have also used a Sunn 200S, and the incredibly simple EQ really works well with my bass. These don't get out much anymore... These days I am either straight to the PA or using a Rumble 40...

-robert

 

[Groove Doctor]

Calling @peterpalmieri


I'm quite surprised how good my Monique tube preamp with 700W Class D power amp sounds with DB + Fdeck.

My old Mesa WalkAbout was pretty nice as well. My Fender Studio Bass doesn't suit with DB though, despite the Fdeck.

 

[peterpalmieri]

Absolutely. I have done a complete 180 from years ago. A V4b with a sealed 210 or jule Monique m2500 with a Berg NV115. Always use my fdeck with either.

No more micro/neo for me. No Tweeters or ports.

 

[bdowd]

I also have gone tube, Ampeg pf50t into a Rumble 115 cab, full circle to headway or fdeck feeding the amp. I feel like I'm playing with a slightly lighter touch as the rig seems more sensitive.

 

[peterpalmieri]

I've had the opportunity to play a PF50T with electric bass and it sounds pretty close to the V4b. I'd suspect a 50T and a Nv115 would be a killer DB combo.

As @bdowd said the touch sensitivity is just amazing when you've got tubes. I try to set my volume pretty low on the amp so I can dig in and don't back off because of the amp. That way I continue to get a good solid pull on the spring and pulse. It's super natural feeling.

 

[Groove Doctor]

I have done a complete 180 from years ago.

Would you say you've done a Half Circle?

 

[james condino]

A Thunderfunk amp with a pair of ACME B1s sounds incredible. Something about a pair of B1s adds a whole different dimension of sound and output over just a single. I'd like to get another set so I have the option of scaling up 1-2-3 or 4 with the same voice, just pushing more air. The sound is different than using a B2 or B4, having all the additional mid and tweeters when you stack a pile of B1s.

 

[peterpalmieri]

Would you say you've done a Half Circle?

Haha.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

What, playing doublebass isn't arcane, cumbersome, bulky, heavy and expensive to maintain ENOUGH?

 

[D_Bag]

My traynor yba200 sounds surprisingly good with the upright.

 

[neal davis]

My doubling rig is a radial firefly tube di into a trace elliot v type tube pre, powered by a class d poweramp slaved from a traynor 400w head. Works great for both basses as the radial has two channels as well as a hpf. I've also had luck with an old fender bassman head.

 

[james condino]

What, playing doublebass isn't arcane, cumbersome, bulky, heavy and expensive to maintain ENOUGH?

Every time my bass leaves the house, it means that I'm getting paid to play VERY loud, catch a nice buzz, eat a great meal, and hang out with my homies laughing to an ocean of beautiful grindin' summer dress hipster girls; your post is a simple trade off that I gladly accept! Can I double the burden and get twice more return?????!

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

I wish you all the luck St. Christopher has to give.

My back says f*** that, somebody else can carry amps.

 

[james condino]

OK grandpa.....

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

It ain't the years that gets ya, it's the mileage.

Which makes me about 417.

 

[Ric Vice]

I wish you all the luck St. Christopher has to give.

My back says f*** that, somebody else can carry amps.

Agreed,
I've owned a Ampeg B-15N(C) since my college years. At the time, all of my gigs were on electric. In 1974-75 pickups just were in their infancy.
I had a Polytone, Barcus Berry, and a Tonengies Magnetic. By the time the Underwood pickups were avaliable, I already had a Walter Woods MI-100-8.
Thing is, once the Woods was on the market, the only thing holding back DB sound were the pickups and speaker cabinets. Carying around a 80 lb. B-15N
isn't something I care to do, considering how great newer amps sound. Just my take however. The B-15N(C) sounds great with a decent pickup.

Ric

 

[Jefenator]

Agreed,
I've owned a Ampeg B-15N(C) since my college years. At the time, all of my gigs were on electric. In 1974-75 pickups just were in their infancy.
I had a Polytone, Barcus Berry, and a Tonengies Magnetic. By the time the Underwood pickups were avaliable, I already had a Walter Woods MI-100-8.
Thing is, once the Woods was on the market, the only thing holding back DB sound were the pickups and speaker cabinets. Carying around a 80 lb. B-15N
isn't something I care to do, considering how great newer amps sound. Just my take however. The B-15N(C) sounds great with a decent pickup.

Ric

I am moderately fussy about portability and I would have to concur that the old Ampeg Portaflex amps don't appeal to me so much on a practical level. A friend of mine has a B-12 and cool as that is, I don't think it would fit very well into my Jazz gig flow. (I kind of like those modern rat fur cabs that I can leave in the back of my truck, rattling up against a bunch of stands.)
I certainly haven't tried everything solid state but I like to think I've been through the mill with it and I seem to keep coming back to the all-tube power section when I want that certain kind of response. At just over 21 pounds, I'd say the old Traynor is pretty manageable. (Balances well with the 28 pound Acme cab.)

 

[james condino]

Most of the new class D amps have a very pure sound- what goes in goes out. Have you tried them with a nice tube pre-amp to get that warmer sound?

 

[Jefenator]

Most of the new class D amps have a very pure sound- what goes in goes out. Have you tried them with a nice tube pre-amp to get that warmer sound?

I've done my share of mixing & matching rackmount gear. IME it's not necessarily about accuracy or warmth - it's the feel and dynamic response.
I've been a bit out of the loop the last few years but as my trusty old Markbass LMII approaches its 10th birthday, I wouldn't mind trying a new quasi-micro head with a serious tube pre and Class D power. Part of me wouldn't mind having that retire all the old tube heads, but I kind of doubt that will actually happen. (Kind of like that ultimate life-like grand piano sample they've been hyping since the 1980s - the closer they get, the farther away they get...)