I had a couple of Traynor tube amps back in the 70s and they were fantastic - good sounding and very reliable. They aren't as widely distributed as some other brands but you can probably get some decent deals on them.
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Tube head under 800$
- Thread starter Batsquatch
- Start date
My late 70s V4B was 685 shipped on talkbass and I just got an SVT 2 pro for 600 locally a couple months ago. Good deals are out there because people are tired of lugging heavy gear around. Be patient and you can find some really good amps in your range.
I picked up a clean, used 2005 made in USA SVT Classic for $800 about a year and a half ago. Admittedly, it took a little patience to find it, but it was worth the wait. I love it and regularly use it with two SVT 212AV cabinets or one SVT 810E. They can be found.
I've seen a doom band's bassist use a V4B. And it was damn loud. Of course, he was also using two big cabs.
If you are handy with a soldering iron, any Fender Twin Reverb? I've got a 69 I pulled the head out, and had the normal channel voiced to that of a SuperBassman...it kills
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My Opinion 300 tube power is similar to 1200 solidstate. as far as clean headroom if you want distortion I'd go for AMPEG V4b less head room quicker to distort. if you want to keep up with a couple of guitar stacks you need (2)810: you need more speakers not more amp.
Have any of you tried the Eden 300 WTB? It's all tube. Got nice accolades from a namm show a few years ago but nothing since.
I see these pop up from time to time, and have been tempted to get one but haven't heard much about them. If I remember correctly they are fairly light for a 300 watt tube head like 55-60 lbs.
Edit: Looks like there's one on Reverb Eden WTB-300V
You can easily find a Mesa 400+ or Ampeg SVT for $800 or under.
There was a newer 2-Pro on GC used for $650 last week. I'm not sure if it's still there.
My 400+ was $650 and every SVT II or II-Pro I've bought was $650-$750.
There was a newer 2-Pro on GC used for $650 last week. I'm not sure if it's still there.
My 400+ was $650 and every SVT II or II-Pro I've bought was $650-$750.
If not I'd just say wait it out and don't let that cash burn a hole in your pocket until you find what you really want. They show up all the time for those prices.
In my experience as a former V-4b owner, you'll get to pick one of the following problems with that head:
- Your bass sounds like a guitar (i.e. distorted with more midrange than low bass)
- You bass isn't terribly loud
- You have to use a bunch of huge/loud cabs
I've actually been seeing Mesa D-180/400/400+ heads in that range for awhile now. I'd been thinking of selling my D-180, but now they go for less than I paid for it a few years ago
(not really complaining, I love that thing)
