I’m looking for suggestions for tube power amps. Currently using Tech21 nyc preamp pedal, toggling between 800 rb and tonehammer for power, Mesa Boogie 4x10 cab. Want to get away from solid state, and go tube. So far, I’m interested in the svt 300 power amp, but find them hard to come by. Any tips, suggestions, or advice would be appreciated.
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Tube power amps
- Thread starter georgejonestown
- Start date
Worth it? Yes, definitely.
Case in point? This guy, right here. The best sounding preamp I've ever played through, and all-tube:
Indeed, try some compression in the loop of a solid state amp, maybe some saturation from a tube mic pre, get someone to try to match EQ then blind A/B. I've done this (apart from the blind bit) and decided it wasn't worth the back pain. This was relative to lead sled amps, though.
A tube preamp is a completely different case than a tube power amp, which is what the OP was asking about, and to which @bassdude51 was referring.
I was referring to the general weight idea of tube amps, be they power or pre-. The DB680 weight is similar in respects to a regular all-tube power amp.
While that's true, I would actually argue that 200 watts is the sweet spot for tube amps. However, 100 tube watts is plenty of power unless you're outdoors and don't have PA support. That being said, if you feel like you need the almighty 300 then go for it.
I don't know of any current production big tube power amps meant for MI use.
Vintage options to consider:
Vintage options to consider:
- Ampeg SVT 300 (SVT power section 300W)
- Mesa M180 (D180 power section 180W)
- Mesa Strategy 400 (200W pc stereo)
- Mesa Strategy 500 (200W pc stereo)
- Rivera TBR-5 (160W pc stereo)
- Aguilar DB728 (400W)
- Demeter VTHF300M (300W) (Vintage King lists this model for $3K and indicates it will be drop shipped from Demeter)
I’ve made do in the past with a 125 a side power amp back in the rack days, and have a functioning Sunn 2000s rig, with the proper JBL’s, at 120 watts(a 60 watt 200s as well), and it’s fine for going up against 2x12” guitar combos.
Ha! I was thinking along similar lines.
- Apr 29, 2003
- 9,074
- 9,790
- Disclosures
- Contributor- Bass Musician Magazine | Marketing Manager- Trickfish Amplification
I haven’t had a good opportunity to A/B the Demeter vs the Aguilar tube power amps personally. I seem to remember someone telling me that the Demeter is a bit more detailed and open than the Aguilar but I can’t confirm. I have played the Demeter about a dozen times over the years and every time I can’t stop playing, it’s such a fantastic sounding and feeling amplifier and it seems to make everything (bass, preamp, cab) sound better. I’d love to own one but it feels like too much of a luxury these days, and I’m happy enough with my other stuff that I don’t go looking.
The delta on weight between a tube bass amp head and a tube power amp isn't worlds apart. At this point you might as well get an all-tube amp. The Sansamp pedals are trying to replicate the sound of a tube amp anyways, so...why settle on the pre section? 
This is akin to threads where people ask which power amp to use for their rig. With the Effects Loop being a standard feature on many modern bass amps, you can get 500w+ in a sub-10lb package...with a bass preamp section on-tap if needed. It makes a lot more sense to shoulder the (maybe) 5-10% price difference and get the full on bass head. In some cases, the head is actually cheaper.
I'll also echo that just because you show up with it, doesn't mean the Sound Tech is going to allow it to go raging on-stage. Most of us have been handed the passive DI box after schlepping our whole rig onto stage before. How cool are you gonna be with an instant 180 in that situation?
Forgive me if this has been asked already, but what cabs (hopefully it's plural) are you using for this? You could have an insanely great preamp and amp, but if it's going through two Behringer Ultrabass 1x15s you're absolutely wasting time, money, and energy Sam Altman needs to help get more people fired and replaced by OpenA.I.
This is akin to threads where people ask which power amp to use for their rig. With the Effects Loop being a standard feature on many modern bass amps, you can get 500w+ in a sub-10lb package...with a bass preamp section on-tap if needed. It makes a lot more sense to shoulder the (maybe) 5-10% price difference and get the full on bass head. In some cases, the head is actually cheaper.
I'll also echo that just because you show up with it, doesn't mean the Sound Tech is going to allow it to go raging on-stage. Most of us have been handed the passive DI box after schlepping our whole rig onto stage before. How cool are you gonna be with an instant 180 in that situation?
Forgive me if this has been asked already, but what cabs (hopefully it's plural) are you using for this? You could have an insanely great preamp and amp, but if it's going through two Behringer Ultrabass 1x15s you're absolutely wasting time, money, and energy Sam Altman needs to help get more people fired and replaced by OpenA.I.
Possibly recollection of this review: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/tu...hf-300m-vs-aguilar-db728.192751/#post-2251125
- Apr 29, 2003
- 9,074
- 9,790
- Disclosures
- Contributor- Bass Musician Magazine | Marketing Manager- Trickfish Amplification
Maybe so. I haven’t seen that TB member in a hot minute, joker was always a great source of well informed info
edwinhurwitz
Supporting Member
My ultimate goal of a tube amp is a McIntosh MC3500. 350 watts of pure tube power:
- Power Output: 350 Watts into 2, 4, or 8 Ohms.
- Frequency Response: +0, -0.5dB (20Hz-20kHz); +0, -3dB (10Hz-70kHz).
- Total Harmonic Distortion: <0.15% (250mW to rated power, 20Hz-20kHz).
- Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 95dB.
If you're close by Portland I have an M190 gathering dust you're welcome to try. Or maybe I should try it 
That looks a bit like an industrial fridge or something. Probably weighs the same
Yeah, I had a couple of these. It was all fun until the tubes went bad and I had to replace them.
<phonecall>
Tube Amp Doctor, how can I help you?
I'm looking for KT150 tubes, premium ones.
Not a problem. You need just one or a matched pair?
Matched would be nice, but I need more than a pair.
A Quartett?
No, a Sexdecuple. And make that two, I run a stereo setup.
Beep Beep Beep.
Hello? You still there?
I have nothing constructive to contribute regarding suggestions for a vacuum tube power amp that has not already been said, but since people are posting photos of some interesting amplifiers, I will post this one, (which I may have gotten right here on TB).
The photo does not show the external power supply that powers this 500w/channel Brownout 1000 from Wolf Insanity Amplification.
Here is a link to more info:
The photo does not show the external power supply that powers this 500w/channel Brownout 1000 from Wolf Insanity Amplification.
Here is a link to more info:
acro
oestex.com
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