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
Post #7
For that price I need it to mow my lawn, shovel my driveway and correct all my bad notes.
- Apr 29, 2003
- 9,074
- 9,790
- Disclosures
- Contributor- Bass Musician Magazine | Marketing Manager- Trickfish Amplification
I have an Eden 1250 with the Navi preamp. If you measure a rig by having a huge sound and weight, it’s got lot of both. Best amp I’ve ever owned.
Ah yes
YBA300
Find A Dealer300 Watt Tube Bass Head
The all-tube Traynor YBA300 300-watt bass head has been designed from the ground up to be the ultimate high-power head for the working musician. Built for unmatched reliability in real world heavy-use touring environments, the designers of the YBA300 understand how important it is to make sure your amp is ready for action every night.Highly effective and straightforward tube bias adjust with clear and concise LED display ensure any player can easily adjust pairs of the YBA300s power tubes without fear. LED indicators on the rear of the amp show proper tube function and status. In rare cases where a tube may fail, the YBA300 will lock out the problem tube and its partner, allowing the amp to finish the show on the remaining active tubes. LED display clearly shows which tube needs service.
The stock YBA300 ships with twelve hand-selected and tested 6L6 power tubes, delivering a truly classic hi-fi smooth tube tone. For players looking for a more aggressive bass sound, the stock 6L6 tubes can be easily changed to any high quality EL34 tube set and be re-biased in the field, making the YBA300 essentially two amps in one versatile chassis.
Features
- 300 Watt All-Tube Bass Amp
- Delivers Maximum Power at 2 or 4 ohms
- Comes Stock with 3 x 12AX7, 1 x 12AU7 and 12 x 6L6 Tubes
- 6L6 Power Tubes Can Be Swapped for EL34 Tubes for Different Amp Character
- Individual bias adjust with indicator LEDs for Output Tubes
- Tube Lockout for each Pair of Output Tubes removes damaged tubes from signal path allowing amp to continue operation in emergencies
- Gain, Bass, Sweep-Mid, Treble and Master Controls
- Deep, Bright, Resonance Tone Shaping Controls
- Pre/Post EQ DI Output, Effects loop, Tuner Output
- 1/4-inch and Speakon™ Output Connectors
- Made In Canada
Specifications
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That looks a bit like an industrial fridge or something. Probably weighs the same
I bet it sounds lot better than an industrial fridge though
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Passinwind
I know nothing.
- Dec 3, 2003
- 23,049
- 45,917
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- Designer/Toaster Tech @ Passinwind Electronics
I posted a a TB thread on that amp several years ago, and the builder even joined TB at my invitation to participate: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/2-x-500-watt-diy-tube-bass-amp.997793/
He also brought it out to a TB GTG here, which was big fun.
Depends - if you are in an old-style noise-based industrial band the sound of an industrial fridge being hit by hammers might be exactly what you are looking for. It also permits a dramatic entrance (or not - see Spinal Tap).I bet it sounds lot better than an industrial fridge though
Not 17, but...
Trainor YBA100 is 22 lbs.
Trainor YBA200 is 29 lbs.
Mesa Prodigy 250 is 29 lbs.
These are light compared to usable live rig tube amps of the decades before.
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It just doesn't make sense to put a solid state preamp onfront of a 'big' tube power section. Those old Musicman amps that were factory made ss front/tube rear were poor sellers, and its stands to reason why if anything people put tube pre's onto solid state power.
Sansamps were modeled to sound like an Ampeg, why not just get an SVT if you're willing to haul that heavy of an amp.
Or, simply look at other full tube amp offerings since there is more to life than Ampeg. I'm a Mesa guy myself. The Prodigy is a great club working amp: tubes are not really expensive from Eurotubes, and they would test them for me if I had any concerns. Also the amp had on-board bias setting capability. It was a very easy rig to own and use for many years, I was playing it for 60-70 gigs a year while it had that.
Sansamps were modeled to sound like an Ampeg, why not just get an SVT if you're willing to haul that heavy of an amp.
Or, simply look at other full tube amp offerings since there is more to life than Ampeg. I'm a Mesa guy myself. The Prodigy is a great club working amp: tubes are not really expensive from Eurotubes, and they would test them for me if I had any concerns. Also the amp had on-board bias setting capability. It was a very easy rig to own and use for many years, I was playing it for 60-70 gigs a year while it had that.
Wow. Had no idea that there were modern tube amps in that weight range. Must be using switched-mode power supplies.
That may have something to do with the timing of their release and also reliability issues. It may also have something to do with the tendency of tube lovers to believe solid state in the signal path always sucks.
My recollection is interest in tubes was dying down over the life of those amps. Also those amps run rather high voltages and are said to be tough on tubes. What was the quality of tubes at the time.
A lot of people who consider themselves all-tube lovers have the perception that driving a big tube output section is where the magic happens...as opposed to preamp drive.
It's been a long time since I demoed one of the Music Man reverse-hybrids amps. I remember it sounding fabulous...sounded very HiFi and clean to me.
To be honest I am more of a solid state guy as I prefer the feeling of massive headroom. I like being able to adjust my volume to meet changing stage levels without it having a huge impact on my tone/feel. For live performance, I dislike the specific quality tube lovers tend to want.
I own a bunch of amps, mostly all-tube amps. NO reverse hybrids in my collection. I do have one on my bucket list: Ashdown BTA 400. Same output section as my Small Block 427. I believe it has the Mk III EVO preamp. I don't assume I would actually love the tone of the EVO preamp, but that's not why I won't it in my collection. Part of me likes weird and unusual stuff
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I’d recommend a good tube preamp with tube character and a PA as a power amp. I did that for years. I have an SVT, nice amp, but consider the cost of retubing a 300W power amp.
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This is the power section from my entry level 300 watt all tube Bugera BVV3000 infinium SVT Classic clone. By a fair margin, the best sounding amp I've owned.
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