Tube Rectified bass head.

[Wasnex]

Somewhere in another thread I posted a couple of photos of a Thunderchief, recently.

I can't find it .

 

[Jeff Scott]

I can't find it .

That's okay. I tried to and can't find it either, now.

 

[MarkA]

Well, this old thread was an interesting read (and led me to @LiquidMidnight's equally interesting review of the Divided by 13 amp mentioned by @basscooker).

I don't have anything to add re. tube-rectified bass amps, but re. the below...

This has probably been covered before, but does the rectifier in the Monique really do anything for the feel? I've seen it asserted by a number of amp designers that the desirable "sag" from a valve rectifier is only significant with class AB power amps, as with class-A circuitry (like most preamps) the current demand does not vary with output to the same extent. The current draw of a preamp is much lower than that of a power amp too, so I'm somewhat sceptical that rectifier sag is a significant factor in a standalone preamp.
Though I'm sure that with the 6SL7 preamp and transformer output it'll still sound very good indeed!

It really does. I've switched mine out before only to switch back because the replacement tube didn't have the same feel and messed with the note envelope. I would guess that having a tube rectifier in the Monique is one of the 'big secrets' in it sounding and feeling like a fully tube amp.

...I had a Jule Monique for awhile and, while I had it, tried swapping out the rectifier tube (Jule spoke on that topic at least once). I don't know much about Monique's inner workings but, like BurningSkies, I found the effect of the swap to be readily noticeable.

 

[peterpalmieri]

I am not aware of anything new...I don't think Matchless Thunderchief was mentioned: discontinued, rare, and expensive.

there was a real nice B15 with a tube rectifier for sale for a while on TB but I think it sold.

 

[chadds]

Well, this old thread was an interesting read (and led me to @LiquidMidnight's equally interesting review of the Divided by 13 amp mentioned by @basscooker).

I don't have anything to add re. tube-rectified bass amps, but re. the below...





...I had a Jule Monique for awhile and, while I had it, tried swapping out the rectifier tube (Jule spoke on that topic at least once). I don't know much about Monique's inner workings but, like BurningSkies, I found the effect of the swap to be readily noticeable.

I swapped out the EH rectifier tube for a NOS JAN RCA rectifier tube. The sag was anti punch. I could tell you a guitarist would love it. It had so much sag that the note happened yesterday. Back went the EH and vestiges of any prejudice that old is good new is bad. It was Rocco Prestia tight like I like bass to be. The tone is elsewhere in that preamp. The rectifier affects feel.

 

[MarkA]

I don't recall what effect there might have been on tone, but there was a definite effect on feel.

I swapped out the EH rectifier tube for a NOS JAN RCA rectifier tube. The sag was anti punch. I could tell you a guitarist would love it. It had so much sag that the note happened yesterday. Back went the EH and vestiges of any prejudice that old is good new is bad. It was Rocco Prestia tight like I like bass to be. The tone is elsewhere in that preamp. The rectifier affects feel.