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Volume difference between tube and solid state amps.

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#41
ric1312 said:
I've played with a number of guitarist with half stacks of about the same wattage, both tube and solid state.

The tube amps didn't sound louder, just somewhat brighter and gainer and frankly the sound was less consistant than the solid state amps. As tubes heat up the sound changes somewhat.

For rock and metal I much prefer playing on stage with solid state amps. The tone is just more predictable and consistant from show to show.

I think guitarists that use tube amps tend to crank them because to get the sound they want they need to be cranked a little. With a solid state amp, the sound is more or less the same from low to higher volume.
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You're no fun! That's why us tube lovers like them...because they don't sound consistent at different volumes. But I think you're greatly overstating the inconsistency. Once a tube amp's been on for about 10-15 minutes, it's as warmed up as it's ever going to get, so the sound stays the same at that point. It changes with volume, but those changes will be consistent. BTW, the proper term is "opening up." :p
 
#42
GreyBeard said:
It's always better to have too much than not enough, you don't have to run it all out. I wouldn't show up at a typical rock gig with less than 200 watts tubes and a 2x15 cab.
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I gotcha, but that's kind of what I was hoping I could avoid: the backbreaker rig. Maybe it can't be done with a tube rig? I'm not a professional, anyhow, I'm a hobbyist. I will just be playing local divebars for fun.
 
#43
fireincairo said:
I gotcha, but that's kind of what I was hoping I could avoid: the backbreaker rig. Maybe it can't be done with a tube rig? I'm not a professional, anyhow, I'm a hobbyist. I will just be playing local divebars for fun.
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Well, with tube amps, it's really tough to get light, powerful, AND cheap. Markbass has a 300w tuber that weighs 49 lbs., but it's $2600. If you're going to be playing divebars, then power should be a fairly big concern since you probably won't get run through a PA very often. I probably wouldn't show up with anything less than 200w. But then you get into heavier range. These Peavey VB-2's are talked about quite favorably on here. I don't know how much they weigh, but the price is right...I think it's $900 new.
 
#44
JimmyM said:
Well, with tube amps, it's really tough to get light, powerful, AND cheap. Markbass has a 300w tuber that weighs 49 lbs., but it's $2600. If you're going to be playing divebars, then power should be a fairly big concern since you probably won't get run through a PA very often. I probably wouldn't show up with anything less than 200w. But then you get into heavier range. These Peavey VB-2's are talked about quite favorably on here. I don't know how much they weigh, but the price is right...I think it's $900 new.
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Agreed -- if you really want to go light and get maximum volume, solid state is the way to get it. An SVT is hugely loud, but HUGE. Plus, it's "only" 360 watts (but for some strange reason, an SVT head ($1K+) and 810 cab is still loud enough for anything, IMO). The Peavey tube heads ($900) are "only" 200 watts, and BIG by today's standards. You can get a 700 watt GK head ($620) and carry your bass in the other hand. You can get the 500 watt LMKII ($600) and put it in the gig bag pocket. See where we're going? Tubes are great and great sounding, but SS packs more of a punch in a smaller, more-portable lower-maintenance package for less bucks, and you will be able to cover your ass wherever you need to play.

But you knew that. I'm wishing they'd invent an inflatable SVT, too.
 
#45
Heh, you could tune the inflatable 6x10 by letting a little air out.

Maybe I don't want a tube rig to gig. Maybe I want something smaller to record at home with? Then I suppose I could get a 60 watt amp and mic the cab to record with. My problem is that I'm a tube-tweaker at heart from all my years playing guitar. I'm kinda dying to tweak a bass rig the same way.
 
#46
Yeah, even though I disagree about Lowbrow saying tube amps require more maintenance, I do agree with everything else he's saying. In your situation, I'd get a powerful but inexpensive SS or hybrid (my personal choice is the LMII), and get a smaller tube bass amp to experiment around with recording, or even plug your guitar amps into your bass cabs.
 
#47
fireincairo said:
Heh, you could tune the inflatable 6x10 by letting a little air out.

Maybe I don't want a tube rig to gig. Maybe I want something smaller to record at home with? Then I suppose I could get a 60 watt amp and mic the cab to record with. My problem is that I'm a tube-tweaker at heart from all my years playing guitar. I'm kinda dying to tweak a bass rig the same way.
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For recording and home playing these are great.
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Sounds like you worked on your guitar rigs over the years, so you will be right at home with this. Get some of those nice Sozo Vintage Caps and have a field day. It really is an awesome set up. And that is kind of the problem with a lot bass players. Most of them live in a SS world and are not aware of what you can do with hand wired amps. I have heard this amp through a number of different 12 and 15's. It is hard to put into words what this little head does for a bass. Like Jimmy and a lot of the other guys have pointed out, you can still get a SS head for gigging. No need to try and find that one magic amp that does it all.
Good Luck
 
#48
hired hand said:
For recording and home playing these are great.
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Sounds like you worked on your guitar rigs over the years, so you will be right at home with this. Get some of those nice Sozo Vintage Caps and have a field day. It really is an awesome set up. And that is kind of the problem with a lot bass players. Most of them live in a SS world and are not aware of what you can do with hand wired amps. I have heard this amp through a number of different 12 and 15's. It is hard to put into words what this little head does for a bass. Like Jimmy and a lot of the other guys have pointed out, you can still get a SS head for gigging. No need to try and find that one magic amp that does it all.
Good Luck
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I've been gassing hard for the Ceriatone plexis for guitar for a while now. I really could kill two birds with one stone there. :bassist:
 
#49
What about a Ceriatone 100 watt Superbass into a 4x12 cab loaded with Eminence PA drivers? It's kinda hard to imagine it not being loud enough for just about any gig. I think the dude from The Jam used them like that, though he may have uesd full stacks.
 
#51
Volume difference? Officially tube should sound louder with same wattage, but when I A/B-d an SVTII Pro, and my Markbass LMK, my Markbass was at 10 o'clock master as loud as the Ampeg on full... sooooo... :p ..oh, and to mention, the sound difference :spit:
 
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