• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Why aren't small tube combos being made?

#41
JimmyM said:
nonsense. i play in a medium volume oldies band, and i've carried 800 seat theaters with stage volume using only a b-15n.
Click to expand...

Was this gig with your upright? Just curious what you primarily play thru the B-15. BTW, I think the B-15 is the exception to the rule in this case. In the bass world, I think Ampeg was the only company that got the small tube amp just right.

tdogg said:
yeah i have the big rig too, for the metal band. but for 90% of music, people dont need to be blasted by the bass. i played a show last month with a 13 peice jazz band (trumpets, sax's, drummer, piano, etc) with a crate 100watt (SS) 1x15 combo. we were in a theater with about 100 people and everyone heard me just fine.
Click to expand...

Not to get into the tube watts vs ss watts, but I'm talking about low wattage tubes, not low wattage solid state. I have played metal shows with a 60W SWR LA12 and had enough volume because I could crank that amp till it sweat and still got clean tone. Solid state stays pretty clean until it clips. What the op wants is CLEAN tone. If your gonna push enough volume to play gigs with just one or two power tubes, it's gonna get dirty quick.
 
#43
levis76 said:
Not to get into the tube watts vs ss watts, but I'm talking about low wattage tubes, not low wattage solid state. I have played metal shows with a 60W SWR LA12 and had enough volume because I could crank that amp till it sweat and still got clean tone. Solid state stays pretty clean until it clips. What the op wants is CLEAN tone. If your gonna push enough volume to play gigs with just one or two power tubes, it's gonna get dirty quick.
Click to expand...

yeah i realize that, my main point is that you really dont need 1,000,000 to be heard. i play in a blues/rock band also and only use about 150 watts of a 500 watt amp. when i was in a metal band and was competing with mesa stack i brought on the juice. but if your eq is flat (compared to the smiley face EQ that alot of rock/metal guys use) you can get alot of sound out of less wattage.
 
#45
levis76 said:
Was this gig with your upright? Just curious what you primarily play thru the B-15. BTW, I think the B-15 is the exception to the rule in this case. In the bass world, I think Ampeg was the only company that got the small tube amp just right.
Click to expand...
on those gigs i played both electric and upright through the b-15. and i agree...ampeg was the only one to do it right. but i think that was more a sign of the times than anything else. these days with modern cab design being so good, i think anyone could do it.
 
#48
tdogg said:
yeah i realize that, my main point is that you really dont need 1,000,000 to be heard. i play in a blues/rock band also and only use about 150 watts of a 500 watt amp. when i was in a metal band and was competing with mesa stack i brought on the juice. but if your eq is flat (compared to the smiley face EQ that alot of rock/metal guys use) you can get alot of sound out of less wattage.
Click to expand...

Absolutely. The main volume on my 400+ never goes above 5. I also don't cut all the mids. I actually boost the low mids, cut the lows a bit, and give the treble just a slight boost. While this doesn't give me the best 'solo' tone, it sits nicely in the mix with a seriously detuned mid scooped guitard running a triple wreck at near meltdown. Matter of fact, he hates my tone because it cuts through, he thinks I should just be there to 'fatten up' his tone. I know, I'm looking for another band as we speak.

Oops, sorry to hijack your thread.

Checked out the sites on those low powered tube amps. They actually look pretty badass. Come to think of it, you could drive one of those pretty hard without blowing the whole bar/club out. Hmmm. :ninja:
 
#49
levis76 said:
Absolutely. The main volume on my 400+ never goes above 5. I also don't cut all the mids. I actually boost the low mids, cut the lows a bit, and give the treble just a slight boost. While this doesn't give me the best 'solo' tone, it sits nicely in the mix with a seriously detuned mid scooped guitard running a triple wreck at near meltdown. Matter of fact, he hates my tone because it cuts through, he thinks I should just be there to 'fatten up' his tone. I know, I'm looking for another band as we speak.

Oops, sorry to hijack your thread.

Checked out the sites on those low powered tube amps. They actually look pretty badass. Come to think of it, you could drive one of those pretty hard without blowing the whole bar/club out. Hmmm. :ninja:
Click to expand...

RE: guitard with mesa.... been there done that. i out volumed him, but at the expense of all the lightbulbs in the house.... oops.
 
#50
I am so glad that I no longer feel the need to participate in "sonic warfare" with other band members.
Frankly, I'd prefer no amps at all except for the fact that I'd have to switch to an upright in that case...come to think of it..I LOVE the sound of an upright!

PS...if you really want an eye-opener..try running a B15N head into a Euphonic Audio Wizzy...even just a wizzy 10 sounds killer...and I suspect an mline wizzy would be quite loud enough for anything not requiring a massive PA
 
#51
levis76 said:
Absolutely. The main volume on my 400+ never goes above 5. I also don't cut all the mids. I actually boost the low mids, cut the lows a bit, and give the treble just a slight boost. While this doesn't give me the best 'solo' tone, it sits nicely in the mix with a seriously detuned mid scooped guitard running a triple wreck at near meltdown. Matter of fact, he hates my tone because it cuts through, he thinks I should just be there to 'fatten up' his tone. I know, I'm looking for another band as we speak.

Oops, sorry to hijack your thread.

Checked out the sites on those low powered tube amps. They actually look pretty badass. Come to think of it, you could drive one of those pretty hard without blowing the whole bar/club out. Hmmm. :ninja:
Click to expand...

Nothing more irritating to a guitard than a bass player who can eq his amp. I run my peavey alpha bass almost the same way. I put the bass at 12 o clock, mids slightly boosted and treble slightly cut. I can push plenty of volume with my 160 w via 6 6l6's and keep up with two loud guitarists with headroom to spare.
 
#52
When I think bass amp+low wattage I think 100 watts. I can see what the OP is talking about for studio use or coffeehouse gigs, but expecting something cheap blows it for me. I just don't think it would be profitable for the manufacturer. It's a very limited market as most people need more power than that for most gigs, and not everyone can afford to have multiple rigs.

But who knows? Maybe Behringer will copy someone's design, make it in Sri Lanka and sell it for $299. Then when it dies after a year you can come on here and complain about their poor quality.
 
#56
B-string said:
Forgive if I digress? We started doing 3 Stray Cats tunes and it drives me nuts not to have DB. I started to realize I felt more like a bassist when I was hugging a big phat lady??? Wonder if I could still bow.........:hiding:
Click to expand...
don't need to bow to play "Rock This Town" ;) dig the big chick out, dude!
 
#57
JimmyM said:
don't need to bow to play "Rock This Town" ;) dig the big chick out, dude!
Click to expand...

That's the one drives me the most nuts, I actually tryed standing my electric on it's heel......not the same:(
I relieved one of the Bassists with the SB Phil. for two weeks in my younger days, got to play his $75,000 "backup". They would not allow the High School's Kramer in the hall. Don't think I would have used that one for rock-a-billy though? :eek: Maybe the Kramer :D
 
#59
B-string said:
Forgive if I digress? We started doing 3 Stray Cats tunes and it drives me nuts not to have DB. I started to realize I felt more like a bassist when I was hugging a big phat lady??? Wonder if I could still bow.........:hiding:
Click to expand...

At the height of my gigging days (pre-kids, of course), when we were playing out 3-4 nights per week, I'd do about 6-7 songs per night on my old Kay. It was always amusing to hear the reaction of patrons not used to seeing a double bass. I think I heard it referred to as a "big ole' violin" or "some kinda cello thing" far more often than I heard it referred to by any of the applicable names (including "bass"). One night, I did hear someone yell out something about "play that doghouse!" and that made me smile. :D

Ironically, this was back in my days of playing through a 3,000-watt 4x10/2x12 rig. :bassist: :bassist: :bassist: Fortunately, that Barberra pickup is very resistant to feedback.

Find yourself an upright, B-string! I think you'll find it to be very rewarding!

Oh, and my B-15N rules. :cool:
 
#60
Thanks to all the people with thoughtful things to offer; I didn't intend this post to be a place for people to question how someone could possibly play a gig with less than 50 tube watts. I know I can, because I have many times, and that's why I would be interested in a small tube combo. Like I said, if you feel the need to use an SVT or Mesa 400, good for you. I'll definitely be looking into both the Ashdown and Old School Amps stuff.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back