Why aren't you using tube amps?

[10cc]

It's bass. Not many people give a rip about it but us.

 

[JimmyM]

This guy KIND OF has a point. But he also kind of couldn't be more wrong. Playing music to placate your own ego? Hardly. Playing on the level that most of us do at this point, that would be a little sad. Unless you're doing it ironically. If so, carry on!

Seriously though, some of us play music because it's an escape from the grind of our lives. Some of us play music because we have something to say. Some of us play music for the sheer joy of performing? If your own ego is coming into play at any point, you're gonna have a baaaad tiiiime.

Right you are. This guy looks absolutely miserable:

What gives anyone else the right to judge someone else's motivations for what they do? Your passion is passion but mine is ego? Get the hell out of town!

I just think the whole tube amp thing is way overrated. If that's what you like, good for you.The last paid gig I played was done with a Fractal AX8. The soundman said my tone was fantastic. Nobody in the audience told me I should play through a tube amp.

I am not saying that playing through SS stuff is wrong. If that's the sound you like, more power to you. But the day you do things based on what the average person in the audience is the day you resign yourself to thinking that average is good enough. If I ever made even one single decision in my career based on what the average person in the audience thinks, I'd have to quit. I do what I do because I aspire to being a little better than average, because I'm the one who has to stand up there, not them. And who are you to judge someone else's motivations and call it ego just because you don't see the point of it?

 

[Wulfensteiner]

By citing Bootsy, it's fair to say you missed my point. And that wasn't even the important point..

 

[JimmyM]

By citing Bootsy, it's fair to say you missed my point. And that wasn't even the important point..

So are you going to explain it or just point a finger?

 

[delta7fred]

Weight!

I never had a problem with tube amp reliability. In the 30 years that I used them they were always handled sensibly and I checked the tubes regularly and carried spares (that I never needed).

50 years ago schlepping 2 x 412 cabs and a tube amp didn't bother me (and it was all there was available).
20 years ago I switched to a SS combo (on wheels).
Now I'm old and appreciate my class D head, lightweight neo cab and a sack truck (and IEMs).

I'll leave the tube amps to those who are young/fit/willing to schlep them.

 

[Wulfensteiner]

So are you going to explain it or just point a finger?

Y'know, the one where not everyone plays music to placate their ego..

 

[vbchaos]

In my 30+ years of bass playing, nobody has ever come up and told me I should be using a tube amp. So, yes, you are doing it for your own ego. Nobody cares what amp you use except you.

The mere act of playing an instrument is something you do for your own ego, too. So we should all quit because we're only doing it for our own egos?

Come on Jimmy, you exactly know what he meant. You just feel trapped on your tube-ego here and try to force an argument... Nobody questions your reasons to play, to gig, to tour or which amp you use. And that's the mere point: your reasons, your decissions.

The point that nobody in the audience (mostly) gives a ratsass about what bassamp is used on stage (except maybe, for bass players, and then in 95% they will not approve of what-ever it is on the stage anyhow just because they are bass players) can be a major reason to decide on a specific amp. It was, for me! Even I could not hear the difference between me 3 preamps when my metal band gigged in bars late at night, so how should anyone else? But why schlepp a 50+kg amp with me when a 5kg classD Micro can achieve exactly the same effect but allow me to come by bike to the gig?

Both of you: stop dragging this thread off-topic arguing about passion and egos. Nobody cares about your egos

 

[10cc]

Right you are. This guy looks absolutely miserable:

View attachment 2994970

What gives anyone else the right to judge someone else's motivations for what they do? Your passion is passion but mine is ego? Get the hell out of town!


I am not saying that playing through SS stuff is wrong. If that's the sound you like, more power to you. But the day you do things based on what the average person in the audience is the day you resign yourself to thinking that average is good enough. If I ever made even one single decision in my career based on what the average person in the audience thinks, I'd have to quit. I do what I do because I aspire to being a little better than average, because I'm the one who has to stand up there, not them. And who are you to judge someone else's motivations and call it ego just because you don't see the point of it?

I wasn't aware of Bootsy using tube amps? Maybe we should ask him why he does not.

 

[Wulfensteiner]

So are you going to explain it or just point a finger?

Oh wait. You meant the part where I mentioned we play on a certain level (mostly local) and therefore I am of the opinion that if you're playing for ego, more power to ya, but I don't get your point of view. Nor had it occurred to me until now.

 

[Wulfensteiner]

Come on Jimmy, you exactly know what he meant. You just feel trapped on your tube-ego here and try to force an argument... Nobody questions your reasons to play, to gig, to tour or which amp you use. And that's the mere point: your reasons, your decissions.

The point that nobody in the audience (mostly) gives a ratsass about what bassamp is used on stage (except maybe, for bass players, and then in 95% they will not approve of what-ever it is on the stage anyhow just because they are bass players) can be a major reason to decide on a specific amp. It was, for me! Even I could not hear the difference between me 3 preamps when my metal band gigged in bars late at night, so how should anyone else? But why schlepp a 50+kg amp with me when a 5kg classD Micro can achieve exactly the same effect but allow me to come by bike to the gig?

Both of you: stop dragging this thread off-topic arguing about passion and egos. Nobody cares about your egos

You're right dude. Apologies. Not my intention.

 

[JimmyM]

I wasn't aware of Bootsy using tube amps? Maybe we should ask him why he does not.

What's inside that Alembic preamp he's married to?

 

[JimmyM]

Come on Jimmy, you exactly know what he meant. You just feel trapped on your tube-ego here and try to force an argument... Nobody questions your reasons to play, to gig, to tour or which amp you use. And that's the mere point: your reasons, your decissions.

The point that nobody in the audience (mostly) gives a ratsass about what bassamp is used on stage (except maybe, for bass players, and then in 95% they will not approve of what-ever it is on the stage anyhow just because they are bass players) can be a major reason to decide on a specific amp. It was, for me! Even I could not hear the difference between me 3 preamps when my metal band gigged in bars late at night, so how should anyone else? But why schlepp a 50+kg amp with me when a 5kg classD Micro can achieve exactly the same effect but allow me to come by bike to the gig?

Both of you: stop dragging this thread off-topic arguing about passion and egos. Nobody cares about your egos

Excuse me, but yes, someone DID question my reasons to use a certain amp. When you call it all about ego, then it's questioning people's motivations. The idea that a micro can achieve exactly the same effect is just silly. Yes, it will amplify bass. Yes, it's a great thing to have at your disposal. But one need only stand in front of rigs powered by a good tube amp and a good micro to know that they certainly do not achieve the same effect.

Anyway, don't lecture me. I'm way too old to be lectured by anyone.

 

[Wulfensteiner]

Nobody should lecture anyone about anything when it comes to their musical choices, it don't matter how old you are. I'm sorry if it seemed like that's what I'm doing.

Besides, I stack GK on Hartke, what do I know? (Apart from brightness lol)

 

[10cc]

What's inside that Alembic preamp he's married to?

Not the same.

 

[Wulfensteiner]

Not the same.

Unrelated topic, I love your avatar.

 

[JimmyM]

Nobody should lecture anyone about anything when it comes to their musical choices, it don't matter how old you are. I'm sorry if it seemed like that's what I'm doing.

Wasn't you doing the lecturing. You were arguing. There is a big difference. I can take a good argument any day of the week.

 

[Wulfensteiner]

Wasn't you doing the lecturing. You were arguing. There is a big difference. I can take a good argument any day of the week.

Same. Arguments aren't always negative. I've learned much from 'arguing' with fellow TBers.

 

[BadExample]

I dispute the above claims.

 

[bassdrop]

I just think the whole tube amp thing is way overrated. If that's what you like, good for you.The last paid gig I played was done with a Fractal AX8. The soundman said my tone was fantastic. Nobody in the audience told me I should play through a tube amp.

Did someone in the audience recommend you're using a Fractal? Did they also recommend a particular bass to play? How do they feel about flats? I typically don't poll audience members when considering gear choices, but I'm curious as to your process on this.

 

[baxter_x]

OK, well I know lots of people who are very passionate about their tube amps. So why is your passion a passion and someone else's passion all about ego?

Did I ever say such a thing??? I don't think so.