Why aren't you using tube amps?

[JMarkD]

I love the feel of tubes, especially on a cold outside gig. Warms my fingers.

Well, I wouldn't argue with that. Being in Florida, it can work in reverse. I was using my MB Bass 400+ (back in my "it has to be tubes" phase) in a local roadhouse renowned for a poor air conditioning situation. Place was an oven on a hot summer night. The thermostat was on the wall on the stage. My amp was blowing all the heat from those 12 tubes right on to that sucker. It must have been fifty degrees in that bar! The owner couldn't figure it out and kept turning that 'stat higher and higher. Didn't matter, that Boogie just kept pumping out the heat.

 

[byacey]

Nope.

Turn on amp. Do not connect a speaker. Turn up volume to max. Play.

You're quite possibly going to destroy the OT in a tube amp (tube arcing and insulation punch through in the OT are likely).

Won't hurt a SS amp at all.

That, or someone diddling with the bias control with the result of too much quiescent current that slow cooks the transformer.

 

[GonePlaid]

Well, I wouldn't argue with that. Being in Florida, it can work in reverse. I was using my MB Bass 400+ (back in my "it has to be tubes" phase) in a local roadhouse renowned for a poor air conditioning situation. Place was an oven on a hot summer night. The thermostat was on the wall on the stage. My amp was blowing all the heat from those 12 tubes right on to that sucker. It must have been fifty degrees in that bar! The owner couldn't figure it out and kept turning that 'stat higher and higher. Didn't matter, that Boogie just kept pumping out the heat.

That's Freakin' hilarious!

 

[BassLife77]

tubes don't have the punch like transistors. and sooner or later the tubes have to be changed

 

[JimmyM]

Hey Jimmy.
You bet! I have a particular AVRI P bass that rules through that little sucker. It's getting a bit noisy though. May need a retube or a recap. I hope not as it is just about perfect! That is a special little amp for sure. I love that speaker!

BTW, After a three year hiatus, I am back to gigging with my old band (Boggy Creek) and have been subbing with Slickwood from time to time. It's good to be back into it.

Nice! Glad to see you back in action.

RE: tubes, if it does need new tubes, make sure you go with NOS for the preamp! New 6SL7's just don't get it.

 

[GonePlaid]

tubes don't have the punch like transistors. and sooner or later the tubes have to be changed

I sold my SVT/810 while it was still OK but it was gonna cost me nearly as much to re-tube it as I paid for it.

 

[JimmyM]

Who the hell does full retubes on an SVT? Waste of money.

 

[picker1974]

Just like a lot of responses, too much $. Aside from that, tube bass amps are not as common on the used market as tube guitar amps are, because I never pay retail for anything I’m sure I’ll own one someday but I’m not in a hurry. The solid state offerings today are pretty darned good in my opinion.

 

[bobj823]

So I know the tube vs solid state thing gets beat to death. I'm not here for that. This is mostly for those of you who would like to use tube amps, but don't, so my question is more along the lines of:

What aren't tube amps doing that keeps you from using them?

Weight will surely be a big factor. How light would they have to get for you to consider it?

What other features aren't common to tube amps that you require?

 

[baxter_x]

Damn, this very thread is impressively long! 23 pages!

 

[BadExample]

Who the hell does full retubes on an SVT? Waste of money.

Not for tube sellers and recap head techs

 

[nilorius]

I will probably take a tube amp, but can't afford it right now.

 

[Rabidhamster]

I'm not using tubes because The SVT turned into bill money

 

[GreyEagle]

So I know the tube vs solid state thing gets beat to death. I'm not here for that. This is mostly for those of you who would like to use tube amps, but don't, so my question is more along the lines of:

What aren't tube amps doing that keeps you from using them?

Weight will surely be a big factor. How light would they have to get for you to consider it?

What other features aren't common to tube amps that you require?

Weight! Definitely. I also worry about the reliability/lifespan of tubes. I don't push an amp hard enough to get the warm clipping of a pushed preamp.

 

[beans-on-toast]

Tubes are expensive to replace but they can last for many years. I buy more basses than I change tubes.

I find it odd that nobody balks at the cost of regularly changing expensive round wound strings. It's simply the cost of doing business.

 

[GonePlaid]

Hey Jimmy.
You bet! I have a particular AVRI P bass that rules through that little sucker. It's getting a bit noisy though. May need a retube or a recap. I hope not as it is just about perfect! That is a special little amp for sure. I love that speaker!

BTW, After a three year hiatus, I am back to gigging with my old band (Boggy Creek) and have been subbing with Slickwood from time to time. It's good to be back into it.

I wonder how many people don't believe the name of your location? I'm a native Floridian and I've been through your"city"numerous times.

 

[bassdrop]

Tubes are expense to replace but they can last for many years. I buy more basses than I change tubes.

I find it odd that nobody balks at the cost of regularly changing expensive round wound strings. It's simply the cost of doing business.

That's a good point: if you replace your strings once a month then one year's worth of strings at $20 a set will buy you a full set of power tubes for an SVT or other 6x6550 amp.

 

[beans-on-toast]

That's a good point: if you replace your strings once a month then one year's worth of strings at $20 a set will buy you a full set of power tubes for an SVT or other 6x6550 amp.

An SVT doesn't normally need to have the power tubes changed once a year so you wind up ahead.

 

[JimmyM]

I wonder how many people don't believe the name of your location? I'm a native Floridian and I've been through your"city"numerous times.

There are less believable city and town names than Howey In The Hills. There's one out in the boonies near UCF called Taintsville.

 

[beans-on-toast]

There are less believable city and town names than Howey In The Hills. There's one out in the boonies near UCF called Taintsville.

Then there’s Keister, Minn.

Preparation H ad set in Kiester — for obvious reasons