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I have owned a bunch of tube stuff in the past and still own a B15.
Here's a list as to why I don't bother anymore.
Practical value: Most gigs are backlined and there is no need to bring my own head.
Practical value: Most tube amps fall either provide too much power or not enough clean headroom. I don't need a 300 watt tube amp for the gigs I play and see no reason to schlep it.
New Cost: As a niche product many things tube are really expensive. I could get just as much utility in a cheaper product.
Used Cost: Most of the newer tube bass amps hold their value pretty well. Older amps often need a trip to the tech before being used every day which adds to their initial cost.
Maintenance Cost: Cost of repairs tip the balance favorably towards solid state. As individual components, tubes are rather expensive.
Reliability: I have always had more issues with my gigging tube heads than my solid state gear. And, to adequately protect tube amps from the bump and tumble, you need specialized cases that add to the amp's already considerable size and weight.
Even though many tube amps sound sweet, I don't see the need to deal with all that hassle when I don't have to. Especially when I can get the same or more versatility and utility from other amps at the same price points.
Here's a list as to why I don't bother anymore.
Practical value: Most gigs are backlined and there is no need to bring my own head.
Practical value: Most tube amps fall either provide too much power or not enough clean headroom. I don't need a 300 watt tube amp for the gigs I play and see no reason to schlep it.
New Cost: As a niche product many things tube are really expensive. I could get just as much utility in a cheaper product.
Used Cost: Most of the newer tube bass amps hold their value pretty well. Older amps often need a trip to the tech before being used every day which adds to their initial cost.
Maintenance Cost: Cost of repairs tip the balance favorably towards solid state. As individual components, tubes are rather expensive.
Reliability: I have always had more issues with my gigging tube heads than my solid state gear. And, to adequately protect tube amps from the bump and tumble, you need specialized cases that add to the amp's already considerable size and weight.
Even though many tube amps sound sweet, I don't see the need to deal with all that hassle when I don't have to. Especially when I can get the same or more versatility and utility from other amps at the same price points.
I sold my Reeves 225 last year to put myself through software school and I really miss it, I'm in the same boat currently.
Definitely true in some case but I think this is more down to individual amps honestly. During the time I owned my Reeves I did somewhere north of five hundred gigs with it and probably north of 100k miles in the trailer, and never had a problem other than the expected tube maintenance every year or so. Lots of people I know tour SVTs as their amp of choice on big tours.
Having said all that, I really play tube amps because I like them, not because they make an appreciable difference from an audience perspective in most circumstances. I like the way it feels to play through a big tube amp, which is something that to my surprise, many people don't mention when they talk about tube amps.
In terms of gigging, weight and cost is just too much for me and I figure the tube quality won't really come across after being sent through the PA. That being said, I really love tubes and I have an SWR Baby Blue to satisfy that craving while practicing. Just feels like a big, warm hug 
I really thought we'd find more tubes advocate. But it seems the main consensus is more around SS and class D amps.
I use both tube and SS amps. No need to be an advocate for either.
I’m with you 100% — I’m all about the tactile feedback, which is also why I don’t like compressors or IEMs...or sticky finish on the back of the neck, or an un-beveled edge where my forearm rests on the bass...
Haven't found a tube amp worth buying. Played through the typical ampeg Classic SVT to death (hate the sound). Played a fender bassman 100t (decent, but out of price). The only tube head i'd ever want would be a vintage ampeg, as i've played through a few & they are a lot better sounding than the new generation. But again, unless the deal of the decade falls onto a vintage ampeg svt, i'll pass.
I guess why i mostly don't use a tube amp is cause i lucked out & found my vintage solid state peavey century heads (1974 & 1975) for dirt cheap & they are loud. I've also played through ashdown, Gk 800rb, & swr heads that sounded a lot better than a tube head. THey're just more direct, i can achieve my tone faster, & my peavey heads have a way better shape of tone than i've ever gotten in prior years. Also the peaveys are my very first heads, I'm 24 yrs old, just to clarify & these vintage peavey are overall even better than most solid state amps i've played as noted above.
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I use IEM, but still need tactile feedback. And the massive lows IEM can't really reproduce.
I use both and own both with absolute pleasure. They both have their place.
The practicality-factor of my Magellan and multiple 112 cab setup really outweighs all other factors for me at this point. The sound is plenty good enough for me, load in and load out is really easy, and I can bring a number of speakers that's appropriate for the size of the room I'm playing.
I recently picked up an old 60s B-15, and while the sound is truly glorious, it is heavy. Great for recording and taking to the occasional small gig to mix things up a bit, but not the kind of amp I want to be hauling up a flight of stairs on any regular basis.
I recently picked up an old 60s B-15, and while the sound is truly glorious, it is heavy. Great for recording and taking to the occasional small gig to mix things up a bit, but not the kind of amp I want to be hauling up a flight of stairs on any regular basis.
I bought my first giggable bass amp in 1972, a Kustom 250 w/folded horn 18 cabinet. It sounded great. I've had many bass amps since, from Fender Bassman 100's to Ampeg B15N's to my current Ampeg B100R (SS) and Ampeg SVT3 Pro (hybrid). I try to get the same solid, clear sound no matter what amp I use. I don't care one way or the other whether it's tube or solid state. I'll sound the same, no matter what I use.
I've only ever used 2 SS amps that I liked - definitely prefer the hybrid SS/tube pre to full SS. While all those amps are capable, I remain a firm believer in individuality of my sound. To me, unless I'm 100% certain the backline is going to be good, I will schlep the tube amp and at least my massive Trace 2x10. It's my sound, and I've only ever had one engineer who made me use his crappy DI box instead of the amps own - even he mic'd my cabs and he used the mic signal over his DI.
I bought a Class D last year, which I know I will gig for out of town gigs, or where I know the gig won't be really be about us and it's a turn up and play/no one will be taking a car.
Fairly certain there will be a time where my trashed body can't handle it anymore but until then I'll have my valve amp at as many gigs and rehearsal as possible. Not sure I could ever afford to replace it if it died or got stolen though.
I bought a Class D last year, which I know I will gig for out of town gigs, or where I know the gig won't be really be about us and it's a turn up and play/no one will be taking a car.
Fairly certain there will be a time where my trashed body can't handle it anymore but until then I'll have my valve amp at as many gigs and rehearsal as possible. Not sure I could ever afford to replace it if it died or got stolen though.
Weight, pure and simple. But I am using an Ampeg PF-50T that sounds great and gets surprisingly loud for 50W. I was hopeful with the Prodigy Four:88, it had a weight tradeoff that I could accept. But, it didn't have the sound that I want. IMHO, it went too quickly from clean to buzz without passing through the warm, saturation point that I like most. But if something like a Prodigy Four:88 with warmth / saturation existed, I would use tubes. Maybe it does, maybe it's called the Subway D-800+ and maybe it just doesn't need tubes to get the sound.
They are too heavy. I would consider going back if I could find one at about 25 - 30 pounds. I've played tube amps most of my career, the cost of maintenance and tube replacement is WAY overblown. I'm sure I'm the exception, but I've had more problems with my solid state amps over the years than my tube amps.
