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Why aren't you using tube amps?

#121
I use a '71 Ampeg B15S in my home studio. I have had it out for a gig once. Loud and great tone. However, I don't want to risk damaging it.

Meanwhile, my stage rig is 2 x Epifani Piccolo heads and 2 x Epifani UL cabs (210 and 410) which can get me much more clean volume, and collectively weigh far less that the B15.

So, for me it's fear of damage and relative high weight.

But when I record tracks and send them to studios, we always get compliments on the bass tone.
 
#122
I just went the other way. While the other fish are swimming downstream, I went from a hybrid and a low-wattage all tube to a big all-tube. I just got an late SLM era SVT-CL. It's what I've been missing in my tone.

Now, I am the first to say the audience doesn't care. I get that. The SVT is an indulgence all mine. I feel and play more like me when it's behind me. When I hear and feel that tone, I play differently. So I'll lug it until I can't.

Also, when I speaker level DI that thing and ASK THE SOUND GUYS what they need out front, they are in heaven.

For rehearsals I will still take the Mesa Walkabout (until I get five minutes to take pics and list it for sale) or the Ashdown LB30. But the SVT will go to the gig every time.
 
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#124
flam said:
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?
Click to expand...

Mostly because I play DB as well as BG, I need pretty flat response which most tube amps don't have. I need more flexible midrange EQ than most have. I need clean headroom. I need two full channels. Sadly, an old SVT head probably comes the closest but it's the least practical for me at this point.

Weight? 30 pounds or less I'd consider another tube head.

Gigged with a Fender Bassman, Traynor BassMate (combo), Sunn Sonaro and Mesa D-180 in the past, but all are long gone. They all sounded great with BG but were nightmares with DB. That Mesa was super fun, I had a Jazz back then and on the first gig I used it I sounded like Noel Redding, pretty sweet :thumbsup:
 
#125
For those that take issue with the weight, I lug my SVT in a flight case on a 2 wheel dolly. Worst case scenario, someone is grabbing the other handle to help for stairs. I've never played in bands with members that were cruel enough not to oblige. The only lifting I do with it on my own is from case to cabinet. Lifting 85 pounds 4 feet high just isn't a big deal to me. And I have back issues.
 
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#128
Been there, done that. Early 1970's V4-B sounded more powerful than it's rating, but was a one trick pony. Sunn Model T was a guitar amp that also made a great bass amp, but same thing...one voice. Both were way too heavy. Both failed on me, but neither was expensive to repair. My old Hartke 3500 gives me every sound that I could ever want or need, is lighter weight, rack-mounted, and less expensive. They are all over the place used for $150 these days and a quieter cooling fan is only about $15. I'm not saying that you shouldn't use a tube amp, I'm glad that I had the experience when I did. It's just not a priority for me anymore. I do play my guitar through a small tube combo though. SS guitar amps still haven't gotten there yet to my ears, although they are getting closer all the time.
 
#129
One problem with this discussion is that when someone writes “tube amp” in a post; that doesn’t mean the same thing to everyone.

For one thing, there are tube preamps and tube power amps.

For another, there is the SVT. You really have to take the SVT on it’s own; because it is just a very special amplifier. All tube amps do NOT sound like SVT’s. There is a lot more going on with the SVT than six 6550’s.

Much is made out of the weight differentials, now that we have Class D power sections. And, it’s true that lighter schlepp’s are a good deal. I mean, do you really need to go get that 18V power drill to take out the one 3/4” dry wall screw that the wife asks you to move?

We have a lot of options now for various levels of gigs. An SVT will always sound glorious on the backline of a big stage. At the same time, we can now put out pretty credible tones from a 112 driven by a 5 pound amp at the local coffee house. And, there is all the stuff in between. Let’s be happy with our options and not get parochial about it.
 
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#131
I've owned and gigged a lot of different tube amps, lead sleds, and class D amps. Hard to make generalizations about sound, cost, or reliability.

I've had several of each amp that sounded great, but also several of each that sounded really bad. I really believe that this is 100% based on each individual amp.

As far as reliability, I've actually had the most trouble with SS amps. When ever I got a tube amp (if it was not new production), I would have a tech look at it and fix anything right off the bat. I considered this part of the cost of getting that amp. Never really had a problem with a tube amp, I've had several SS amps need work or die on me.

As far as cost, there are cheap and expensive amps in each category.

I use a ClassD Quiter BB800 mostly these days. It sounds GREAT, is an easy schlep, can handle any gig, etc... I was using a Pre/power rig,, but my lead sled power amp is currently all fuzzy sounding. I haven't gigged a tube amp in a couple years mostly due to schlep, and "will 100 tube watts cover the gig" concerns. Not interested in adding cabs, so the tube amp thing is what it is.
 
#139
I'm currently not gigging as a bassist and I'm living in a relatively small place with my girlfriend, so I'm all set with my Bassman 100 1x10 SS combo. However, if I was gigging I would be right back to using an Acoustic 370! Hands down my favorite amp.
That said, my second favorite amp of all time was my old 1968 Guild Thunderstar Bass amp, which is a tube amp, though only 2 6L6's in the power section, so it's hardly enough to compete with a drummer.
 
#140
Weight is part of it, but also being a little more susceptible to damage is what I'd worry about the most. I borrowed a friend's older Ampeg V4B for a while that powered an 8x8, 2x10, and 1x18 cabinets. Now that was a lot of fun, but the old amp was fragile. As much as the new class D amps are nice, I have about swore them off as well after my Markbass F1 amp decided to die one day, and it's a hefty price tag to get one fixed because of the printed circuit board. I'm back to using the ol' tried and trued GK 700rb-II, which isn't heavy and can be repaired by about any shop.
 
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