Anyone using a 100 watt tube head for bass?

[confused]

Currently have a 160 watt solid state ampeg combo

 

Thinking of picking up a 100 watt tube head: Ampeg v4-b, Fender Bassman 100, Fender Dual Showman Reverb

 

I know the tubes will sound warmer and add some nice grind when driven

 

How loud will 100 watts tube be compared to 160 solid state?

 

Thanks

[ARES]

A {censored}load louder.

[oldivor]

I use a 71 Ampeg V-4B and that sucker is loud. I use 6550s and in reality it's most likely pumping out 120 or more watts. I use a 410 and 115 and before it distorts it shakes the windows like a screen door in a tornado. And it over drives like a champ too.

 

Edit: Tomorrow I'll crank my SVT 3 pro and my V-4B and get back to ya.

[BoundandBlocked]

Can anyone compare (both volume and tone) the V-4 to an SVT-3 at 450W or SVT-350 (B2R) at 350W?

[T. Alan Smith]

 

Originally posted by BoundandBlocked Can anyone compare (both volume and tone) the V-4 to an SVT-3 at 450W or SVT-350 at 350W?

 

 

THIS is something I would like to know, as I'm interested in adding an all tube head to compliment my SWR350 head.

[Cortfan]

I have a Fender BF 50 head, a SF 50 head, a SF 100 head, a SF 70 combo, and a 135 s.s Kustom head. I use the SF 50 most of the time. We also go thru a Bose system, and a conventional P.A. depending on the venue. I prefer the 50 and 100 Fender tube heads, although the Kustom will definately work.

[Deacon_blue]

I use a 100 watt Twin Reverb (same circuitry as a Dual Showman) for a fairly large space at a volume of about 4.

Plenty in reserve.

[der oxenrig]

I use a 60 watt Sunn tube head, and it's louder than most 200 watt solid state amps i've tried (the Yorkie XM200 being the exception, it's just as loud or maybe a smidge louder).

[mike fitzwell]

For gigging, I switch between:

 

'73 Ampeg V4 (100w)

&

Ampeg SVP-CL preamp/QSC RMX1450 poweramp (1400w)

 

through a recent Ampeg 8x10. The V4 can get quite loud through this cab, easily carrying small/medium venues w/o PA support. Once the volume knob gets about halfway up she starts to grind pretty good. The tone is unbelievable in a band setting while ripping off Mississippi Queen or Crossroads. IMO what really puts it over the top and helps nail that vintage tone is the sealed 8x10. Sure, it sounds decent through my Avatar 2x12, but I swear it's that wall of sealed 10s that gives it the "mojo".

 

On the other hand, the SVP-CL/QSC setup definitely gives me all I need in terms of headroom and loud, clean tone. I've been using this setup more lately due to all our summertime outdoor gigs. I'd call the tone "neo-vintage". I can get reasonably close to the tone of the V4, but the sweet tubey overdrive won't be happenin'. We played our local 4th of July festival and the DI out of the SVP-CL was "one of the best sounds I've ever gotten out of a bass. It was awesome! So much fun to mix." according to the sound tech. I got some video of the show and it indeed sounded great to my ears.

 

 

Now, you wanna level a small city? Try cranking up a V4 through 2-2x15 cabs! I recently came into a pair and "Holy {censored}!" is the only fitting adjective. Check the bottom link in my sig for pics.

[phatster]

ONCE YOU GO TUBE YOU WILL QUESTION THE SS EXPERIENCE.I have been experimenting with my gbe-600 and a 100 watt sound city in a bi-amp config......once I get it balanced for volume it is amazing the fullness of sound you get,,,,I'm running an ampeg pr-410 through the 600 and an avatar 2-12 through the SC.Very nice complement to the relative cleaness of the GB.When I really feel ambitious I use a hiwatt 200 for the Tube fix and generally wet myself in the process.I don't use a crossover and it works very well!

[ZigmundFloyd]

I have a Marshall JCM 800 superbass mk II w/ 4 6550s that I used for years into 8 celestion 12" 75w. It is very loud, sounds great on its own, but I eventually realized that it didn't have enough booty, now I use an old SVT.

 

It just didn't have enough headroom or balls live for the situation I was in-loud speedmetal, but sounds great recorded. Your situation is prob different. One thing I learned was to keep the bass and treble down, turn up the volume to about 7 and let the tubes really work, let em sing!

[mike fitzwell]

 

Originally posted by ZigmundFloyd One thing I learned was to keep the bass and treble down, turn up the volume to about 7 and let the tubes really work, let em sing!

 

 

Great tip! I do the same thing myself at times.

[Craig Vecchione]

100 watts is 100 watts. Doesn't matter what circuit created the power. Having said that, the reason tube amps usually seem louder is that they tend to be better at producing far greater than rated power, and they also produce better-sounding distortion at excessive power levels than SS amps. A 100w V-4 probably does at least 175w at 10% THD. There are examples of SS heads that can't even produce rated power for more than a few seconds without frying a component....an EE over in Live Sound gave some examples of PA gear with this problem too, from companies that also make bass amps.

[BEAD]

 

Originally posted by Craigv 100 watts is 100 watts. Doesn't matter what circuit created the power. Having said that, the reason tube amps usually seem louder is that they tend to be better at producing far greater than rated power, and they also produce better-sounding distortion at excessive power levels than SS amps. A 100w V-4 probably does at least 175w at 10% THD. There are examples of SS heads that can't even produce rated power for more than a few seconds without frying a component....an EE over in Live Sound gave some examples of PA gear with this problem too, from companies that also make bass amps.

 

 

So, while 100 watts is 100 watts, everything you've written after "100 watts is 100 watts" appears to suggest that an amplifier marketed as a 100 watt all tube amp will most likely get louder than a 100 watt ss amp without frying or sounding like ass.

 

ehm?

[BoundandBlocked]

If you have a 100W amp, you can potentially push 175W. If you have a 350W amp, should you only go to 175W for headroom purposes? Is there a general rule of thumb for headroom percentage required for solid state amps?

 

Also, isn't the sound of a tube clipping not only pleasant but also seemingly louder? It may not actually be louder according to actual decibels, but wouldn't it seem louder?

[BEAD]

Originally posted by BoundandBlocked Also, isn't the sound of a tube clipping not only pleasant but also seemingly louder? It may not actually be louder according to actual decibels, but wouldn't it seem louder?

 

I've heard bits of the seems louder argument. I can't imagine caring whether something isactually louder is it seems louder.

 

Could you imagine playing bass into a 100 watt tube amp, hearing yourself fine, but having this nagging dissatisfaction, as your amp only seems loud enough to you, your bandmates, and your audience?

[rockcityguitars]

I use a Musicman HD-150 from 1980. It's STUPID loud and clean. It approaches my old SVT in volume, but has that "round" Fender kind of thing. Try one if you can find one.

Corey

[RSBro]

I use a tube pre (Dem VTBP-201s) and SS Peavey PV1500 power amp and I like it. I used to have a '68 V4-B and it was ok, but you can't clean it up like I like to do most of the time. It was decently loud, but compared to the near 2000W power amps I've been playing with lately, it's not even in the same league. But louder than an SVT-III Pro cranked, and sounds tons better.

[der oxenrig]

Originally posted by phatster ONCE YOU GO TUBE YOU WILL QUESTION THE SS EXPERIENCE.I have been experimenting with my gbe-600 and a 100 watt sound city in a bi-amp config......once I get it balanced for volume it is amazing the fullness of sound you get,,,,I'm running an ampeg pr-410 through the 600 and an avatar 2-12 through the SC.Very nice complement to the relative cleaness of the GB.When I really feel ambitious I use a hiwatt 200 for the Tube fix and generally wet myself in the process.I don't use a crossover and it works very well!

 

I envy you.

[der oxenrig]

 

Originally posted by rockcityguitars I use a Musicman HD-150 from 1980. It's STUPID loud and clean. It approaches my old SVT in volume, but has that "round" Fender kind of thing. Try one if you can find one. Corey

 

 

I had an HD-130. It got loud real fast, and had the deepest low end i've ever heard, but it was too clean, and the distorsion was laughable (due to the ss preamp).

[BoundandBlocked]

 

Originally posted by RockStarBassist But louder than an SVT-III Pro cranked, and sounds tons better.

 

 

The V4 was louder and better or your 2000W power amp was louder and better?

[oldivor]

I cranked the bad boys and here is my thought on the matter.

The SVT -3 Pro has a dirtyish tone and it was cleaner at high volumes

The V-4B was clean at low at mid but when you cranked it, it was LOUD and of course. Cranked tube amp = distortion

 

Both cranked were about the same volume, but the V-4B had in alot of distortion going on while the SVT-3 Pro was alot cleaner at high volumes.

[BoundandBlocked]

Thanks for the comparison. Unfortunately (for my checkbook), I'm always on the lookout for new gear. I'm kinda big on Ampeg and since these two are the same price, I wondered about the differences. Thanks!

[RSBro]

 

Originally posted by BoundandBlocked The V4 was louder and better or your 2000W power amp was louder and better?

 

 

The V4. The 3Pro was ehh, at high volumes, but not the same.

[ToeJamFootball]

bwhahahahaha, i read this thread yesterday, and then last night i had a dream i played through an Ampeg V4 and an SWR Bigfoot 2x12,

 

and holy crap was it good:eek:,

 

i want one:(

 

ToeJam