Author Topic: All tube preamp - amp ! (Read 433 times)

12stringwilson · « **Reply #15 on:** February 18, 2009, 12:44:34 PM »

AMPEG SVT
You can find a used one from the 70's or 80's for a decent price. I own tow 70's models and nothing sounds sweeter to me.

12stringwilson · « **Reply #16 on:** February 18, 2009, 12:46:21 PM »

AMPEG SVT
You can find a used one from the 70's or 80's for a decent price. I own two 70's models and nothing sounds sweeter to me. I run them thru a cab w/ two 15s and a cab with eight 10s. Knocked 4 painting off my walls this weekend getting carried away at the house. lol

bsee · « **Reply #17 on:** February 18, 2009, 01:39:47 PM »

The preamp version of the SVT would be any of the SVP-XXX models. I know there was an SVP-CL (Classic), an SVP-Pro and maybe one other model. Personally, I love the tone of the F-1X for purity and punch, but I mostly use the digital modeling stuff live for versatility and quick tone changes. I might be looking for more tubes if I weren't playing an Alembic bass, or maybe even an Alembic lacking dense neck woods. That just doesn't seem the right thing to do with all that inherent bass tone. It's just too sweet to muddy up.

For a 100% tube rig, there are a handful of oldies out there that really get the job done. The SVT is said to have a limited tone palette, but is brilliant at what it does. The Boogie 400+ is called too modern by those who aren't into it, and loved by those who are. Seems like the opposite end of the tube spectrum from the SVT. The earlier Boogie 400, on the other hand, is well loved for buttery warmth and is somehow different in tone from the replacement (this is my personal favorite of those I have played, and it makes even a $50 bass sound great). The Sunn/Fender has a great rep for power and more versatility, and a lot of people also like the old Peavey Classic 400.

Newer stuff is also out there, including the Traynor YBA-200 head which gets great marks for usability and reasonable weight. Peavey has some new models showing up on their lists as well, but I've heard very little about them. Some of these drop to the 200 watt range, which seems like it should be fine for just about any purpose.

Of course, there are also a handful of boutique-class heads. You know, the ones that start in the $2K range. I can't say I've had any direct experience with these, so you're on your own if you want to get the cost of your rig to rival the cost of an Alembic.

No one ever asked what you're looking for in a rig. Is it about imposing size? Tone and portability? Recording? Live use with or without house support? Always good to have an idea of what someone is really looking for before throwing out too much advice...

-bob

terrace · « **Reply #18 on:** February 19, 2009, 02:41:08 PM »

Just today I picked up my GK Fusion 550 which I
originally ordered in early 2006.It's still in the box so I can't yet comment about it but it
has 3 - 12AX7 tubes which drive the preamp & EQ.

David Houck · « **Reply #19 on:** February 19, 2009, 10:48:21 PM »

A three year wait? The motorized knobs sound interesting. Let us know what you think.

dubalbal · « **Reply #20 on:** March 04, 2009, 12:00:27 AM »

I tried the aguilar db-750 head ! ...waowwww...what a sound ! Really fantastic ! ...and so simple to use : plug and play : i think my choice is made ! ...is someone using this amp here ?

Alain

briant · « **Reply #21 on:** March 04, 2009, 11:18:19 AM »

The DB 750 is nice. If I wasn't a preamp whore I probably would have purchased one instead of picking up the used DB 680. The DB 680 has slightly more options if you're into twisting knobs - truth be told I normally keep everything at 12 o'clock, plug in, and go.

You can still find DB 680's used. You can also get to an all tube configuration if you hunt down a used DB 728 - this was the power amp that Aguilar originally intended to be paired with the DB 680. It is 400W of all tube goodness. I played through that setup a long time ago. It was sonic heaven.

I know there was an SVP-CL (Classic),

I have one of these as well. It does a fine job of making the real SVT sound go without all the weight. But it isn't quite the same. I dig it. I use it from time to time. But it will never replace an SVT Classic or one of the vintage jobs from the 70's.

bassman4 · « **Reply #22 on:** March 05, 2009, 08:49:28 AM »

Hey Gang!

I use an Eden Navigator Pre...great tone and a killer DI output too...Pretty much just set it all to flat and go for it!

EDEN WP100 NAVIGATOR

The Eden WP100 preamp features a tube input stage, dbx type compression with variable threshold and rate controls, tube character control, enhance control, the famous Eden semi-parametric eq, front panel D.I. output control, mono pre-eq loop, stereo post-eq loop, side-chain loop with front panel blend pot, variable crossover, stereo led output meters, tuner out, a set of stereo and mono XLR outputs, and a defeatable limiter. The front panel switches that defeat the compressor, enhance, mute, and turbo boost are duplicated on a lighted footswitch that connects via a standard, easily replaceable midi cable.
$1,099.90

WP100 SPECS

Distortion

djmckaytx · « **Reply #23 on:** March 08, 2009, 04:14:26 PM »

I am using a late 60's/early 70's blue line SVT with an Ampeg 610HLF cabinet. Have used lots of others, both tube and solid state...but this is the real deal if you want the tone. Depending on your playing style (and especially your Alembic), it doesn't have to be a one dimensional amp -- but it will be if all you want is tube power and tube tone.

YES, it weighs a ton. YES, they can be finicky and YES, if you don't know how to set them up maintenance can be expensive. But there's a reason why many of the best won't have anything else. To each his own amp...but after 30 years of playing this is it for me.

Here's more info on it (with pics) and it's (famous) previous owner.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=408788&highlight=rachel+bolan

0vid · « **Reply #24 on:** March 10, 2009, 12:01:07 PM »

I have the F-1X in my main rack, and I like it for live work as I use the crossover. It used to be in the studio. In the studio I use an early VTBP 201 which has been my main studio preamp for years now. To me the difference between the VTBP and the F-1X is not a lot, if you play it flat but when you start to use the EQ the differences become more apparent.

I also have a Read purity, which is the 'tubiest' of the lot. My only grouse with the Read is that it has a tube driven DI, which is theoretically a nice marketing idea, but sonically can result in two distinct tones - i.e. you are not necessarily sending via XLR to board, what you have in your normal 1/4 line out. That is the case with the Read; the XLR is much thinner (by far) than the 1/4 line out in tone. The Read has very strong output, and the EQ is solid state but pretty good.

I've had the Trace V type preamp, which was nice but I wasn't using it anymore and so I sold it on. It has a nice mid shift if you need it, but
it wasn't to me as good as either the F-1X or the Demeter, or the Read.

Live, I use the F-1X all the time and I patch a parametric EQ to tame certain basses, the F-1X stays 'flat'. I also have a Rane compressor (DC24) which I use very occasionally. It is the most versatile preamp I have and never lets me down. One time I had two F-1Xs, but sold one to pick up the rare Read purity. Jack Read no longer makes instruments or preamps commercially, he now works for a big name corp making expensive pay through the bose, oh sorry nose, speakers using cheap multiple drivers,

dean_m · « **Reply #25 on:** March 10, 2009, 01:56:48 PM »

Hey Gents,
Ampeg did make a couple of different 1 rack space, all tube, preamps. The first was the SVTIIP which turned into the SVP-PRO. Basically the preamp only version of the SVT III and the current SVT 3 PRO. Then Ampeg then made the SVP-CL which was supposed to reproduce the same signal path as the now current SVT-VRs preamp.
As of now Ampeg does not offer a stand alone preamp so buy as many F-1Xs and F2Bs as you can.

llobsterbass · « **Reply #26 on:** March 13, 2009, 10:11:50 AM »

second that vote for the Eden Navigator. clean, tons of headroom, sweet tube tone which can be adjusted to taste. It's got enough tone options to do anything, but sounds amazing just flat.

bassman4 · « **Reply #27 on:** March 13, 2009, 10:29:43 AM »

I hear you LLobsterbass!

I've got the sound guys telling me they don't have to change a thing with my DI feed; just adjust the volume in the mix...Of course that's because they also get to hear that clarity and tone from the Eden 210XST / 212XLT Cab combination I like to use on stage...plenty of Punch and Bottom from the XST cab, and plenty of clarity and articulation from the 212XLT's...I am loving life right now with the new Essence (Europa)5-string!

benson_murrensun · « **Reply #28 on:** March 13, 2009, 12:58:41 PM »

Ampeg made a 1-space tube preamp with Billy Sheehan's name on it, the SVP-BSP.

I have had good luck and sounds with my Yamaha PB-1 preamp. It'a all solid state, and I'm sure it doesn't compare to the higher-end tube stuff; but you can find them used for $100 sometimes.

Incidentally, I also have the guitar version of the Yamaha preamp, I can't remember the model; it is 1-space as well and actually has an Accutronics spring reverb inside.

bsee · « **Reply #29 on:** March 13, 2009, 04:39:07 PM »

That PB-1 used to be a standard for a great preamp cheap. They were $100 on the used market back in the 80s. I haven't seen one under $250 more recently, but you never know. They did have a good basic tone and the shaping was pretty advanced relative to what most bass amps could do at the time.