Toobz vs SS - Bass Amps

[D.o.S.]

Tubes is having sex, SS is having the phys-ed teacher explain sex.

[bigchiefbc]

The only problem with using tube amps for the dirt and compression is that most of the tube bass amps out nowadays are such high wattage that you have to basically be playing Madison Square Garden to get them to that point where the power section is really sweating. Hell, I ended up buying a 100-watt guitar amp and still had to pull out half of the power tubes just to get it down to a volume level that would work for the gigs my band is playing. I can't imagine how fucking insanely loud a 300-watt SVT has to be before you get any dirt out of it.

edit:: I'm talking power section here. Obviously it's easy to get the preamp section to get dirty. But most preamp distortion sounds like fizzy dogshit.

[metalmariachi]

Yup BigChief I found the B-15 or B-25 works well in most “real world” clubs.
Mic them up if needed.
With the V4-b, 4 is pushing the tolerance level of most noise ordinances, so you can’t get it to the point of saturation.

MM

[Moustache_Bash]

I agree with the points made by both sides. But I prefer SS because they require less maintenance and care. And they are cheaper. Good enough for me.

[behndy]

Tubes is having sex, SS is having the phys-ed teacher BAD TOUCH YOU FOR YOUR FIRST SEXIN'S.

MM

fix'd that for ya!

neh. i see why toobs. i just like the more defined feeling i get out of a ss amp.

THIS IS ME TALKING WITH MY 40 MINUTES OF USING A TOOB AMP TO BACK IT UP.

i kinda like the idea of having a medium watt toob head to run dirt and fuzz through and blend or double amp up. but that's too much trouble right now.

[nad]

Also your playing will feel differently, more like you’re playing the amp as well as the bass.

So god damn true. SO gOD DAMN TRUE.

I love interactive gear. AlNiCo magnets, passive basses, pedals that require interaction instead of set-and-forget, good tube amps, etc. My gear teaches me to play better. Try using a touchy envelope filter or octaver and tell me your playing dynamics don't improve within a week. TELL ME THAT AND YOU'RE LYING.

As far as the volume thing to get proper power tube saturation, I totally get that. The bands I've played in have always been well matched by roughly 200 tube watts. It's what I use, it's what I love. Thankfully it's a pretty common arrangement for bass tube heads. I've never owned a 300 watter, something tells me it would be too clean for the volumes I'm used to. But, I'd like to try and see some day anyhow.

Although honestly, real tube saturation doesn't usually start happening until you've been playing for a couple of hours. Trace Elliot V-Type around midnight every Friday night? OH SWEET JEBUS THAT SHIT SOUNDS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD.

Oh great now I have an erection.

[bigchiefbc]

As far as the volume thing to get proper power tube saturation, I totally get that. The bands I've played in have always been well matched by roughly 200 tube watts. It's what I use, it's what I love. Thankfully it's a pretty common arrangement for bass tube heads. I've never owned a 300 watter, something tells me it would be too clean for the volumes I'm used to. But, I'd like to try and see some day anyhow.

Although honestly, real tube saturation doesn't usually start happening until you've been playing for a couple of hours. Trace Elliot V-Type around midnight every Friday night? OH SWEET JEBUS THAT SHIT SOUNDS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD.

Oh great now I have an erection.

Man, 200 tube watts seems like it would still be redonkulously loud if you had it turned up far enough for any kind of dirt. I'm running 50 watts right now, and my drummer is a fucking beast, and he STILL thinks I'm blasting him out.

[Deltaphoenix]

Crank the Master Volume and Use the gain for your volume control to saturate those power tubes.

[bigchiefbc]

Crank the Master Volume and Use the gain for your volume control to saturate those power tubes.

No master volume, sir.

[Deltaphoenix]

Ohhh..that does make it harder then...less efficient cabs then? That sounds like a crappy solution though.

[bigchiefbc]

Actually, from what I understand, the "master volume" knob on 99% of amps is between the preamp and the power amp. So you will just end up distorting the preamp, not the power amp if you turn the master down.

To get power amp distortion at lower volumes, I'm really gonna need a power soak.

[Deltaphoenix]

That's wild that you would have to use a power attenuator on 50 watts for bass. You must have some great cabs. I mean I get 50 watts of tubes is loud...but still. IDK I have never a non Master volume tube amp.

[bigchiefbc]

That's wild that you would have to use a power attenuator on 50 watts for bass. You must have some great cabs. I mean I get 50 watts of tubes is loud...but still. IDK I have never a non Master volume tube amp.

Well, it's a 100-watt amp, I just have two of the power tubes pulled out right now. If I go back up to 100 watts, I'll definitely need an attenuator. And actually no, the cab I'm using isn't that great, it's just a 4x10 carvin that I bought because I'm too poor to go drop serious money on a good cab. But it's still so fucking loud, that I can barely hear the monitor that's right in front of me. Oh well ...

[behndy]

hurrrrrm. durp. meant to ask wheb i was dropping INANITIES up thar.... i didna notice a huge difference with fuzz when i was a/b'ing my ss vs bud's toober. thought that would be the biggest OhMahGawdIWANTATOOB thing. how would you guys describe the tonal difference between the two when running mad dirt or fuzz?

[Deltaphoenix]

Did you twiddle with the knob on that one head you tried Behndozia, or leave homeboys setting alone?
What was the amp again, a Mesa Boogie?