Toobz vs SS - Bass Amps

[warwick.hoy]

Yeah 400w is a lot of power. Great if you are going for a glorious clean tone, not so much if you need it filthied up. Still really want to have a go with an Ampeg V4B.

[FancyMike]

I used to want a 400, but really I have no use for that much power. 100W through a good cab is a really nice size imo. You get to push the amp a decent amount, I've had good luck with a Fender Twin recently.

KT88s for ~150-200W is what I'm really digging now though. 60lbs of fuck you:

Forgot to take pics of the giant transformers and tubes last time the chassis was out, but

[nad]

Doods there is no way the 400+ is 400 watts. I mean granted, it is fuckin' LOUD but it's more like 250ish. That being said, I've never gotten it to distort much, it's a very clean sounding amp. That's actually my main gripe with it, it's too loud to get grindy. The 400 will do that shit all day (something like 180 watts) and the V-Type is possibly louder than the 400+ but that shit gets angry QUICK.

It's definitely a sweet amp, but it's way too much wattage for me. I would need to power soak the hell out of it to get the sound I wanted (power tubes sweating like a fat fuck in a sauna) I'm more of a 100W dude. Although I've been thinking about a Peavey VB-2 lately (200W)

If you like big squishy tube gooshtortion, the VB-2 rocks nuts, it gets warm and big easily. 100 watt heads aren't really enough for me, well technically they are, but I usually have to run those wide open to get to the volume I usually need. And of course, a tube amp on 10 is fucking glorious, but I prefer to get them halfway to hell instead of all the way down down down.

Hence my love for heads in the 200W range.

I've seen a guy express a very strong, unequivocal preference for the 400 over the 400+, so I'm not too surprised by that. Oh, and I gather the V-Type is notorious for breaking down (as well as awesome tone), so keep on good terms with your tech.

The 400 is more tube-like, which is stupid to say, but true if you A/B them. Of course, I'm about to purchase an NV412 to go with the 400+ so clearly I love that amp as well.

I've had the V-Type for about 4 years and put a lot of hours on it, it acted fine for the first few years, until it needed new preamp tubes and one day it shocked the shit out of me. So the tech made it nice and respectable like once again, hopefully that sticks for some time. It's a pretty whacky amp though, the EQ section is just wild. I love it more than most cars I've owned, and hey man, I love cars.

[warwick.hoy]

Is this a; "fuck what the ad copy says they are liars"?, because Mesa Boogie rates the 400+ at 500 watts @ 2 ohms. So even by that account EVERYBODY'S WRONG ALWAYS AND FOREVER.

I'm under the impression that Tube amps push the full wattage no matter what the impedance (hence the different taps).

[nad]

Is this a; "fuck what the ad copy says they are liars"?, because Mesa Boogie rates the 400+ at 500 watts @ 2 ohms. So even by that account EVERYBODY'S WRONG ALWAYS AND FOREVER.

I'm under the impression that Tube amps push the full wattage no matter what the impedance (hence the different taps).

From what I understand, Mesa's 500W spec is peak, not RMS like most things go by these days. As far as I know yes, tube amps give the same power regardless of ohm load.

In my experience, which means I could be completely wrong:

1) You generally know how loud a tube head is going to be based on its wattage rating. I keep using 200ish watt heads because they work for me, I've never been disappointed with a 200 watter's volume.

2) Solid state wattage ratings are next to useless. I've played new 600 and 750 watt SS amps that got their shit ruined by old 200 watt solid state amps. And all of those things were mocked by an 100W tube amp on full tilt.

So yes, I do agree with you that everybody is wrong, always and forever. In fact, this post of mine is likely full of misinformation, conjecture, and complete bullshit.

[theavondon]

Fwiw, loving my V4 on literally any instrument I try it with.

[bigchiefbc]

It's definitely a sweet amp, but it's way too much wattage for me. I would need to power soak the hell out of it to get the sound I wanted (power tubes sweating like a fat fuck in a sauna) I'm more of a 100W dude. Although I've been thinking about a Peavey VB-2 lately (200W)

If you like big squishy tube gooshtortion, the VB-2 rocks nuts, it gets warm and big easily. 100 watt heads aren't really enough for me, well technically they are, but I usually have to run those wide open to get to the volume I usually need. And of course, a tube amp on 10 is fucking glorious, but I prefer to get them halfway to hell instead of all the way down down down.

Hence my love for heads in the 200W range.

Does the VB-2 sag and break up well on the normal channel? I've listened to a bunch of demos on youtube, and I think the overdrive channel sounds like poo, and no one ever turns the normal channel up loud enough for it to break up.

[warwick.hoy]

So yes, I do agree with you that everybody is wrong, always and forever. In fact, this post of mine is likely full of misinformation, conjecture, and complete bullshit.

This made my day. But I haven't had my coffee yet.

[Bassboar]

It's definitely a sweet amp, but it's way too much wattage for me. I would need to power soak the hell out of it to get the sound I wanted (power tubes sweating like a fat fuck in a sauna) I'm more of a 100W dude. Although I've been thinking about a Peavey VB-2 lately (200W)

If you like big squishy tube gooshtortion, the VB-2 rocks nuts, it gets warm and big easily. 100 watt heads aren't really enough for me, well technically they are, but I usually have to run those wide open to get to the volume I usually need. And of course, a tube amp on 10 is fucking glorious, but I prefer to get them halfway to hell instead of all the way down down down.

Hence my love for heads in the 200W range.

Does the VB-2 sag and break up well on the normal channel? I've listened to a bunch of demos on youtube, and I think the overdrive channel sounds like poo, and no one ever turns the normal channel up loud enough for it to break up.

I can find out for you tonight if you want.

[bigchiefbc]

It's definitely a sweet amp, but it's way too much wattage for me. I would need to power soak the hell out of it to get the sound I wanted (power tubes sweating like a fat fuck in a sauna) I'm more of a 100W dude. Although I've been thinking about a Peavey VB-2 lately (200W)

If you like big squishy tube gooshtortion, the VB-2 rocks nuts, it gets warm and big easily. 100 watt heads aren't really enough for me, well technically they are, but I usually have to run those wide open to get to the volume I usually need. And of course, a tube amp on 10 is fucking glorious, but I prefer to get them halfway to hell instead of all the way down down down.

Hence my love for heads in the 200W range.

Does the VB-2 sag and break up well on the normal channel? I've listened to a bunch of demos on youtube, and I think the overdrive channel sounds like poo, and no one ever turns the normal channel up loud enough for it to break up.

I can find out for you tonight if you want.

Much appreciated!

[Bassboar]

Also, screw all of you with your fancy ass tube amps.
Traynor Monoblock II brings the doom like no other.
I do plan to move up to tubes one day.
Maybe a YBA 3A.

[nightterrors]

Also, screw all of you with your fancy ass tube amps.
Traynor Monoblock II brings the doom like no other.
I do plan to move up to tubes one day.
Maybe a YBA 3A.

old Traynor stuff is great!
had a YBA-1 before, dug it a lot.
They're very very common around me, I live an hour and a half from toronto... haha.

[nightterrors]

YAY ALL MY TOOOOBZ ARE BACK HOME

Considering selling the 400+ since I like the 400 and V-Type better.

I came up with a list of specs:

2/4/8 ohm taps
50 very awkward pounds
a lot of loud freakin' watts
no more need for PA support
sexy black finish with rack ears
spinning knobs and sliding sliders
rubber feet for sitting and feeting
detachable power cord for cording
Stone Brewing Co. sticker, very nice!

And that actually makes me want to keep it. I mean, that sticker?



KEEN.

Played my buddies 80's Mesa D180 yesterday, sounded great. He told me it's the predecessor to the 400? I wouldn't know, I know nothing about Mesa.

[Achtane]

The magic of the VB-2 lies in turning the volume all the way up and using the gain control to taste.

[bigchiefbc]

The magic of the VB-2 lies in turning the volume all the way up and using the gain control to taste.

Oh yeah, definitely. Master Volumes are always wide open for me, I basically just act like they aren't there. I almost universally hate preamp distortion. I'm just wondering how clean the "clean" channel on the VB-2 is, whether it gets dirty when you crank it.