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neonblack wrote:I think a big part of my problem is that it's not the best at low volumes, but when its cranked, it destroys. I just don't get many chances to crank it.

D.o.S. wrote:

Derelict78 wrote:

neonblack wrote:im looking around and can't really find many affordable tube heads. I see some hybrids, and some really expensive low watt heads.

How many tube watts would one need for small club gigs with a loud drummer? 100w?

For bass you could get away with 100 watts cranked but don't expect it to be clean at all.

Really it depends on what you mean by "clean"

Dexterecus wrote:I'm interested in a Meatsmoke pre-amp pedal but I'm still not sure how it works.
Do you just plug it into your amp like a normal pedal or can you only use it with power amps?

Holy Schnikes wrote:

neonblack wrote:I think a big part of my problem is that it's not the best at low volumes, but when its cranked, it destroys. I just don't get many chances to crank it.

Most every option mentioned in this thread will sound far better at high volume than low volume. That's just how these things work, even more so if you decide on a tube amp. Never gonna sound it's best reigned in.

ChetMagongalo wrote:Neighbors, roommates, pets, family are what will really kill your tone

Derelict78 wrote:

D.o.S. wrote:

Derelict78 wrote:

neonblack wrote:im looking around and can't really find many affordable tube heads. I see some hybrids, and some really expensive low watt heads.

How many tube watts would one need for small club gigs with a loud drummer? 100w?

For bass you could get away with 100 watts cranked but don't expect it to be clean at all.

Really it depends on what you mean by "clean"

I mean not distorted.

Tendollarcat wrote:I went from a Rusty Box to a Meatsmoke as well. I guess the difference for me is that I wasn't aiming to replicate a tube amp. Or buy a pedal that is a "tube amp in a box". That stuff is kind of best for Talkbassers who talk about getting heavy in their Sunday morning bands I call it the Tech21 VT club...

The Meatsmoke for me is a tone fattener. It adds 70% of the 3D sound of a tube amp and also provides a brilliant overdriven boost section. I've also recorded direct with it and it sounds magic. It's hugely useful. The fender tone stack works fine for me but I've always been a guy who looked at those EQ slider sections and then searched for a bypass button or set them all in the middle. Additionally, the Meatsmoke does great things with other pedals. Dirt and delay and vibe all sound huge through it. It takes ordinary shitty solid state amps and elevates the tonal quality a bunch. It makes amps sound bigger and deeper. That's why I love it. It's also not a bullshit digital emulator. It's authentic and organic sounding.

I dug the rusty box but it was a flavour for me, not a preamp. It's pretty specific and solid state sounding but a cool pedal. I also used an EBS Valvedrive for a long time. It's a brilliant drive pedal to use on solid state amps. Again, it's a fat and full sounding drive - not a tube amp. Tube pedals have a flavour. I like them for it but then again I didn't use SVT emulation as my benchmark. I just picked what worked in my band.

hamletpowpowpow wrote:

Tendollarcat wrote:I went from a Rusty Box to a Meatsmoke as well. I guess the difference for me is that I wasn't aiming to replicate a tube amp. Or buy a pedal that is a "tube amp in a box". That stuff is kind of best for Talkbassers who talk about getting heavy in their Sunday morning bands I call it the Tech21 VT club...

The Meatsmoke for me is a tone fattener. It adds 70% of the 3D sound of a tube amp and also provides a brilliant overdriven boost section. I've also recorded direct with it and it sounds magic. It's hugely useful. The fender tone stack works fine for me but I've always been a guy who looked at those EQ slider sections and then searched for a bypass button or set them all in the middle. Additionally, the Meatsmoke does great things with other pedals. Dirt and delay and vibe all sound huge through it. It takes ordinary shitty solid state amps and elevates the tonal quality a bunch. It makes amps sound bigger and deeper. That's why I love it. It's also not a bullshit digital emulator. It's authentic and organic sounding.

I dug the rusty box but it was a flavour for me, not a preamp. It's pretty specific and solid state sounding but a cool pedal. I also used an EBS Valvedrive for a long time. It's a brilliant drive pedal to use on solid state amps. Again, it's a fat and full sounding drive - not a tube amp. Tube pedals have a flavour. I like them for it but then again I didn't use SVT emulation as my benchmark. I just picked what worked in my band.

I would love to know more about your thoughts on the Rusty Box v Meatsmoke. I'm building a little modular rig for ye olde bedroom studio, and was thinking about both of these. My normal fullsize rig used to be a SVT Blueline into an 8x10, or an Rb800 into a Mesa 2x15 (Loved that!). Looking to kind of duplicate that, but in the studio, and without a cabinet.

Was considering a Verellen Kalaloch with record out so that I could just drop in different pre's - but am also thinking about the new Darkglass 900...but the only people raving about that are Talkbass players, and I'm definitely not one of those. It's small, and about 700-900 cheaper than a Verellen...

Thoughts?