Toobz vs SS - Bass Amps

[Achtane]

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.

I wish I could tell you...I never really got an opportunity to
AA might chime in, he's certainly put it to more use than I.

[nad]

I wasn't a big fan of the VB-2 dirty channel, but it isn't bad if you dial the treble back and don't use a tweeter.

Still an ungood examples of preamp distortion really. I got that thang to goosh with the master beyond halfway up.

I would love to try a Mesa D-180 someday. That came first, then the 400, finally the 400+, now they have new ones.

I really want to pick up an Ashdown CTM-15 when they come out. Totally unnecessary, but totally awesome. Totally.

[rustywire]

Tube amps sound huge even at low volumes, because dat tone so fat.

I have an Oliver PA100 that's yet another variation/descendent of the tweed Bassman/RCA service manual...with a massive Triad power and Chicago Standard output transformer.
Gz34 rectified, 7027a powered, 6an8 PI, 6eu7 driven. It brings the boom to the room.

It's essentially the amp from an Ampeg Portaflex B15, built by Jess Oliver around 1969/70 after he left Ampeg.

With the right, single 15" it can hang with my Fender Quad Reverb.


TOOB RULZ #1

[Bassboar]

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.

The answer is no. It stays clean the whole way through.
Like, the whole way.
Hope that helps.

[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.

The answer is no. It stays clean the whole way through.
Like, the whole way.
Hope that helps.

OK then my GAS for one is totally killed. Thanks, you just saved me a nice chunk of money!

[bigchiefbc]

Just because I've had a few duders ask to hear the 1960 in action, I just flipped the cam on for a couple minutes before last practice and ripped off a few bits of cover riffs. I tried to get both it's cleanish and dirty tones. The "clean" stuff is with volume around 3 or 4. I cranked the gain up to about 7 and clicked the power soak up about 6dBs for the motorhead riff.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=he5Bu9YoLtA[/youtube]

[nightterrors]

Matched up the OR120 and the Acoustic 450 on bass the other day... Didn't dig it.
Was totally into the acoustic 450 and the Marshall major though.
I am into SS and tooberz.

[Narwhal-Industries]

If you set up the OR120 to be brighter than you would normally like it then it might work better with the Acoustic 450. If that doesn't work you could try making a speaker cable for the OR120 that is out of phase at one end.

[ShaunNecro]

I freaking love my two Musicman HD-150's. Solid State Preamp, tube power amp, big heavy transformers. I never run that thing close to overdrive.

When I first got it I was running out of the bass channel with the bass and mid controls turned completely up and it just wasn't cutting it. I tried flipping the deep switch and HOLY SHIT!!! Spent the rest of that show turning down the bass control because the head was sliding around on my cabinet! I've since started using the "normal" channel with the mids cranked, bass at 5, treble at 6 with the deep switch flipped. I don't have the need to turn up past 4 or 5 on either the preamp or master volume, as it's more than enough amp at those levels. With 150 watts I am more than comfortable playing with a guitarist running a 70 watt tube amp into overdrive. I really don't understand the people who cannot get through a small gig without 500+ watts.

[D.o.S.]

If they're SS amps, that means they're just trying to preserve as much clean headroom as possible.

[ShaunNecro]

If they're SS amps, that means they're just trying to preserve as much clean headroom as possible.

I get that, but I feel that it is only necessary if you dime your bass controls AND want to play as loudly as you can. I've read way too many threads on talkbass where the overwhelming opinion is that you need a 500-1000 watt amp to even be able to hear yourself with a drummer and a guitarist.

[warwick.hoy]

When I was running SS it was 450 watts with one 410 cab. Thinking more wattage equaled considerably more volume,...I order that 410 as a 4ohm cab. On TB I got schooled on wattage not really meaning more volume. I added a 2x15 cab, ran another 450 watts to it and there was all the volume I was looking for. Really eye opening considering TB is useless for most things. I switched to the SVT-CL and 300 watts was just as loud through the two cabs plus it had the tone I was hearing in my head. If there is anything I wish I had took the time to understand as a kid; it's how to not impedance yourself into a corner when buying an amp and some cabs.

FWIW; I like to be overwhelmingly loud because I hate your ears.

[D.o.S.]

If they're SS amps, that means they're just trying to preserve as much clean headroom as possible.

I get that, but I feel that it is only necessary if you dime your bass controls AND want to play as loudly as you can. I've read way too many threads on talkbass where the overwhelming opinion is that you need a 500-1000 watt amp to even be able to hear yourself with a drummer and a guitarist.

If you're playing loudly, and you're going for clean tones, I'd say that's fairly reasonable.

[ShaunNecro]

When I was running SS it was 450 watts with one 410 cab. Thinking more wattage equaled considerably more volume,...I order that 410 as a 4ohm cab. On TB I got schooled on wattage not really meaning more volume. I added a 2x15 cab, ran another 450 watts to it and there was all the volume I was looking for. Really eye opening considering TB is useless for most things. I switched to the SVT-CL and 300 watts was just as loud through the two cabs plus it had the tone I was hearing in my head. If there is anything I wish I had took the time to understand as a kid; it's how to not impedance yourself into a corner when buying an amp and some cabs.

FWIW; I like to be overwhelmingly loud because I hate your ears.

I know a guy that runs a 1000 watt Solid State Ampeg head into an 810 cab and looking at the speaker efficiency on that cab I could easily play louder with my Musicman and my 215 cab, but he doesn't think so because he's got "over six times more wattage". Most people I know only think in terms of wattage. Forget sex education, we need some kind of amp education taught at schools these days.

I also like to be ridiculously loud. I like your style, guy!

[ShaunNecro]

If they're SS amps, that means they're just trying to preserve as much clean headroom as possible.

I get that, but I feel that it is only necessary if you dime your bass controls AND want to play as loudly as you can. I've read way too many threads on talkbass where the overwhelming opinion is that you need a 500-1000 watt amp to even be able to hear yourself with a drummer and a guitarist.

If you're playing loudly, and you're going for clean tones, I'd say that's fairly reasonable.

Honestly, I'd say your cabinet choices matter waaaaaay more. You get 500 watts into a 410 that's rated at a sensitivity of 94 db's and it's going to be crushed by a 250 watt head with a 410 rated at 103 db.

Also, eq choices. If you're not battling the kick drum and just back off those frequencies that wattage can go much further and stay cleaner longer.