tube amps

[synthecks]

I wanna run my keys through a tube amp for the added frequencies/warmth but cant find much information about this. whats best bass amp? 15's, 12's ? 4ohms?


help?

[wiss]

there is no best bass amp or amp but if you do get a tube amp make sure its 100% hand wired.

[Carey M]

there is no best bass amp or amp but if you do get a tube amp make sure its 100% hand wired.

Is there any other advantage to hand wired amps, besides easier maintenance and reliability?

- CM

[wiss]

greater overall tone

[monolith]

greater overall tone

Isn't that uh... subjective?

To the OP, do you want the amp for gigs? ie. need a loud amp?
I own a silverface Fender Bassman 100 and a Fender Twin. Both amps are very loud before they break up, and my synths sound great through them. I'd give them a shot if volume is what you need.

[Alex Hamilton]

Is there any other advantage to hand wired amps, besides easier maintenance and reliability?

Actually there is, but it's not as relevant as it once was: PCBs can become slightly loose and become microphonic (I'm sure you know what this is). Amps made by hand without PCBs don't risk this, though obviously both types are susceptible to microphonic valves. Expensive PCB amps aren't really prone to this, but some, e.g. Chinese-made, cheaper amps can have problems.

To the OP, there aren't any particular amps to recommend, but I'd suggest a bass amp for the extended low frequency response, and nothing smaller than a 12" cone.

4ohms?

Shouldn't matter for the output impedance, as long as the speakers are providing a sufficient load to the amp. Do you want a combo, or head and cab? Combo will be cheaper and you won't have to worry about output impedance.

[tallowwaters]

wrong damn forum...

[Jack Spider]

Moved to 'Sound Production'.

http://www.vintagesynth.com/forum/viewt ... =1&t=30481

[synthecks]

Im looking for a cab and a head, I picked up 2 15" 250w celestions and am looking for something to "house" them but struggling to find a head. Id consider selling them If I found better speakers but these seem to have great lows and mids.
I thought the lower the ohms the louder and more freqs the speakers were, no?

also yes Im looking for something for gigs, so something loud to and low.

[steveman]

I thought the lower the ohms the louder and more freqs the speakers were, no?

No. Lower impedance (ohms) may mean louder if your amp can handle it, but not necessarily. There's no connection between lower impedance and frequency range.

[wiss]

[
To the OP, there aren't any particular amps to recommend, but I'd suggest a bass amp for the extended low frequency response, and nothing smaller than a 12" cone.

unless it's a cab with 4 10's....

[aeon]

[
To the OP, there aren't any particular amps to recommend, but I'd suggest a bass amp for the extended low frequency response, and nothing smaller than a 12" cone.

unless it's a cab with 4 10's....

or 24 5" drivers...

http://www.philjonespuresound.com/PJWeb ... 8T16B.aspx

It is the most amazing bass cab I have ever had the pleasure of hearing or recording. The sound pressure of the lows, and speed of dynamics of the highs, is just lovely.


cheers,
Ian

[Blue Monster 65]

The "best" amp? That's way too subjective an opinion. However, what I would suggest instead of a bass amp for your application, would be a tube PA head, were you to go the vintage route. You'll get multiple channels and as much power as you're going to find in a bass head, with a better overall response for your keys. After that, I'd look for a bass amp and I would not recommend a guitar head, unless lower bass response is what you want.

That said, since you're going to be gigging with it, I would suggest the following setup:

1. Tube preamp - you can get one with multiple channels or several, depending on how many synths you're running into it)

2. Solidstate power amp - power tube overdrive/distortion is great, but unless you're going for a specific sound, you're not going to want to color your synths with this all the time. Also, in order to get the amount of power you're going to need to both drive your cabinet and be heard decently in the mix (not necessarily the "mix," but the din onstage), you're going to need a lot of tubes, which create heat, are heavy, fragile, heavy (in their chassis), etc.

3. Build your own cab - easier said than done, but unless you're willing to pay for it, most unloaded cabs are going to cost you. Mind you, you'll have to know something about what you're doing, but if you do a little research, then you should be able to pull it off.

I build tube amps (mostly for guitar), so I love 'em and recommend them for most things. However, some in some instances (notably the one you're talking about), I feel you're best off doing something like the above.

What other questions do you have? (No, Alex, I won't explain where babies come from ... again!)

Scott

[wiss]

or 24 5" drivers...

http://www.philjonespuresound.com/PJWeb ... 8T16B.aspx

It is the most amazing bass cab I have ever had the pleasure of hearing or recording. The sound pressure of the lows, and speed of dynamics of the highs, is just lovely.


cheers,
Ian

WOW!!!!!!

[meatballfulton]

A great choice for a tube PA head is the Shure Vocal Master....six mono inputs, 100 watts RMS output and they sell dirt cheap because noone wants them anymore. You can find them for $100 or so, much less than a tube guitar or bass head.