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Topic: Fender tube bass amp for steel? |
Jim Hinton
From:
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
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Posted 16 Sep 2004 6:00 am |
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I truly love the sound of a tube amplifier, and have been wondering if anyone has experience working with a Fender tube bass amplifier?
I think Curly Chalker may have used one, but I'm not certain.
I have tested and like the new Steel King Amplifier, but since hearing the Fender Hot Rod Deluxe, I can't get past craving the tube sound. If you haven't heard it, believe me, it is impressive! The drawback is the output power is only 60 Watts. Which may be okay if you're working through a PA.
The Fender bass amp has the tubes, and the power ... hmm, maybe this is the hot ticket?
Brad Sarno's SGBB seems to be very impressive sounding, and it appears that it gives the "tube sound" to our older solid state Peavey amps. Again ... tube sound and output power. See the familiar theme?
Does anyone have any experience on the subject?
Jim |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 16 Sep 2004 6:16 am
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Jim,
I played through one of those for years. I had one that had a seperate head and speaker. I used this along with a Fender spring reverb and I thought it sounded great. I traded the setup for a Twin Reverb but now I wish I'd have kept it. Oh well!
Erv |
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Jim Hinton
From:
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
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Posted 16 Sep 2004 6:56 am
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Erv:
Any comments on what you might compare it to? I have played through a Twin Reverb, and it wasn't bad, but if you liked the bass amp better, I'm guessing the tone was more to your tastes?
Heard anything in recent years that sounded as good, or better to you? |
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Sam Marshall
From:
Chandler, AZ USA
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Posted 16 Sep 2004 8:16 am
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FYI - Fender introduced a new tube bass preamp called the TBP-1 at summer NAMM. It is voiced using a Twin Reverb pre. This is the same preamp design that a popular hi-end bass pre that has been around for many years.
For tube bass power, Fender has the Bassman 300 - 3x2x6550s developed under the direction of Bill Hughes. He was the designer of the classic Ampeg SVT. It is 300 watts and hernia waiting to happen, like the SVT.
Both have distortion channels that a steeler probably wouldn't use. They have dedicated clean channels, though.
SWR does not have any tube power amps, but many of of their products have tube preamps. I have tried some while playing jazz guitar and was quite happy with their warm tone.
Regards,
Sam |
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Jim Hinton
From:
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
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Posted 16 Sep 2004 8:50 am
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Hi Sam:
I wonder if any of the local dealers have one of the new bass amplifiers you've descibed. Since I also play bass, this is sounding very interesting.
You wouldn't happen to have one here at your lab would you? |
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David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 16 Sep 2004 12:00 pm
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I tried the new Fender Bassman 300 with pedal steel at a gig several months ago. I wrote a review of it here on the Forum that you can search for. Basically, it had lots of power and EQ flexibility, but it was too clean and sterile sounding compared to a Twin. It just didn't have that grainy tube harmonics tone that we all love in the old Twins. My experience is that the best Fender tube amp for pedal steel is a late silver face Twin or Dual Showman Reverb with 135 watts and the ultralinear transformer. They were still hand-wired on eyelet boards, had that great tube tone, and had way more clean headroom than black-face twins and some of the lesser powered bass amps (haven't tried all the old Fender tube bass amps). If a twin is not enough volume for you, get a Super Twin. They are cheaper and have the same tone with 180 watts and a switchable 5-band EQ. If that ain't enough, play two 135 watt Twins for 270 watts. Beyond that, I don't want to be in the same end of town.
My preference is to put these anvils in a head cabinet for portability, and play through an extension 15" speaker (or two). The old bass heads are already set for this, but they don't have on-board reverb, if you want that. [This message was edited by David Doggett on 16 September 2004 at 01:31 PM.] |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 16 Sep 2004 1:03 pm
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Jim,
The only reason I got rid of it was because I wanted to cut down on the amount of "stuff" I had to haul around. I had no complains about the sound whatsoever. With the Twin Reverb, There was just one unit. However, I put casters and lift handles on it to ease the pain somewhat. 
Erv |
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Jim Hinton
From:
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
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Posted 16 Sep 2004 1:45 pm
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Dave,
I will give the Dual Showman a listen, and of course a Twin is a known good choice. Thanks for your input!
Erv,
As I continue on my quest for the perfect sound, I am becoming aware of the trade-offs involved. First is the obvious problem of weight you've mentioned, and the second is the cost!
Wow, and I amazed at what some of the new amplifiers cost! I still have a Vegas 400 that I bought in 1983, and of course it's been paid for for over 20 years. When I think about upgrading to a new amplifier sound and having to spend a thousand dollars or more to get it with all the bells and whistles ... suddenly my Peavey sounds pretty darn good!
Everything has a price ... |
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Jim Hinton
From:
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
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Posted 16 Sep 2004 2:02 pm
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Dave,
I just did a search and found/read your previous thread. I guess I asked all the same questions.
Forgive me, I am new to the forum, and will start to check out previousle discussed topics better! |
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