Recommendations for all tube bass amp; not SVT

  • Thread starter Thread starter MadAsAHatter
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MadAsAHatter

MadAsAHatter

Well-known member
Okay, I'm just rounding out my wish list, but I do think I need to have at least one true all tube bass amp in the mix. And when I say all tube I mean all tube, not this hybrid bullcrap. I want tube pre and power amp.

I'm not thinking of anything in particular as far as tone goes. Mainly just something more unique sounding. I will say that I'm not one for super clean bass tones. Getting at least a little bit of grit is always good. I say no to SVT's because it's already on my list and I sort of have that tone covered. I run my SVP-CL and SVP-Pro preamps through my BV300 power amp. That's pretty much the SVT tone without having an actual SVT.

I already have some vintage "all purpose" amps; like Sunn Model T, Fender Bassman, Marshall Super Bass, etc., on my wishlist. As my newest hobby I'll end up building clones from kits or premade PCB's myself. Feel free to throw things like that out there, but it may already be on my wishlist and I'm looking more for a dedicated bass amp than an all purpose one.

I do have some functional limitations. As I said all tube. It needs to have a 4 ohm tap because of my bass cabs. 300 watt is the max I can go because of the amp switcher I'd be using. (I'm going to have Delisle build me a custom switcher that can handle up to 300 watts at 4 ohms. I've talked to him already and he said he can do it.) Last thing is I'm not really into anything low watt. Unless it's something super special in tone I'd prefer at least 100 watts.

Another thing to note is I'm open to building a kit amp or something that has good schematics, layouts and BoM readily available. If possible that'd be my first choice, but I've looked and there's not a lot of DIY bass amps out there.

Last thing to put out there is what I already have and a couple amps that are in contention to make my list.

What I have:
  • Mesa Titan V12
  • BV300 (used as a SVT power amp) with the following preamps: SVP-CL, SVP-Pro, GK 2001RBP, & Eden Navigator.
  • Ashen Miley
  • Randall RM100 with bass specific modules: Orange AD200B, Sunn 2000S. (3rd slot still open)
  • Cabs: GK Neo 412 & Ashdown Rootmaster RM610T EVO II
In Contention:
  • Steamboat Steamroller (either 200 or 300 watt version)
  • Trace Elliot V4 MK2 (if I ever find one)
  • Morris Bass 150 (Can this one do some grit?)
  • Fender Bassman 300 Pro
  • Traynor YBA 300
  • Ashdown CTM 300
  • Peavey VB2 or VB3
  • Mesa Buster Bass
Last, Last thing. It's Mardi Gras day her in Louisiana. I'm not out at any parades, but have been drinking for a chunk of the day to celebrate. So please forgive any misspellings or crappy grammar. :LOL:
 
Matamp GT150 or Matamp GT200
Reeves Custom 225 or Custom 400 😈
Hiwatt Custom 200 DR201

I have a Matamp GT150, a Hiwatt DR103, Reeves DR504, and Ampeg VT22 cut down fo a head. All of them sound amazing for both guitar and bass, and with the V4 being essentially a SVT preamp into 6L6's I can tell you the Matamp would make an awesome alternative to the SVT. It comes with 4ohm out, a depth control for tailoring the overall EQ curve, plus Baxandall tone controls, gain and master volume, and 4xKT88's. I've played bass through them all into an SWR 4x10+Avatar 1x15 set up. All of them sounded awesome, and distinctly different. The Matamp sounded huge and ballsy with the gain up. It made a Fender 5 string sound freaking epically thunderous and vocal with enough sustain to get your Cliff Burton on.
 
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I’m no help on bass amps sorry. Anyway, I dont get into the mardis gras stuff but ive eaten my weight in kingcake lately🤣 and about time to boil some crawfish! We eat good in Louisiana for sure lol
 
Marshall also made an all tube bass head the VBA-400. Not sure if it’s really 400 watts though.
 
Hiwatts-n-Gibsons said:
Matamp GT150 or Matamp GT200
Reeves Custom 225 or Custom 400 😈
Hiwatt Custom 200 DR201

I have a Matamp GT150, a Hiwatt DR103, Reeves DR504, and Ampeg VT22 cut down fo a head. All of them sound amazing for both guitar and bass, and with the V4 being essentially a SVT preamp into 6L6's I can tell you the Matamp would make an awesome alternative to the SVT. It comes with 4ohm out, a depth control for tailoring the overall EQ curve, plus Baxandall tone controls, gain and master volume, and 4xKT88's. I've played bass through them all into an SWR 4x10+Avatar 1x15 set up. All of them sounded awesome, and distinctly different. The Matamp sounded huge and ballsy with the gain up. It made a Fender 5 string sound freaking epically thunderous and vocal with enough sustain to get your Cliff Burton on.
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Good suggestions here. I'm in the middle of a GT120 NMV clone. Are the GT150 & 200 dramatically different? I also have a Hiwatt DR103 on my list to build. I'd do a DR201, but haven't seen a kit to build one from.

Jack Luminous said:
Mesa Bass 400+ ? I have one it's awesome. It says 400 in the name but it's really 300 Watts RMS.
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I'd have a Bass 400/400+ on the list, but I can't find an accurate source on the actual wattage. Some say it's 200 watts RMS, but Mesa's legacy amp page says it puts out 500 watts. I just don't know which it is.

skoora said:
Marshall also made an all tube bass head the VBA-400. Not sure if it’s really 400 watts though.
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I've looked into this one. As far as I've been able to research it appears to be is 400 watts. If it were 200-300 watts I think it would have a good chance to make the list.
 
sandman said:
I’m no help on bass amps sorry. Anyway, I dont get into the mardis gras stuff but ive eaten my weight in kingcake lately🤣 and about time to boil some crawfish! We eat good in Louisiana for sure lol
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I didn't realize you were from the bayou too. I'm not much into the Mardi Gras stuff either except for having more than my fill of king cake LOL. I've done more than my share of parades and such when I was younger. I've just been watching movies and drinking a little rum since I have the day off. You're right, Louisiana does have some good food you can't get anywhere else. I hope the snow we had back at the end of Jan. didn't fuck up the crawfish too much.
 
The reeves 225 was probably the most impressive all tube bass amp I've ever heard IRL.
 
DanTravis62 said:
The reeves 225 was probably the most impressive all tube bass amp I've ever heard IRL.
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Did you try the Ceriatone DR103 you built with a bass?
That one is on my list to build and use as an all purpose amp. Either that or a Trinity Triwatt kit if they ever stock them again. My understanding is the DR103 is the same preamp, just a 100 watt power section instead of 200.
 
MadAsAHatter said:
I didn't realize you were from the bayou too. I'm not much into the Mardi Gras stuff either except for having more than my fill of king cake LOL. I've done more than my share of parades and such when I was younger. I've just been watching movies and drinking a little rum since I have the day off. You're right, Louisiana does have some good food you can't get anywhere else. I hope the snow we had back at the end of Jan. didn't fuck up the crawfish too much.
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Yea I live in the Bossier area so considered a yankee by south louisiana standards lol. But i know how to cook like south louisiana lol. And yea im too old for the crowds and mardis gras stuff now. Been there done that! And we didnt get any snow or ice here but when south la got hit my first thought was crawfish prices 🤣
 
MadAsAHatter said:
Did you try the Ceriatone DR103 you built with a bass?
That one is on my list to build and use as an all purpose amp. Either that or a Trinity Triwatt kit if they ever stock them again. My understanding is the DR103 is the same preamp, just a 100 watt power section instead of 200.
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Yes. It sounds very similar.

The marshall major is a great bass amp as well
 
MadAsAHatter said:
Is there any difference between the 2 or just a name change when Fender acquired Sunn?
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Had the Sunn 300T and they're pretty much the same thing, would guess that a Fender is going to be a bit more reliable. Though, have heard some bad things around covid era builds for most Fender amps. There's always differences of course and nostalgic rose colored glasses. Don't feel like you could go wrong with either, but iirc the Fender had a few minor updates that were hazard recalls on the Sunn. Not sure if that's true or forum myths off the top of my head, but I gigged that amp whenever I was on bass and it held up to the 115 degree Vegas days and being thrown around quite a bit. Monster with my Stingray and P bass. Would.
 
MadAsAHatter said:
Okay, I'm just rounding out my wish list, but I do think I need to have at least one true all tube bass amp in the mix. And when I say all tube I mean all tube, not this hybrid bullcrap. I want tube pre and power amp.

I'm not thinking of anything in particular as far as tone goes. Mainly just something more unique sounding. I will say that I'm not one for super clean bass tones. Getting at least a little bit of grit is always good. I say no to SVT's because it's already on my list and I sort of have that tone covered. I run my SVP-CL and SVP-Pro preamps through my BV300 power amp. That's pretty much the SVT tone without having an actual SVT.

I already have some vintage "all purpose" amps; like Sunn Model T, Fender Bassman, Marshall Super Bass, etc., on my wishlist. As my newest hobby I'll end up building clones from kits or premade PCB's myself. Feel free to throw things like that out there, but it may already be on my wishlist and I'm looking more for a dedicated bass amp than an all purpose one.

I do have some functional limitations. As I said all tube. It needs to have a 4 ohm tap because of my bass cabs. 300 watt is the max I can go because of the amp switcher I'd be using. (I'm going to have Delisle build me a custom switcher that can handle up to 300 watts at 4 ohms. I've talked to him already and he said he can do it.) Last thing is I'm not really into anything low watt. Unless it's something super special in tone I'd prefer at least 100 watts.

Another thing to note is I'm open to building a kit amp or something that has good schematics, layouts and BoM readily available. If possible that'd be my first choice, but I've looked and there's not a lot of DIY bass amps out there.

Last thing to put out there is what I already have and a couple amps that are in contention to make my list.

What I have:
  • Mesa Titan V12
  • BV300 (used as a SVT power amp) with the following preamps: SVP-CL, SVP-Pro, GK 2001RBP, & Eden Navigator.
  • Ashen Miley
  • Randall RM100 with bass specific modules: Orange AD200B, Sunn 2000S. (3rd slot still open)
  • Cabs: GK Neo 412 & Ashdown Rootmaster RM610T EVO II
In Contention:
  • Steamboat Steamroller (either 200 or 300 watt version)
  • Trace Elliot V4 MK2 (if I ever find one)
  • Morris Bass 150 (Can this one do some grit?)
  • Fender Bassman 300 Pro
  • Traynor YBA 300
  • Ashdown CTM 300
  • Peavey VB2 or VB3
  • Mesa Buster Bass
Last, Last thing. It's Mardi Gras day her in Louisiana. I'm not out at any parades, but have been drinking for a chunk of the day to celebrate. So please forgive any misspellings or crappy grammar. :LOL:
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Well, I can tell you that you definitely don't have the SVT tone covered. I've played through both of those pres and every incarnation of Tech 21 BDDI and none of them sound like my SVT. Nor do they "Feel" like my SVT. Closest thing to it ( but still not really there) is a REDDI. There's also a huge difference between the Blue Line or Magnavox era stuff and a modern CL, a huge difference between a CL and a 2 non pro and frankly the 2 pro and the 3, the 4 and 7 and all those I wouldn't even consider actual SVTs. I won't harp on about it since your mind seems made up though.

If I couldn't get an SVT, a real SVT, I'd look at a V4B or a Boogie or a vintage Super Bassman.
 
Floyd Eye said:
Well, I can tell you that you definitely don't have the SVT tone covered. I've played through both of those pres and every incarnation of Tech 21 BDDI and none of them sound like my SVT. Nor do they "Feel" like my SVT. Closest thing to it ( but still not really there) is a REDDI. There's also a huge difference between the Blue Line or Magnavox era stuff and a modern CL, a huge difference between a CL and a 2 non pro and frankly the 2 pro and the 3, the 4 and 7 and all those I wouldn't even consider actual SVTs. I won't harp on about it since your mind seems made up though.

If I couldn't get an SVT, a real SVT, I'd look at a V4B or a Boogie or a vintage Super Bassman.
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I hear ya on the SVT. I don't consider my current setup as an actual SVT, just a makeshift one that's somewhere in the ballpark. I do want an actual SVT. Just said no to one in this thread because it's already on my list and didn't want a bunch of "get an SVT" suggestions.
 
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