Tube Power amp research

[Piero the Guitarero]

Stereo, without a doubt stereo.

BOTH, frikkin BOTH!!!

http://www.carvinmuseum.com/decade/images/93-t100.html

Good idea. The Peavey Classic 50/50 does that too, I think.

Aah, one more to look for on the used market... Although they are few and far between here in Norway.

Wouldn't it be better to get the one which is still available, cause I miss the presence pots on the discontinued one.

 

[blackba]

. I wish I could just turn off 2 of the power tubes.

Class A

I belive you guys that feel more power is not needed do not like a ton of bass. The more power ~ the more clean bass is there.
I like a "stupid" amount of tight bass. Small amps do not do this.
The amount of power to get below 40 hertz is......

I think the key I am getting from this thread is that the more power options the better. Having the ability to turn off one side of the power amp would sure help those wanting to go mono.

I get plenty of bass from my 40-50Watt amps, but I can appreciate someone wanting a bigger amp with more headroom.

 

[stephen sawall]

As far as I am concerned there are two basic ways to use a power amp.
Big clean ~ think Mark IV/Diezel/VHT/etc. most of tone shaping and color coming from the preamp. The other ~ Grind - think cranked old amp. Of course it is some what always both or in the middle ground of the two. But how much on one side of this thing. Maybe a power amp that could switch between the two voices with out a huge volume change. Something that grinds like a Vox/Deluxe/Marshall/etc ~ than could switch to the power and thump of a Herbert. I would be very interested in something like this.

 

[duesentrieb]

It should have a cathodyne phase inverter.

 

[rsera]

If a company was going to design a new tube power amp for preamps, should the unit be stereo or mono and what features would you like to see?

something affordable

 

[Zachman]

If a company was going to design a new tube power amp for preamps, should the unit be stereo or mono and what features would you like to see?

Stereo w/ the ability to run mono bridged.

I like the feature set Mesa/Boogie had with their now out of production Simul395

Fuses on the front panel for easy access

 

[Digital Jams]

Stereo, without a doubt stereo.

1/2 power
pres and res controls for each channel
EL34s or 6L6s
Proper cooling
Vintage and modern setting.


For the WOW factor some old school analog UV meters would rock hard

Exotic wood headshell as well.

With two attenuaters in series.

 

[Little B]

Having owned a boogie 295,292,20/20,vht 252, 292,2150,&2100 and toured w/ all these at one point or another,I would hav to agree with most of the posts...Yes, Ive used all of these amps at 11-2:00 on the vol knob in bars and arenas in a w/d/w rig(normally the sweet spot)-be polite and ditch any ego we may all hav,and youd be surprised at what the soundman lets you turn up to!!!
MY wish list: Stereo,half power,class a,a/b,pres,depth, and voicing switch's,mono-bridgeable,tube/solid state choice per ch,el-84,34,6550,6l6 options.bias points,and fan......all footswitchable perhaps????????

 

[Bantam Menace]

Lots of good ideas here. One that would be very useful (and somebody already mentioned) is the ability to take a failed tube out of the circuit without shutting down the whole amp (and ruining the gig).

 

[stratotone]

Lot of the stuff you guys are mentioning are already in the Randall RT2/50...

Can use a ton of different octal power tubes (KT88, 6L6, EL34, 6V6)
Can bias it from the front of the power amp
Fuses are on the front of it
Each channel (it's stereo) has a depth and a presence control
Bridgeable to Mono
Midi assignable - I used to run a pair of YJ's for El84 goodness on one side, had my Vox module set to it - other was KT88, had a Plexi, XTC and Recto channels assigned to it (I ran the RM4 preamp with it) This also kicks ass for comparing tube types or even brands on the fly
Is heavy as hell

Tone-wise I think the VHT stuff sounds a little better, but the Randall (IMO) smokes the Boogie poweramps I've checked out or heard (20/20, 50/50, 295, 2:90)

Clone the Randall with VHT tone and put a graphic EQ and attenuator circuit in there.

Pete

 

[Dexter Jackson]

I've always thought the VHT 2100 was the perfect power amp: 100 watts per side; pentode/triode modes; half power; presence and depth; voicing switch.

I just hate the price, hahahaha.

The only other thing I'd want to add is the ability to accept other tube types.

After reading this thread, I think that's really what everyone wants.

 

[TheGreatGreen]

Honestly, if VHT would combine the 2/50/2 and 2/90/2 by taking the 2/90/2 and adding an EL34 and 6L6 switch, and class A/AB switches for each channel... It would be the perfect power amp.

 

[Szar]

Honestly, if VHT would combine the 2/50/2 and 2/90/2 by taking the 2/90/2 and adding an EL34 and 6L6 switch, and class A/AB switches for each channel... It would be the perfect power amp.

 

[again with this]

Lot of the stuff you guys are mentioning are already in the Randall RT2/50...

Can use a ton of different octal power tubes (KT88, 6L6, EL34, 6V6)
Can bias it from the front of the power amp
Fuses are on the front of it
Each channel (it's stereo) has a depth and a presence control
Bridgeable to Mono
Midi assignable - I used to run a pair of YJ's for El84 goodness on one side, had my Vox module set to it - other was KT88, had a Plexi, XTC and Recto channels assigned to it (I ran the RM4 preamp with it) This also kicks ass for comparing tube types or even brands on the fly
Is heavy as hell

Tone-wise I think the VHT stuff sounds a little better, but the Randall (IMO) smokes the Boogie poweramps I've checked out or heard (20/20, 50/50, 295, 2:90)

Clone the Randall with VHT tone and put a graphic EQ and attenuator circuit in there.

Pete

Gotta say I agree. And add a 3rd channel for W/D/W as previously suggested. Extreme power scaling from 150 Watts to 15 or 25...

How about this for wild, ability to join with another via special cables to double max power sorta like and dual video card setup, and a gain pot for the "preamp" of the power amp...

Something tells me Rig Talk has just designed a $5000 power amp...

 

[Digital Jams]

Lot of the stuff you guys are mentioning are already in the Randall RT2/50...

Can use a ton of different octal power tubes (KT88, 6L6, EL34, 6V6)
Can bias it from the front of the power amp
Fuses are on the front of it
Each channel (it's stereo) has a depth and a presence control
Bridgeable to Mono
Midi assignable - I used to run a pair of YJ's for El84 goodness on one side, had my Vox module set to it - other was KT88, had a Plexi, XTC and Recto channels assigned to it (I ran the RM4 preamp with it) This also kicks ass for comparing tube types or even brands on the fly
Is heavy as hell

Tone-wise I think the VHT stuff sounds a little better, but the Randall (IMO) smokes the Boogie poweramps I've checked out or heard (20/20, 50/50, 295, 2:90)

Clone the Randall with VHT tone and put a graphic EQ and attenuator circuit in there.

Pete

Typical PRS guy not liking boogies........................

Thanks for the write-up, will look at these a tad closer now cause I am digging the el84 / el34 switching function.

 

[TheGreatGreen]

Honestly, if VHT would combine the 2/50/2 and 2/90/2 by taking the 2/90/2 and adding an EL34 and 6L6 switch, and class A/AB switches for each channel... It would be the perfect power amp.

Also, forgot to add bridgeable mono to the list.

 

[Rackbuzz]

2U, E34L/6L6, 100w mono with 2 foot-switchable volume knobs like the ENGLs and the Strategy 500s have. And sound wise, something that's comparable to the sheer power of my 73' Super Lead's output section. The Kasha JK150 has that vibe but it's stupid heavy, so I vote for single channel to lighten the load.

 

[hunter]

in my opinion it should sound like a 2150 but weigh not more than a crate powerblock. Good luck!

 

[nbarts]

The main feature I would like to see would be Peter Diezel as the designer. After that the rest won't matter that much. I secretly hope he is not building one, because I couldn't live without one & couldn't live with one.

 

[JTyson]

I was totally happy with the 9200 Marshalls