View Poll Results: Solidstate, Tube, Hybrid, or Digital BASSAmps?

**cky4ever** · 04-21-2008, 05:06 PM

So Ive had a chance to try out loads of gear these days and amps. Ive tried it all. solidstate, tube, hybrid, even digital. So why does anyone go one way or the other Id like to hear...

I still can't make up my mind thought on which one is my favorite tone and rig, I feel like each has its place. but if I could only choose one I'd go with hybrid. They got tube warmth or something pretty close enough for me, and pack loads of power come the road. Solidstates I find pretty good for certain uncolored sounds and pretty cheap compared to tube and hybrid for small gigs and rehearsing. All tube amps are for $$players and studio use only. That or professionals who make a living of it.

Anyways Id like to hear the forumites ideas on what amps they prefer, and which go best with their MMs, which may not be the same.

Nothing beats my SR4 30th with flats and an all tube fliptop. But those arent my amp type of choice.

**Ole Man Blues** · 04-21-2008, 06:27 PM

When I was young and started playing in 1963 I played all tube stuff, Fender, Gibson, Ampeg, and such. I found in later years that solid state were great amps too. I currently play an amp with a tube preamp and solid state outputs. I really love the tone and will take it to my grave. It works for me with the style of music I play. Modern sounding worship and praise. I recently discovered the power in 10" speakers and have revamped the overall setup that I have been using.....

Bongo 4HH Bass
SWR Bass 750 Amp
2 2x10 Speaker cabs

All I can say is WOW..........what a difference....

OMB

**Dr Stankface** · 04-21-2008, 06:38 PM

Tube pre, solid state power.

Ampeg SVT 4 Pro.

**Aussie Mark** · 04-21-2008, 07:07 PM

Given the quality of sound that many companies can pack into a lunch box sized package these days, I can't see any reason to go with all tube rigs. I love a nice tube preamp, but for live rock gigs where the bass is DI'ed, having tubes or not won't make much difference to someone in the audience. If they like your band, they'll pay the cover charge whether you are playing Markbass or Ampeg. Lugging an all tube rig as a stage monitor is an unnecessary luxury really.

**sandman@midlife** · 04-21-2008, 07:22 PM

Mesa 400+

Boogie on!

**TSanders** · 04-21-2008, 07:56 PM

Originally Posted by Aussie Mark

Given the quality of sound that many companies can pack into a lunch box sized package these days, I can't see any reason to go with all tube rigs. I love a nice tube preamp, but for live rock gigs where the bass is DI'ed, having tubes or not won't make much difference to someone in the audience. If they like your band, they'll pay the cover charge whether you are playing Markbass or Ampeg. Lugging an all tube rig as a stage monitor is an unnecessary luxury really.

Color me unnecessarilly luxurious.

I want my on stage monitor to sound like all tube Ampeg power.

**sandman@midlife** · 04-21-2008, 09:07 PM

Originally Posted by TSanders

Color me unnecessarilly luxurious.

I want my on stage monitor to sound like all tube Ampeg power.

Me too. If you think that, cool. But with that logic, it wouldn't matter if you played a Squier P bass.

I've got a hybrid, and an all tube rig, and I think it makes a lot of difference.
Maybe just to me.

**Aussie Mark** · 04-21-2008, 09:08 PM

Originally Posted by TSanders

I want my on stage monitor to sound like all tube Ampeg power.

This month

**Caca de Kick** · 04-21-2008, 11:31 PM

My simple answer to DI is: I don't DI right off the bass. I usually mic it...or if I have to go DI, I signal out after the preamp so I do get my tubey goodness and overdrive response in there.

Live, Mesa 400 for me please.
In the studio I use a fliptop.

**RobertB** · 04-21-2008, 11:37 PM

I really dig the sound I get out of my hybrid SWR Super Redhead (tube pre, solid state front end). Mine's pre-Fender, and I've had no issues with it, but I've only gigged it a few times. Sure does sound sweet, though, with multiple personalities. An angel sometimes ... a hell-bitch at other times. I'm open and curious about hearing my EBMMs through other amps, though, for sure.

**strummer** · 04-22-2008, 01:40 AM

I voted Digital, hoping you meant class D/T/whatever, modern type amp construction anyway.

I want an amp with only one button: Loud.

**oli@bass** · 04-22-2008, 02:15 AM

I stopped to worry about the "inner value" of an amplifier. If I like the sound, it fits into my car, I don't need a roadie to lug it around and I can afford it, then I use it. For a long time that was the case for the SWR amps (pre tube, solid state power), and now I think the perfect choice for what I need is MarkBass F1 (probably digital, I don't know).

It's also true that generally the bass is going D.I. and I'm asked to keep the stage volume at a very low level, so it's much more important that the bass and its D.I. signal sound good.

**Psycho Ward** · 04-22-2008, 06:35 AM

With a Bongo bass I use atomic power; sure it’s heavy with all the lead shielding but I’m just saying…

**Musicman Nut** · 04-22-2008, 10:45 AM

in todays world everyone calls a 12ax7 in the preamp a tube amp, a real SVT is a real tube amp, there's a few others which have real tubes for power and pre and I'm sure they sound great, but Eden,SWR etc with their little pre amp tubes don't make it a tube amp.
Just my opinon of course.

**freddy** · 04-22-2008, 02:58 PM

See my rig below. The hybrid SM-900 amp sounds great but I can probably do as well or better with an f1 combined with a good neo 4 ohm 2x10 and a sansamp. My back will thank me.