Boutique Bass Amps

[Hansomatic]

Is anyone making an all-tube bass amp equivelant of Matchless, Bad Cat, pld Budda, Dumble, Fuchs, Two-Rock, etc?

Also... opinions about pre-fender SWR Super Redhead vs. Eden DC210XLT vs. Epifani UL-210C?

[landru64]

divided by 13 does. aguilar used to. sadowsky was making the sa200, but i'm not sure if they are still in production. as all tube heads go, it was (is) the bomb, imho--really a defining product sonically. matchless had the thunderman. what else? there's always the SVT.....

[fyrwyr]

I am thinking of making a tube bass preamp in the future; basically a bass version of our guitar circuit, should be somewhat SVT-like.

[The Golden Boy]

Glockenklang?

[dillonfiore]

I am thinking of making a tube bass preamp in the future; basically a bass version of our guitar circuit, should be somewhat SVT-like.

What kind of price are you thinking about?

[dillonfiore]

Glockenklang?

I've heard good things about those.

[The Golden Boy]

I've heard good things about those.

I've played one Glockenklang, but only in a store through a Glockengklang 4x10 cab and an original SWR Goliath cab. It sounded nice, but it really should for around $3K a pop.

http://www.glockenklang.de/images/produkt_bilder/BACTopF.jpg

[Ishouldbeking]

Not sure if this fits your criteria, but Hiwatt makes a a pretty powerful bass tube amp... as used by humble artists like... coldplay.

If Reeves makes an equivalent amp then i'd say that it was boutique for sure, and probably a good deal.

[thunderbroom]

divided by 13 does. aguilar used to. sadowsky was making the sa200, but i'm not sure if they are still in production. as all tube heads go, it was (is) the bomb, imho--really a defining product sonically. matchless had the thunderman. what else? there's always the SVT.....

I have a D/13 TBL 200 4xkt88 200watts. I bought it before Fred moved to his new shop. i got to drive up and play one in his garage. After reading some threads here i was a little nervous about meeting him. Fred was friendly and very helpful. Controls are volume(pull bright),treble,mid +selectable mid freq, bass(pull for deep) and master volume. It sound amazing teamed up with my bergantino 610nv or 215nv. i have also played it through a ampeg 6x10 i was hitting 129db in a large size practice room and it wasn't even dimed. I'm planning on getting a d/13 4x12 eventually to go with it.

I was looking at the sadowsky,my research seemed to indicate it was made by the same company that built the eden all tube head i think the name was Koch. someone said that they had been discontinued.

I also looked at the Aguilar 359 but wasn't as keen on the rackmount vibe but i thought it sounded good especially for what they were selling for on the used market then aabout 900-1200

Jackson Ampworks supposedly had a bass amp on the drawingboard. thats one i'd like to hear.

[landru64]

I was looking at the sadowsky,my research seemed to indicate it was made by the same company that built the eden all tube head i think the name was Koch. someone said that they had been discontinued.



it was built by koch in germany, but is a different design, not even close to the eden. i never liked the aguilar -- and i got to play one alot. i'd rather have an SVT anyday, frankly.

i bet that d13 is great!

[Creamy]

Eden makes some great amps, especially the USA ones. Not sure if they are classified boutique, but they do sound good!

[fyrwyr]

What kind of price are you thinking about?

I would like to keep it under $700 if possible, depends on the features it ends up with. I want to mess with some unique cab designs as well to compliment the circuit.

Bill

[jeak]

Fargen built a custom rig for my Chapman Stick, which goes down to low B. It also goes almost as high as a guitar, so the amp is really closer to "full-range." A 1x10 combo sits on top of a 1x15 bass cab. The amp is only 50 watts, so it's more of studio and coffeehouse rig. Sounds amazing from the top of my range to the bottom. Fargen has also built custom bass amps. Check out his HC reviews.

[dillonfiore]

I would like to keep it under $700 if possible, depends on the features it ends up with. I want to mess with some unique cab designs as well to compliment the circuit.

Bill

Keep me posted on that. I may be intersted.

[mainsale]

The bass industry seems to be heading in the direction of smaller and lighter but still with great tone. Light weight Neo cabinets and Class D mini-amps seem to be popping up all over. Transformers are a big source of weight in amps and Genz-Benz found a way to reduce that in their NeoPak 3.5 amp and still have a tube in the preamp. A "boutique" amp with great tone, all tube pre & power sections and low weight just might become a "hit" for someone.....if it can be done.

[VarLogMessages]

Is Orange boutique?

http://www.orangeamps.com/bass/

[bmorelli]

rumor has it bad cat is working on a bass amp

[RickC]

Soniccord has made some unique amplifiers in it's history, including the Classic - a 100w, 6550 powered, all tube bass head. More detail here, down the page:

http://www.soniccord.com/products.html

I played one of these once; very SVT-like.

/rick

[fyrwyr]

Keep me posted on that. I may be intersted.

Sure thing; I am looking at another circuit design right now I want to try as well before deciding which one to go with for production. I am thinking of offering a rack preamp and a full head with 6550's and waaaaay overbuilt (like we do with our guitar amps)

Later...

[alanbass1]

Here you go:

http://www.sadowsky.com/audio/SA200.html

[jokerjkny]

if we're talkin' pure all tube...

nothing touches my Sadowsky SA200. sounds especially awesome w/ its companion sa410.

http://home.earthlink.net/~jokerny1/music/bass/sa200rig.jpg

but always loved my demeter hpb-1 / vthf-300m power amp setup, too. and my old aguilar db680 / db728 pushed some MASSIVE air.

and my little alessandro basset hound still puts a smile on my face.

course, still waiting for brad at jackson ampworks to finish up that "talkbass" all tube rig he's been workin' on. ;)

www.sadowsky.com
www.demeteramps.com
www.aguilaramp.com
www.alessandro-products.com

[sadowsky]

I was looking at the sadowsky,my research seemed to indicate it was made by the same company that built the eden all tube head i think the name was Koch. someone said that they had been discontinued.

I have not discontinued the SA200 and the SA410. I have enough components to make about 10 more very happy bass players. Everyone who has the rig is completely in love. Unfortunately the market has moved to lighter weight gear regardless of tonal compromises. I understand the desire for light gear, but please understand that none of this light weight gear sounds anything like conventional speaker magnets with thick plywood cabinets, or tubes amps.

Roger

[jeak]

Whoa, Roger. Just looked at the SA200.

1. Ever heard a Chapman Stick played through one?

2. What's the price?

PM me if you prefer.

Thanks.

[GtrCar5]

http://www.orangeamps.com/thunderverb/

Made for guitar and bass. I plugged a Rickenbacker into a Thunderverb 200 and sounded like Lemmy. Back off the gain and it just sounds plain nice.

[thunderbroom]

I have not discontinued the SA200 and the SA410. I have enough components to make about 10 more very happy bass players. Everyone who has the rig is completely in love. Unfortunately the market has moved to lighter weight gear regardless of tonal compromises. I understand the desire for light gear, but please understand that none of this light weight gear sounds anything like conventional speaker magnets with thick plywood cabinets, or tubes amps.

Roger

Thanks for making it clear. i feel a a little bit sheepish for being part of the internet rumour mill. I would love to check out a Sadowsky SA200. I know it comes with EL34's but is it possible to run other tubes in the Amp?

[Luke]

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=15

[Fuchsaudio]

rumor has it bad cat is working on a bass amp

things could be getting interesting........:Devil

[AdmiralB]

Matchless Thunderchief?

[Gary Ladd]

Euphonic Audio iAmps...

http://www.bassalone.com/images/products/70/IAMP800_001.jpg

[jay42]

To the orignal poster - do you need all those bells and whistles? It's just that there must be a pile of dust collecting Hiwatt 200's and slave amps somewhere, along with relatives like Sound City, Marshall Majors, Fender Super Twins. It's a long list of amps that only a collector could love. Some of those can probably handle the bass spectrum and shouldn't be too expensive. [Here's where I could be wrong...] Add a nice pre-amp for the bells and whistles.

[TheAmpNerd]

How about a red knob alembic pre mated to
a Mesa Boogie M-190, all tube sweet sounding too.

This through a 15-inch gauss alnico in a ported
(forget the name) cab.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/TheAmpNerd/BassGearSm.jpg

[Denyle_Guitars]

course, still waiting for brad at jackson ampworks to finish up that "talkbass" all tube rig he's been workin' on. ;)


Me too. I suggested a few little things here & on TB when Brad first mentioned the amp but I haven't really followed it's development. It will be interesting to see the final product and will no doubt sound amazing.

[Bo Faulkner]

hmmm... somebody not telling us something?




things could be getting interesting........:Devil

[Hansomatic]

I have not discontinued the SA200 and the SA410. I have enough components to make about 10 more very happy bass players. Everyone who has the rig is completely in love. Unfortunately the market has moved to lighter weight gear regardless of tonal compromises. I understand the desire for light gear, but please understand that none of this light weight gear sounds anything like conventional speaker magnets with thick plywood cabinets, or tubes amps.

RogerI'd like to hear one of the amps!

[Fuchsaudio]

How about a red knob alembic pre mated to
a Mesa Boogie M-190, all tube sweet sounding too.

This through a 15-inch gauss alnico in a ported
(forget the name) cab.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/TheAmpNerd/BassGearSm.jpg


Both Acoustic and Gauss made that Karlson style cabinet. John Karlson was an Engineer, who held many patents for RF (radio) and audio designs. Jess Oliver made speakers called "Clams" (actually marketed as the Oliver Power Projector), which were wedge shaped PA speakers that went on speaker stands, and used 6 X 9" car speakers (or larger conventional speakers,some were coaxial), using this slotted port technology. Basic premise is that the tapered port shape allows the port a greater ability to match the cabinet and multiple resonant peaks, which sum, and improve performance. It also produces a theoretical cylindrical waveform in front of the speaker, with almost perfect 180 degree dispersion.

I had one of these Acoustic cabinets, but it was poorly executed. The Karlson design is extremely critical to shape, size and rigidity, and not following all aspects of the design perfectly is akin to putting the speaker in the wrong sized cabinet. They can whistle and wheeze, buzz and rattle, and blow a driver easily. I used one with an EV 15-L, and by modifying the bracing and insulation, got it to sound pretty good, but nothing compared to other home made enclosures done right, using the same principle.

The Transylvania Power Tube company made miniature versions for use on horn drivers called "The Tube" (for high frequencies), at which this principal (originally designed as an RF waveguide for microwave antennas) worked very very well. A properly designed Karlsen enclosure is an amazing sounding bass cabinet. When I asked Jess Oliver why they didn't use this concept on bass amps at Ampeg or Oliver, he said "too complex to build".

[TheAmpNerd]

Thanks Andy. That is it, the Karlson cabinet. This one is pretty sweet.
It has all the correct bracing and is covered in a thick wool carpet.

If I recall it is called the exponential slotted horn. And as you can see
it has the T-nut bracing for the front pieces to keep them from
moving/vibrating.

This system is quite amazing sounding. Of course I'm not a bass guru
but those who are, are really quite fond of this system. About the
only thing anyone has put in the signal path is a MXR Compressor.

I guess I'm just too old fashioned, there is something about tube
tone to which I enjoy listening.

[Fuchsaudio]

http://home.planet.nl/~ulfman/images/Karelson1.jpg

http://home.planet.nl/~ulfman/images/galleria/karlsonmeatloaf1.jpg

http://home.planet.nl/~ulfman/images/galleria/karlsonmeatloaf2.jpg

http://home.planet.nl/~ulfman/images/galleria/rocket2.jpg
(the "clam")

http://home.planet.nl/~ulfman/artic/kkoppler/TUBE1.gif
(the tube)

http://home.planet.nl/~ulfman/images/X15.jpg

http://home.planet.nl/~ulfman/images/rocket.jpg

Sweet stuff....

[TheAmpNerd]

Andy,

Thank you for the links.

I bet that stage setup sounded really really good.

Regards,

The Amp Nerd

[jokerjkny]

(...) Everyone who has the rig is completely in love. (...)

yup,

and so was the engineer when we plugged in straight to the board... :p

http://home.earthlink.net/~jokerny1/music/bass/studiocrap.jpg

[jokerjkny]

things could be getting interesting........:Devil

haha! :cool:

[Bassomatic]

yup,

and so was the engineer when we plugged in straight to the board...



Clips?

[mainsale]

Hey, Ampnerd, I see your Audio Research hiding under a towel. They are pretty amazing sounding amps in their own right. I've got a SP-A-1N that runs through a D-150 with four pairs of 6550"s. I agree with you that there is something about Tube amps!

:BluesBros

[TheAmpNerd]

Hey, Ampnerd, I see your Audio Research hiding under a towel. They are pretty amazing sounding amps in their own right. I've got a SP-A-1N that runs through a D-150 with four pairs of 6550"s. I agree with you that there is something about Tube amps!

:BluesBros

I'm Busted. Yeah that the power supply for my SP-10.
I've got a couple of ARC-75 amps too (along with the Marantz
in the pic) but they have just too much power for my speakers.

Your SP-A is that the original SP pre amp that ARC made?
I'd love to see some pics of that.

[markom89]

Diezel's bass amp looks really cool, but not in production yet, I don't think.

[TheAmpNerd]

Here are a couple of hand build bass amps....

These are production number 01 and 02:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/TheAmpNerd/BassAmp.jpg




Then here is number 001 for slightly more power:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/TheAmpNerd/6550Amp.jpg


Pretty kewl and sound incredible.

[gopherbroke]

what's the name of those amps?

[TheAmpNerd]

Those are Dodd Audio Bass Amps : )

Where he put the "B" back in Boutique!

They are Big, Heavy, and typically for studio use.

HOWEVER

I had a custom dollie made so they are "portable"

Someone popped me and e asking about that Mesa amp.
That is a M-190 and is one of only 100 made.
None have shown up back at Mesa for repair and
are rarely for sale. In fact no one has ever seen
them at Mesa period; cept for Mr. Smith who made 'em.

[jokerjkny]

Clips?

i'll see what i can pull out.

[jokerjkny]

Here are a couple of hand build bass amps....

These are production number 01 and 02:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/TheAmpNerd/BassAmp.jpg




Then here is number 001 for slightly more power:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/TheAmpNerd/6550Amp.jpg


Pretty kewl and sound incredible.

wow,

those look crazy nice!

[6AM]

Matchless Thunderchief?

Good luck finding one. I think they made less than 50.

I had one with a matching Matchless 4x10 bass cab. For some reason, I never actually plugged my bass into it before I sold it. :jo :NUTS

Sound AMAZING for guitar.

[gopherbroke]

I just emailed dodd and he said they don't make instrument amps?

[dnegreiro]

I don't know if it's considered botique but I talked to ashdown and they're gonna make an all tube bass amp... I'm waiting to see that beauty. It'd be expensive for sure though

[TheAmpNerd]

I just emailed dodd and he said they don't make instrument amps?

That is what Gary always says. He is a funny guy. He is good people
once you get to know him.

Just tell him the recommendation is from the guy who has his spring compressors. : )

The Amp Nerd

[karmadave]

Godzilla amps!

http://dozin.com/godzilla/amp.htm

Not sure if Phil Lesh still uses these, but at one point he was using 8 x 2500 watt monsters!

-KD

[TheAmpNerd]

I just emailed dodd and he said they don't make instrument amps?

I've talked Gary into building a limited edition run of these
bass amps if anyone is interested.This will be a limited
to this production run. These amps are bass amps, 120 watts,
all tube, all hand made. No frills, using the best in components
and workman ship.

4 x 6550 of great tube power.
Plug your preamp into it and go.

Estimated delivery time, 9 mos.

Price $4,000, half up front half upon completion.

The will look similar to the black and gray one,
unless you want some special type wook like
the zebra wood which is extra.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/TheAmpNerd/6550Amp.jpg

[TedintheShed]

James Demeter.

All tube?

http://www.demeteramps.com/products/basspreamps/vtbp201slarge.jpg


nd

http://www.demeteramps.com/products/poweramps/vthf300mlarge.jpg

Personally, I like the HBP-1 coupled with a QSC or Crest Audio amp.

[Denyle_Guitars]

Hmmm, I bet the guys at Manley could be persuaded build a tube instrument preamp to go alone with this monster.

http://www.manleylabs.com/images/BIGPIX/HIFIBIGPIX/BIGneo500.jpg

[Jim S]

Kern IP 777 tube preamp

[Hansomatic]

I've talked Gary into building a limited edition run of these
bass amps if anyone is interested.This will be a limited
to this production run. These amps are bass amps, 120 watts,
all tube, all hand made. No frills, using the best in components
and workman ship.

4 x 6550 of great tube power.
Plug your preamp into it and go.

Estimated delivery time, 9 mos.

Price $4,000, half up front half upon completion.

The will look similar to the black and gray one,
unless you want some special type wook like
the zebra wood which is extra.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/TheAmpNerd/6550Amp.jpg
THAT is a chunk of change to drop on an amp I've never heard... any test models or satisfaction guarantees?

[jokerjkny]

Hmmm, I bet the guys at Manley could be persuaded build a tube instrument preamp to go alone with this monster.

http://www.manleylabs.com/images/BIGPIX/HIFIBIGPIX/BIGneo500.jpg














holy mother

[Hansomatic]

Park an Avalon U5 in front of that Monkey-Mother-Foker and call it good!