CrazyAces
Joined: Jul 31, 2012
Posts: 4053
Nashville, TN.
|
Posted on Dec 24 2015 10:10 AM
I love some Solid State amps.
I recently returned to some SS amps that I used in my youth made by Univox.
I remembered them as sounding pretty good and was curious if they really did or I was just young and inexperienced.
We tracked down this Stage 400 recently which is the amp I had as a teenager, although mine was a 1x12. These bigger Stage amps are FET designs and actually sound good, don't "feel" bad either. You can actually get break up with them and some such as this have master volumes as well.
They have very simple circuit boards, quality pots and are overall well made.
The Westbury 1005 Head in this picture, also by Univox/Unicord kicks ass!
Loud, round sounding and it has a presence knob that, while it would seem scary on a SS amp, actually works well, similar to the function on a presence knob Bassman. It adds harmonics of a sort, like the negative feedback circuit on a tube amp.
We used these amps (and a '75 Acetone SS amp that Kiwamu picked up in Japan) at a recent amp show/gear fest that featured a shit ton of boutique amps for demonstration. At the end of our show a gand of players came up to ask about our amps! Ha Ha.
The funny thing is - I paid $59.00 for my Westbury, Kiwamu bought the Acetone for $100.00 and Alex found the Stage 400 for $50.00.
I am really, really liking my Quilter 101 Head as well.
I didn't think it would grab me as much as it has.
That is a piece of 21st century gear done well.
Cheers,
Jeff
— http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic
http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock
http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic
|
WoodyJ
Joined: Apr 05, 2006
Posts: 1547
Bethlehem, GA
|
Posted on Dec 24 2015 10:33 AM
In the BASS amp world, there many outstanding modern solid state products out there. Today's typical (non-surf) bass player often embrace the modern solid stage gear as it has evolved to the point that a heavy Ampeg SVT or Mesa Booogie 400+ with 8-10's isn't really necessary except maybe in a concert situation. Even then, with PA support, a relatively small rig will suffice more often than not. I recently got a Mesa D-800 bass head with 800 watts that weighs 5 1/2 lbs.(!!),fits in a laptop bag and freaking KILLS with glorious, tube-like tone. Some time ago I sold my 74 lb. all-tube Fender 300W bass head (aka "Ampzilla") and with this relatively tiny mega-head, I no longer miss it, volume, tone or weight-wise.
As with guitarists, the bassists who insist on "chasing the ultimate tone" will gravitate toward a tube rig, or at least a hybrid one. But I believe that human ears are more sensitive toward higher frequencies, which is why guitarists generally prefer all-tube amps. In a live situation, especially in a larger venue when there is P.A. support, does the typical audience member really notice whether the guitarist or bassist is playing through a tube amp as compared to a quality solid state one? I do agree that in a smaller venue there is a sonic difference. And with the possible exception of a Quilter (which I don't own - yet), I'd much prefer to record guitar tracks with a Fender or Vox all-tube amp. Again, due to the tonal nuances that come with the higher frequencies of an electric guitar, tonal differences may or may not be noticeable in a live setting through a house P.A. And a chain of effects pedals almost certainly affect "pure tube tone".
With that said, guitar amp technology is catching up with the bass amp manufacturers as witnessed by the products from Quilter which really are "that good". Guitarists generally are far more traditional gear-wise than bassists as evidenced by the plethora of 1950's-designed Strats, Teles, Les Pauls, Gretches and Rickenbackers you still see on stage on a regular basis, along with Fender, Marshall, Hiwatt and Vox amps that were designed 50+ years ago. It's not all that often that you see a Parker Fly guitar or a Budda or Dr.Z amp onstage.
Anyway, that's my take. YMMV 
— Jack Booth
(aka WoodyJ)
The Mariners (1964-68, 1996-2005)
The Hula Hounds (1996-current)
The X-Rays (1997-2004)
The Surge! (2004, 2011-2012)
Various non-surf bands that actually made money (1978-1990)
Last edited: Dec 24, 2015 12:54:06
|
Mark2Bra
Joined: Sep 01, 2013
Posts: 248
|
Posted on Dec 24 2015 01:22 PM
providing a fair amount of overdrive that only tubes can.
Please forgive my ignorance on the subject but why not to use an overdrive pedal "push" the SS like tubes?
Is it the same case as Reverb pedals vs spring tank - Doesn't deliver the same sound?
|
JObeast
Joined: Jul 24, 2012
Posts: 2762
Finknabad, Squinkistan
|
Posted on Dec 24 2015 02:28 PM
MusicMan amps made by Leo Fender have Master Volume controls and all-solid-state preamps paired with tube power amps. The Sixty-Five 112 I use has excellent 'natural' overdrive when the input gain is turned up. Around "7" it's quite overdriven. I really haven't experimented much with overdrive pedals into this amp as I use it mostly for trad surf tones, which it nails coming through the Jensen Blackbird 100w AlNiCo driver.
My pure solid-state amp, the Ampeg SS-140C, has an effects loop. Treble boost, Fulldrive and even Maestro Fuzz sound good in the loop, even in with the "DeathMetal Distortion" channel engaged, dimed.
I don't think OD pedals really 'work' with SS amps, other than to send 'tube-type overdiven' signals into them. That doesn't mean they can't sound good though. I like a 'scooped' midrange on the Ampeg and then toggle on & off with a high-decibel woofy overdrive for a contrasting voice. Almost approaching 'too many choices' territory.
If I get lost in tonetweakland, I retreat to Fender clean with spring reverb only, to find tonal homebase and keep my picking in the foreground.
— Squink Out!
|
NYStan
Joined: Jan 10, 2012
Posts: 68
|
Posted on Dec 27 2015 07:59 PM
Mark2Bra wrote:
providing a fair amount of overdrive that only tubes can.
Please forgive my ignorance on the subject but why not to use an overdrive pedal "push" the SS like tubes?
Is it the same case as Reverb pedals vs spring tank - Doesn't deliver the same sound?
Solid state amps don't take overdrive type pedals real well and the amp doesn't react in the same way a tube driven amp would. As for reverb and delays they will work just fine with solid state amps.
— http://www.reverbnation.com/nucleusaccumbensstimulation
|
blackheartsfan
Joined: Jun 13, 2009
Posts: 274
|
Posted on Dec 30 2015 01:21 AM
I sold off the Crate V-1512 all tube (USA) amp my wife found at a yard sale (got nearly 3x what I paid for it) and am using a "hybrid" Crate GT-80DSP (tube/solid state) and boy does it put me to shame. The V-1512 was too much amp for me (I felt it was better to let someone have it that could get the best out of it), the GT-80DSP has a lot of options, the stock reverb suits my needs and the "large hall" setting (oh that echo) makes me feel like Dick Dale.
|
April Birthdays 
