Open back bass combos

[Polar Bear]

So in that regard, I think it's far more important to get the right 'preamp' sound, and consider the power amp to be the loudness factor, not the character - I am 99% certain that this has been the way since the 1960s, too - because the B-15 was always considered underpowered. Which is why I agree with the sentiment that a solid state power amp is going to have very little effect on the 'authenticity' of your tone.

this is where I was headed with my statement.
"I'm not going to get that authentic 60's sound from a solid state power amp" huh? how'd you hear it in the first place? you weren't around in the 60's to hear it, so I made a huge leap of assumption that you'd listened to that authentic 60's sound via a solid state amp. get the sound you want via the devices that colour it (pre-amp should do it in this case), then amplify.. or stand closer to it.

Understandably, I think Mark likes the idea of sticking with valves, as SS amps perhaps have a stigma he's unwilling to deal with. With that, I'll once again mention the Jansen Bassman.

[rocklander]

Understandably, I think Mark likes the idea of sticking with valves, as SS amps perhaps have a stigma he's unwilling to deal with. With that, I'll once again mention the Jansen Bassman.

for bass??? it'll never work...

[Polar Bear]

In more serious news, I've used one for bass. They have a nice subtle rumbling overdrive that's very pleasing when turned up.

[Timi]

I sometimes use my Bassman 50 for bass, sounds fantastic.

[thehenderson]

I feel like maybe we're all talking at cross purposes here...

I disagree with a bunch of you guys, guitar amps and bass amps are the same thing for me. In both cases I want the amps to add heaps of the character to the sound, even when it's clean I want it to compress heaps in a tubey way and for it to sometimes fart out or distort and get up to shinanigans in general. I've found with guitar that solid state amps don't do that for me in a way I like, maybe it's different for bass, but I don't understand why it would be?

If I wanted it to just sound clean and bassy I'd DI it I guess.

A bassman 50 sounds great for bass but it's too loud for bedroom if you want it to give you a cranked tube sound. I'm genuinely surprised to find that there isn't really a market for small vintage style boutique bass combos like there are for small vintage style guitar combos.

[Vince]

I disagree with a bunch of you guys, guitar amps and bass amps are the same thing for me.

Well, ok, then...

[Rog]

I'm genuinely surprised to find that there isn't really a market for small vintage style boutique bass combos like there are for small vintage style guitar combos.

Surely that tells you all you need to know. If people thought it was important for bass, they'd be there?.

[Timi]

Actually just remembered that Ashdown do a low power all tube head....

Although I think it's still 30 watts....

[adrian0476]

So is 'authentic 60s bass tone' something that people just don't want or something? No way are you going to get very accurately old style bass tones out of something with a solid state power amp!

Perhaps, but I wouldn't want to. Personal preference is that I don't like shitty 60's bass tones (or shitty 70's bass tones for that matter). My Stingray sounds fantastic through the Genz Benz and although I've never tried it, I'm pretty sure I could overdrive the preamp section and roll off all of the top end if I wanted to sound like shit.

[Polar Bear]

So is 'authentic 60s bass tone' something that people just don't want or something? No way are you going to get very accurately old style bass tones out of something with a solid state power amp!

Perhaps, but I wouldn't want to. Personal preference is that I don't like shitty 60's bass tones (or shitty 70's bass tones for that matter). My Stingray sounds fantastic through the Genz Benz and although I've never tried it, I'm pretty sure I could overdrive the preamp section and roll off all of the top end if I wanted to sound like shit.

Hmm. I guess from this, you're trying to constructively help the OP by saying your opinion is better and more correct than his?

[bender]

I like the SFT suggestion. Great sounding pedal.

Is playing a bass through your 8-watt Carr a good idea? Will it hurt the delicate wee thing? Bet it sounds awesome though.

Edit: I should add that I approve of the choice of tone to chase.

[thehenderson]

I like the SFT suggestion. Great sounding pedal.

Is playing a bass through your 8-watt Carr a good idea? Will it hurt the delicate wee thing? Bet it sounds awesome though.

Edit: I should add that I approve of the choice of tone to chase.

It sounds really awesome actually, you can get a loud clean sound on 8 watts but I like it more on 1/2 watt pushing it juuuust before it breaks up. A bit loud to do that on the 8 watt setting in my room. It has a reasonable sized cab which doesn't rattle or do anything weird so it's actually a really sweet bass practice and recording amp.

[bender]

Is there a definitive word on if it's bad for a low wattage tube guitar amp though? I wouldn't mind trying my bass through my Bellverb 5 (when they're in the same city that is).

[Timi]

I like the SFT suggestion. Great sounding pedal.

Is playing a bass through your 8-watt Carr a good idea? Will it hurt the delicate wee thing? Bet it sounds awesome though.

He isn't running it that loud so I think it's safe, the amp will be fine it's just the speaker. Sounds REALLY nice. I also remember plugging it into my 8x10 a few years ago and being blown away by the goodness.

Mark, you can borrow my SFT any time you like if you want to give it a hoon.

[bender]

Sweet. I just remember getting given dirty looks a few years back when I plugged my bass into a blues deville 4x10. You'd think I'd got shitfaced and beat up a child or something.