Tube Bass Amp Schematic

[SmokeBass]

Hello everyone,

I've planned to build an all tube bass amp. Im after a good schematic that i could follow. I have found on the net a few, the Ampeg SVT is what is attracting me.

Does anyone have any mesa bass amp schematics, or better suggestions? Im typically after a chunky,powerfull sharp bass sound.

If someone has made a good bass amp before, would you like to share it here?

THanks

 

[Brett]

Hello everyone,

I've planned to build an all tube bass amp. Im after a good schematic that i could follow. I have found on the net a few, the Ampeg SVT is what is attracting me.

Does anyone have any mesa bass amp schematics, or better suggestions? Im typically after a chunky,powerfull sharp bass sound.

If someone has made a good bass amp before, would you like to share it here?

THanks

Here is a link to some Mesa schems, including the Bass400.

You may not like what follows, but I play too, and have used quite a few rigs now.

My first question is, do you want this for home, studio, jamming or touring?
If it's the last, build/buy a good, affordable SS poweramp and use a tube pre. Unless you have a dedicated roadie for your rig and a decent budget, you'll probably regret using a tube poweramp on the road, the first time it plays up. And it will after getting bounced around in the back of your vehicle. Tube bass amps are also as heavy as heck, and a pain to hump around.

For home and studio there are lots of options, and I would build a decent class A or AB amp of about 50W and the speaker driver(s) and box combo I wanted. I'd also build it differently if I didn't need to move it about, as size and layout will be lass of an issue, ie less compromised.

For jamming (low volume) use the suggestion for the home setup. For jamming at high SPL or rehearsal, back to the tube pre/SS power combo.

If you still want to build a big tube poweramp, and beware that they're expensive for a whole lot of reasons, use a commercial design for inspiration. SVT's are OK, but to my ears, a bit of a one-trick-pony; if you like the sound great, but if you play a wide variety of styles, then they're not the most versatile.

I'm of the opinion that tube pre/power combo's sound the best, almost all the time, but I'm really unimpressed with what a lot of the amps on the market can do sonically. Or the way they're built.

For the record, I build tube and SS MI amps, so my opinion is very biassed.

 

[Enzo]

besides the Mesa, the Peavey Classic 400 might be interesting. The factory will send out the shcematic. And the Fender Bassman 300 schematic I think is on Mr. Gearhead site. Not suggesting you build those, but the circuits work and are interesting.

I also second the idea of using a nice solid state power amp of suitable size then getting the preamp of choice - commercial or home built. 300-400 watts of tube requires 100 pounds of iron, and a new set of tubes costs a weeks pay. You can walk into my amp repair shop and pick up a set of 6L6 or EL34 or EL84 for your guitar amp, but I never stock matched 6 or 8 tube sets of 6550 or anything else for that matter. Meaning that when you are on the road in CLeveland and your head blows a tube, where will you get it replaced before the gig?