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Opinions, please, on 'lightweight' tube amps


Paul S
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I am toying with the idea of getting an all tube head but couldn't live with anything too heavy. 20kg would be about my limit, I think.

From what I have read I could do a lot worse than the Stoneham Y1200 - [url="http://stonehamamps.co.uk/product/yi200-head/?"]http://stonehamamps.co.uk/product/yi200-head/?[/url] - it ticks an awful lot of my boxes. I am after an 'old school vintage tone' whatever the heck that is - nothing too broken or distorted.

But what would be other possible contenders at that power/size/price/weight?

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Well, these guys were set up next to me at London Bass Guitar Show when I was on the Shuker stand, but I didn't get a chance to talk to them. Turns out they do lightweight valve amps!

https://www.rheingoldmusic.de/Amplification

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The Rheingold is interesting and I particularly like the look of the Mesa four:88 but they are both quite expensive. Not sure the Ampeg would be loud enough for what I have in mind. Any other contenders?

Edited by Paul S
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Will 100W be loud enough? That is probably also determined by the cab(s) situation.

[url="http://www.reussenzehn.de/de/musiker/bass-verstaerker/monoblock-bass.php"]Here's[/url] 100W, only 11 kg, 1590 Euro, can go down to 2 Ohms.

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[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1493666389' post='3289865']
I am toying with the idea of getting an all tube head but couldn't live with anything too heavy. 20kg would be about my limit, I think.

From what I have read I could do a lot worse than the Stoneham Y1200 - [url="http://stonehamamps.co.uk/product/yi200-head/?"]http://stonehamamps.co.uk/product/yi200-head/?[/url] - it ticks an awful lot of my boxes. I am after an 'old school vintage tone' whatever the heck that is - nothing too broken or distorted.

But what would be other possible contenders at that power/size/price/weight?
[/quote]
I used a Stoneham bass amp at a festival in the north east a bit ago and was very impressed, if that helps at all...

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[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1493908617' post='3291751']
That does help, thank you. Every little bit of info helps as I know nothing!
[/quote]

....and I think JPJ of this parish borrowed one and gigged it.

Ah, found the link:

http://basschat.co.uk/topic/231938-npavad-new-no-longer-prototype-british-built-all-valve-amp-day/

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I used to love an old Selmer 50w treble and bass head that a mate of mine had. Must have dated from the sixties. That wasn't too heavy . Lovely sounding thing. Really old school! I can't remember the model but I think it was one of these -

https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/selmer-treble-and-bass-50-head.1372272/

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If you can find one, a Marshall JCM 800 bass head will weigh in at around 20.5kg. Old school 100w vintage sounds comes by the shedload, especially if you use a cab with at least a pair of vintage 30's or 70/80's. It will go very very loud indeed but is more of a low mid/mid/toppy tone in my experience. Price wise around a third of the cost of a Stoneman for a decent JCM800. I have a version with the 5881 tubes and it sounds great with a 2x12 cab.

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Thanks folks. I did a kind of 'test' at the gym with a 20kg plate and I think that taking my dodgy back into account anything close to that would be too much for me to manoeuver. Probably time to start saving for the Mesa Boogie - which weighs about the same as my current rackmounted Trace Elliot head - or forget it!

Appreciate your input - for one thing I was unaware of the Mesa Boogie!

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[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1493968494' post='3292157']
Thanks for the heads up - I'll do a bit more reading! I'm in no rush - have to shift some gear first, too.
[/quote]

Oh no! What am I going to buy now! :lol:

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