Kevin Dean Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 Can you really hear a difference ? really ? years ago I had a group of friends & I A / Bd a Mesa Boogie 400+ against a Trace Elliot Mrk 6 via a Ampeg 8 x 10 , I did shape the EQ on the Trace Elliot to emulate the Mesa sound .The thing is I asked my friends to try both with there backs to the amp while I switched between the two & everyone got it wrong & some of these guys play for a living . So are these Valve amps worth the extra ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hubrad Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 ... or do we just need to seek out Mk.6 Trace gear? ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 (edited) Yes you can hear the difference, live onstage. I did an A/B comparison of my ABM and BTA and the BTA has that valve "heft" from the valve power amp. The ABM is very close to it but the BTA does have the edge Edited June 9, 2015 by Merton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowhand_mike Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 is it a £2500 edge? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pow_22 Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 [quote name='Kevin Dean' timestamp='1433850029' post='2794500'] So are these Valve amps worth the extra ? [/quote] For me simply yes. Ive tried all concoction of pedals, emulators, hyrbrids etc....IF you want the valve sound (and i fully get that not everyone does) then it HAS to be a valve amp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 [quote name='lowhand_mike' timestamp='1433859926' post='2794616'] is it a £2500 edge? [/quote] No. Hence why I'm selling my BTA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 [quote name='Pow_22' timestamp='1433865973' post='2794687'] IF you want the valve sound... then it HAS to be a valve amp. [/quote] I'd agree with this. Nothing matches the 'all-valve bounce'. I just wish they weren't so heavy... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1433877143' post='2794827'] I'd agree with this. Nothing matches the 'all-valve bounce'. I just wish they weren't so heavy... [/quote] Perhaps they could be made with unobtainium like in Avatar, although that would make them even more expensive, and probably involve some kind of alien genocide. Or something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 [quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1433884643' post='2794916'] Perhaps they could be made with unobtainium like in Avatar, although that would make them even more expensive, and probably involve some kind of alien genocide. Or something. [/quote] It would be worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Dean Posted June 11, 2015 Author Share Posted June 11, 2015 Norman Watt Roy was using one on Later with Jules H a few months back & out of all the bands His was the worst sound ? They look fantastic though . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gillento Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 (edited) [quote name='Kevin Dean' timestamp='1434008921' post='2795804'] Norman Watt Roy was using one on Later with Jules H a few months back & out of all the bands His was the worst sound ? They look fantastic though . [/quote] Once you play through a PA or, in this case, a TV broadcast, the DI signal and the soundguy become more important than a miked amp, IMHO. Edited June 14, 2015 by gillento Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matte_black Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 On those amps the DI probably goes thru the transformer? Anyway, I think the ABM 500 is already very "boomy" and "wooly", no idea about how that preamp would work with a tube power stage. I have the 427 myself but it's got a Bassman-style tube preamp. Otherwise, I wouldn't have bought it. The power stage makes a big difference, though. Expecially on dynamics. You dig into the strings, the amp gives it back - more than on SS amps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 (edited) [quote name='Matte_black' timestamp='1435175468' post='2806307'] On those amps the DI probably goes thru the transformer? Anyway, I think the ABM 500 is already very "boomy" and "wooly", no idea about how that preamp would work with a tube power stage. I have the 427 myself but it's got a Bassman-style tube preamp. Otherwise, I wouldn't have bought it. The power stage makes a big difference, though. Expecially on dynamics. You dig into the strings, the amp gives it back - more than on SS amps. [/quote] I think the BTA power stage has more bite and zing to it actually, the ABM stage feels like it has a softer transient response. The BTA is the best bass amp I've ever used, just damn big and heavy...! Edited June 24, 2015 by Merton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 [quote name='Matte_black' timestamp='1435175468' post='2806307'] The power stage makes a big difference, though. Expecially on dynamics. You dig into the strings, the amp gives it back - more than on SS amps. [/quote] I have found this to be the case with every amp I've used that had a valve power stage. It's more alive, somehow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1435180143' post='2806366'] I have found this to be the case with every amp I've used that had a valve power stage. It's more alive, somehow. [/quote] Yup. Remind me why I am selling mine..... :/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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