Valve Amp - who’s still using them?

[AScheck9]

Ah I thought I'd been a smart little detective too! Don't I feel like a numpty. 

[Reggaebass]

38 minutes ago, AScheck9 said:

Ah I thought I'd been a smart little detective too! Don't I feel like a numpty. 

No problem 🙂, I would like to try one though but they don’t come up very often around my way, or if they do they are well overpriced 

[Reggaebass]

Picked up my Ampeg PF-50T yesterday from a local tech who has done the humbuster mod on it , it wasn’t very noisy really but the slight hum kinda annoyed me, so pleased to get it back and what a great sounding amp it is, I’m thinking of pairing it with a barefaced two 10s , has anyone tried it, or maybe an Ampeg 1x15 , any thoughts 

[Sean]

I'm still gigging and rehearsing with 3 proper battleships:

 

#1 and King of Tone is my Mesa 400+ that lives in a rack case made by Jeff at Matamp while I waited. The amp came from @Beedster probably about 12 years ago. I still use the mug nearly every day, Chris! Nothing comes close to the tone but saying that, Line 6's HX models of it are very accurate. I'd like a second one tbh.

 

#2 is my Laney Nexus Tube 400. I've had it about 10 years. 8xKT88 and lots of fancy switching options and pre-amp settings. It's epic.

 

#3 MJW Amplification Taranis 200 - 4xKT88 and it's pretty much a Matamp GT200 clone with extra preamp channels and power switching options 200w/100w(4valve)/100(2valve)/50w(4valve)/50w(2valve). MJW worked at Matamp for a while. It's pure filth. Nowhere near the Mesa or Laney as far as power, headroom, blood and guts but it has that old Orange/Matamp tone with the added flexibly of being able to rag the @rse of it at relatively low volume using the power switching.

 

They're heavy, sometimes they go wrong, they're expensive to fix but on the whole, I love them.

 

I've totally embraced Barefaced cabs this last 12-14 years, so that helps keep the weight down a bit. And I always carry a Markbass head in the car too just in case 😉

Edited January 3 by Sean

[Kiwi]

On 03/01/2025 at 07:07, Sean said:

I'm still gigging and rehearsing with 3 proper battleships:

 

#1 and King of Tone is my Mesa 400+ that lives in a rack case made by Jeff at Matamp while I waited. The amp came from @Beedster probably about 12 years ago. I still use the mug nearly every day, Chris! Nothing comes close to the tone but saying that, Line 6's HX models of it are very accurate. I'd like a second one tbh.

 

They're heavy, sometimes they go wrong, they're expensive to fix but on the whole, I love them.

One of my favourite amps as well.  Velvet brick kind of tone, nice compression on the top end and a fabulous warmth that doesn't sound overwhelming.  Great for bright basses.  I have a 400+ profile loaded in my Kemper but it doesn't come close to the real thing.

[Reggaebass]

Can’t remember if it was mentioned before but how cool looking is this Arkham amp, apparently they are made to order , has anyone ever tried one 

[taunton-hobbit]

Looks like someone who could build a well sorted Sound System amp.

 

😎

[Sean]

What I'd like to know is whether anyone here who uses a big valve head as a home/bedroom amp.

 

I used to use my MJW through a 210 in my study before rearranging the room and going through the audio interface and monitors.

[taunton-hobbit]

I had a 300w Matamp slave & an Ormat100 powering the lounge set a while back. (I've since got sensible, now running juat a Crown 2000.....

 

😎

[spyder]

18 minutes ago, Sean said:

What I'd like to know is whether anyone here who uses a big valve head as a home/bedroom amp.

 

I used to use my MJW through a 210 in my study before rearranging the room and going through the audio interface and monitors.

I use an Ashdown CTM 100 with a 2x12 cab in my home music room. 

[Merton]

23 minutes ago, Sean said:

What I'd like to know is whether anyone here who uses a big valve head as a home/bedroom amp.

 

I used to use my MJW through a 210 in my study before rearranging the room and going through the audio interface and monitors.

Handbox WB100 and Two10 for me!

[Reggaebass]

I use an Ampeg V-4B 100W with a Barefaced big baby 2 in my bass room, there’s no fan noise so it’s a nice silent setup, not big but lately I’ve been using my PF-50T a lot and really enjoying it 

[Beedster]

On 02/01/2025 at 23:07, Sean said:

I'm still gigging and rehearsing with 3 proper battleships:

 

#1 and King of Tone is my Mesa 400+ that lives in a rack case made by Jeff at Matamp while I waited. The amp came from @Beedster probably about 12 years ago. I still use the mug nearly every day, Chris! Nothing comes close to the tone but saying that, Line 6's HX models of it are very accurate. I'd like a second one tbh.

 

 

I remember it well mate, glad you still have it 🙏

[Beedster]

Mine......

 

 

Looks a whole lot better in situ, i.e., on top of the rather lovely and rather large DropHead 15 cab, but still a work of art even on its own. Weighs slightly more than Luxembourg 👍

[Reggaebass]

3 minutes ago, Beedster said:

Mine......

 

 

Looks a whole lot better in situ, i.e., on top of the rather lovely and rather large DropHead 15 cab, but still a work of art even on its own. Weighs slightly more than Luxembourg 👍

That’s very cool mr B , love it 

[Sean]

8 minutes ago, Beedster said:

 

I remember it well mate, glad you still have it 🙏

The mug or the amp? 🤣

[Beedster]

3 minutes ago, Sean said:

The mug or the amp? 🤣

Both mate, both 👍

[ajkula66]

My "practice" amp...one that you won't see all that often...and yes, it does look like your Grandma's radio sans the dial...

 

 

You're looking at a circa '64 Hagstrom Bass 210 valve head, pushing out something like 8W. Original condition apart from the missing insignia and a fuse housing that someone has toyed around with. Amazing little amp, in all seriousness.

 

I've got several other amps, but this is the only one that gets turned on on regular basis.

 

 

[asingardenof]

If I could have afforded to have kept it I'd still be using my old Marshall Super Bass head. I'd love to know what it would have sounded like through my Barefaced cab, as it already sounded pretty good through the Marshall 4x12 I used to have (even though that was fitted with guitar-tuned speakers not bass-tuned ones). 

[Kiwi]

On 12/01/2025 at 01:20, Sean said:

What I'd like to know is whether anyone here who uses a big valve head as a home/bedroom amp.

My Hexavalve is currently tacking it's way to China so at some point in the next 6 weeks...maybe.

[kuetsum]

On 11/01/2025 at 17:20, Sean said:

What I'd like to know is whether anyone here who uses a big valve head as a home/bedroom amp.

 

I used to use my MJW through a 210 in my study before rearranging the room and going through the audio interface and monitors.

I do not sure it's a big one.. 3u 200w

[MrDinsdale]

Still love my Handbox WB100 although never get chance to use it. Need to find a band!!!