wateroftyne Posted November 13, 2007 Share Posted November 13, 2007 (edited) Hi folks I bought a used Warwick Tubepath 10.1 head a few days ago (thannks, Chester!). It's a 1000w hybrid head, with all the features I need, and it also has a small switchable 3w tube-driven power amp immediately before the power stage, not unlike Mesa's Simul-state system. They don't seem to be too common in the UK or North America, there's not much written about them on-line. However, all the owners I have spoken too have raved about them, and it seems to have all the features I'm looking for. I'm not a fan of their basses (sorry, Mr. Warwickhunt!), but their amps seemed to be a different story... So, It's had a few runs out already, and I'm extremely impressed. I get a great tone with eveything flat, and a little bit of tweaking (literally a nudge here and there) really takes it to the next level. There's no hum at all (see my earlier misadventures with a Genz GBE 750) unless I'm standing on top of it, the fan is whisper quiet, it's extremely well made (again, it's German!) and it looks pretty funky. Assuming you like bright blue lights. The FOH chap says the DI sounds great, and on-stage it works very well with my Schroeder. It's LOUD. Negatives.. not much at all. It's heavy - 45lbs, but it's reasonable for a 1000w head. It's not a bad lift, and it's only 2U. Also, the DI output is extremely hot - if the desk doesn't have a pad, things could get tricky. However, I emailed Warwick who immediately responded with a simple component fix. It's obviously something they're aware of. Also... Also... the amp's styling makes considerable use of the comic sans serif font. Odd choice! These are all minor points, though. All the usual cliches apply: lots of tubey warmth, gut-shaking punch, growl, thump, headroom for days... and the best bit is that the used price is relative buttons. Not bad for an amp built in Germany! Why aren't these things more common? I just don't understand... Happy days indeed! Edited November 23, 2007 by wateroftyne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted November 13, 2007 Share Posted November 13, 2007 No need to apologise old boy... I don't like Fenders Will you be taking this to DW's if you go. I think he'd be interested in hearing my cab so your amp could be a good A/B with one of mine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted November 13, 2007 Author Share Posted November 13, 2007 I think I will...! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlosfandango Posted November 13, 2007 Share Posted November 13, 2007 (edited) Thanks for the review. I've been looking at these but couldn't find almost any information about them. Great specs and some very interesting concepts. How does the semi-tube poweramp stage work? I'm looking to get a valve hybrid for my Schro 410L (that hopefully will be here soon....) ....aguilar DB750 is one candidate but very expensive... Edited November 13, 2007 by carlosfandango Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted November 13, 2007 Share Posted November 13, 2007 my german hughes and kettner amp has blue lights all over. maybe german amp builders like blue? i bet it sounds nice, on principle i think i would avoid anything in comic sans though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stacedabass Posted November 14, 2007 Share Posted November 14, 2007 top review mate, i played one of these aswell, very well made, valuse for money me thinks, thats why i have the solid state version, x-treme 10.1. nearly a year old and still going strong! enjoy your amp. Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzz Posted November 14, 2007 Share Posted November 14, 2007 [quote name='carlosfandango' post='88004' date='Nov 13 2007, 06:37 PM']Thanks for the review. I've been looking at these but couldn't find almost any information about them. Great specs and some very interesting concepts. How does the semi-tube poweramp stage work? I'm looking to get a valve hybrid for my Schro 410L (that hopefully will be here soon....) ....aguilar DB750 is one candidate but very expensive... [/quote] If it's anything like the way DHA do it, it'll reduce the output from 3w back down to line level which is then sent to the poweramp. Nifty way of getting pre & power tube noise and serious wattage for much cheaper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DHA Posted November 14, 2007 Share Posted November 14, 2007 [quote name='Buzz' post='88206' date='Nov 14 2007, 02:17 AM']If it's anything like the way DHA do it, it'll reduce the output from 3w back down to line level which is then sent to the poweramp. Nifty way of getting pre & power tube noise and serious wattage for much cheaper.[/quote] Sounds like we are doing the same thing. The signal to the solid state section is from the valve output transformer where it drives a dummy load. This way the signal is coloured with valve output warmth and the super clean SS amp just acts like a flat PA. The dummy load is important as this effects the tone as well. The dummy load is used to replace the valve driven speaker and using just a resistor will work but not that well as speakers also have inductance and capacitance. This means speakers sound different at different frequencies, resistors don't. We use a 3.5" speaker inside the VT5-400-Bass as a dummy load to get around this issue. We have plans for 700W and 400W+400W stereo versions coming soon. We also do a version with no SS power amp (one already sold to a BC member) for use with a PA, an existing power amp or replacing a pre-amp in an existing amp. What price is the Warwick Tubepath? Maybe we are seeing a new trend in bass amps, I hope so Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-bitch Posted November 14, 2007 Share Posted November 14, 2007 I love hearing about these 'hidden gems' - sounds like we can add this to the Peavey T-Max and any old Trace head! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted November 14, 2007 Author Share Posted November 14, 2007 Carlos & Dave are absolutely right. The output from the Tubepath's pre is sent via another tube to a 3w amp, which is then amplified by the transformer. It's switchable, and makes a great difference to the tone. I'm only aware of the Tubepath, Mesa's Simulstate, and Dave's DHA heads using this functionality. It was a major selling point for me. I'd love to try one of Dave's heads one day. I considered buying one when he first mentioned them, but I've had a class-D head for a few years now, and I fancied something traditional for a change. Carlos - it'll be a great match for a Schro 410L! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlosfandango Posted November 14, 2007 Share Posted November 14, 2007 [quote name='wateroftyne' post='88254' date='Nov 14 2007, 09:31 AM']Carlos & Dave are absolutely right. The output from the Tubepath's pre is sent via another tube to a 3w amp, which is then amplified by the transformer. It's switchable, and makes a great difference to the tone. I'm only aware of the Tubepath, Mesa's Simulstate, and Dave's DHA heads using this functionality. It was a major selling point for me. I'd love to try one of Dave's heads one day. I considered buying one when he first mentioned them, but I've had a class-D head for a few years now, and I fancied something traditional for a change. Carlos - it'll be a great match for a Schro 410L![/quote] Very interesting concept I must say - hmmm.......need to look into this more carefully. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlosfandango Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 I got one! I found an auction an evilbay and I got for almost nothing...they are £1,000 new list price and I got mine for £343! lot's of jam for little bread........hope it arrives soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted November 18, 2007 Author Share Posted November 18, 2007 Nice one... I was watching that auction! These truly are hidden gems, IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayfan Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 Good work - the Warwick stuff's really underrated. I'd like one of these but I think it would blow my 600w cab up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Funk Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 The Tubepath is the same concept as Warwick's earlier Quadruplet heads and preamp. I have one of the Quadruplet preamps and I'm very happy with it. It's a very clever piece of kit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted November 23, 2007 Author Share Posted November 23, 2007 [quote name='carlosfandango' post='90111' date='Nov 18 2007, 07:26 AM']I got one! I found an auction an evilbay and I got for almost nothing...they are £1,000 new list price and I got mine for £343! lot's of jam for little bread........hope it arrives soon![/quote] Did yours arrive yet, Carlos? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlosfandango Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 it's on a UPS truck somewhere! I hope Monday... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevcooke Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 I got a Tubepath 5.1... I love it just as much as my custom Vampyre NT5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlosfandango Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 ohhh...a vampyre....pics? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 SWR use the same principle in their interstellar overdrive preamp I believe. Always thought it was a great idea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBalls Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 I have been told that some Warwick heads are not that reliable and are easily broken. We was talking about the Pro-fet heads. I have had no experience with Warwick heads apart from a mess around in a shop with a Pro-fet 3.2 and i though it sounded good for its price. Anyone have reliability issues with Warwick stuff? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevcooke Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 [quote name='carlosfandango' post='93645' date='Nov 24 2007, 09:03 AM']ohhh...a vampyre....pics?[/quote] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=5703&st=0&p=60054&#entry60054"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...amp;#entry60054[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 [quote name='BassBalls' post='94061' date='Nov 25 2007, 10:47 AM']I have been told that some Warwick heads are not that reliable and are easily broken. We was talking about the Pro-fet heads. I have had no experience with Warwick heads apart from a mess around in a shop with a Pro-fet 3.2 and i though it sounded good for its price. Anyone have reliability issues with Warwick stuff?[/quote] I had a Protube IX and the only issue was a microphonic valve... easily sorted. Like many manufacturers Warwick amps are produced in various locations at various price-points and I'm sure there will always be stories of some problems but I've never encountered any tales of wholesale reliability problems with the brand (and despite my user name I don't use their amps, so I have no greater desire to defend them than I would any other manufacturer). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlosfandango Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 As you know I bought mine before Christmas on evilby and just had my first gig with it tonight. OMG! It's MUCH bettter than I expected....I only paied roughly£350 and I m ust say for that money you can't get a better amp....1000w, great EQ, tubes.....very verastile too: I had an opportunty to play around with for an hour befpre the soundcheck and I could dial in all sorts of realy greast bass sounds....the tubes really made my Wicks come alive....anything from a great hifi slap sound to old-school warm and distorted tones. I used it with my Schro 410L and its a really great combination as the amp has got the extra ooompf and headreoom to really drive the cab. If you can get hold of one - BUY IT! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted December 30, 2007 Author Share Posted December 30, 2007 Glad you like it, Carlos... I've done quite a few gigs with mine now at a variety of venues, and I swear to God it's fab. The tone is so round, punchy and tubey... what a bargain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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