Dazed Posted December 27, 2014 Share Posted December 27, 2014 Just recently I've got it into my head I need a valve amp. I'm talking old stuff here. Ampeg b15 v4b b25b that kind of thing. I've been feeding the gas listening to lots of old school stuff with a plain old precision and I'm guessing a b15 of some sort and I just love the tone. I realise none of the above are ideal for a gigging situation due to the lack output but that's fine for me at the moment as I'm currently gig less. What options do I have? I'm using a markbass cmd121p right now and that's a great amp. Would one of the tech 21 / bdi21 type pedals give me what I'm looking for? HELP! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andytoad Posted December 27, 2014 Share Posted December 27, 2014 I have always fancied one of these, there's a couple on Baxter bass at the mo.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky Posted December 27, 2014 Share Posted December 27, 2014 Runoffgroove's Flipster or Ginger might hit the spot if you're looking for that kind of sound from a pedal. The Flipster is recreation of the preamp from the SB12 (the amp Jamerson used) and the Ginger is an update to closer replicate the sound of the amp. I've got the Flipster and like it very much, but I'll be getting the Ginger at some point as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted December 27, 2014 Share Posted December 27, 2014 The Tech21 VT DI does a really good Ampeg impersonation, from SVT to B amps. When I used mine at the recording studio, the producer, who is Ampeg nuts absolutely loved it. I was also using it with the Markbass CMD121P, for reference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pentode Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 The V4 & V4b IMO are VERY giggable if rather weighty. The B25 does for smaller gigs but and again IMO, sounds utterly sublime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inthedoghouse Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 The Tech 21BDDI delivers for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notable9 Posted December 29, 2014 Share Posted December 29, 2014 Fender Bassman 135 silverface d'id. Used my old one at a local festival and was amazed at the crisp old school sound on the video playback. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovetheblues Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 Got a V4B a couple months ago. Simply awesome! It sounds good through virtually any cab and is full of tubey goodness :-) I'm REALLY loving it through my new Ampeg 212av!! The GAS has subsided..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 What are you listening to? I'm assuming your listening to old recordings? If so you're probably not actually listening to a valve amp, but either a bass being DI'ed or a valve amp going through extensive EQing in a studio. You've got a good combo, so I'd look at putting a preamp pedal in front of it. The Aguilar Tonehammer pedal might do the trick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazed Posted December 30, 2014 Author Share Posted December 30, 2014 (edited) Some excellent suggestion thanks. It's difficult to describe what I'm looking/listening for. It's not quite overdriven or distorted or harsh I guess a kind of softer smoother break up if that makes sense? I realise it's almost impossible to replicate a recorded tone due to production techniques and processes. As a start I ordered a behringer bdi21 pedal, that seems the cheapest way to stick a toe in the water. It's just arrived so an update hopefully later Edited December 30, 2014 by Dazed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jensenmann Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 Unfortunately that´s not an old valve amp but some cheap crap pretending to be something which it is not. There´s a german saying: if you buy cheap you´ll be buying twice.... If you want an valve amp which is capable of gigging then get something with 100W or more. Fender Bassman 100, 135 or studio bass are fantastic as well as Boogie d180 or 400, Ampeg V4B or SVT or Hiwatt Custom 100. Get one of these and don´t look back. Anything transistor or - even worse - digital will never ever come close. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swingong1979 Posted December 1, 2015 Share Posted December 1, 2015 Ive recently got my hands on a ampeg b25b and the tone is insane. Its got a little B15 mixed in with an SVT. When you drive it hard it sounds sooo nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cytania Posted December 2, 2015 Share Posted December 2, 2015 The vintage sound you are after dazed is pushed mids and rolled off treble and the BDI21 pedal will give you it. Modern amps usually have a very 'hifi' sound, and I use the Behringer unit to get a warmer, beefier sound. Some amps have that built in (Ashdown Evos comes to mind) but you can't clean it up. Tube amp fans are usually after the grind and gritty distortion of the old school for rock/metal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3below Posted December 2, 2015 Share Posted December 2, 2015 (edited) Try 'stuff' and see what works. I found my Peavey 700 transistor amp to be much more to my taste than the VBA 400 I also had at the same time. [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Tech21 VT DI is very impressive, I would like the Hiwatt equivalent. Most impressive amp (not bass) I have tried recently - a Stagg transistor practice amp, instant with cheapo tele copy and rusty strings. I would say better than my fender valve amp and USA tele. YMMV go figure.[/font][/color] Edited December 2, 2015 by 3below Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taunton-hobbit Posted December 2, 2015 Share Posted December 2, 2015 Give us an idea of (realistic) budget? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salt on your Bass? Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 Buy a burman. All valve is brilliant (imo). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swingong1979 Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 [quote name='Pentode' timestamp='1419802488' post='2642860'] The V4 & V4b IMO are VERY giggable if rather weighty. The B25 does for smaller gigs but and again IMO, sounds utterly sublime. [/quote] agreed! B25b is ridiculous when it comes to tone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chienmortbb Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 So you have a choice, a valve amp or some type of eq/effects unit. Don't take much notice of the Behringer knockers in tis case. The BDI21 aims to get the mpeg sound from an analogue pedal. So does the Tech21 but they are not clones, just pedals with similar aims and model numbers (got to love Behringer Marketing). A big ol valve amp will do the trick (if it is an Ampeg) but valve amps are not all the same. whether when driven normally or overdriven. Take care not to waste your money. Also remember that many Ampegs (SVT 3 Pro for example) have solid state power amps, ironic when you think that many think the valve output stage gives the "valve sound". So if you only need the Ampeg sound, buy an Ampeg. If not the Tech21 or Behringer pedals give you the flexibility. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taunton-hobbit Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 So, in the absence of a reply to my earlier post (#15) - I would suggest that you look for an early OrangeMatamp? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jebo1 Posted December 10, 2015 Share Posted December 10, 2015 They're beautiful things old valve amps. I used to gig two Hiwatt 100s a few years ago - wonderful amps. If I were gigging now I,d choose and EBS with a valve preamp. You get the old school valve loading, without the hassle and weight of an all valve top. If you want a pedal, Trace Elliot did one in the early 90s and you can get bass specific valve pedals on eBay (can't remember the bloke name). Dave something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funky8884 Posted December 10, 2015 Share Posted December 10, 2015 DHA Pedals http://www.davehallamps.co.uk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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