No matter your experience level with tubes, BUD is an ideal way to start building amps. With eyelet or turret boards from Doug Hoffman included with this kit and comprehensive instructions included as well, BUD provides the opportunity for beginners as well as veterans alike.
Ampeg V-4B
If you’re searching for an affordable bass tube amp, the Ampeg V-4B may be just what you need. Reissue of its 1971 original, it provides classic tube tone in a portable design perfect for modern bassists. Equipped with four preamp tubes and two power tubes to deliver its legendary Ampeg sound that has been used by artists such as Sting, Krist Novoselic Cliff Williams and Robert Trujillo; making this amp a solid choice.
This bass head boasts features that will appeal to bassists of all stripes, such as its 3-band EQ with flexible midrange control and Ultra Hi and Ultra Lo switches for increased tonal versatility. These switches can create sounds ranging from warm and crunchy to smooth and clean depending on how they’re used; increase gain levels to experience creamy overdrive that even top stompboxes cannot rival!
The Ampeg V-4B amp is an incredibly powerful and flexible amp that’s great for live and studio use alike. Equipped with multiple outputs – 2-, 4-, and 8-ohm speaker outputs make this amp easily integrated into any bass rig; additionally it comes equipped with balanced XLR DI inputs for sending tube tone directly to FOH or recording interfaces; additionally its unique chassis suspension system reduces vibrations and protects tubes against damage.
Orange AD200B Mk3 bass tube amplifiers offer another great choice in terms of sound quality. Offering only minimal settings with superior sound quality, these lightweight yet portable amps make transportation between rehearsal and performances easy and efficient.
Its small size makes the AD200B Mk3 an excellent choice for gigging. The solid-state preamp and power amp, powered by EL84 tubes, produce an expansive sound perfect for any genre of music. Furthermore, its controls are straightforward and user-friendly so there won’t be any difficulty finding what settings best suit your bass.
The V-4B amplifier is a favorite among bassists looking for that classic tube sound without breaking the bank. Its warm sound can be heard on various recordings, making it suitable for loud players who enjoy playing loud. Furthermore, its EQ options enable fine-tuning your tone for any genre of music while its master volume provides full control of smooth to gritty tones.
Ampeg SVT CL
The SVT bass amplifier is one of the most acclaimed tube amps. Known for its warm and fat sound that lends itself perfectly to rock and metal music genres, its strong low end even cuts through dense mixes. Equipped with multiple EQ options – bass, mids and treble; however it lacks an effects loop; this amp provides bassists with classic tones.
This amp is very powerful and capable of handling large venues. Equipped with 300 watts and six 6550 power amp tubes, this amplifier has enough volume without losing clarity or definition; making it the perfect solution for musicians playing large venues where their voices need to stand out amongst a mix.
The Ampeg SVT CL boasts classic tube amplifier features. It includes a two-band tone stack, five-position mid selector, ultra high and low boost switches and fan cooling; plus it comes equipped with tube protection circuit and fan cooling – not to mention passive and active electronics input jacks as well as an XLR output that connects easily with another amp or mixer.
Another outstanding quality of this amplifier is its distinctive sound. While reminiscent of classic tube amps, its ability to produce modern sounds sets it apart. Furthermore, its EQ is highly responsive allowing you to shape the tone to your preferences – though lacking effects loop capabilities it has plenty of features which will allow you to craft your signature sound.
The Ampeg SVT CL bass amplifier is an ideal choice for bassists seeking an amp with plenty of headroom and big sound, durable construction, and solid state preamp section which protects it against power surges or other events that could potentially damage it.
Fender 5F1 Champ
The Champ has long been a go-to recording amp for bassists and guitarists alike. This single-ended Class A amplifier stands out with its unique voicing that provides everything from sparkling cleans to natural compression and overdrive, responding instantly to volume changes or picking dynamics like no other amp. A true legend among recording equipment, some of its biggest names in music such as Joe Walsh, Joe Perry and Greg Allman have all used one!
This amplifier utilizes the 5F1 tube and an exclusive Weber speaker designed specifically for it, creating a wide variety of tones ranging from crisp cleans and classic cleans, all the way through natural compression that responds to any dynamics of your playing. One of the most widely used amplifiers ever, this amp has been featured on thousands of recordings worldwide.
For creating overdrive, the speaker voice coil must be driven with high current. To produce sound waves our ears perceive as tone, this magnetic field needs to interact with Speaker Magnet and Cone; its dynamic sensitivity makes this circuit so appealing to guitarists and bassists who can switch from sparkle to splatter by changing pressure on their fingers alone!
A large value 470K grid stopper helps prevent power tubes from blocking distortion created by preamp tube’s Control Grid and also helps prevent excessive output voltage from damaging preamp tube or speaker. Another great feature of this circuit is its class-A operation which yields greater harmonic content than blackface counterparts that operate in class AB mode – these even order harmonics give class A amplifiers their legendary tone and singing quality.
This kit provides all of the components required to build this classic amp. Perfect for novice builders or those with more experience. Includes detailed diagram and comprehensive wiring instructions to get maximum benefit out of this amplifier. All parts are of top-grade quality for authentic vintage Fender tone!
Fender 5E3 Deluxe
Fender 5E3 Deluxe amps have become something of a phenomenon among players, as their popularity continues to soar and the price for original versions skyrocket. But thanks to an army of builders producing variations – from meticulous down to every last fold in tweed replicas, to more experimental models from Oxfordshire-based Allan Gardner (Amgard Studio Tweed 20), who claims it offers “significant modifications that reduce noise floor without altering sound or feel”, more players than ever before can access this classic amp.
Amgard Deluxe guitars utilize the classic tweed cabinet as well as two 12AX7 valves in its preamp and power sections – just like its counterpart from Fender – similar to that found on original Fender Deluxes. Instead of Jensen Blue speakers used by its counterpart, however, Amgard’s Deluxe uses Celestion Vintage 30 speakers which are more efficient and will produce cleaner sounds at higher volumes than alnico Jensens used on original and reissue Deluxes.
The Amgard Deluxe also features an active tone control that can be used to boost midrange frequencies of its tube amp, creating a distinct tone. Additionally, this amp features a very low noise floor and was specifically tailored to studio environments – yet remains controllable at any volume setting. Touch-sensitive, dynamic or even raunchy sounds can all be achieved while remaining under complete control at all times.
Amgard Deluxe 5E3s differ from other 5E3s by featuring a phase inverter to reduce low frequency feedback loop issues such as voltage sag and note bloom, large coupling and bypass capacitors to increase bass response, cathode biased power tubes that sound rounder and tubeier, as well as small output transformers which don’t drive its tubes as hard.