Metropoulos Forum

Hey all looking to build Super Bass 50 watt for bass guitar. Also wanting to use 6550 power tubes any thoughts on this endeavor. I have built a Metro 1959SLP bass spec and loved it with 6550's it killed. Had to sell not by choice. Any input will be appreciated.

Hey, not much response ehh...

Well it is mostly a guitarists forum but no one is excluded here, it's all about the amp.

Not sure what you wish to achieve with a 50w for bass?

I'd say your going to get less head room out of a 50w which may be what your after? I don't know (Lemmy god rest his soul comes to mind).

I would have thought the 100w you have built with 6550 is the way to go for Bass but maybe you have caught the amp building sickness....

I think like the rest of us afflicted, for you there is sadly no hope

Personally as a Marshall toting guitarist and this is only my personal opinion of cource, get or build an Ampeg SVT and be done with it.

You will clearly develop spinal problems in later life from humping the 8x10 about but there will be some solice in knowing you owned TH''''E baddest bad ass bass rig ever to adone this earth.

You could also potentiality ruine the prospects of spinal alignment in later life for anyone in the band that particularly gets on yr tits by making them help you hump that 8x10.

But seriously what you have sounds killer.

The 50w won't be much quieter and for Bass I would not imagine this is a prob. Also you will lose head room which unless you want distortion... only plus is less tubes to buy.

Best

A superbass is a 100w amp, not a 50w amp. For bass 100w is preferable to 50w

There is a bass spec for the 50 watt. I have built a 1959 super bass before.

Sorry for using the wrong badge. This amp will be used in lower volume. Using a 15in speaker plus 6550's should get enough umph. My superbass was never turned up past 2 with a 2x15 or 8x10 cab.

I've never thought of this before for Bass...

But maybe you could do what a lot of us guitarists have to do and attenuate?

Is it just reduced volume you are looking for or speaker power handling you are concerned over? I would have thought bass speakers in general are geared up for power handling?

If I turned up I would blow the drummer and guitar off the stage. It would be like Lemmy. Sad to say I don't have the Superbass anymore.

Maybe I can help?

My son plays bass. He has three rigs:
1) 1971 Superbass (with channel 1 modded as 2203, single input and gain pot using an added tube) but channel 2 is stock Superbass using original Winged C 6550s. Sounds huge and very versatile, plays it through matching 1935B cab from '69.
2) 1990s Ampeg SVT (Sovtek 6550s) through matching Ampeg 4x10. Bright and punchy, great for metal and funk!
3) Homebrew hybrid of Orange OR120, Hiwatt DR103 and Marshall, through Orange 2x12. This also runs Sovtek 6550s Good for small rooms and recording.

He usually runs two of them with a combination of pedals and loops for Royal Blood type sounds using either a Warwick Corvette 5-string or Fender Jazz 5-string. Although when he subs in for our usual bassist with our function band it is just the SVT

As far as the 50w Marshall, yes of course you can. Use the stock 1986 schematic and layout except you will need different grid leak resistors (so sub 220ks out and I use 120ks as I have dozens of Pihers @120k. You could use 68k, 82k or 100k but the 120s have lots of punch but don't give the 6550s to hard a time c/w the 220s). I am pretty sure you will need to drop the bias feed resistor from 220k to 120k too.

Nikeel,

As always a gentleman and fountain of knowledge.

It would seem you have schooled your son well as he has some insane bass rigs at his disposal. Hats off,,,