Verellen Octal - Solid-state powertube replacements

[RaceU4her]

This reminds me I have some of those jet city SS preamp tubes, I don’t think I ever tried them

 

[newpedals]

I am just guessing. I have limited knowledge of tube amps.

So this amp has tubes in the preamp section, but a solid state poweramp? I had heard that such amps were common during the 1980s and 1990s but I may be wrong.

 

[Humbug]

A mosfet (which I'm assuming this is) drop in replacement for big bottle octal tubes is a pretty good idea, at least for SVTs and similar amps where the power tubes themselves don't _really_ contribute that much. If they're well made and the price isn't stupid I might get some.

 

[[Nathan]]

I am just guessing. I have limited knowledge of tube amps.

So this amp has tubes in the preamp section, but a solid state poweramp? I had heard that such amps were common during the 1980s and 1990s but I may be wrong.

It’s not an amp it’s a replacement tube alternative. This would drop in to replace tubes in the same sockets

“Octal is a modern alternative to the traditional power vacuum tube — built to give your amp more headroom, a stronger & cleaner tone, and long-term reliability and availability you can count on.”

 

[dronerstone]

Our bassist has two Verellen amps. They're okay.

Really "okay" only?

Never played a Verellen, but I remember stoner/doom folks being very enthusiastic about them a while back.

 

[James Freeman]

Maybe worth for high gain amps where you don't drive the power tubes grids, but for classic amps where power tube distortion (grids clipping, bias voltage and excursion, element impedances etc.) is important, it's not going to sound authentic.
Also, the plate impedance of say a quad of EL34 and the reflected impedance of the cab through the push/pull output transformer dictate the impedance curve coloration, did they match that? highly unlikely.
I suggest to NOT preorder anything until the product is released and measured by people who understand tube amps.

 

[Orvillain]

Really "okay" only?

Never played a Verellen, but I remember stoner/doom folks being very enthusiastic about them a while back.

Even he agreed that the Mark Five blew them away. He got a Tremoverb not long after too, and that is a much more aggressive and in your face sound.

The Verellen's aren't much better than my Rockerverb, truth be told. I wasn't blown away by them. They're not shit, but they're not holy grail amps or anything like that.

 

[Humbug]

Maybe worth for high gain amps where you don't drive the power tubes grids, but for classic amps where power tube distortion (grids clipping, bias voltage and excursion, element impedances etc.) is important, it's not going to sound authentic.
Also, the plate impedance of say a quad of EL34 and the reflected impedance of the cab through the push/pull output transformer dictate the impedance curve coloration, did they match that? highly unlikely.
I suggest to NOT preorder anything until the product is released and measured by people who understand tube amps.

Yeah, if the non-linear behavior of power amp tubes are critical to the application, these will probably not do the job. The linear behaviors of the tube can pretty accurately be emulated by solid state circuitry, though.

I have a Verellen Meatsmoke, and I (my bank account, really) dread the day the 6550's go out

-And, yeah, probably don't preorder if it's not for an experiment.

 

[Humbug]

The Verellen's aren't much better than my Rockerverb, truth be told. I wasn't blown away by them. They're not shit, but they're not holy grail amps or anything like that.

Depends on what you're after and/or into I guess. My meatsmoke is an excellent sounding bass amp. I've been meaning to get it on the bench and trace out the circuit for years now, but the bastard is just too heavy

 

[laxu]

Maybe worth for high gain amps where you don't drive the power tubes grids, but for classic amps where power tube distortion (grids clipping, bias voltage and excursion, element impedances etc.) is important, it's not going to sound authentic.

That's my thought as well. That might not be a bad thing for say my Mark V which is really all preamp gain.

I do think there's need for a product like this though. A quartet of 6L6GCs or EL34s is expensive as hell these days, especially if you want some actually good ones.

 

[Orvillain]

Depends on what you're after and/or into I guess. My meatsmoke is an excellent sounding bass amp. I've been meaning to get it on the bench and trace out the circuit for years now, but the bastard is just too heavy

I was definitely less charitable back in 2024:

*ahem*

He has a Skyhammer and a custom bass amp that is meant to be similar to a Model T or something like that. Not exactly a Meatsmoke, but probably related. It was fine enough.

But he bought a vintage Fender Bassman, and the whole band thought it absolutely killed the Verellen amp, so he stopped using it for bass.

 

[Orvillain]

That's my thought as well. That might not be a bad thing for say my Mark V which is really all preamp gain.

I do think there's need for a product like this though. A quartet of 6L6GCs or EL34s is expensive as hell these days, especially if you want some actually good ones.

We just need less regulation, less "eco-friendly" (read: bullshit taxation revenue generators) policies, and MOAR FACTORIES MAKING VALVESSSS!!!!

MAKE VALVES GREAT AGAIN !!!

 

[Chocol8]

If it doesn’t behave and sound like a tube, and they say it won’t, you might as well just run a tube preamp into a SS power amp. You can save a ton of weight in the process.

 

[la szum]

I suggest to NOT preorder anything until the product is released and measured by people who understand tube amps.

Haha! Pretty sure Ben does.

 

[la szum]

In conclusion........... let us all conclude various things and make absolute proclamations based
on never having actually seen, or heard these in action.

It's the mature and responsible thing to do.

 

[AutomationBias]

I had heard that such amps were common during the 1980s and 1990s but I may be wrong.

 

[RaceU4her]

A mosfet (which I'm assuming this is) drop in replacement for big bottle octal tubes is a pretty good idea, at least for SVTs and similar amps where the power tubes themselves don't _really_ contribute that much. If they're well made and the price isn't stupid I might get some.

i think thats what the jet city ones were??

 

[Chocol8]

In conclusion........... let us all conclude various things and make absolute proclamations based
on never having actually seen, or heard these in action.

It's the mature and responsible thing to do.

Do you not trust what Ben is telling us about what it will and won't do? I am always a little skeptical, but when he says it won't behave or sound like a tube, I am inclined to believe him until proven otherwise.