Tone Tubby Speakers

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 25 Nov 2002 10:37 am

I recently replaced the EVM-12 in my Mesa/Boogie Maverick with a Tone Tubby speaker. I'm writing this report for those of you who use small tube amps. The Tone Tubby might be a good choice for you.

The first thing I noticed about the Tone Tubby was that it doesn't have much high end. Using the same amp settings, it was like throwing a blanket over an EVM. But after adjusting the amp to put out more highs, I was able to get an excellent tone for rock, blues and Hawaiian. It's still not as bright and twangy as I would want if I played mostly Nashville-style country, though.

The Tone Tubby would not be a good choice for high-powered, solid state amps. It's conservatively rated at 25-30 watts, and it works very well in my 40 watt amp. I think you'd blow it out pretty quickly if you plugged a Webb or a Session 400 into it.

The Tone Tubby is light! I put the EVM in a separate cabinet (I'll use both for larger gigs) and was surprised to find that that EVM cabinet weighed more than the Boogie with the Tone Tubby in it. I didn't put them on a scale or anything, but I could feel the difference. The change really lightened up the Boogie.

The low end from the Tone Tubby is wonderful! I've never had such rich bass tones from such a small amp before. I haven't played a C6th through it, but I often hit a low D on my extended E9th and it handled that easily. Also, I've been using a RotoSphere Leslie emulator that really pushes the low end, and it sounded just gorgeous.

Because of the roll-off in the high end, the Tone Tubby smooths out rock distortion tones very nicely. Rock heavyweights like Clapton and Santana are using Tone Tubbies, but it was the endorsement of tone fanatic Steve Kimock that made me want to try it. The speaker really "sings" when you pump blues tones into it. It takes the fuzzy edge off of the distortion.

It's an expensive little speaker. I was pretty hesitant to plop down 2 bills for a dinky 25-watt speaker. Luckily, I was able to borrow one first to try it. I now think it's worth the money. It performs much better than I expected, giving me sounds I could never quite reach with my trusty old EVM.

Hemp cones. Who'da thunk it?

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (F Diatonic), Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6), Roland Handsonic[This message was edited by Bobby Lee on 25 November 2002 at 10:39 AM.]

James Quackenbush · Post by **James Quackenbush** » 25 Nov 2002 12:20 pm

Bobby,
I've been using Tone Tubby's in my old Vox amps....They are sort of like beefed up Blue Bell speakers that Vox used years ago, except they have a higher power rating and the hemp cone...I'm sure that your Boogies will sing like angels with these speakers...You're right on the mark with the high end disapearing ...
Try out a Tone Tubby, and either a Vintage 30 or a Greenback for blues !!..You get the fatness from the tubby, and the brightness and a nice breakup from either of the other speakers....and if you get tired of the Tubby's, you can either turn them into rope, or smoke them !!..BTW, I'm still saving for a new Williams !...Happy Thanksgiving ..Jim

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 25 Nov 2002 12:44 pm

Bobby - you mentioned the RotoSphere in your piece. I have the chance to buy one of these units at a giveaway price but would like your view before I make a trek to the sellers house. Does it give an authentic Leslie sound?[This message was edited by Ken Byng on 25 November 2002 at 12:45 PM.]

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 25 Nov 2002 12:49 pm

I'll pipe in here to say that the RotoSphere is the best sounding Leslie simulator I've ever heard.

The only reason I'm not currently using one is that I'm using all rack mount gear and I have plenty of organ patches for my IVL MIDI rig.

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 25 Nov 2002 12:51 pm

I've only had the RotoSphere for a few weeks but I really love it! It does the Leslie trick very well, even in mono. I've been trying to get a good Leslie sound for years, and I think I've finally found the magic box.

Can't wait to try it with my stereo rack rig...

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (F Diatonic), Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6), Roland Handsonic

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 25 Nov 2002 12:52 pm

Go for it, Ken. There's nothing better that you can fit in a gigbag. The only people I've ever heard bad-mouth it were folks that didn't have to carry their own Leslies.

Len Amaral · Post by **Len Amaral** » 26 Nov 2002 3:09 pm

bOb:

I am glad you are enjoying the Rotophere.

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 26 Nov 2002 3:39 pm

Thanks for the great deal, Len!

Chris Bauer · Post by **Chris Bauer** » 1 Dec 2002 7:24 pm

In the new Guitar Player, Santana sings the praises of the Tone Tubbies. (And I'm so impressed that we have yet to see a Teletubbies reference in this thread!)

James Winwood · Post by **James Winwood** » 3 Dec 2002 6:44 pm

Thanks for writing that little review Bob. I play a smaller tube amp myself (Dr.Z Ghia). I've had my eyes on those tone tubby's for sometime now. I want a 2"12 cab w/em personally but, alas, the price puts that off for a while.
They seem to be the cream for the rock tones, eh? I think SK has a part in designing them, has something to do with him digging bass speakers originally.
I'm glad to see this on the forum.
It's nice to find real info from steel players on this end of the tone spectrum.
I'm usually chasing down the guitar guys for the meaty tube-tone stuff.

James Quackenbush · Post by **James Quackenbush** » 3 Dec 2002 7:21 pm

James,
I had the very first Dr.Z Mazeratti that was originally built for Joe Walsh...I had a Ghia first...The Mazeratti has 4 - EL84's instead of the 2 that the Ghia has..It's the same simple preamp section...I had 2 Tubbies in a ZBest cab that I used for guitar...I can't speak for steel as I am just learning steel now, but for guitar ...KILLER TONE !!...As full as the Ghia sounds thru just about any cab, it's a MONSTER with Tubbies ....Jim

James Winwood · Post by **James Winwood** » 5 Dec 2002 10:43 am

James- thanks for the advice. I've had an inkling that the tubbies are probably where it's at with the ghia. The killer guitar tones you speak of would be lightning with steel, if that is your taste. Talk about screamin'. Power amp distortion baby...

Del Rangel · Post by **Del Rangel** » 5 Dec 2002 8:08 pm

b0b,
Do you think that the Tone Tubbies would pair up well in a cab with 2 Celestion Vintage 30's? I want to set up my cab to use with the GFI U-12 I just ordered but feel the Celestions lack something. Any thoughts? I'll be using it with a Peavey Classic 100 tube head.

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 6 Dec 2002 11:57 am

If what the Celestions 'lack' is low end, then the Tone Tubbies would certainly help. They have the richest bass I've ever heard from a low-wattage 12" speaker.

Del Rangel · Post by **Del Rangel** » 6 Dec 2002 1:47 pm

Yep, thats what they lack and you and James Q say the Tubbies are heavey on the fat end. Kinda pricey but I may have to check them out after the first of the year. Thanks.

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 6 Dec 2002 4:11 pm

Hey b0b, are you going to sell the EVs now that you are using tone tubbies? Dave Zirbel