jaygNY Posted June 27, 2004 Share Posted June 27, 2004 I do not want to start a religious war here, but I pose the question anyway ... Should I go tube or solid state for my new amp? I guess the answer depends entirely on what type of music one plays. Personally, I love playing with lots of effects (distortion/flanger/etc...), so the question I have is "Is spending the extra $$ on a tube amp worth it"? I am not happy with my small Peavey practice amp because it buzzes if I turn it up much past the 1/2 way mark. I like to play at a reasonable volume, so getting a big Marshall stack doesn't make much sense(although they sound great!). I tend to hold onto my equiptment forever, so spending a little more doesn't bother me... Any suggestions? PS: Anyone here have the 5150 combo amp? THe reviews on it seem very positive, but the local stores don't keep 'em in stock .. cheap, fast, good. Choose 2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Red 67 Posted June 27, 2004 Share Posted June 27, 2004 I bought a pro junior from fender. I pluged into it and strated to play. I then said "Oh, God that's how they do that!". The line 6 is realy good too. speaking of 5150 eddie swore by the tubes. Then again he also melted more old marshalls then any other guitarist in history by using a lower voltage then 120. Big Red's Ride Blog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueZet Posted June 27, 2004 Share Posted June 27, 2004 whatever sounds best to you, just get the best you can afford... for me it's tube, but, hey, BB king uses SS, so it guess it ain't THAT bad, right - due to recent cutbacks, the light at the end of the tunnel has been SWITCHED OFF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarzan Posted June 27, 2004 Share Posted June 27, 2004 peavey is soon bringing out a "small" 5150. i think its a 40 watt with a 2x12 cab. a mini stack. though i wouldn't call 40 tube watts into 2 - 12 inch speakers "mini". http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=193274 rock it, i will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
picker Posted June 27, 2004 Share Posted June 27, 2004 Jerry Donahue of the Hellecasters uses a solid state preamp in the house board and monitors and that's all he uses. He said tubes didn't deliver the information as fast as he wanted to hear it, and solid state did. Go figure. I love tubes when they are in my Boogie. But I was really knocked out with the Roland Minicube, which not only solid state, but (GASP!) digital. The real question is "what (or WHO) do you want to sound like?" That's the best place to start. After that, it's all about application and taste. Frankly, figuring out what I wanted my sound to be like and what equipment it would take to make that happen has been as much fun for me as playing. I love dinking around with equipment, new, old, or somewhere between. If I could find a job doing that, I would be at it overtime, I can tell you. Always remember that you are unique. Just like everyone else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarzan Posted June 27, 2004 Share Posted June 27, 2004 picker, is your minicube the real small one with that you can put a strap on? http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=193274 rock it, i will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Red 67 Posted June 27, 2004 Share Posted June 27, 2004 With the way the Hellacaster's sound he's right. I have a 15R orange in the living room. It's faster than tubes. The sound is closer than the the sound of the fender. It lacks the tubes ablity to grind especially with the wah. Big Red's Ride Blog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DIAMOND DUST Posted June 28, 2004 Share Posted June 28, 2004 There's something about the sound of 'hot glass' than is too sweet for words. I gotta have tubes. There is no way around it. http://b-cordova.dmusic.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KHAN Posted June 28, 2004 Share Posted June 28, 2004 Just my opinion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . http://www.eurotubes.com/jja.GIF http://www.eurotubes.com/jja.GIF http://www.eurotubes.com/jja.GIF http://www.eurotubes.com/jja.GIF http://www.eurotubes.com/jja.GIF http://www.eurotubes.com/jja.GIF http://www.eurotubes.com/jja.GIF http://www.eurotubes.com/jja.GIF So Many Drummers. So Little Time... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriel E. Posted June 28, 2004 Share Posted June 28, 2004 Totally depends on what kind of sound you're looking for. Do you want a clean sound only? If so, a ss amp will do just fine. There's a reason all those jazz guys use little Polytone amps with their $8K archtops. Of course you could also get a Fender Twin Reverb which is a fantastic clean-sounding tube amp that will give you a hernia. If you want a really high gain, full-shred sound, you can also get away with ss/digital although it will lack some of the dynamics that tubes yeild. Dimebag Darrel has always used ss Randall amps and his sound is killer. If you want a mildly-heavily overdriven sound, a tube amp is the way to go. SS amps are getting better but they still suck for this IMHO. Digital amps can get the sound but the dynamics of your picking don't translate as well. I've been playing tube amps forever and I have yet to try a ss/digital amp that can match the dynamics of a tube amp. "You never can vouch for your own consciousness." - Norman Mailer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
picker Posted June 28, 2004 Share Posted June 28, 2004 Originally posted by Guitarzan: picker, is your minicube the real small one with that you can put a strap on?Yep, and it can run on batteries too. Unfortunately, financial embarassment keeps me from purchasing one at this time. Always remember that you are unique. Just like everyone else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarzan Posted June 28, 2004 Share Posted June 28, 2004 i seen one of those and was curious to its sound. i think it would be great for jammin in my buddies kitchen, there is a line out for recording as well isn't there? http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=193274 rock it, i will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the one ups Posted June 28, 2004 Share Posted June 28, 2004 Well, if you don't need excessive power, the Vox Pathfinder 15R is a great buy. It should be about $120, and is as close as (in my opinion) you can get to a "tube-like" tone without actually going tube. The Vox Valvetronix is also great. I'm a big fan of Vox, can you tell? http://www.soundclick.com/bands/3/aaronjunmusic.htm "Tell the truth and make it rhyme." - John Lennon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
picker Posted June 28, 2004 Share Posted June 28, 2004 Originally posted by Guitarzan: i seen one of those and was curious to its sound. i think it would be great for jammin in my buddies kitchen, there is a line out for recording as well isn't there?I think the headphone amp doubles as a line oout, yes. Always remember that you are unique. Just like everyone else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bbach1 Posted June 28, 2004 Share Posted June 28, 2004 This is a real interesting thread. Most of us seem to agree. Tubes are the way to go. With that being said, most of us go home to our solid state stereos and solid state tv's and solid state surround sound systems. I used to own a small stereo shop many years ago. I pushed the tube amps and preamps but found the bulk of the populace just want it cheap, easy, loud, and too much base. bbach Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
picker Posted June 28, 2004 Share Posted June 28, 2004 Originally posted by the one ups: I'm a big fan of Vox, can you tell?I really like the Brian May Vox amp too. Quite a bit more limited than the Roland, but it has some nice sounds, and is versatile in it's own ways. Always remember that you are unique. Just like everyone else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennyf Posted June 28, 2004 Share Posted June 28, 2004 I play professionally, in a couple of bands/situations. In my primary band, we play blues, classic rock, and modern AOR rock. I also play in a couple other blues and classic rock gigs, a worship team, and attend jams where I'll play anything from country to fusion. I get lots of compliments and comments on my tone, from general audience members, other guitarists and other musicians. I'm not braggin', just stating the facts and qualifying my opinion. I only have two gigging amps. 90% of the time I use a Tech 21 Trademark 60 (solid state). The other 10% I use a Roland Blues Cube 30 (solid state). I used to use tube amps. I doubt if I'll ever have another, except maybe for nostalgia. FWIW, I think many guitarists would see more improvement in their tone if they put the energy, effort and anxiety they spend on hardware into improving their technique. band link: bluepearlband.com music, lessons, gig schedules at dennyf.com STURGEON'S LAW --98% of everything is bullshit. My Unitarian Jihad Name is: The Jackhammer of Love and Mercy. Get yours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarzan Posted June 28, 2004 Share Posted June 28, 2004 i have heard good things about the trademark 60. i would love to try one. for now i will live (happily) with my DG100. it has the ability to give some bitchin blues tone in the clean channel with the pregain low and the volume high. i can get some nice tones at various volumes. but don't get me wrong , i would love to have a nice simple tube amp. i think the Dg series of amps were the sleepers of the digimodeling amps. they are now discontinued. http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=193274 rock it, i will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperFreak Posted June 28, 2004 Share Posted June 28, 2004 Depends on your tastes and needs. Jazz, Metal, Blues, Folk...??? Working live, learning @ home, ...??? Take your axe and try some out, then decide what sounds good to you. Advice is handy, but your ears need to live with the decision...and the bill. Choose wisely, young jedi... How can we fight ignorance and apathy? Who knows! Who cares! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarzan Posted June 28, 2004 Share Posted June 28, 2004 "Jazz, Metal, Blues, Folk...??? Working live, learning @ home, ...???" YEP, DG100. http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=193274 rock it, i will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiger85 Posted June 28, 2004 Share Posted June 28, 2004 Fender Deluxe 90. Solid state 3 channel rocker. Played one in music store. A couple of folks were impressed that it was a solid state. Also had a Fender Princeton 65, smoking amp! I'm just a Fender guy! Crates are nice for the money, so are the Line 6 modeling amps. Hey give me an old Roland Jazz Chorus! ...touched down in the land of the Delta Blues.....in the middle of the pouring rain.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiger85 Posted June 28, 2004 Share Posted June 28, 2004 Yeah that Trademark 60 does sound cool. Have to check that out. ...touched down in the land of the Delta Blues.....in the middle of the pouring rain.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doc taz Posted June 28, 2004 Share Posted June 28, 2004 Originally posted by Dennyf: FWIW, I think many guitarists would see more improvement in their tone if they put the energy, effort and anxiety they spend on hardware into improving their technique.Amen! Though I'm diggin' the tones I'm getting from my Zoom GFX-5/ Fender Deluxe 85 combo, I'd still love to get a Marshall. Probably the one I mentioned in this thread will do. I've always wanted a Marshall of some sort, and from what I've read over the years, many of their solid state models are quite the amps. sevenstring.org profile my flickr page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiger85 Posted June 28, 2004 Share Posted June 28, 2004 I wouldn't pass up a good deal on a SS Marshall either! Solid State has been around long enough now to have improved greatly. Marshall, Fender, Peavey, Crate all have the goods now to improve their SS lines. Shoot, one night back when I had an LP Studio and a Peavey Backstage Transtube, I came close to nailing C. Santana's tone! Then I lost my settings and never quite regained that tone before I got rid of that amp. Ah well! Live and learn! ...touched down in the land of the Delta Blues.....in the middle of the pouring rain.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennyf Posted June 28, 2004 Share Posted June 28, 2004 Originally posted by Dr. Taz: Originally posted by Dennyf: FWIW, I think many guitarists would see more improvement in their tone if they put the energy, effort and anxiety they spend on hardware into improving their technique.I've always wanted a Marshall of some sort, and from what I've read over the years, many of their solid state models are quite the amps. There's a Valvestate single-12 combo that is the "house amp" at one of the jams I attend on occasion. Some guys get a really good sound with it! Some guys make it sound like a bumblebee in a coffee can. Like I said . . . band link: bluepearlband.com music, lessons, gig schedules at dennyf.com STURGEON'S LAW --98% of everything is bullshit. My Unitarian Jihad Name is: The Jackhammer of Love and Mercy. Get yours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shannon Posted June 28, 2004 Share Posted June 28, 2004 Pretty much boils down to the fact that you're gonna have to make every guitar salesguy in your town deaf, because you're gonna have to go for your take on the tone for this one. Most guitar gurus are gonna say tube... but there are some versatile good sounding ss amps out there. I have a Fender Pro Jr. I did some research ahead of time, asked around for some opinions and everyone here was very helpful, especially in showing me what to beware of. When I bought my guitar the salesguy wanted to give me some little ss crate amp for $50 and my friend was telling me to get it, plugged in sounded good, lots of knobs and gadgets. I couldn't afford much because I was already spending too much on the guitar so I thought about it... then I spotted a fender pro jr. plugged in....oh yeah,that's the one very simple though probably not what you're looking for exactly but the difference in tone and sound! can't explain it, to me the solid states I've heard sound like I'm listening to a tube amp through a closed door. But some people like em, so just go try some really listen don't think about it too much just listen, and don't let the salesguy talk to you either... just sit down, zone out and listen, you'll know which you like better. Also, don't be afraid to try some stuff that's way out of your price range, just for comparisons sake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shannon Posted June 28, 2004 Share Posted June 28, 2004 oh yeah and don't forget there are lots of pedals and effects you can buy seperatly, they don't all have to be right there on the amp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hound Dog Posted June 28, 2004 Share Posted June 28, 2004 What ever happened to Gallien Krueger? It seemed that for a while they were one of the few SS amps with respect. I think Alex Lifeson endorsed them. Now I don't see much of them. Yum, Yum! Eat em up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicalhair Posted June 28, 2004 Share Posted June 28, 2004 So the matter isn't simply tube vs solid state, but one of quality and the sound you want. Tubes do get some sweet sounds though. I get just about any sound I want out of my Rivera amps, but I'd probably be pretty happy with a Polytone or a Walter Woods for clean Jazz stuff. check out some comedy I've done: http://louhasspoken.tumblr.com/ My Unitarian Jihad Name: Brother Broadsword of Enlightened Compassion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shoes Posted June 28, 2004 Share Posted June 28, 2004 Okay... I've gotten bent about this before and I have no hesitation in stating: You can get anything a tube amp can provide with solid state. Done. Period. War's over. Guns melted down. Bibles burned. I've gone from Solid State to Blended State to Tubes and have found that it's a matter of practicality more than anything. Tubes don't like getting rolled in the van. Solid State 100watts isn't Tube 100watts keep that in mind if power is a factor. (Tube amps crank it out better than Solid State amps) A 65watt Tube amp is like 100watts Solid State.) Solid state amps come with an array of effects, modeling etc.. typically tube models don't. When you're older and settle in to a sound you typically move to a tube amp and turn chasing sounds into a pastime of collecting stomp boxes. (a guitar geeks geriatric endeavor... but you don't need to be old to enjoy this.. cause I'm not old) I wish I still had my old Bandit 65 to travel to impromptu jams. ... and I've come to the realization that this was likely of no assistance to you whatsoever. I still think guitars are like shoes, but louder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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