It is currently Tue Mar 17, 2020 2:33 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic This topic is locked, you cannot edit posts or make further replies.  [ 314 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ... 21  Next
Go to page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ... 21  Next
Author Message
Post subject: tube amps: time to put them to pasture?
Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 1:22 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Fri Sep 19, 2008 1:53 pm
Posts: 483
Location: usa
It never ceases to amaze me how many posts are dedicated to perpetuating various urban legends that tube amps are the holy grail of tone and at same time the number of posts dedicated to problems and the number of home-brew remedies, NOS-this-and-that, "rectifier", not tp mention the expense and pre-occupation with such in lieu of something useful. I suppose everyone needs a pet of one sort or another, maybe tube amps fulfill such needs. Otherwise I say out to pasture.

any supporting or differing opinions?

ciao,
the tube amp nemesis,
johnny.


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 1:29 pm
Offline
Roadie
Roadie

Joined: Sat Mar 21, 2009 8:02 am
Posts: 293
even horses get ridden when put out to pasture...we're just NOStalgic ,we don't mean no harm.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 1:30 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Thu Jun 28, 2007 12:18 pm
Posts: 426
Location: Seattle, WA
well, when I finally here something besides a tube amp that can get the sound I love, then I'm all for it. Sorry, but the digital stuff has a ways to go yet, and yes I keep up on what is happening. The AxeFX is probably the best system out there right now, but sometimes I just want to plug in and go, and not sit and twiddle knobs all day.

_________________
SG.
"Walls" video from Zero in the Sun by Villains of Yesterday


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 1:31 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2008 10:08 am
Posts: 9034
Location: Louisiana
Out to pasture? Never happen! :wink:


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 1:39 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2009 3:17 pm
Posts: 1986
I smell a troll. :lol:


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 1:49 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sat Dec 13, 2008 11:49 am
Posts: 1153
Location: South Bay, CA
If you don't feed the troll, they'll go away. 8)

_________________
Image
'59? Bogen Challenger CHA-33, '65 Bandmaster, '65 Tremolux, 65 Showman;
'74 SF Princeton; '77 SF Princeton Reverb; Dr. Z Mini Z

Our band: http://www.facebook.com/thetoysband


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 2:24 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Thu Sep 03, 2009 11:54 am
Posts: 500
Location: My hut in the mystic ruins swamp
Actually, he's right. Look at some of line 6's vetta II and flextones, they are really good sounding!

However solid state is not quite there yet. They're getting closer and closer every year.

The other day i compared a real tube powered tape delay with a digital one and it was very very hard to tell the difference, infact the digital tape echo didnt have the hiss and rattle the real one did.

I hope they get it cracked soon, tube amps can be a pain.

_________________
"Oh, it's a windy and sunny day
And I can hear the faint sound of distant waves
The past weeks have been going by so fast
It's all the same, the bright sky and shining sun
I have a feeling it's gonna be a fun day"


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 2:33 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Fri Feb 29, 2008 9:49 pm
Posts: 3233
Location: Memphis
Johnny's not a troll.. He has a valid point, and it's HIS point. I think this whole tone debate is just well... Dumb. To each his own. I happen to be one of the folks that loves the Hot Rod Amps and the Tone I get from them. I also have a Frontman, and a Gdec, and I like the sound from them as well. Lets face it folks, its always been just opinions anyway. As Supro said "Thats my opinion, and it's worth what you paid for it" 8)

_________________
Hey, Boy Blue is back!


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 2:46 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Fri Sep 14, 2007 4:37 pm
Posts: 4750
Location: My Piece Of Red Dirt
You'll have to pry my valves from my cold dead fingers....... :lol: Mike

_________________
The blues ain't nothin but a good man feelin bad.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 4:17 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Fri Sep 19, 2008 1:53 pm
Posts: 483
Location: usa
Not a troll, just johnny. Here's where I'm coming from:

I am hoping to get a ground swell of support to get great-sounding (this is the number one thing), affordable, digital, solid state amps into our hands. I know the technology is available, so I am hoping to see it in affordable & great-sounding amps.

Just remember, when you ask for tube amps, you'll get them, usually at a loss to everything else. And you'll get all the cost, problems, and limitations associated with them. I say be demanding. Ask for the very best in a modern, reliable, expandable, digital, and afforadable amp that you can grow with. And yes, it must sound great - no compromises. Just take note: our world has gone irreversably digital, also ask for all the proper PC & MAC support tools you need to grow & expand your talent.

That's what I'm talking about guys & gals. I want you all to share the passion and be demanding. You deserve the best for your hard earned.

ciao,
johnny.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 5:41 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:19 pm
Posts: 8827
Two very different animals by design. I just prefer tubes over solid state. It's just a personal preference. If you like solid state and digital processing, by all means use it. Jazzers have been using solid state amps for decades. Solid stat ampse and digital effects just leave me cold.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 6:47 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 1:27 pm
Posts: 1151
Location: In.
I thought this was a no Troll zone.. :shock: :roll: :!:

_________________
"My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives." Blazing Saddles...


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 7:09 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sat Dec 13, 2008 11:49 am
Posts: 1153
Location: South Bay, CA
johnny stecchino wrote:

Just remember, when you ask for tube amps, you'll get them, usually at a loss to everything else. And you'll get all the cost, problems, and limitations associated with them. I say be demanding. Ask for the very best in a modern, reliable, expandable, digital, and afforadable amp that you can grow with. And yes, it must sound great - no compromises. Just take note: our world has gone irreversably digital, also ask for all the proper PC & MAC support tools you need to grow & expand your talent.


Similar argument could be made for older muscle cars - they handle horribly, guzzle gas, and don't have creature comforts, but they have a 1000x more soul than their modern counterparts. I think many people here would rather have a 65 vette in great shape than a new Vette, yet there may be people who like only the new one. It's personal preference. It's also why i drive a 67 Pontiac convertible instead of something from this decade.

Costs - I have a '65 Bandmaster that I bought used, had the electrics all redone, new tubes, speaker and a combo cabinet, and it cost less all in than a new Hot Rod Deluxe. The older amps are actually easier and cheaper to work on because of the way they were built - with easily accessible and replaceable discrete component parts. Amp modeler break? Too bad. Send it back to the manufacturer who will usually toss it and send a new one. Or, you shell out for a new PC board, which may or may not be the entire amp...

For purists who want to spend the time, effort and money for great tone, tubes will stay and there's plenty of options of people building amazing tube amps that sound great or buying old ones and using them. Amp modeling is getting better - I use Amplitube and Pro Tools Eleven, but find that they're great for nailing that Mesa Rectifier sound at stupid gain levels that on headphones won't get you evicted. However, for clean Fender chime, they're not there yet. It's also much easier to stick a 57 in front of a Princeton, Deluxe or any other real amp and get the real deal recorded as fast. But, you lose the flexibility of changing the sound later on (which is why I record a mic'd amp track and a DI track at the same time at home).

_________________
Image
'59? Bogen Challenger CHA-33, '65 Bandmaster, '65 Tremolux, 65 Showman;
'74 SF Princeton; '77 SF Princeton Reverb; Dr. Z Mini Z

Our band: http://www.facebook.com/thetoysband


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 7:45 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun May 25, 2008 6:02 pm
Posts: 45
The highs mids and lows are much more pronounced and controlable in a average tube amp. IMHO even the best solid states produce a flat even dynamic that seems to robs a player of that "over the top" nuiance.
Crank a blues JR and add a little gain with a distortion box. I promise you won't get that same effect outta of a solid state at any price. Theres just something about 4 or 5 tubes being pushed too hard that you can't get in digital processor.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 8:01 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jun 28, 2009 6:05 pm
Posts: 684
Location: Canada
Ok, here's my take:

I'm 30 years old. I just became interested in tube amps within the past few years. I MUCH prefer my Super Reverb reissue over the new Line6 and similar modeling amps. Why?
1) Simplicity.
2) Sound.

I had an opportunity this weekend to really see an all digital amp in action. It was a brand new Line6 head/cab setup with the floor switchboard all hooked up with an ethernet cable. Here's what I saw:
-The guitarist had to keep tweaking and tweaking all night long. He'd change to another patch and then the level would be out of whack from what he was previously playing.
-I had a go on it and it was ridiculously complicated. Seriously, I was like "where is the basic OD on this thing?" Every switch seemed like it was either clean or squeal-y crunch.

I guess it depends what you want your amp to do. I'm a minimalist when it comes to my amp. I don't want to have to fiddle with it to get a decent tone. Frankly, this is why I really want a Champ - one knob.

Digital has some definite uses. Modulation effects are one example. Digital delays are also excellent. They can even simulate the sound of old analogue delays now.

_________________
The ultimate Rolling Stones experience!
https://www.facebook.com/TheMainStreetExiles


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic This topic is locked, you cannot edit posts or make further replies.  [ 314 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ... 21  Next
Go to page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ... 21  Next

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: