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Post subject: tube vs. solid state
Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 7:34 pm
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i know i'm opening a can of worms here, but here goes...

i'm looking to get a new amp soon. my first amp was a princeton that my folks bought me in 62. i just sold it a few years ago, and had never had to change a tube in it. the new owner loved it. i used that amp till about '67, when i got a higher volume solid state amp for gigging, and have used s.s. to this day.

recently i auditioned a few different tube amps from peavey, fender, and egnater, and just love the warm sound. looks like i may be a tube amp guy again.

my question is simple-what do i have to look forward to? by that i mean maintenance wise. how often do you replace tubes-do you have to re-bias- is it easy/expensive to do/

i know there are some nice newer s.s. amps out there. the tech 21 trademark comes to mind. i just want something dependable that i don't have to fiddle with a lot.

alright-let's hear it!


Last edited by phreddybee on Wed Nov 16, 2011 8:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: tube vs. solid state
Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 8:30 pm
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Post subject: Re: tube vs. solid state
Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 8:40 pm
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Good premium tubes -- even new-production types from JJ, EH, SovTek, etc -- should deliver a minimum of five years' reliable and dependable service. Vintage NOS glass (especially the US mil-spec stuff) will last twice to three times as long if you care for them and use the amp's standby switch to provide the proper warm-up and cool-down protocols. Power tube biasing should be performed immediately after a re-tube, with periodic annual checks to ensure the setting has not drifted (re-adjust as necessary). Competence with a DVM and common hand tools plus some basic math skills are really all that's required -- you don't need a BSEE or anything. A professional amp tech will charge a minimum of $75 to perform this service if working with HV circuits is not your cup of tea.

HTH

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: tube vs. solid state
Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 12:06 am
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scotty, maximum power to shields...

consider a good quality ss amp like peavy, roland jc-120, cyber twin (used) and side-by-side with a good quality tube amp (usual fender line up). play, listen, figure out what sounds best for you. test many times and take notes. think. are you the adventurous type and willing to deep dive into an amp like the CT? or are you more of a specific tones player? once you figure out what sounds that are right for you, think about secondary things.

secondary things: is it going to be ss or tube? tubes are more delicate, always have been. does this bug you? ss amps last a real long time, forever if you don't abuse, but the longer they last, the less likely you'll find spare parts should you them (for repair). does repairability spook you?

or you can do what i did: i chose the ct because it provides a multitude of colors, tones, and characters. i also have a jc-120 and a silver face twin (all tube). i love their tones, all ends covered.

good luck,
johnny.


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Post subject: Re: tube vs. solid state
Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 2:45 am
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Hi I like the fat sound that tubes give me. its hard to find a SS amp that gives up that fat clean sound.. IMO.


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Post subject: Re: tube vs. solid state
Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 11:06 am
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I used to play solid state. My first tube amp was an older '70s Peavey Classic 2X12. Granted, it was like a hybrid, but still enough for me to get a taste of what was to come. The closest that I came to a tube sound with SS was with a Fender M-80 Pro half stack, IMO. Then it was on to a HRDeville 4X10. Kept it 4 years, it was maintenance free for that time. Traded it for a Peavey Windsor half stack, more rock oriented, but still a good quality tube amp for the budget minded, which I still have. Also have a, newly purchased, BDRI that I absolutely love. Had a microphonic tube, but other than that, I love it. After playing tube amps for the past 5 years, I really can't stand to here a SS amp anymore. As long as you handle a tube amp with some care, it will be no more maintenance than a SS.

Besides the maintenance side of this, you're basically only gonna get our opinions. Go to local store and try out every amp that catches your interest. Only your ear can hear what you like.

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Post subject: Re: tube vs. solid state
Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 10:04 am
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I have ss, tube, hybrid and modeling amps. Every single one was bought for a specific purpose. My GDEC 3 Thirty is a fantastic amp which I am able to change to suit my needs. My tube amps BF DRRI is my favorite and mp little Champ 600 is one of my main recording amps. Tubes can be found from some pretty good places. I like Cpt Bobs on ebay. He has beautiful 1950's RCA tubes which are so sweet!
ABS :D


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Post subject: Re: tube vs. solid state
Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 4:18 pm
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Solid State had come a long, long way about 5 to 10 years ago. All the companies were really on the right track producing S/S amps that sounded more and more like tube amps every year. Then everybody got on the DSP bandwagon and it all went for 5h!t. Seriously. If money is scarce, I'd suggest looking for an older DynaTouch Fender S/S amp. I think they had a 60 watt 1x12 version. The 90 watt 1x12 was really good as well but was pretty loud. Maybe too loud.

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Post subject: Re: tube vs. solid state
Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 5:27 pm
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BMW-KTM wrote:
If money is scarce, I'd suggest looking for an older DynaTouch Fender S/S amp. I think they had a 60 watt 1x12 version. The 90 watt 1x12 was really good as well but was pretty loud. Maybe too loud.


+1

Heck, even the Champ 30 was a pretty potent chingalero!

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: tube vs. solid state
Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 5:32 pm
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You wanna hear a solid state amp that sounds like a tube amp? Give these a listen. I've met the builder a couple of times. His amps are fantastic. They are not cheap, though.

http://www.pritchardamps.com/

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Post subject: Re: tube vs. solid state
Posted: Sun Nov 20, 2011 10:53 am
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I understand what you are saying with DSp, but to be honest the GDEC series are really great because of how you can change up the effects and even the amp characteristics in general. A friend of mine who is a serious tube affecianado could not believe how I was able to make my GDEC 3 Thirty sound like a 65 Twin reverb. He even brought his 65 over and went side by side with it. The problem is that some of the DSP amps are not that good and everyone tends to prepetuate the net myths that all are bad.
ABS :D


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Post subject: Re: tube vs. solid state
Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 9:32 am
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I was in the same boat. I had solid state amps when i started to play, simply because they where cheaper. Though my first amp was a vintage roland spirit 50 that was stolen, it sounded great with built in overdrive it sounded very nice, then it was stolen and i had to replace it. My mistake was looking at volume capabilities and over looking tone. I ended up with the fender dsp fm212, this amp in my honest opinion was horrible. It was loud but it could not dial tone to save its life! It didnt even hold its value well. I got it new for 300 more or less and it sold for 175 only after a few months! I then played on my brothers mesa i was amazed that the tone was great no dialing, no fiddling with settings just simply plugging in and playing it sounded 100 times better than my fm212. I then picked up a bugera vintage 5 a 5 watt tube amp that really sounded great and was loud! So loud that that it kept up in a 3 piece band (when the drummer was easy on the skins).

I was told that when you buy matchinrg tube sets no re-biasing was nessesary, but i could be wrong, i purchased a Used fender hrd and it had the tubes replaced and all this was done by an amp tech. He sold me a quad set of tubes and said that they were inter changeable because they were all matched. Just what i was told. I guess i will cross that bridge when i get there.

Well i know i rambled a bit but i guess what i was trying to say dont over look tone to buy a high wattage amp. I play in a 4 piece band and my drummer is a heavy hitter. My 40 watt tube amp dial never passes 3! And its still pretty loud. The other guitarist has a 15 watt tube amp and his is set to about 5-6. And they are plenty loud with enough power to spare.


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Post subject: Re: tube vs. solid state
Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 9:54 am
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Matched sets of output tubes have nothing to do with setting the correct idle bias. Any "tech" who told you that is no tech at all.

That's akin to a trauma surgeon obsessed with setting a compound fracture of the tibia as his patient exsanguinates due to internal hemmorhaging after a motor vehicle accident.

Find somebody who knows WTF they are doing.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: tube vs. solid state
Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 10:08 am
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Thats why im crossing that bridge when i get there. I more than likely taking it in to an amp person to have this done. Not that i cant learn to do it. I just dont like working with electricity. Ive had too many close calls. It may have crossed my mind that this amp tech in question was blowing smoke in order to sell a quad set. But i will look for a new guy when the time comes. As of now every thing is good.


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Post subject: Re: tube vs. solid state
Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 2:07 pm
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You arrived at that "bridge" the moment you acquired an amp (whether tube, transistor, or hybrid).

Find that good tech now......before a crisis dictates your options.

Arjay

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