i have never had a all tube amp before , i see all these tube amps that are smaller wattage and people say they are very loud , i guess my question is are the volume levels on a tube amp equal to that of a solid state amp or are they louder ? thanks in advance

Usually a tube amp is way louder than a solid state amp. Two 30W amps one tube and one SS: the tube will be much much louder in my experience.

_________________
Luck won't do it and ignorance can't

George Van Eps.

Yes. My Blackheart 5w (all tube) Sound as loud as my Cube 40xl (40w ss)

_________________
A-man

Don't get a tube amp. Once you do, you'll never go back.

I'm dreaming of a Twin Reverb, but in the mean time I have a modded Peavey Valveking 112. I can play it at acoustic guitar levels with no problem.

I'll never go back to solid state.

_________________
Gary

what is the all tube amp you would get if money were no object?

After seeing and hearing the clip below, in the link, and after reading all Ken Fischer's great amp columns and tech information i'd have to say one of Ken's "Trainwreck's"

A true artisan and craftsman Ken was and guys like him are few and far between.

Listen to this amp and tell me you've heard any better.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2_12Ler9B8

_________________
Luck won't do it and ignorance can't

George Van Eps.

Definitively a sweet sounding 'wreck'- and, I suppose ,upper end prices

_________________
A-man

I'm not sure about the prices asgeirman but i suspect that yes they'd be very expensive. Everything handmade and all the best of quality. You're talking premium cream of the crop amplification there from one of the best amp builders ever.

I was kinda blown away when i heard that clip and that's on a stupid little laptop speaker through YT! what would it sound like there in person?

_________________
Luck won't do it and ignorance can't

George Van Eps.

That was a good question majjackdog, I was wondering too how they compare.



I'm easy to please, all I want is a Fender Hot Rod Deville

_________________
Please subscribe to my Channel!
https://www.youtube.com/user/b7567

Contrary to what people will tell you, a tube is NOT necessarily louder than a solid state amp. it depends on the conditions under which the two amps are measured. A tube amp producing 40 watts at 5% THD through a speaker with a sensitivity of 100 dB SPL at 1 meter will be no louder than a solid state amp producing 40 watts at 5% THD through a speaker with a sensitivity of 100 dB SPL at 1 meter. Any comparison between two amps MUST be made under equal conditions.

The reason why that same tube amp MIGHT sound louder than that same solid state amp has to do with how the two amps reach hard clipping. That same solid state amp if pushed hard enough will hard clip before the tube amp does and the distortion created by the solid state amp will sound harsher than the tube amp and more compressed. The tube amp on the other hand will transition to clipping more smoothly and with less compression, so it will continue to produce usable power and therefore higher volume when the solid state amp has given up the ghost. It is possible, hoever, to design a solid state amp that will emulate the distortion and compression characteristics of a tube amp and be just a loud as a tube amp up to clipping. Such amps exist, though they tend to be expensive.

_________________
Bill

You do know that Ken Fischer is dead, his amps are very rare and approaching Dumble prices, don't you?

_________________
Bill

You're right. I jumped to conclusions, there. About my 5w tube amp , it's got a 12 '' speaker , my 40SS 10''. Even that could make a difference. And the sensitivity of the speakers ? No clue
So the conditions are far from equal . But as you say , the distortion from a tube amp does not feel so 'unpleasant' as most SS's does, then you do turn it up louder , because we (I ) like this sound -even prefer it!

_________________
A-man

Exactly.

_________________
Bill

Money no object?
That's easy.
Dumble Overdrive Special

_________________

Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

Yes i'm aware of that as, if you had paid diligent attention to my use of the past tense in my post (excerpt below) you would have noticed. Was indicates past tense.

_________________
Luck won't do it and ignorance can't

George Van Eps.