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Post subject: Re: Tube Or Not Tube...That Is The Question
Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2013 12:33 pm
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As mentioned, many here own both... so do I.

An SS Orange Crush and Fender Princeton Chorus and a Tube Bugera V5 and Peavey Delta Blues.

All pretty good amps... but my favs are the 2 tube amps. The Clean on these is much better than either of the SS ones.

Not better, just different, which is where your individual taste comes in.

On the practical side, if you're a 'features' guy, you'll find more in an SS amp and generally get more amp for your money.

SS amps are generally lighter in weight, albeit slightly, than tube amps.

While both can be rugged, I suspect the SS slightly edges out the Tube amp here.

However, having said that, the Bench Labor to repair a SS amp will generally be much higher, while parts (esp. transformers) will be more expensive on the Tube side (but less Labor).

Generally, longterm, Tube amps appreciate in value more than a SS amp so that can also be a consideration.

But, nothing has to last forever either. If you go one way and later decide it was the wrong move, sell it and try again.

cheers!

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Post subject: Re: Tube Or Not Tube...That Is The Question
Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2013 6:45 pm
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One thing to consider is that tube amps must be cranked up on order to get its true tone. Not ideal for practicing at home or if you run into one of those venues where the sound guy wants you lower than what your amp's tone.

My solid state Marshall is pretty damn loud and has a cool tone. :)

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Post subject: Re: Tube Or Not Tube...That Is The Question
Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2013 7:11 pm
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1neeto wrote:
One thing to consider is that tube amps must be cranked up on order to get its true tone. Not ideal for practicing at home or if you run into one of those venues where the sound guy wants you lower than what your amp's tone.

My solid state Marshall is pretty damn loud and has a cool tone. :)

That's why, on the eighth day, we were given overdrive pedals... :P

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Post subject: Re: Tube Or Not Tube...That Is The Question
Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2013 7:25 pm
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I've only owned 3 tube amps. a Magnavox Ampeg SVT, a Peavey Classic 20, and a Peavey Bass hybrib(tube preamp). What stands out about them is the highs having so much more character.


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Post subject: Re: Tube Or Not Tube...That Is The Question
Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2013 8:55 pm
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Hello CPL,any man who is a fan of Hunter S. Thompson is welcome here as far as I'm concerned.There are some decent solid state amps being made these days that sound .and perform very much like a tube amp.A lot of the more recent Marshall solid state amps have a tone that approaches that of their tube amps plus the Fender Frontline series are also really decent solid state amps.I have a solid state Vox Pathfinder 15R that besides having very tubelike performance,has great tremolo and reverb circuits and it only cost about $130.

Have you considered getting a hybrid?The new Fender Mustang series of amps are loaded with really useful features that make them very versatile and the beauty of it is they start at around $100 for a pretty decent little starter model.The Vox Valvetronix or VT series have an 12AX7 tube in the power amp section that gives them an incredibly realistic tube tone and they also have a plethora of amp and effects models that are very faithful to the originals that they are patterned after,the Vox stablemate Marshall hybrid Valvestate series are also similarly outfitted like the Vox amps but of course with a more Marshall like tone when that model is chosen.All of these amps are surprisingly good buys such as the Vox VT-20 which retails for around $175-has 33 amp models and over 20 effects including a surprisingly good reverb/echo/delay section and some fabulous modulation effects such as Leslie,Univibe,flanger,phaser etc.

That's a few possibilities for you to consider over the next while-happy hunting.

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Post subject: Re: Tube Or Not Tube...That Is The Question
Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2013 9:37 pm
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After course the next questions after "should I get a solid state or tube amp" is "how big of an amp should I get".

I suggest you cover all bases from 5 watts to 40+ watts. Never can tell when you might need to knock down a few walls the day after not disturbing the neighbors. :lol: :lol: :lol:

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Post subject: Re: Tube Or Not Tube...That Is The Question
Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2013 10:25 pm
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Having only recently moved to playing guitar as often as my bass (and have a humble funding to play with), I have recently discover the magical world of tubes. Tubes are sonic alchemy. I have nothing against SS, at all. But, with a decent guitar and strings, just hearing a chord decay into nothing as the harmonics play, is something I never tire listening to. Some speak about a certain saturation/volume to really appreciate tubes. Just turning the amp on, at any audible volume, works for me.

Comparing either price or ability to take abuse, does not enter into the conversation of why I own tube amps. By an amp that meets your needs. Buy a tube amp to experience the "magic of the bottles". These bottles have different sonic/aural flavors. Getting to know these flavors is like getting to know spices. We all like things a little different. Buy a few kinds and experiment. Tubes are a lifestyle and all lifestyles will need to be funded. Tubes are also a unique sub-culture allowing for allowing for something all to rare these days.........something worth talking about.

Get the amp that works for what you intend to do with it. When I moved back to including guitar in my like I thought the Mustang l would be all I would need. Turned out to be a gateway drug :shock: . I do not regret buying the Musty. It is tiney, sounds huge and wonderful in headphones and records well. I can wail anytime of the day. It is my bedroom/computer amp.

As a bass player, thought to share some thoughts. If it hadn;t sold out I was going to buy the Bassman TV 15. Tube preamp and 350 watts of class D power. That is a sweet combination for an old school finger bass player like myself who wishes he might one day need more amp than that. For now I have the Bronco 40, mostly use the 59 Bassman setting and love the sound I get from it.

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Post subject: Re: Tube Or Not Tube...That Is The Question
Posted: Sat Jun 15, 2013 2:46 am
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Wow, I didn't expect such a response! Well, I was kind of rushed when I first wrote this post, so hopefully I didn't come across as too incoherent in my question. I am in a professional music situation with my fiance that is electronic-rock (I really don't know what else to call it) based kind of thing and not a band in the traditional sense, as it is right now. It's just the two of us and a backing sequencer. Unfortunately, we've had terrible luck in finding a guitar player for live shows, so it looks like I might have to fill in on guitar on some songs, since she really wants to have a live guitar on at least some stuff if we can't find anyone to play full time. Ideally, I'd rather stick to just playing bass live, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do.

Anyway, I have been using a tube Fender amp, which is a Super Champ from the early 80's. It was one that came with the 150 watt speaker in it, and for being 18 watts, the little thing cranks! I love the sound of it and I don't think you can get a bad tone out of it, so I know what you mean about tubes. The problem is I don't own it, even though I've been borrowing it indefinitely (it's belongs to a relative who doesn't need it,) I'm hesitant to use it in a live situation. There is always a chance I'll have to return it, too. This is why I'm looking for another option, just in case.

To be honest, if I had the funds I'd buy something like a Twin Reverb, but that costs at least three times what I paid for my bass amp, so that's out of the question right now. I guess what I was really debating is should I go for something I know sounds good, but that I may barely even use and will cost more money, or pick up something cheaper, but reliable (hopefully) and I won't feel guilty for not using it so much. But I might not be as thrilled with the sound as much as the other.

I will say, even though I play bass as a main instrument, I do like certain guitar tones. I don't want to just plug into anything and it might sound like crap. That will bother me as much as if my bass amp did. This is something to consider, as well. I've also made the mistake of buying something on impulse because it seemed like a good deal and wind up hating it and getting screwed when trying to get rid of it. You will always lose your $@! on it. It's definitely a lot to consider and there seems to be a lot of choices, as well.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll definitely have to do some research.

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Post subject: Re: Tube Or Not Tube...That Is The Question
Posted: Sat Jun 15, 2013 3:17 am
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Why not simply tender a sincere offer for that Super Champ?

They're great little amps with adequate power for many of today's indoor venues. Mic them up for larger gigs or outdoor use and they remain competitive.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Tube Or Not Tube...That Is The Question
Posted: Sat Jun 15, 2013 6:02 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
Why not simply tender a sincere offer for that Super Champ?
They're great little amps with adequate power for many of today's indoor venues. Mic them up for larger gigs or outdoor use and they remain competitive.
Arjay

+1
Those Super Champs were killer amps...

By the way (and this is just an opinion), the dynamic response/player-to-instrument interaction between you and your amp will be totally different if you were to move to a Twin Reverb. You might try a number of amps before setting your mind (and wallet) on something that you might not be happy with.

Case in point: the Super Champ you're using has a completely different design (electronically) and construction (size) than a Twin Reverb. It's not just a "bigger" amp.

Unless you're playing huge venues, you won't be able to crank the Twin into saturation (which you're probably doing with the SC).

There are thousands of great-sounding, reliable small amps out there, at all price points. If the 18W SC has been kicking sonic booty, going into a big, super-clean (sound-wise) TR might be a bad idea.

Knowing what you've been using (and seem to be satisfied with), and if you can't/won't be able to buy the Super Champ from your relative, tell us this:
What is your budget?
Knowing this can help us make suggestions for you.

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Post subject: Re: Tube Or Not Tube...That Is The Question
Posted: Sat Jun 15, 2013 10:20 am
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Depends.

If you want to be maintenance free (pretty much) then go SS. Peavey's 80s SS amps are probs the best ones ever made. I'd probably trust my Envoy 110 over just about any amp out there, but that's just me.

I'd go tube, but I sleep with my windows open during winter, and I just don't feel like dealing with that right now.

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Post subject: Re: Tube Or Not Tube...That Is The Question
Posted: Sat Jun 15, 2013 10:29 am
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Buxom wrote:
If you want to be maintenance free (pretty much) then go SS.


And when it breaks down, you can just throw it away because no one repairs them, not even Fender. :lol: :lol: :lol:

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Post subject: Re: Tube Or Not Tube...That Is The Question
Posted: Sat Jun 15, 2013 10:31 am
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bluesky636 wrote:
And when it breaks down, you can just throw it away because no one repairs them, not even Fender. :lol: :lol: :lol:


The "dirty little secret" revealed!

:mrgreen:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Tube Or Not Tube...That Is The Question
Posted: Sat Jun 15, 2013 11:19 am
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bluesky636 wrote:
Buxom wrote:
If you want to be maintenance free (pretty much) then go SS.


And when it breaks down, you can just throw it away because no one repairs them, not even Fender. :lol: :lol: :lol:


Or get one that doesn't break down.

1986 Envoy 110 is god tier.

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Post subject: Re: Tube Or Not Tube...That Is The Question
Posted: Sat Jun 15, 2013 1:05 pm
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bluesky636 wrote:
Buxom wrote:
If you want to be maintenance free (pretty much) then go SS.


And when it breaks down, you can just throw it away because no one repairs them, not even Fender. :lol: :lol: :lol:


That's pretty much what I eluded to in my post.

There are people who will repair SS amps, but the KILLER is the Labor involved - the various hardware - transistors, caps etc. otoh are relatively cheap. The repair cost can easily exceed what it'd cost to just buy a new one.

And, just rug static can cause them to fail if you aren't grounded before touching the git strings.


cheers!

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