Blog: Tubes vs. Modeling
- Thread starter Evan Skopp
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vinta9e
New member
Re: Blog: Tubes vs. Modeling
I am not buying the "digital amp modeling sounds and feels great" part, either. It sure makes tracking an easy job, and "sounds great on youtube". But firsthand experience of the sound it produces is rather disappointing. It's incoherent and lacking in depth, punch, texture and detail. It doesn't have the "almost tangible" quality, unlike a good tube amp dialed in. Digital does not magnify nuances, it's too fuzzy and anemic to show all the action among the harmonics in clear picture because it's sensitivity and resolution are still limited in comparison. It's actually easier to play and set up but less rewarding. The notes don't explode out of the speaker cabinet nor do they punch through walls. Model generated sound blends into background noise after just a few reflections. The feel is detached and dead.
Usable? Sure. Sounds good? Depends what you're after. Comparable to a top shelf tube amp? Not even close.
That is a false statement. Otherwise fans and radiators right on top of transistor power amps wouldn't serve a purpose.
I am not buying the "digital amp modeling sounds and feels great" part, either. It sure makes tracking an easy job, and "sounds great on youtube". But firsthand experience of the sound it produces is rather disappointing. It's incoherent and lacking in depth, punch, texture and detail. It doesn't have the "almost tangible" quality, unlike a good tube amp dialed in. Digital does not magnify nuances, it's too fuzzy and anemic to show all the action among the harmonics in clear picture because it's sensitivity and resolution are still limited in comparison. It's actually easier to play and set up but less rewarding. The notes don't explode out of the speaker cabinet nor do they punch through walls. Model generated sound blends into background noise after just a few reflections. The feel is detached and dead.
Usable? Sure. Sounds good? Depends what you're after. Comparable to a top shelf tube amp? Not even close.
JeffB
Let it B
crusty philtrum
Vintageologist
Re: Blog: Tubes vs. Modeling
I remember back in the 1960s, my dad came home from work one night and said he'd tasted artifical chicken that day. I remember my tiny child brain thinking "Why would anybody want to eat artificial chicken when there are plenty of real chickens available ?"
So you can have a tube amp or a device that imitates them.
I'll take the real deal, thanks. (I'm so old, i still remember reality).
I remember back in the 1960s, my dad came home from work one night and said he'd tasted artifical chicken that day. I remember my tiny child brain thinking "Why would anybody want to eat artificial chicken when there are plenty of real chickens available ?"
So you can have a tube amp or a device that imitates them.
I'll take the real deal, thanks. (I'm so old, i still remember reality).
Johnny-DK
New member
Drunken Bowling
New member
Re: Blog: Tubes vs. Modeling
I'm all in with tubes as well. Yesterday afternoon I was playing through my Yamaha THR10x. I liked it when I first got it, and it's still a nice amp for practicing and messing around with, but man do I miss my tube amps.
I'm all in with tubes as well. Yesterday afternoon I was playing through my Yamaha THR10x. I liked it when I first got it, and it's still a nice amp for practicing and messing around with, but man do I miss my tube amps.
Petrovsk Mizinski
New member
Re: Blog: Tubes vs. Modeling
Oh geez, this thread again :laugh2:
Oh geez, this thread again :laugh2:
dominus
King Midas to Cheap Guitars
Re: Blog: Tubes vs. Modeling
The article blurred the line between digital and solid state, there really is a difference. An ISP will crush a Line 6. (Of course, it'll crush a lot of tube amps too, but people don't want to admit that.)
Every time I buy a tube amp, I keep it for about a month before I go back to a solid state one. Depends on what sound you're looking for, and just as the article states, there's good tube amps and bad ones. The tube amps I buy are typically at the lower end price range but still quite capable of the sounds I'm looking for, but they still need a lot of coaxing. With the solid state amps (and of course, you need to do LOTS of internet searches to find the good ones, as there's plenty of bad ones out there), I can just seem to find my sounds quicker.
I got some ridiculous deals on some solid state amps over the last month because people have their biases. ($125 shipped for a 100W combo, $75 shipped for a head.) I'd like to thank all the tube snobs for making that possible.
The article blurred the line between digital and solid state, there really is a difference. An ISP will crush a Line 6. (Of course, it'll crush a lot of tube amps too, but people don't want to admit that.)
Every time I buy a tube amp, I keep it for about a month before I go back to a solid state one. Depends on what sound you're looking for, and just as the article states, there's good tube amps and bad ones. The tube amps I buy are typically at the lower end price range but still quite capable of the sounds I'm looking for, but they still need a lot of coaxing. With the solid state amps (and of course, you need to do LOTS of internet searches to find the good ones, as there's plenty of bad ones out there), I can just seem to find my sounds quicker.
I got some ridiculous deals on some solid state amps over the last month because people have their biases. ($125 shipped for a 100W combo, $75 shipped for a head.) I'd like to thank all the tube snobs for making that possible.
Rockstar216
New member
Re: Blog: Tubes vs. Modeling
The way I look at it is for great clean tones I like tubes they feel better to me.
For higher gain tones I am more preferable to SS.
The way I look at it is for great clean tones I like tubes they feel better to me.
For higher gain tones I am more preferable to SS.
IMENATOR
Well-known member
Re: Blog: Tubes vs. Modeling
Many people in the world do not have access to the wide variety of amps, not evel local stores can afford to have amps in stock so they would only order one if you really wanted to buy it, and you don't want to order one unless you really know what it sounds like. So for a lot of people amo modeling is like the entry point to try to have a clue of what british and amercan amp sound means. Also modeling amplifiers are more affordable so from this point of view and many others I think amp modeling has been a great benefit to people looking for a lot of versatility and our budget could be restrictive. Even when amp modeling is not yet my favourite kind of tone I can recognize the benefits of that and I think it is good that there are options ofr all kind of budgets and places.
Many people in the world do not have access to the wide variety of amps, not evel local stores can afford to have amps in stock so they would only order one if you really wanted to buy it, and you don't want to order one unless you really know what it sounds like. So for a lot of people amo modeling is like the entry point to try to have a clue of what british and amercan amp sound means. Also modeling amplifiers are more affordable so from this point of view and many others I think amp modeling has been a great benefit to people looking for a lot of versatility and our budget could be restrictive. Even when amp modeling is not yet my favourite kind of tone I can recognize the benefits of that and I think it is good that there are options ofr all kind of budgets and places.
aleclee
Major General GAS
Re: Blog: Tubes vs. Modeling
I'll grant you that the modeling stuff with friendlier pricing isn't all that. I have a Zoom G5 as a backup and it's usable but not particularly satisfying to work with.
Not my experience. In 2009 I traded my Two Rock for an AxeFx and have not regretted that choice once.
I'll grant you that the modeling stuff with friendlier pricing isn't all that. I have a Zoom G5 as a backup and it's usable but not particularly satisfying to work with.
everdrone
New member
Re: Blog: Tubes vs. Modeling
I know the author Dave Eichenberger uses the tech 21 modeling pedals and I like them too. right tools for the right job!
nothing beats a fuzz pedal through a dynamic tube amp though, no way any modeler can come close to mimicing that sound.
glad we have modelers cause tube amps are too loud for small apartments. I think the impulses IRs sound a ton better than the EQ curve too.
I know the author Dave Eichenberger uses the tech 21 modeling pedals and I like them too. right tools for the right job!
nothing beats a fuzz pedal through a dynamic tube amp though, no way any modeler can come close to mimicing that sound.
glad we have modelers cause tube amps are too loud for small apartments. I think the impulses IRs sound a ton better than the EQ curve too.
