Digital Amps
- Thread starter Ice Man
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S
seafoamer
Guest
Re: Digital Amps
yeah, buy a tube amp.
Ice Man said:
yeah, buy a tube amp.
B
Bones
Guest
Re: Digital Amps
, I think the better advice would be to go to the music store and try it out.
seafoamer said:
, I think the better advice would be to go to the music store and try it out.
tone4days
Heel Whacker
Re: Digital Amps
well, budget concerns aside, i think a small tube amp will sound incredible ...
to your point directly, the small digital amps can be just fine .. even more versatile than other more traditional amps
i use a small SS fender (deluxe 90) that i got for $250 new when Mars went belly up .. it is hella loud and very responsive to my finger / pick attack ... very useable reverb (i only use a touch) and nice channel switching with separate EQ and master volume
but yeah, i bet a little tube amp would sound awesome with a tele for blues/rock ...
good luck
t4d
well, budget concerns aside, i think a small tube amp will sound incredible ...
to your point directly, the small digital amps can be just fine .. even more versatile than other more traditional amps
i use a small SS fender (deluxe 90) that i got for $250 new when Mars went belly up .. it is hella loud and very responsive to my finger / pick attack ... very useable reverb (i only use a touch) and nice channel switching with separate EQ and master volume
but yeah, i bet a little tube amp would sound awesome with a tele for blues/rock ...
good luck
t4d
aleclee
Major General GAS
Re: Digital Amps
Personally, I'm not a huge fan of the Fender cyber series.
A lot depends on what you mean by "small amp/practice amp", though. Depending on your price range and requirements, the Roland Cubes are great amps for the money. For practice and small gigs, the Cube 30 might be all you need.
If glowing bottles are more your thing, the Rivera R30 or Chubster are sweet little amps.
Personally, I'm not a huge fan of the Fender cyber series.
A lot depends on what you mean by "small amp/practice amp", though. Depending on your price range and requirements, the Roland Cubes are great amps for the money. For practice and small gigs, the Cube 30 might be all you need.
If glowing bottles are more your thing, the Rivera R30 or Chubster are sweet little amps.
S
seafoamer
Guest
Re: Digital Amps
Then buy the best "tube amp" for the job that u can afford.
Bones said:
Then buy the best "tube amp" for the job that u can afford.
STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: Digital Amps
This is very narrow minded and what I call "Tube Amp Snobery" LOL
I'm a tube amp guy first and foremost,but,these digital amps do fill a nice niche for some of us...I've been gigging with a 2x12 Cyber Twin for 3 years now...Once you get the amp dialed in,we're talking alot of versatility...Instead of having a 1 trick pony all night trying to cover alot of styles,these digital amps save the day for some of us..I still use my vintage tube amps,but the Cyber Twin is great and has very cool effects all built in...Can the folks out in the audience tell if you're using a tube amp or not? Ahhhhh nope....The tube amp as a rule needs to get cranked up pretty good to get the tone..These digital amps again are great for a guy at home that wants a good tone at lower volumes with the added benefits of cool effects...I Love tube amps,but give the guy a fair shake and give him at least some pros and cons about each...I can talk because I use tube amps and a Cyber Twin...The Cyber stuff is great,but you have to have good ears and the patience needed to dial it in...I'm lucky in that I have both because if the amp sucked,I'd have returned it very quickly....
Not to start and arguement,but I get tired of the Tube Amp mentality...The day is closely approaching where this other stuff is going to be as good or better as the tube amp...It's pretty close already... :13: A good player will sound good through most anything played through anyway... :dance:
John
seafoamer said:
This is very narrow minded and what I call "Tube Amp Snobery" LOL
I'm a tube amp guy first and foremost,but,these digital amps do fill a nice niche for some of us...I've been gigging with a 2x12 Cyber Twin for 3 years now...Once you get the amp dialed in,we're talking alot of versatility...Instead of having a 1 trick pony all night trying to cover alot of styles,these digital amps save the day for some of us..I still use my vintage tube amps,but the Cyber Twin is great and has very cool effects all built in...Can the folks out in the audience tell if you're using a tube amp or not? Ahhhhh nope....The tube amp as a rule needs to get cranked up pretty good to get the tone..These digital amps again are great for a guy at home that wants a good tone at lower volumes with the added benefits of cool effects...I Love tube amps,but give the guy a fair shake and give him at least some pros and cons about each...I can talk because I use tube amps and a Cyber Twin...The Cyber stuff is great,but you have to have good ears and the patience needed to dial it in...I'm lucky in that I have both because if the amp sucked,I'd have returned it very quickly....
Not to start and arguement,but I get tired of the Tube Amp mentality...The day is closely approaching where this other stuff is going to be as good or better as the tube amp...It's pretty close already... :13: A good player will sound good through most anything played through anyway... :dance:
John
S
seafoamer
Guest
Re: Digital Amps
Why call me a snob. I've played them all and haven't heard a digital amp I'd want to own or play on stage. Just my opinion. The original poster asked for "any thoughts". My thoughts are to buy a tube amp. I did not like any of the Cyber stuff I've played. Neither did I like the Line 6 stuff etc. If that makes me a snob, so be it.
Why call me a snob. I've played them all and haven't heard a digital amp I'd want to own or play on stage. Just my opinion. The original poster asked for "any thoughts". My thoughts are to buy a tube amp. I did not like any of the Cyber stuff I've played. Neither did I like the Line 6 stuff etc. If that makes me a snob, so be it.
Re: Digital Amps
The main thing I was after in my original question is "Can I get good blues-rock tone with a digital modelling amp at low volume?" I love tubes, have a great Mesa 4x10, but they kind of lose their bounce when the volume comes down.
I have a 13 month old in the house!
The main thing I was after in my original question is "Can I get good blues-rock tone with a digital modelling amp at low volume?" I love tubes, have a great Mesa 4x10, but they kind of lose their bounce when the volume comes down.
I have a 13 month old in the house!
S
seafoamer
Guest
Re: Digital Amps
I guess it depends what sound u'r lookin' 4 and how good it needs to be. As u can tell, I havent been sold on any digital amps as of yet. I have a 5 watt amp (an old ****erson) that sounds incredible at real low volumes. It's my night-table amp.
look at the top amp. http://brandonarzillo.com/DRZ.htm
If interested, u can get amps like this on ebay. Magnatone, supro, National, ****erson made ones. The were mainly used by lap-steel players.
I guess it depends what sound u'r lookin' 4 and how good it needs to be. As u can tell, I havent been sold on any digital amps as of yet. I have a 5 watt amp (an old ****erson) that sounds incredible at real low volumes. It's my night-table amp.
look at the top amp. http://brandonarzillo.com/DRZ.htm
If interested, u can get amps like this on ebay. Magnatone, supro, National, ****erson made ones. The were mainly used by lap-steel players.
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Hot _Grits
Buttery Toneologist
Re: Digital Amps
The roland cube 30 sounds pretty good. Vox have also bought out some low wattage modelling amps, but I haven't tried them.
Want killer tube tones at low volumes? -get a s/h THD univalve. Built in hotplate. Superb sounding amp.
The roland cube 30 sounds pretty good. Vox have also bought out some low wattage modelling amps, but I haven't tried them.
Want killer tube tones at low volumes? -get a s/h THD univalve. Built in hotplate. Superb sounding amp.
aleclee
Major General GAS
DMA Rant
DMA Rant
I'm no luddite by any stretch of the imagination. I dig bells and whistles more than the next guy. I'm a hardware junkie.
That said, it'll be a long time before I'd drop more than Cube 30 money (~$200) on a digital amp.
Another thing to keep in mind is power conditioning. Tubes are a lot more tolerant of power surges and voltage fluctuations than SS, especially the circuits in DMAs.
Finally is serviceability. If something goes wrong in a DMA, you're SOL 'til you can get it to a shop. Though shizzle is more likely to happen in a tube amp than a DMA, chances are it's either a tube or a fuse--either of which is easily replaceable at a gig. That's a far cry from the month I was without my Line 6 as it was sent back to the factory.
IMHO, FWIW, YMMV, etc.
DMA Rant
I'm no luddite by any stretch of the imagination. I dig bells and whistles more than the next guy. I'm a hardware junkie.
That said, it'll be a long time before I'd drop more than Cube 30 money (~$200) on a digital amp.
- I had a lot of problems back when I owned a Line 6. It got sent back to the factory before I concluded that there was something nutty in my basement that caused it to malfunction (the wah wouldn't work when the pedalboard cable was on the concrete floor).
- I know more than one person whose Valvetronix spontaneously died.
- A lot of my gigging friends have had trouble getting their DMAs to "cut" in a live situation.
- Check resale on DMAs. Like the PC you're reading this on, digital amps depreciate a lot faster than tube gear.
Another thing to keep in mind is power conditioning. Tubes are a lot more tolerant of power surges and voltage fluctuations than SS, especially the circuits in DMAs.
Finally is serviceability. If something goes wrong in a DMA, you're SOL 'til you can get it to a shop. Though shizzle is more likely to happen in a tube amp than a DMA, chances are it's either a tube or a fuse--either of which is easily replaceable at a gig. That's a far cry from the month I was without my Line 6 as it was sent back to the factory.
IMHO, FWIW, YMMV, etc.
STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: Digital Amps
Snob,snob,snob..... :smack: I'll still be your friend though...LOL
seafoamer said:Why call me a snob. I've played them all and haven't heard a digital amp I'd want to own or play on stage. Just my opinion. The original poster asked for "any thoughts". My thoughts are to buy a tube amp. I did not like any of the Cyber stuff I've played. Neither did I like the Line 6 stuff etc. If that makes me a snob, so be it.
Snob,snob,snob..... :smack:
I'll still be your friend though...LOL
STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: DMA Rant
Re: DMA Rant
I've had this Cyber Twin now for 3 years,0 problems,and I have it dialed in for some great presets...Guess I've been lucky? Love this amp...I also have all of my tube amps....
Re: DMA Rant
aleclee said:
I've had this Cyber Twin now for 3 years,0 problems,and I have it dialed in for some great presets...Guess I've been lucky? Love this amp...I also have all of my tube amps....
Artie
Peaveyologist
Re: Digital Amps
I gotta admit to being in the modelling amp camp myself. ALthough, I'ld like a tube amp someday. Anyway, go on eBay, get a Johnson J-Station, dial-in the "Blackface" setting, a little reverb, then run it through a home stereo or headphones, and you'll be in "tone" nirvana.
I gotta admit to being in the modelling amp camp myself. ALthough, I'ld like a tube amp someday. Anyway, go on eBay, get a Johnson J-Station, dial-in the "Blackface" setting, a little reverb, then run it through a home stereo or headphones, and you'll be in "tone" nirvana.
S
seafoamer
Guest
Re: Digital Amps
hahaha. YOU BETTER!
STRATDELUXER97 said:Snob,snob,snob..... :smack:
hahaha. YOU BETTER!
Mkf411
New member
Re: Digital Amps
Go to Guitar Center and get a Fender Blues Junior. Take it home and try it out. It's a simple amp with a nice tone. If you don't like it, take it back. Then go try something else, like a Peavey Classic 30 or even a Fender Pro Junior. All tube amps. If you don't like any of them then start trying modelling amps.
Just try not to get in the position of being stuck with something you don't like.
The Modelling amps that I've tried are OK, but seem to require tweaking and tweaking until you get the sound you want. Some people can find the sound they want. I still haven't found it on my Valvetronix after 8 months. It took me awhile to realize it just isn't going to happen. I'm thinking of getting rid of it. It does single notes well but the distortion just doesn't sound good on chords for me.
Go to Guitar Center and get a Fender Blues Junior. Take it home and try it out. It's a simple amp with a nice tone. If you don't like it, take it back. Then go try something else, like a Peavey Classic 30 or even a Fender Pro Junior. All tube amps. If you don't like any of them then start trying modelling amps.
Just try not to get in the position of being stuck with something you don't like.
The Modelling amps that I've tried are OK, but seem to require tweaking and tweaking until you get the sound you want. Some people can find the sound they want. I still haven't found it on my Valvetronix after 8 months. It took me awhile to realize it just isn't going to happen. I'm thinking of getting rid of it. It does single notes well but the distortion just doesn't sound good on chords for me.
Benjy_26
25's Nemesis
Re: Digital Amps
Roland makes some nice digital stuff. I tried the Cube and it was cool, but I really liked their VGA 3. It's a mid sized amp with I beleive 60 watts and 1 12" speaker. It had good output but could be played quietly and sound good too.
I'm currently not using my tube heads for gigs (Heresey!, Heresey!), but am instead running a Boss GT-6 into a tube power amp (6L6, 100 watts) get close to any sound I need (quite a few, being in a cover band), and still get the nice tube bounce and volume from the power section. I can also SOUND like I'm playing really loud and not upset any club owners.
I still love my tube amps, but for now, the digital pre is a big part of my main rig.
Roland makes some nice digital stuff. I tried the Cube and it was cool, but I really liked their VGA 3. It's a mid sized amp with I beleive 60 watts and 1 12" speaker. It had good output but could be played quietly and sound good too.
I'm currently not using my tube heads for gigs (Heresey!, Heresey!), but am instead running a Boss GT-6 into a tube power amp (6L6, 100 watts) get close to any sound I need (quite a few, being in a cover band), and still get the nice tube bounce and volume from the power section. I can also SOUND like I'm playing really loud and not upset any club owners.
I still love my tube amps, but for now, the digital pre is a big part of my main rig.
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