Dr. Z says modeling amps are going to be the next wave...

[Ben1962]

Re: Dr. Z says modeling amps are going to be the next wave...

The funny thing on this post? Nobody has even mentioned Country music. Its not my thing, but those people are still playing plenty of guitars. And that music is very popular like the other forms of "music" these days. I really could care less what a bunch of kids listen to anyway. They dont care about music so much, its more about a beat. Who cares, they walk around with their noses implanted to their cellphones 24/7 anyway like zombies

 

[zionstrat]

Re: Dr. Z says modeling amps are going to be the next wave...

The funny thing on this post? Nobody has even mentioned Country music. Its not my thing, but those people are still playing plenty of guitars. And that music is very popular like the other forms of "music" these days. I really could care less what a bunch of kids listen to anyway. They dont care about music so much, its more about a beat. Who cares, they walk around with their noses implanted to their cellphones 24/7 anyway like zombies

Yeah, country and RockBand, two topics rarely discussed on this forum, have some of the best opportunities to grow guitar sales...

Kind of ironic and great observation.

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[Jacew]

Re: Dr. Z says modeling amps are going to be the next wave...

I got an interesting thought about this topic. Being simple technology, tube amps only start to disappear if sales decline far enough that tube production starts to fall pushing the prices up. The maintenance of old amps will definitely keep the market alive long time however.

On the other hand: Modelers suffer similar problems. They rely on software to keep working, bits deteriorate over time, so even in the best case you do have to at least update them. Companies are rather prone to pull the upgrades from "obselete" devices in electronic industry. Digital hardware is also much more fragile and irrepairable in many cases.

But there will always be need for solid state amplifiers. They're simple, and there'ss no practical technology in foreseeable future to replace them. So if guitar falls into obscurity, few who play it might be rocking out with SS amps.

 

[zionstrat]

Re: Dr. Z says modeling amps are going to be the next wave...

On the other hand: Modelers suffer similar problems. They rely on software to keep working, bits deteriorate over time, so even in the best case you do have to at least update them.

Very good point! I've already had to abandon my 'emergency backup modeler' (Yamaha Magic Stomp) because the editing software doesn't work with W10 (I'm sure there's an emulation work around, and as good as this little puppy is, I don't have the time).

Over time modelers are likely to suffer from TRS80 syndrome- You can't get 8 inch floppies and Radio Shack died

SS amps wont have this problem as you pointed out, but tubes are very simple devices and this might be one of the pluses for potential longevity.

 

[ibanezrocks]

Re: Dr. Z says modeling amps are going to be the next wave...

On the other hand: Modelers suffer similar problems. They rely on software to keep working, bits deteriorate over time, so even in the best case you do have to at least update them.

That's not remotely true. They're not easily repairable like analog amps, but the firmware doesn't deteriorate. Unless you spill water on them or fry them, those things should outlive any of us.

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[FuseG4]

Re: Dr. Z says modeling amps are going to be the next wave...

That's not remotely true. They're not easily repairable like analog amps, but the firmware doesn't deteriorate. Unless you spill water on them or fry them, those things should outlive any of us.

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Even flash memory is susceptible to bad blocks, if it is robust, the physical memory which stores the firmware will have management program for identifying bad blocks and assigning data to good blocks.
But digital memory isn't exactly foolproof. I agree it should last a long time, but not it's like they will never fail.
So when he said bits deteriorate, well, it's more like the addresses the bits are assigned to can become unusable.

 

[Jacew]

Re: Dr. Z says modeling amps are going to be the next wave...

Even flash memory is susceptible to bad blocks, if it is robust, the physical memory which stores the firmware will have management program for identifying bad blocks and assigning data to good blocks.
But digital memory isn't exactly foolproof. I agree it should last a long time, but not it's like they will never fail.
So when he said bits deteriorate, well, it's more like the addresses the bits are assigned to can become unusable.

Exactly. 7gb HDD in my old computer lasted almost 20 years. None flash memories I've had have managed 10 without significant errors. They're only good for temporary storage if you ask me.

 

[Darg1911]

Re: Dr. Z says modeling amps are going to be the next wave...

Dr. Z can say and do whatever they want. I'll have a tube amp (or two or three) until I quit playing, go flat broke or die.

 

[UTGrad]

Re: Dr. Z says modeling amps are going to be the next wave...

The funny thing on this post? Nobody has even mentioned Country music. Its not my thing, but those people are still playing plenty of guitars. And that music is very popular like the other forms of "music" these days. I really could care less what a bunch of kids listen to anyway. They dont care about music so much, its more about a beat. Who cares, they walk around with their noses implanted to their cellphones 24/7 anyway like zombies

I live here in Nashville and although we have thousands of musicians from multiple genres living here, country music is a big industry. The guitar is still going strong in Tennessee.


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[UTGrad]

Re: Dr. Z says modeling amps are going to be the next wave...

And by the way a lot of country music today is basically Southern rock.


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[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: Dr. Z says modeling amps are going to be the next wave...

And by the way a lot of country music today is basically Southern rock.


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I don't hear much improvisation. Not much jamming. I guess it depends on how one defines the genre. Maybe they can build a guitar solo, but since the solos only last about 4 seconds, who knows?

 

[eaeolian]

Re: Dr. Z says modeling amps are going to be the next wave...

I don’t think the guitar is going to disappear anytime soon. Acoustic guitar is like a little piano in terms of chordal possibilities ...unlike the ukulele, mandolin and banjo which are more limited. Altho virtuosos like Bela Fleck can make a lot of music on a banjo.

Electric guitar will probably be around for a good long time too.

But glass tubes? They’re going to be gone within most of your lifetimes.

Not mine probably. I’ll be lucky to last another 10 years!

I had that same discussion in 1990.

I wouldn't bet on it.

 

[Darg1911]

Re: Dr. Z says modeling amps are going to be the next wave...

Yeah, I don't think tubes are going anywhere. Even if folks like Dr. Z have enough sway to wipe them out of the guitar amp industry, the audiophiles aren't letting go of them. Which means, they'll still be around to make a comeback as soon as some future generation rock star get's famous playing an old Marshall or Fender.

 

[UTGrad]

Re: Dr. Z says modeling amps are going to be the next wave...

I don't hear much improvisation. Not much jamming. I guess it depends on how one defines the genre. Maybe they can build a guitar solo, but since the solos only last about 4 seconds, who knows?

Hahah yeah 4 second solos. At least they will be easy for new guitarist to learn.

I think new country sucks for the most part. I’m just saying it is a genre that is popular that still has a guitar involved.


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[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: Dr. Z says modeling amps are going to be the next wave...

Hahah yeah 4 second solos. At least they will be easy for new guitarist to learn.

I think new country sucks for the most part. I’m just saying it is a genre that is popular that still has a guitar involved.


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I understand your point. I'm not against all country music. I'm okay with the good stuff and there are some good musicians (if they are ever allowed to play), but just like everything most of what makes up that genre today is not very good. I was in a tractor supply type store recently and they had the latest going over the loud speakers. I could not get out of there fast enough.

 

[UTGrad]

Re: Dr. Z says modeling amps are going to be the next wave...

I understand your point. I'm not against all country music. I'm okay with the good stuff and there are some good musicians (if they are ever allowed to play), but just like everything most of what makes up that genre today is not very good. I was in a tractor supply type store recently and they had the latest going over the loud speakers. I could not get out of there fast enough.

Hahah Tractor Supply is a good store. Their corporate is in Brentwood which is....a suburb of Nashville. I bet if they played Skynrd no one would complain.


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[ibanezrocks]

Re: Dr. Z says modeling amps are going to be the next wave...

Having just got a Helix last week I'm inclined to agree. Modeling amps have gotten amazingly good. Swapping out 60+ famous amps with whatever effects, cabs, mics, etc. you could want is like being a kid in a candy store. It also sounds amazing through headphones, which a tube amp will never do and that's >90% of my playing time.

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[Red_Label]

Re: Dr. Z says modeling amps are going to be the next wave...

Having just got a Helix last week I'm inclined to agree. Modeling amps have gotten amazingly good. Swapping out 60+ famous amps with whatever effects, cabs, mics, etc. you could want is like being a kid in a candy store. It also sounds amazing through headphones, which a tube amp will never do and that's >90% of my playing time.

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I play my Helix during the week days, and just fire up the tubes in my Friedmans on weekends. The Helix doesn't fully replace them, when I need to scratch that itch. But it's as close as a digital thing has ever come. It's pretty amazing.

 

[zionstrat]

Re: Dr. Z says modeling amps are going to be the next wave...

I play my Helix during the week days, and just fire up the tubes in my Friedmans on weekends. .

Exactly- sound like the perfect balance -

Another great balance opportunity is recording- when you have to pop out 4 different styles in 2 hours, modeling can't be beat.

And when you need a distinctive sound, and can keep the track from getting buried in the mix, it's so, so wonderful to find that perfect sound with tubes-

 

[ibanezrocks]

Re: Dr. Z says modeling amps are going to be the next wave...

I play my Helix during the week days, and just fire up the tubes in my Friedmans on weekends. The Helix doesn't fully replace them, when I need to scratch that itch. But it's as close as a digital thing has ever come. It's pretty amazing.

That sounds like the best way to do it if you get/need to crank it up sometimes. The Helix is great for my use but if I needed a simple loud setup I'd rather get an amp, if for no other reason than the Helix requires a lot of tweaking. If I was regularly jamming with other people, I'd rather have a few knobs instead of hundreds. Maybe that'll change if I settle on a few presets I really like though.

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