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

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

That’s the video I was going to post to say “man, I don’t feel like getting this far into the weeds!” There are a lot of good resources for downloading Axe FX, Kemper and Helix patches though, aren’t there?

LOL, yes and one is Tyler's site. You gotta click the links man. :D
 
Re: Dr. Z says modeling amps are going to be the next wave...

Heck I thought modelers already have been the new wave for about a decade now.....????????
 
Re: Dr. Z says modeling amps are going to be the next wave...

You know what though? It doesn’t matter whether you prefer tubes or not.

Pick a number.

I’ll say 25.

In 25 years no one’s going to be making them.

Maybe sooner.

Tried to buy a cassette recorder recently? Or a cassette? Or a VCR? Or a phone with a dial?

Or a car with a carburetor?

As more kids get a modeler like the Mustang as their first amp, the market for tube guitar amps is going to dry up. As demand decreases, tube manufacturers will stop making tubes...or start charging double for them.

No more tubes...no more tube amps.

The end is on the horizon.
 
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Re: Dr. Z says modeling amps are going to be the next wave...

You know what though? It doesn’t matter whether you prefer tubes or not.

Pick a number.

I’ll say 25.

In 25 years no one’s going to be making them.

Maybe sooner.

Tried to buy a cassette recorder recently? Or a cassette? Or a VCR? Or a phone with a dial?

Or a car with a carburetor?

As more kids get a modeler like the Mustang as their first amp, the market for tube guitar amps is going to dry up. As demand decreases, tube manufacturers will stop making tubes...or start charging double for them.

No more tubes...no more tube amps.

The end is on the horizon.
Could be true. However, it would also imply that the blues/rock music will also be gone and forgotten. The only way to get the sound of that music true to form is with the glowing rivers of electrons flowing through tube amps.
 
Re: Dr. Z says modeling amps are going to be the next wave...

So send the future-police and the SWAT teams to come and take my tube amps away.
 
Re: Dr. Z says modeling amps are going to be the next wave...

Could be true. However, it would also imply that the blues/rock music will also be gone and forgotten. The only way to get the sound of that music true to form is with the glowing rivers of electrons flowing through tube amps.

LAB SERIES L5

Everyone knows it as the “B.B. King” amp, but it’s also the Ronnie Montrose amp—and the Ty Tabor amp. They can readily be had for less than $200 because people just want to get rid of them. It’s simply a kick-ass, solid-state amp. I like the immediacy of the older solid-state amps—they’re so punchy. The new digital solid-state junk is another story, but the old stuff is killin’. B.B.’s tone is great with the Lab Series. It’s warm and creamy and much more consistent than a Twin.

----

That's Joe Bonamassa's words, not mine.

https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/21453-joe-bonamassas-5-most-underrated-amps
 
Re: Dr. Z says modeling amps are going to be the next wave...

Could be true. However, it would also imply that the blues/rock music will also be gone and forgotten. The only way to get the sound of that music true to form is with the glowing rivers of electrons flowing through tube amps.

That video Ayrton posted would seem to indicate otherwise.



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

LAB SERIES L5

Everyone knows it as the “B.B. King” amp, but it’s also the Ronnie Montrose amp—and the Ty Tabor amp. They can readily be had for less than $200 because people just want to get rid of them. It’s simply a kick-ass, solid-state amp. I like the immediacy of the older solid-state amps—they’re so punchy. The new digital solid-state junk is another story, but the old stuff is killin’. B.B.’s tone is great with the Lab Series. It’s warm and creamy and much more consistent than a Twin.

----

That's Joe Bonamassa's words, not mine.

https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/21453-joe-bonamassas-5-most-underrated-amps

I’d love to have one for $200. There’s no guitarist I admire more than B.B.

But for some reason I suspect I’d still sound just like me.
 
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Re: Dr. Z says modeling amps are going to be the next wave...

That video Ayrton posted would seem to indicate otherwise.




Holy crap! Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Joe Bonamassa...have been having tonnes of old car radio amps moved around for years, and still do, when all they need is a Fractal. Boy those guys sure must be dumb?
 
Re: Dr. Z says modeling amps are going to be the next wave...

Car radio amps? Is there a secret cult of 12-volt guitar electronics I didn’t know about?
 
Re: Dr. Z says modeling amps are going to be the next wave...

You know what though? It doesn’t matter whether you prefer tubes or not.

Pick a number.

I’ll say 25.

In 25 years no one’s going to be making them.

Maybe sooner.

Tried to buy a cassette recorder recently? Or a cassette? Or a VCR? Or a phone with a dial?

Or a car with a carburetor?

As more kids get a modeler like the Mustang as their first amp, the market for tube guitar amps is going to dry up. As demand decreases, tube manufacturers will stop making tubes...or start charging double for them.

No more tubes...no more tube amps.

The end is on the horizon.

On the contrary, I'd say tube amps are more popular, varied, numerous & accessible today than they've ever been before.

Solid state chips have replaced tubes almost everywhere since the 50's...but they (tubes) have'nt gone anywhere when it comes to amplification (guitar & hi-fi) ..they're still around 70 years later doing just fine..

The 80's were a period that saw a lot of folk ditching their "obsolete" tube amps for cool new SS/rack gear etc. Well, the vast majority of that stuff actually sounded pretty bad & did'nt match up :lmao:

It took a while for realization to hit...but hit it did.. ;)

History has this funny way of repeating itself, so who really knows how things will turn out :D
 
Re: Dr. Z says modeling amps are going to be the next wave...

On the contrary, I'd say tube amps are more popular, varied, numerous & accessible today than they've ever been before.

Solid state chips have replaced tubes almost everywhere since the 50's...but they (tubes) have'nt gone anywhere when it comes to amplification (guitar & hi-fi) ..they're still around 70 years later doing just fine..

The 80's were a period that saw a lot of folk ditching their "obsolete" tube amps for cool new SS/rack gear etc. Well, the vast majority of that stuff actually sounded pretty bad & did'nt match up :lmao:

It took a while for realization to hit...but hit it did.. ;)

History has this funny way of repeating itself, so who really knows how things will turn out :D

Yep.

That’s why they’ll eventually disappear.

If only guitar players use tubes, that’s not really much of a market.

And if that market shrinks because modelers like the Mustang III get better and better (and simpler and simpler...and cheaper and cheaper...$325 for a Mustang III)...bye bye tubes.

All things must pass.

You don’t see many mandolin orchestras anymore...altho I’ll admit that you see a lot of bluegrass bands and Americana bands.

At least where I live.

Truth be told, I play my acoustic guitars more than my electrics.
 
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Re: Dr. Z says modeling amps are going to be the next wave...

There's still other tech around that uses tubes (& lots of them) besides guitar amps..X-Rays, radio/radar, aircraft/military equipment (if there's nuclear war...chips fry ..but tubes fly :D) ..lots of other stuff too..look it up.

I don't see tube supply drying up anytime soon.. :bigthumb:
 
Re: Dr. Z says modeling amps are going to be the next wave...

I must be getting better, because I see plenty of videos where I think the playing is below mine. Thats pretty low LOL. Then I watch Andy James or guys like that and realize I will never get there.
 
Re: Dr. Z says modeling amps are going to be the next wave...

They said CDs would be the end of vinyl as well. I dont care what anybody thinks, having tubes in a signal causes a more pleasant distortion. There are people who spend 10s of thousands on turntables still, and they would rather hear snap crackle pop than some digital device that has made music nothing more than 1s and 0s. Digital is inferior and thats my opinion. Its cold and lacks something that cant be measured. Even order harmonics? Who knows, I will take my tubes anyday and thats from my own ears
 
Re: Dr. Z says modeling amps are going to be the next wave...

I say, more of everything. I wanna see people with brand new technology making amps that make sounds that we can't dream of right now.
 
Re: Dr. Z says modeling amps are going to be the next wave...

My first amp was a Kalamazoo Model Two, and then I got a used BF Fender Bandmaster rig in 1967. The Bandmaster was stolen in 1972 and I replaced it with a SUNN Solos II 212 combo, and used that amp for more than 20 years until I started getting back in tube amps. The main culprit was a Fender Super Champ, and led to vintage amps like a Deluxe Reverb, Tremolux, Twin Reverb, Fender 75, JCM 800 et.al., and finally my first Mesa, a Mark III head and 412. I'd finally found the tones I'd been wanting for a long time.

So since about 1994, I've been using Mesas exclusively, and sold off all my other amps. I have eight of them and love gigging with these amps.

But a few years ago, I met a guy who had an AXE-FX II. I have to admit that I was impressed. The effects were tremendous, but the amp modelling was amazing. It is the best modelling unit I've heard. I really thought long and hard about getting one, watched the videos, read the reviews. And with feeling like there would never be enough room on my pedalboard...it was really attractive.

In the end, I wound up getting a Mesa Mark V combo. Got a deal on it from my local Guitar Center when GC closed out their Mesas. And I've not regretted it. With the three channels, nine modes, and three power levels this IS a modelling amp. It hasn't solved the pedalboard issues. It doesn't allow me to use MIDI commands to switch effects and channels mid-song. But for me, the immediacy and punch of those little glowing bottles is worth it. There are certain pushed tones that the Fractal doesn't do as well, and I'm not spending hours programming it...I dialled in the three channels of the Mark V in about five minutes. I'm happy playing this amp, and confident about my tone. Priceless!

I think modelling will continue to improve. I think one day tubes will be short supply. But for the remainder of my life, I'm going to stick with some GREAT tube amps.

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

Yeah, things will continue to improve, but as of now...modelling is still playing catch up. My experience with the Axe Fx II showed me that.

There's something intrinsically "wrong" (ie... different) with the feel & response of modelling tech. That something did'nt change much from my $75 Zoom to the Axe Fx II.

If there is an alternative to tubes, ironically...it might be those little Korg "Nutubes" :D

I think all they have right now are preamp tube (12AX7) versions..but they're working on the power tubes. Now that's going to be close.

No reason they should'nt start popping up in future modellers too. (if you can't beat 'em...join 'em )

One way or the other, when it comes to amplification, tubes are very likely here to stay :bigthumb:
 
Re: Dr. Z says modeling amps are going to be the next wave...

As a semi-newbie or let’s say someone returning to guitar from my high school days, yes I want a classic Tube amp.

The problem is by the time I get a tube amp of my desire and the pedals that go along with it that would be well north of a $1000.

I can get a nice modeler with all the built in effects for around $400. Granted I won’t be performing on the road nor am I a professional musician, just a guy having fun.

Modelers have their place with what I would believe is the majority of guitarists, hobbyists not professionals.


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