Hybrid amps - I'm a beleiver

leevc5

leevc5

New member
I had an old Fender Bronco solid state amp just collecting dust so I decided to do something with it. First of all this little 15 Watt amp from the early 90s sounded alright to begin with. I decided I would like to put a tube preamp in it and see what a home made hybrid might sound like. Built a little 12AX7 preamp, wired it in and gave it a whirl. Excellent results, the amp that sounded alright to start with went from alright to very good. Proving to me that hybrid tube amps, at least the ones with a tube preamp, do make a difference putting to rest for me the many negative articles that have been published regarding hybrids.
 
Re: Hybrid amps - I'm a beleiver

I've been very pleasantly surprised by the Vox Valvetronix. I prefer tube amps but use solid state and tube–go with what sounds best for the specific need.
 
Re: Hybrid amps - I'm a beleiver

The Orange Micro Terror and Micro Dark are hybrid and very decent. They don't handle a candle to Orange's all-tube offerings, but they offer usable tones and could serve as viable backups or even actual gigging rigs for some situations.
 
Re: Hybrid amps - I'm a beleiver

treyhaislip said:
I've been very pleasantly surprised by the Vox Valvetronix. I prefer tube amps but use solid state and tube–go with what sounds best for the specific need.
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Yeah, I have a Marshall AVT50 that I think sounds great. However, I've been seeing more and more articles that claim that a tube preamp does nothing that a solid state preamp does I wanted to see for myself. I recognize that it is a limited experiment and doesn't deal with the results that a better solid state preamp stage would yield the same results but it's good enough for me.
 
Re: Hybrid amps - I'm a beleiver

I used a Vox AD50VT for nearly 10 years with a single 12AX7 in the power amp section. Great amp but I needed something lighter after I pulled my back out slightly loading out after a show. Sold it and picked up one of the new Vox AV Series amps, the AV30. It has two 12AX7 tubes in it, one on the preamp and one in the poweramp. All of the modeling is analog. The only digital part of the amp is the effects bank (MOD, Delay, Reverb). I couldn't believe it when I heard it. Great little amp and loud. No problem being heard in my 6-member band.
 
Re: Hybrid amps - I'm a beleiver

Could the same thing be achieved using a good (not starved plate) tube based pedal or pre amp into a good ss amp?

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Re: Hybrid amps - I'm a beleiver

Demanic said:
Could the same thing be achieved using a good (not starved plate) tube based pedal or pre amp into a good ss amp?

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Yes and no. Yes, because you'd be introducing the tube warmth to the overall tone but no because it'll have a different effect on the tone depending on where in the circuit the tube is placed.
 
Re: Hybrid amps - I'm a beleiver

I'm thinking rack mount tube preamp into rack mount ss power amp.

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Re: Hybrid amps - I'm a beleiver

Yeah, with that setup it would essentially be the same idea in rack form.
 
Re: Hybrid amps - I'm a beleiver

Demanic said:
Could the same thing be achieved using a good (not starved plate) tube based pedal or pre amp into a good ss amp?

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Yes, if it is a good preamp pedal, distortion pedal into a power amp, probably not so much.
 
Re: Hybrid amps - I'm a beleiver

I was thinking of the old SD Twin Tube pedals, or, like I said, a rack mount tube preamp. I bet those AMT amp pedals would probably sound good too, although they are solid state.

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Re: Hybrid amps - I'm a beleiver

If you dig Skynard, then you like the old Peavy 80's Hybrids. Not bad amps, depending on what you want from them I suppose.I like my old peavey VTX, and there really is no dire need to grab one of the increasingly hard to get Skynard style,Maces , Festivals, or, or other old Peavey heads to get the Skynard tone. The 2x12 combos, which they made a zillion of, do it just about as well, albeit at lower power .Add a 4x12 and you're golden!
 
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Re: Hybrid amps - I'm a beleiver

Ever heard of Music Man amps?

Hybrids can be very good, but I'm sticking with my Mesas.

Bill
 
Re: Hybrid amps - I'm a beleiver

I love the Vox Valve Reactor series amps.

I've heard other good sounding hybrids. The late 70's, early 80's Legend amps are incredible.
 
Re: Hybrid amps - I'm a beleiver

I love hybrid amps. I had a Marshall AVT years back and just bought an Orange Micro Terror. I plan on being a mostly hybrid user from now on. Better for my back and I don't like being gouged on the price just because it has tubes. *cough cough* Fender...
 
Re: Hybrid amps - I'm a beleiver

I love my Randall T2 HL (...full tube 3x12AX7+1x12AT7 preamp/SS power amp) hybrid. It sounds really great at low volumes and even better at high volume (super punchy, meaty, dynamic) ...which is kinda cool for an SS amp.

The Orange Micro's sound pretty awesome too..
 
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Re: Hybrid amps - I'm a beleiver

Still GASIng for o Micro Dark.

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Re: Hybrid amps - I'm a beleiver

Demanic said:
Still GASIng for o Micro Dark.

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Hard to go wrong. You can find them used for a decent on eBay from time to time. I was wanting a Vox Ac series for the next amp, but I may go with one of their Valvetronix ones instead.
 
Re: Hybrid amps - I'm a beleiver

The other way around of SS or digital pre amp, with a valve power amp also can work well. Many of the 70s Musicman amps followed this format, and also the old Marshall Artist from the late 80s. The Fender Super Champ and the Marshall JMD are modeling amps with valve power amps.
 
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