Matt42
New member
Re: HYBRID AMPS
Because not wanting people to shout at you makes you a computer nerd... :laugh2:
Because not wanting people to shout at you makes you a computer nerd... :laugh2:
HYBRID AMPS
- Thread starter tman
- Start date
Matt42
New member
Re: HYBRID AMPS
From what I understand, a lot of hybrid amps with only one tube and some of the tube driven overdrive pedals don't run enough voltage through the tube for it to really act "tubey" so it acts (i.e. sounds) closer to transistor than a tube. I don't know how accurate that is, though.
From what I understand, a lot of hybrid amps with only one tube and some of the tube driven overdrive pedals don't run enough voltage through the tube for it to really act "tubey" so it acts (i.e. sounds) closer to transistor than a tube. I don't know how accurate that is, though.
Strat o Tele
New member
Re: HYBRID AMPS
I've bought 2 of them over the past few years, a VOX Valvetronix and a Orange Micro Terror. They are OK, I guess, I gave the VOX to my girls dad for X-mas. He likes it a lot but he was playing out a 15w champ that was made in like 91? I've got real VOX tube amps so the hybrids just don't match up? I have a Hand Wired AC-15 & a British made AC-30 Top Boost, they don't travel well so I thought I would try one out but it just wasn't the same no matter what I did so F it, he can have it? The Oarnge was another impulse buy, I've always loved Orange amps but they are pricy & I like VOX better so whenever I had over $1000 to spend on a amp they got my cash? When it got here it was fun for a while but the little cab sucks!!! 10x better out of my 2x12! Anyway, as far as the Orange tube amp sound goes they're close but it's nothing special? That's pretty much my Hi Fi stereo now, sometimes I run my drum machine through it? Like I said I have a bunch of other amps so if I want class A tube sound I use a class A tube amp, if I want class A/B sound I use a A/B amp, & I also have some really great S.S. amps, they don't get used as much as they should but they do sond really good for some stuff & you have to love the consistency of a S.S. Amps!!! It's hard to say a Micro Terror or a Valvetronix has good tube sound when you have a AC-30, AC-15 H.W., VOX NT50 G1 head & cabinet, a Duluxe Reverb, Princeton Reverb Sliverface reissue, TS15 head & cab, TS30 head & cab, & even a vintage Fender Lacquered Tweed 1x12 & Champion 600 sitting right in front of it? I won't list all the S.S. stuff I've collected over the years but there's a lot! So if you were only going to have one amp I think a GOOD hybrid wouldn't be a awful choice, especially if you want "tube tone" & don't want tube problems or tube cost!!! I'm Pretty lucky so as long as I don't need to move them around too much, most my concerts are in my living room now anyways, I'll stick with one or the other, valves for home, studios, & real gigs. S.S. For going over to my buddy's house or lugging around bars & using it as a beer coaster!!! Zap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've bought 2 of them over the past few years, a VOX Valvetronix and a Orange Micro Terror. They are OK, I guess, I gave the VOX to my girls dad for X-mas. He likes it a lot but he was playing out a 15w champ that was made in like 91? I've got real VOX tube amps so the hybrids just don't match up? I have a Hand Wired AC-15 & a British made AC-30 Top Boost, they don't travel well so I thought I would try one out but it just wasn't the same no matter what I did so F it, he can have it? The Oarnge was another impulse buy, I've always loved Orange amps but they are pricy & I like VOX better so whenever I had over $1000 to spend on a amp they got my cash? When it got here it was fun for a while but the little cab sucks!!! 10x better out of my 2x12! Anyway, as far as the Orange tube amp sound goes they're close but it's nothing special? That's pretty much my Hi Fi stereo now, sometimes I run my drum machine through it? Like I said I have a bunch of other amps so if I want class A tube sound I use a class A tube amp, if I want class A/B sound I use a A/B amp, & I also have some really great S.S. amps, they don't get used as much as they should but they do sond really good for some stuff & you have to love the consistency of a S.S. Amps!!! It's hard to say a Micro Terror or a Valvetronix has good tube sound when you have a AC-30, AC-15 H.W., VOX NT50 G1 head & cabinet, a Duluxe Reverb, Princeton Reverb Sliverface reissue, TS15 head & cab, TS30 head & cab, & even a vintage Fender Lacquered Tweed 1x12 & Champion 600 sitting right in front of it? I won't list all the S.S. stuff I've collected over the years but there's a lot! So if you were only going to have one amp I think a GOOD hybrid wouldn't be a awful choice, especially if you want "tube tone" & don't want tube problems or tube cost!!! I'm Pretty lucky so as long as I don't need to move them around too much, most my concerts are in my living room now anyways, I'll stick with one or the other, valves for home, studios, & real gigs. S.S. For going over to my buddy's house or lugging around bars & using it as a beer coaster!!! Zap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JOLLY
Super Simonologist
Re: HYBRID AMPS
I don't know what it was about it that made me laugh so hard. I guess it just caught me off guard. I still think it's funny as hell.
Re: HYBRID AMPS
the idea is cool but in practice ive never been impressed on the guitar amp side of things. the old vox valvetronix stuff was a cool idea, using a 12ax7 in the power section to get a little tube feel to the amp. ss front end and power section but with a tube between them giving a little color and squish.
most tube preamp hybrid guitar amps seem like its more a marketing thing than having any real tonal benefit. the tubes are usually running at low voltages or with a ton of other stuff around it so its adding a little color but the majority of the tone is from the circuity before and after the tube. swap the stock tube for something else and see how much difference there is. usually not much. people will rave about the difference but i hear almost none most of the time.
tube power section with ss preamp is a weird beast but can be cool for the right gig i guess
the best hybrid designs ive seen have been bass amps. the svt 3 pro is one of my all time favorite bass heads. three 12ax7's in the preamp and two more small bottles between the preamp and power amp as a driver circuit. the tube drive knob controls the voltage that those driver tubes see. turn it down and you get a spongy-er warmer response like a svt, turn it up and you get a faster tighter response.
the idea is cool but in practice ive never been impressed on the guitar amp side of things. the old vox valvetronix stuff was a cool idea, using a 12ax7 in the power section to get a little tube feel to the amp. ss front end and power section but with a tube between them giving a little color and squish.
most tube preamp hybrid guitar amps seem like its more a marketing thing than having any real tonal benefit. the tubes are usually running at low voltages or with a ton of other stuff around it so its adding a little color but the majority of the tone is from the circuity before and after the tube. swap the stock tube for something else and see how much difference there is. usually not much. people will rave about the difference but i hear almost none most of the time.
tube power section with ss preamp is a weird beast but can be cool for the right gig i guess
the best hybrid designs ive seen have been bass amps. the svt 3 pro is one of my all time favorite bass heads. three 12ax7's in the preamp and two more small bottles between the preamp and power amp as a driver circuit. the tube drive knob controls the voltage that those driver tubes see. turn it down and you get a spongy-er warmer response like a svt, turn it up and you get a faster tighter response.
ehdwuld
A Ficus
Re: HYBRID AMPS
hmm now that you mention it
my Carvin Red Line Bass amp has a tube/SS knob
where it adds a bit of tubishness to the preamp
I don't notice much difference in the tone
from one side to the other
but mostly I play Bass or Acoustic through it
so it really doesn't matter
hmm now that you mention it
my Carvin Red Line Bass amp has a tube/SS knob
where it adds a bit of tubishness to the preamp
I don't notice much difference in the tone
from one side to the other
but mostly I play Bass or Acoustic through it
so it really doesn't matter
Johtosotku
New member
Re: HYBRID AMPS
I've never been impressed by a single 12ax7 in front of a solid state power amp. It seems gimmicky. If I want a solid state amp, I'll go and buy a Tech21 or such. If I want a tube amp, I'll get one.
All that said I haven't tried out the latest offerings. Maybe there's been some technological innovations, but I'll hold my breath.
I've never been impressed by a single 12ax7 in front of a solid state power amp. It seems gimmicky. If I want a solid state amp, I'll go and buy a Tech21 or such. If I want a tube amp, I'll get one.
All that said I haven't tried out the latest offerings. Maybe there's been some technological innovations, but I'll hold my breath.
L
Little Pigbacon
Guest
Re: HYBRID AMPS
I used to have an H&K ATS Sixty that was a hybrid 1X12 combo with a 12AX7 in the preamp and a solid-state power amp. I liked the way that amp was voiced, though I don't know how much of that was due to which design aspects. The same sound probably could have come from any design, though most of the all-SS amps I've played have sounded drier, without that fluid, slippery feel in the midrange and treble.
I used to have an H&K ATS Sixty that was a hybrid 1X12 combo with a 12AX7 in the preamp and a solid-state power amp. I liked the way that amp was voiced, though I don't know how much of that was due to which design aspects. The same sound probably could have come from any design, though most of the all-SS amps I've played have sounded drier, without that fluid, slippery feel in the midrange and treble.
Nostalgic Distortion
New member
Re: HYBRID AMPS
Micro Terror's sound great, tons of true tube sound! You just have to use a better cab than the one designed for it. That thing out of a good 1x12 sounds amazing! I just sold mine to toner but only because I've got 11 amps, well 10 now? Most of them are true tube amps & I've got 2 S.S. Fenders as well, I love the consistency of S.S. amps! If I had to have one amp it would probably be a really good hybrid! They sound like valves without the finicky problems that inherently come with valve amps? I also had a VOX VT20 but I gave that to my girls dad for x-mas after I bought my AC-15C2 Twin, that was also a great hybrid, I really wanted it for the VOX tones but a lot of the models are quite useable! Now that I've got what's basically a 15w AC-30 I don't need it? No sence in modeling when I got the real thing? Although it was a lot easier to move around!!!
Micro Terror's sound great, tons of true tube sound! You just have to use a better cab than the one designed for it. That thing out of a good 1x12 sounds amazing! I just sold mine to toner but only because I've got 11 amps, well 10 now? Most of them are true tube amps & I've got 2 S.S. Fenders as well, I love the consistency of S.S. amps! If I had to have one amp it would probably be a really good hybrid! They sound like valves without the finicky problems that inherently come with valve amps? I also had a VOX VT20 but I gave that to my girls dad for x-mas after I bought my AC-15C2 Twin, that was also a great hybrid, I really wanted it for the VOX tones but a lot of the models are quite useable! Now that I've got what's basically a 15w AC-30 I don't need it? No sence in modeling when I got the real thing? Although it was a lot easier to move around!!!
tman
New member
Re: HYBRID AMPS
Im telling you guys if you can play through a Kustom PH TUBE 12 new from 2014 hybrid amp try it sounds awesome!!!! With the 12 ax7 preamp tube and SS power section.However, it has a tube simulation in the SS section so it sounds authentic. Its a 12 watt amp with a 12" speaker closed back practice amp.
Im telling you guys if you can play through a Kustom PH TUBE 12 new from 2014 hybrid amp try it sounds awesome!!!! With the 12 ax7 preamp tube and SS power section.However, it has a tube simulation in the SS section so it sounds authentic. Its a 12 watt amp with a 12" speaker closed back practice amp.
omg81
New member
Re: HYBRID AMPS
Let me first say that I don't like SS amps at all. I'm a valve-only player. I started with SS, went over a cheap Laney hybrid top, and ended up with good ol' Marshall. The first time I played a valve amp (Marshall DSL), I didn't like it at all, it was just so harsh. But after getting used to them, I can't go back.
So, hybrid amps. For my liking, they're not as good as valve amps, but come with two great advantages: weight, and of course, price. For about the price of a SS amp, a hybrid amp is an excellent compromise. Thanks to the preamp valve, the overdrive sounds just more natural, more organic, or whatever you like to call it. Any SS distortion I tried just sounds ugly and plasticky to me.
Currently, I have a Line 6 Spider Jam (75w SS) that has some fairly ok amp modelling, but it feels oddly artificial, and there's not much attack response. I also have a Vox VT30 (30w hybrid) which is almost as loud, has better-sounding overdrive and seems to have more punch. I'm not sure about the latter, normally I'd expect the "punch" to come from a valve power stage, not from the preamp. But it does feel like that. Could be true, could be my perception, or just that my Vox is better than my Line 6.
But then, I have a Laney Cub-10, a minimalist 10w valve combo, and it blasts both away with sheer attack and direct response (and it is loud too). To get metal sounds, I have to use a distortion pedal, but even so it feels better than the Vox hybrid to me. Its tonal range is very limited (I think it's awesome for blues, but not much else really), the Line 6's and Vox' range is very wide, but even so I find it more fun to play. But of course, even though it was one of the cheapest valve amps I could get, it was pretty expensive compared to a simple SS or hybrid amp.
So, are hybrids as good as all-valve? No. Are they a great choice on a budget? Yes.
edit: Both Line 6 and Vox helped me choose the right valve amp though. They have one or two dozen sounds, but in the end I always settled for the "British" settings. After trying many valve amps, it turned out that the amps they were emulating were the right ones for me.
Let me first say that I don't like SS amps at all. I'm a valve-only player. I started with SS, went over a cheap Laney hybrid top, and ended up with good ol' Marshall. The first time I played a valve amp (Marshall DSL), I didn't like it at all, it was just so harsh. But after getting used to them, I can't go back.
So, hybrid amps. For my liking, they're not as good as valve amps, but come with two great advantages: weight, and of course, price. For about the price of a SS amp, a hybrid amp is an excellent compromise. Thanks to the preamp valve, the overdrive sounds just more natural, more organic, or whatever you like to call it. Any SS distortion I tried just sounds ugly and plasticky to me.
Currently, I have a Line 6 Spider Jam (75w SS) that has some fairly ok amp modelling, but it feels oddly artificial, and there's not much attack response. I also have a Vox VT30 (30w hybrid) which is almost as loud, has better-sounding overdrive and seems to have more punch. I'm not sure about the latter, normally I'd expect the "punch" to come from a valve power stage, not from the preamp. But it does feel like that. Could be true, could be my perception, or just that my Vox is better than my Line 6.
But then, I have a Laney Cub-10, a minimalist 10w valve combo, and it blasts both away with sheer attack and direct response (and it is loud too). To get metal sounds, I have to use a distortion pedal, but even so it feels better than the Vox hybrid to me. Its tonal range is very limited (I think it's awesome for blues, but not much else really), the Line 6's and Vox' range is very wide, but even so I find it more fun to play. But of course, even though it was one of the cheapest valve amps I could get, it was pretty expensive compared to a simple SS or hybrid amp.
So, are hybrids as good as all-valve? No. Are they a great choice on a budget? Yes.
edit: Both Line 6 and Vox helped me choose the right valve amp though. They have one or two dozen sounds, but in the end I always settled for the "British" settings. After trying many valve amps, it turned out that the amps they were emulating were the right ones for me.
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DrNewcenstein
He Did the Monster Mash
Re: HYBRID AMPS
I've got a Fender RocPro1000 head that's a hybrid - 1 12AX7 in the preamp, S.S. power section. Can't say it's a terrible head - the stock drive is good enough for Classic Rock and early Iron Maiden, but you're not going to get Megadeth from it (well, maybe Peace Sells, but definitely not Holy Wars).
I'm not sure how much the one tube is actually doing, as I went to that from a Peavey TransTube Bandit 112 combo, which had the most-tubey tone of a pure S.S. at the time it came out. Both amps sounded similar enough that one could say the tube was doing nothing, or that the Peavey sounded like the single-tube Fender.
The majority of hate for S.S. amps is purely speculative. You want S.S. amps to sound like crap, and when you know you're plugging into one, you immediately convince yourself that it's crap. In a blind test where all you had was a guitar cable coming out of an amp room and someone switching amps on you, I doubt seriously that anyone could pick which one was all tube, hybrid, or S.S.
I've got a Fender RocPro1000 head that's a hybrid - 1 12AX7 in the preamp, S.S. power section. Can't say it's a terrible head - the stock drive is good enough for Classic Rock and early Iron Maiden, but you're not going to get Megadeth from it (well, maybe Peace Sells, but definitely not Holy Wars).
I'm not sure how much the one tube is actually doing, as I went to that from a Peavey TransTube Bandit 112 combo, which had the most-tubey tone of a pure S.S. at the time it came out. Both amps sounded similar enough that one could say the tube was doing nothing, or that the Peavey sounded like the single-tube Fender.
The majority of hate for S.S. amps is purely speculative. You want S.S. amps to sound like crap, and when you know you're plugging into one, you immediately convince yourself that it's crap. In a blind test where all you had was a guitar cable coming out of an amp room and someone switching amps on you, I doubt seriously that anyone could pick which one was all tube, hybrid, or S.S.
Drewsky7170
New member
Re: HYBRID AMPS
I know this thread is about a month old, but I just want to give my two cents. I have a Marshall AVT150 1x12 combo which I absolutely love. It comes stock with an ECC83 in the preamp. After my tube went out after lord knows how many years, I replaced it with a Groove Tubes 12AX7-R. It gave the amp a raw and barking tonality that's unexplainable. I have my presence toned down to around half, which is perfect for my ears. Unfortunately, the amp has been out of commission for quite some time and I haven't been able to take it to a repair shop yet. I'm still looking for another AVT150 combo in good shape. I miss playing through that thing.
I know this thread is about a month old, but I just want to give my two cents. I have a Marshall AVT150 1x12 combo which I absolutely love. It comes stock with an ECC83 in the preamp. After my tube went out after lord knows how many years, I replaced it with a Groove Tubes 12AX7-R. It gave the amp a raw and barking tonality that's unexplainable. I have my presence toned down to around half, which is perfect for my ears. Unfortunately, the amp has been out of commission for quite some time and I haven't been able to take it to a repair shop yet. I'm still looking for another AVT150 combo in good shape. I miss playing through that thing.
Phantasmagoria
watch where you point that sabre
Re: HYBRID AMPS
My Randall T2HL has a full tube preamp (3x12AX7's) & a tube (12AT7) buffered power section. It's a killer sounding amp ..especially for metal & high gain stuff. Tight, punchy (nuts!), responsive, very quiet, sweet when needed with tonnes of harmonic overtones, very nice cleans & as tubey as they get.
My Randall T2HL has a full tube preamp (3x12AX7's) & a tube (12AT7) buffered power section. It's a killer sounding amp ..especially for metal & high gain stuff. Tight, punchy (nuts!), responsive, very quiet, sweet when needed with tonnes of harmonic overtones, very nice cleans & as tubey as they get.
treyhaislip
Well-known member
Re: HYBRID AMPS
I gave my Vox Valvetronix to my dad because he loved it more than I did. It got some great tones for the size. I personally think it got that great "small speaker" sound, loved the tones I got out of it with my Gibson Les Paul Studio.
Edit: For what's it worth, I did all of the electrics on this sample track through a Vox Valvetronix (all through a cheap microphone, so not studio quality.)
View attachment 63791
I gave my Vox Valvetronix to my dad because he loved it more than I did. It got some great tones for the size. I personally think it got that great "small speaker" sound, loved the tones I got out of it with my Gibson Les Paul Studio.
Edit: For what's it worth, I did all of the electrics on this sample track through a Vox Valvetronix (all through a cheap microphone, so not studio quality.)
View attachment 63791
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Davii
New member
Re: HYBRID AMPS
I had an AVT150 head for a bit. It was ok, but more a case of not being able to afford a JVM410, and not much else on offer at the time that ticked enough boxes for the money I had.
I found it ok for powerchords, but cleans, and lead sounds didn't hit the spot for me.
I've always wondered whether there's a preference for which part is tube/SS, preamp, or power amp too.
I had an AVT150 head for a bit. It was ok, but more a case of not being able to afford a JVM410, and not much else on offer at the time that ticked enough boxes for the money I had.
I found it ok for powerchords, but cleans, and lead sounds didn't hit the spot for me.
I've always wondered whether there's a preference for which part is tube/SS, preamp, or power amp too.
treyhaislip
Well-known member
Re: HYBRID AMPS
What guitar were you using? I thought the Marshall's valvestates got a nice clean sound, but not the tubey clean sound like a Fender amp.
What guitar were you using? I thought the Marshall's valvestates got a nice clean sound, but not the tubey clean sound like a Fender amp.
Davii
New member
Re: HYBRID AMPS
Primarily a '95 Gibson LP Standard, with its stock 490/498 at the time. The cleans weren't terrible, but I'd been a bit spoilt from having a Fender Duluxe Hot Rod beforehand
Primarily a '95 Gibson LP Standard, with its stock 490/498 at the time. The cleans weren't terrible, but I'd been a bit spoilt from having a Fender Duluxe Hot Rod beforehand
treyhaislip
Well-known member
Re: HYBRID AMPS
Ha! I have a modded Fender Hot Rod Deluxe myself, and I've yet to play a Hybrid amp that came even close. lol Personally, Les Pauls sounded better through all of the Hybrid amps I've played.
Primarily a '95 Gibson LP Standard, with its stock 490/498 at the time. The cleans weren't terrible, but I'd been a bit spoilt from having a Fender Duluxe Hot Rod beforehand
Ha! I have a modded Fender Hot Rod Deluxe myself, and I've yet to play a Hybrid amp that came even close. lol Personally, Les Pauls sounded better through all of the Hybrid amps I've played.
Davii
New member
Re: HYBRID AMPS
The cleans were out of this world, handling the LP low end like a charm for me, but completely the wrong dirt for the hard rock I play[ed]. At one point, I had it running the cleans, while a Peavy Stereo Chorus handled overdrive duties. Major headache lugging that around though, so ended up plumping for the AVT as a poor man's JVM compromise :-S
The cleans were out of this world, handling the LP low end like a charm for me, but completely the wrong dirt for the hard rock I play[ed]. At one point, I had it running the cleans, while a Peavy Stereo Chorus handled overdrive duties. Major headache lugging that around though, so ended up plumping for the AVT as a poor man's JVM compromise :-S
