Is a tube amp worth the upgrade?
- Thread starter waltschwarzkopf
- Start date
waltschwarzkopf
New member
Re: Is a tube amp worth the upgrade?
Hi guys!
Nice to see that this thread is still hot, alright!
I guess I'll save up for an all-tube amp when I can afford it and when I feel I really need it.
I found this explanation of "why tubes sound better". This is my got-to site for all photography related questions, the explanation about tubes is very thorough and well done. Let me know what you think!
http://kenrockwell.com/audio/why-tubes-sound-better.htm
Hi guys!
Nice to see that this thread is still hot, alright!
I guess I'll save up for an all-tube amp when I can afford it and when I feel I really need it.
I found this explanation of "why tubes sound better". This is my got-to site for all photography related questions, the explanation about tubes is very thorough and well done. Let me know what you think!
http://kenrockwell.com/audio/why-tubes-sound-better.htm
Nightburst
New member
Re: Is a tube amp worth the upgrade?
It's not just the sound, its the feeling when you play. When playing music you want to be inspired. If you feel you get inspired by any other amp, then more power to you! Going the scientific route reading about the technical details and physics behind the magic only confirms what many guitar players know for decades: tubes are magical and inspire you to make music.
It's not just the sound, its the feeling when you play. When playing music you want to be inspired. If you feel you get inspired by any other amp, then more power to you! Going the scientific route reading about the technical details and physics behind the magic only confirms what many guitar players know for decades: tubes are magical and inspire you to make music.
Re: Is a tube amp worth the upgrade?
It is more 'feel' to me, as the tone has been replicated to the point where I can't tell the difference in a blind test. Cheap tube amps sound and feel cheap, though. Just because a tube is used, doesn't make it automatically better than all other technologies.
It is more 'feel' to me, as the tone has been replicated to the point where I can't tell the difference in a blind test. Cheap tube amps sound and feel cheap, though. Just because a tube is used, doesn't make it automatically better than all other technologies.
Nostalgic Distortion
New member
Re: Is a tube amp worth the upgrade?
While I completely agree with the first part of your statement I disagree with the second. Personally I don't think all cheap tube amps sound cheap, in fact some of my favorite tube amps didn't cost much at all!!! Of course it depends on your definition of cheap too???
Out of all the fantastic valve amplifiers that I have my cheap ones get the most use!!! I've got a 5W Blackheart Lil Giant that I absolutely love to death & it cost me $60 which is pretty cheap by any standard!!! However the cabinet it's running into cost me sufficiently more than that, LOL!!!
I've also got a Ibanez TSA-15 head & cabinet that I bought on new from Sweetwater 4-5 years ago for $300 shipped that sounds flipping great!!! I play through that thing every single day & I have done ever since I bought it! Aside from upgrading the speaker to a Vintage 30 its exactly how it was when it arrived on my doorstep, stock tubes, Etc. because I just never felt the need to change anything about it?
To be fair the TSA-15 is kinda more of a pedal platform tube amp than a tube distortion amp, & on any given day I'm running about $1,500 worth of effects on the floor!!! Still, it's capable of throwing out some pretty great Blackface clean tones for about the same amount of money as buying new tubes for my 65 Deluxe.....
While I completely agree with the first part of your statement I disagree with the second. Personally I don't think all cheap tube amps sound cheap, in fact some of my favorite tube amps didn't cost much at all!!! Of course it depends on your definition of cheap too???
Out of all the fantastic valve amplifiers that I have my cheap ones get the most use!!! I've got a 5W Blackheart Lil Giant that I absolutely love to death & it cost me $60 which is pretty cheap by any standard!!! However the cabinet it's running into cost me sufficiently more than that, LOL!!!
I've also got a Ibanez TSA-15 head & cabinet that I bought on new from Sweetwater 4-5 years ago for $300 shipped that sounds flipping great!!! I play through that thing every single day & I have done ever since I bought it! Aside from upgrading the speaker to a Vintage 30 its exactly how it was when it arrived on my doorstep, stock tubes, Etc. because I just never felt the need to change anything about it?
To be fair the TSA-15 is kinda more of a pedal platform tube amp than a tube distortion amp, & on any given day I'm running about $1,500 worth of effects on the floor!!! Still, it's capable of throwing out some pretty great Blackface clean tones for about the same amount of money as buying new tubes for my 65 Deluxe.....
GilmourD
Burritotoneologist
Re: Is a tube amp worth the upgrade?
That's usually because they're often run in starved plate mode and are barely anything other than a light bulb.
Lewguitar
New member
Re: Is a tube amp worth the upgrade?
A lot of guys who own and use modeling amps feel that they sound and feel just as good as tube amps.
But a lot of guys who have not owned a good one, but have only played a few licks using factory presets in a music store, claim modeling amps do not feel as good as tubes.
IMO, this is because they don't own one and have not created their own presets.
A lot of guys who own and use modeling amps feel that they sound and feel just as good as tube amps.
But a lot of guys who have not owned a good one, but have only played a few licks using factory presets in a music store, claim modeling amps do not feel as good as tubes.
IMO, this is because they don't own one and have not created their own presets.
Re: Is a tube amp worth the upgrade?
My point is that if the tube is just sort of gratuitously thrown in there, with bad EQ, or a rattle-y cabinet, or non-musical EQ points, or over-compressed, buzzy distortion (like many cheap tube amps), I certain;y won't like it. I think tubes are just one part of the formula, but not the whole thing. Every aspect must be considered, and that means using quality components. That costs $$.
My point is that if the tube is just sort of gratuitously thrown in there, with bad EQ, or a rattle-y cabinet, or non-musical EQ points, or over-compressed, buzzy distortion (like many cheap tube amps), I certain;y won't like it. I think tubes are just one part of the formula, but not the whole thing. Every aspect must be considered, and that means using quality components. That costs $$.
Joey Voltage
New member
Re: Is a tube amp worth the upgrade?
Certainly a lot of floor pedals like the real tube do this, but most of the Valvestate like preamps run the tube at healthy voltages. That said, the tube stages in amps like the valvestate amps are never driven to clip, so you don't really juice much tubey goodness out of them, at least not in any capacity you would in an all tube preamp. Your description of a light bulb is pretty correct.
Certainly a lot of floor pedals like the real tube do this, but most of the Valvestate like preamps run the tube at healthy voltages. That said, the tube stages in amps like the valvestate amps are never driven to clip, so you don't really juice much tubey goodness out of them, at least not in any capacity you would in an all tube preamp. Your description of a light bulb is pretty correct.
L
Little Pigbacon
Guest
Re: Is a tube amp worth the upgrade?
The best designs are where the starved-plate 12AX7 is backlit with a surface-mount LED that glows orange when the product is powered on.
The best designs are where the starved-plate 12AX7 is backlit with a surface-mount LED that glows orange when the product is powered on.
Joey Voltage
New member
L
Little Pigbacon
Guest
Re: Is a tube amp worth the upgrade?
That's not really a healthy tube color, is it?
That's not really a healthy tube color, is it?
GilmourD
Burritotoneologist
Re: Is a tube amp worth the upgrade?
Depending on the tube and manufacturing method some tubes could actually have a faint blue glow to them.
Joey Voltage
New member
Re: Is a tube amp worth the upgrade?
Well all joking aside, yes some have a blue glow due to some residual gasses stuck with in the bottle.
Well all joking aside, yes some have a blue glow due to some residual gasses stuck with in the bottle.
Jacew
New member
Re: Is a tube amp worth the upgrade?
Surely, though it's still the same with solid state gear. Tube amp is much easier to make to sound good technically. So cheap tube amp will usually be much better sounding than a cheap solid state.
Of course modeling amps are whole different thing...
Surely, though it's still the same with solid state gear. Tube amp is much easier to make to sound good technically. So cheap tube amp will usually be much better sounding than a cheap solid state.
Of course modeling amps are whole different thing...
Re: Is a tube amp worth the upgrade?
I don't know...cheap tube amps aren't a great sound. Cheap SS amps aren't either. To me, both are just as bad.
I don't know...cheap tube amps aren't a great sound. Cheap SS amps aren't either. To me, both are just as bad.
