Is it worth getting an all tube amp if i'm using effects pedals?

[cyrax]

I have an AVT-100 which has a 12ax7 tube in the pre-amp stage, and solid state transistor output stage (or so I've read). I'm using an ME-50 at the moment, and really have no need for the inbuilt digital effects or even the distortion channels on my amp.

So, my question is: will an all tube amp make much of a difference to the tone if I'm using the distortion provided by the ME-50?

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: Is it worth getting an all tube amp if i'm using effects pedals?

Well I'm a tube snob, so I will always say that all tube is better. LOL

Even for cleans, I like the sound and more importantly the FEEL of all tube.

 

[scottish]

Re: Is it worth getting an all tube amp if i'm using effects pedals?

depends on what you are gonna use it for. if it stays at home and the volume never really gets pushed...then id say no. if you gig with it then i think the answer is yes.

like the previous poster...i need tube, lol, i am addicted. so i would get one either way. but hey, take ur distortion pedal down to guitar center or sam ash or wherever and plug into a few tube amps and see what you think.

 

[Kane17]

Re: Is it worth getting an all tube amp if i'm using effects pedals?

If you are just using the distortion then a tube amp could be better.

I think the only issues you would have with effects were if you used a lot of modulation delay and reverb which might hinder the quality of pure saturation of the power stage. It doesn't really sound bad but at high volumes the reverb and delay might sound like mush.

But I guess my thoughts are, if you got a new tube amp, chances are the natural distortion of the amp might be better to use anyways, unless you just get a single channel amp or a tube power amp, in which case your me-50 might become a necessity.


EDIT: just so you know I'm not quite converted to a tube-lover just yet I have 2 tube amps and 2 solid state and I always preffer my solid state power amp when using a multi-effect ensemble. Is the me-50 all analog? I thought I read somewhere that it was...if so then yes it probably would be better tubes but I've always got marginal sound from digital stuff through tube amps, although it DOES have less digital blocky-ness in the sound, I just never felt they meshed well in overall sound. Flat Response solid state amp seemed best (to me) for digital.

 

[tone4days]

Re: Is it worth getting an all tube amp if i'm using effects pedals?

decide with your ears, not the labels

i have gotten satisfying tone with both SS and tube amps

good luck
t4d

 

[Kane17]

Re: Is it worth getting an all tube amp if i'm using effects pedals?

decide with your ears...

+1


Is there any way you could just take your pedal in to a guitar shop and check out a few tube amps with it?

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Is it worth getting an all tube amp if i'm using effects pedals?

Buy the amp you like the best, it is the foundation of your sound.
Look at Gilmour and others using similar setups, they have clean tubeamps, nothing else sounds like a clean tubeamp, and then use pedals to create the various sounds they use, most of it sounds good because the amp is good!
Good amp and pedals will sound good if used well, bad amps and pedals.....well mostly never good
Just funky strange and thin.

 

[Bludave]

Re: Is it worth getting an all tube amp if i'm using effects pedals?

Yes!!

 

[Gamera]

Re: Is it worth getting an all tube amp if i'm using effects pedals?

I used the ME-50 for many years through a Fender SS combo amp. I recently upgraded to a tube amp with a decent distortion channel so I don't really use the ME-50 now. Although for a basement jammer and practice rig, the ME-50 and SS Fender were great. Yeah, there's extra power and warmth to the tubes but you're locked into a couple sounds. The whole point of the ME-50 is the flexibility. If you're happy with it I'd stick with what you have. The only scanario where I'd completely recommend the tube amp is for gigging. But I personally wouldn't use the ME-50 with the tube amp. For me the whole point of tubes was to simplify and the ME-50 adds a bit of a digital flavor to my ears.

 

[baritone]

Re: Is it worth getting an all tube amp if i'm using effects pedals?

I use lots of layering of effects every once in a while with my tube amp.

 

[Markk]

Re: Is it worth getting an all tube amp if i'm using effects pedals?

+1


Is there any way you could just take your pedal in to a guitar shop and check out a few tube amps with it?

This is the best way to go.

Personally, I'd say Tube will make anything sound better, no matter if your playing at home or gigging.

 

[Dr.Mavashi]

Re: Is it worth getting an all tube amp if i'm using effects pedals?

There is something about tubes that you can't put in words, its just overall vibe of playing and hearing what you play, the punch the response, you can get pretty far these days with a transistor box ona RECORDING ... but if you wanna have "lets invade poland" tone, regardless of the style you play, its just simple ... TUBES ... I got myself a Light Mass just so I could practice through my Laney more ...

 

[LesStrat]

Re: Is it worth getting an all tube amp if i'm using effects pedals?

I have grown rather fond of the warmth of the valve amp.

 

[doveman]

Re: Is it worth getting an all tube amp if i'm using effects pedals?

Tubes ... the only way to fly.

 

[these_go211]

Re: Is it worth getting an all tube amp if i'm using effects pedals?

^ +1 !!

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: Is it worth getting an all tube amp if i'm using effects pedals?

+1


Is there any way you could just take your pedal in to a guitar shop and check out a few tube amps with it?

YEAH, just take your pedal in to a guitar shop and check out a few tube amps with it.