Oh tube amps suck.

[korovamilkdud]

So I got my B-52 AT-100, got it plugged into my cab and all, ready to play with my band last night.

After a while I could smell the heat being generated by the amp. I looked in the head through the top. I could see all the power tubes looking dim except what may have been the rectifier tube, it was glowing quite brightly.

The tone just wasn't there, neither was the volume. My JC-120 was louder and sounded better once I made the swap.

I'm pissed, this isn't even a used amp, it's new. I'm not sure if the manufacturer put some old tubes in it or what. But it wasn't working well last night that's for sure.

 

[Lee_L]

Re: Oh tube amps suck.

Don't judge an entire type of amp just because one wasn't to your liking. The B-52 is a cheap amp, even though I've read that a lot of people are suprised by the tone. I played one, and it sounds okay, but it just wasn't there for me.

 

[shreder75]

Re: Oh tube amps suck.

probably just a lemmon..it happens...they have a great warranty..and since it's new, you can probably return it and get a brand new one

 

[Aceman]

Re: Oh tube amps suck.

Solid state tone & reliability are highly UNDER-RATED!!!!!! The one thing I know about a studio is that they will use anything - including running an axe through a transistor radio if it sounds good....All good sounds are good. Not all tube amps make good sounds.

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Oh tube amps suck.

I'd write it off to bad karma.

 

[Davey]

Re: Oh tube amps suck.

i played a XXX and thought it pretty much sucked.

and i didnt have anything on that amp under 6 .. then i found out (which should have been pretty damn obvious) that the tubes were totaly shot

 

[DesertRose]

Re: Oh tube amps suck.

prolly it needs time to break into

 

[aleclee]

Re: Oh tube amps suck.

Seems kinda like saying import cars suck based on owning a Yugo. :eek13: You get what you pay for.

Solid state tone & reliability are highly UNDER-RATED!!!!!!

Maybe so but tube amps are generally easier to service. I had a SS amp blow up on me during the sound check for a gig. As opposed to a tube amp that can be fixed almost anywhere as long as the transformers are intact, my SS amp had to go back to the manufacturer (GK) for repair and was gone about a month.

All good sounds are good. Not all tube amps make good sounds.

True enough. I'd prefer a decent SS amp to most value-priced tube amps. Buy gear because you like the sound, not because you're impressed by the specs. Features like tubes, true bypass, Class A operation, etc. don't guarantee tone. Your ears can tell the good stuff from the not-so-good by listening much better than your eyes can by reading specs.

 

[hareek]

Re: Oh tube amps suck.

no solid state amp can touch a good tube amp. solid state's are good for practice and some sound great, but in my opinion, you can't beat that warm sound and great tone of an awesome tube amp. but you can't go cheap. a cheap solid state amp sounds terrible just as much as a cheap tube amp does. my recommendation, spend some money and get a better tube amp. I mean, Marshall hasn't been a leading amp manufacturer for 44 years for nothing.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Oh tube amps suck.

I listen first, at many volumes and settings, then look at how it is made. I have played too many terrible Marshalls and Fenders to buy into the tube amp snob camp (there are great ones too, but many lemons among them). I like many different kinds- from my tube Mesa to my modeling Roland straight into the PA. If it isn't working, it isn't 'tube amps' as a whole, just maybe that one.

 

[hareek]

Re: Oh tube amps suck.

I listen first, at many volumes and settings, then look at how it is made. I have played too many terrible Marshalls and Fenders to buy into the tube amp snob camp (there are great ones too, but many lemons among them). I like many different kinds- from my tube Mesa to my modeling Roland straight into the PA. If it isn't working, it isn't 'tube amps' as a whole, just maybe that one.

"tube amp snob camp" is a little harsh, especially when you look at all the great guitarists in history and the amps they used. i agree there are many different greatsounding amps. and every amp manufacturer is going to have a bad product. your right when you say you should do your research. i've done mine and from my experience, tube has always sounded better than solid state. i do own and love both, but my marshall tsl 100 blows them all away. i will admit though, mesa has some equally sounding, if not better sounding amps. my friend's dual rectifier sounds incredible.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Oh tube amps suck.

well, i wasnt implying that you are a snob, but there are many that won't consider that there are many other ways of amplifying a guitar. yes, there are great sounds in history, but you also have to look foward to creating new sounds- if you like that LP through a marshall sound, great- that is the only way you are going to get it. it is a classic sound that will never go out of style. however, ive heard adrian belew and allan holdsworth through solid state amps and they sound amazing.

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: Oh tube amps suck.

lol ummm a JC120 is a high quality SS amp
A B52 is a LOOOWWWWWWWW grade tube amp

Not a fair comparison

 

[taphappy]

Re: Oh tube amps suck.

Today I played my my AVT50 for the first time in a week and I was blown away by how much better my tube amp sounded. Everything they say about solid states is true: harsh, buzzy, thin,...ect was true. I've played some decent solid states, but many tube amps I've played slayed the solid states. I've also heard about ears adjusting to tubes, I dont know how true this is. ANd of course there is the chance you just don't like the tone of the amp you bought, which in that case you could just buy another amp that suits your tastes.

 

[metal]

Re: Oh tube amps suck.

Today I played my my AVT50 for the first time in a week and I was blown away by how much better my tube amp sounded. Everything they say about solid states is true: harsh, buzzy, thin,...ect was true. I've played some decent solid states, but many tube amps I've played slayed the solid states. I've also heard about ears adjusting to tubes, I dont know how true this is. ANd of course there is the chance you just don't like the tone of the amp you bought, which in that case you could just buy another amp that suits your tastes.

+1 everyone has different tastes ! right now i hate my 5150 i wanna sell it already!

 

[schecterplayer]

Re: Oh tube amps suck.

Bring that amp to a tech and make sure the bias is correct and maby get some new tubes. If that doesn't work, take out the nice tubes, put in the old ones and return the amp. Then whatever tube amp you end up with you've got a set of nice tubes for it with no money loss.

 

[DesertRose]

Re: Oh tube amps suck.

i mean, since its been purchased and the sound doesn't seemed right, getting it modded maybe another choice

 

[tone?]

Re: Oh tube amps suck.

i have said in the past that an amp is an amp. that is , just cause it is a tube amp doesnt mean that it has to sound good.
there are good tube amps and ****ty ones.
and there are good SS amps and ****ty ones as well.

of course a good tube amp will sound better than a SS. But that is opinionated as well. Just hear what you want to hear and dont listen to anyone. if you like a good SS amp so be it.

if a tube amp is a lemon i agree though it can eat your wallet and be the worst pain. totally take away your focus on playing.

had that with a Marshall JTM60. when i got rid of it i had a party!

 

[Kommerzbassist]

Re: Oh tube amps suck.

+1 everyone has different tastes ! right now i hate my 5150 i wanna sell it already!

Could it be that that amp is a love/hate thing? I've only heard peaople eitehr praising or hating it's sound so far...
Maybe you should look into Engl Powerballs... they've got a nice metal sound AFAIK (although the Marshall TSLs are great amps too ... but I'd say they're more "rock" amps)

 

[metal]

Re: Oh tube amps suck.

Could it be that that amp is a love/hate thing? I've only heard peaople eitehr praising or hating it's sound so far...
Maybe you should look into Engl Powerballs... they've got a nice metal sound AFAIK (although the Marshall TSLs are great amps too ... but I'd say they're more "rock" amps)

i wanna sell it and get a marshall jcm800 50 watt head!!