Tube or Modeling Amp?

[Jacew]

Re: Tube or Modeling Amp?

Mmmm... I spend a solid 150 dollars to retube my rockerverb, and that does not include paying a professional... 8-10 hours of solid gigging every week fries tubes in about 2 months. As for my guitar? Learned to set it up, haven't spent more than 40 cents on upkeep since putting in new pickups 3 years ago. (40 cents was the amount of coins it took me to block the floating trem)

PS. I'm no rich man, I'm a musician, I don't consider 150$ pocket change

You must really push them. I still have same tubes in my TT it had when I bought it used 1,5 years ago. I play 6-7 hours per week. No problems yet.

Of course 90 % of my playing is with non-ear protection levels, but still...

No need to pay for professional if you learn to bias it yourself

You never change strings in your guitar?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Tube or Modeling Amp?

On my VOX the factory presets for different style classic amps and tones are pretty good. I just jam on the presets.


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I erased most the 100 presets on my Mustang III, keeping only the 20 amp models with no effects so I could use them as starting points for creating the sounds I’d previously heard only in my head.

I think that’s what Jimi would have done too.

I’m mostly a jazzy blues player.

 

[Jacew]

Re: Tube or Modeling Amp?

I erased most the 100 presets on my Mustang III, keeping only the 20 amp models with no effects so I could use them as starting points for creating the sounds I’d previously heard only in my head.

I think that’s what Jimi would have done too.

I’m mostly a jazzy blues player...but I want to sound like me most of the time, not someone else.

I did same with Mustang I. I tweaked it a lot when it was my only amp, managed to dial in about 4 usable tones.

Past year it's been sitting as practice amp with dry Deluxe Reverb or Bassman mode with gain dimed. Other sounds just plain good and other "ugly lo-fi kind of way" good.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Tube or Modeling Amp?

I did same with Mustang I. I tweaked it a lot when it was my only amp, managed to dial in about 4 usable tones.

Past year it's been sitting as practice amp with dry Deluxe Reverb or Bassman mode with gain dimed. Other sounds just plain good and other "ugly lo-fi kind of way" good.

Yep. Most of the presets were useless, except to demonstrate all of the mostly useless (to me!) effects.

But there are some fabulous sounds in there.

Just needed to de-clutter the amp.

 

[UTGrad]

Re: Tube or Modeling Amp?

There are 33 presets on the VOX and a few more available with the software. Pretty manageable.


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[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: Tube or Modeling Amp?

$300

My Vox VT20X is perfect for me right now but when I get into maybe some small gigs or jams with friends I want to get more sound so will opt for a 40 or 100W.

I do like the vast amount of tone capabilities and built in effects of the Vox. I can go from a clean Fender sound to an Orange with heavy distortion and a delay effect with a simple button.


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In that case a modeler is the way to go.

I have a very good sounding modeling amp in the Marshall JMD. It sounds 95% just a good as the tube amps it models with the feel, but I plug into my tube amps almost all the time.

 

[PierceOkken]

Re: Tube or Modeling Amp?

You must really push them. I still have same tubes in my TT it had when I bought it used 1,5 years ago. I play 6-7 hours per week. No problems yet.

Of course 90 % of my playing is with non-ear protection levels, but still...

No need to pay for professional if you learn to bias it yourself

You never change strings in your guitar?

Bought a Ernie ball bulk pack of like 1,000 some packs, and they was like 20 years ago. Haven't even made a dent in it yet.

 

[lordsilly]

Re: Tube or Modeling Amp?

Two things have really come in to play of late.
1 - Cheap modelling amps are (with a few notable exceptions...I'm looking at you line6) waaaaaay better than they were even a few years ago.
2 - There are a lot of perfectly good cheap tube amps nowadays.
So there really isn't a lot to chose between them. Treat them all the same and just grab something you feel good about.

 

[Jacew]

Re: Tube or Modeling Amp?

I’m getting back into guitar and got a VT20X VOX modeling amp for jamming in the bonus room. I like the versatility of the modeling amp and the variety of pre configured vintage amp tones that I can tweak.

I’m looking to add a 2nd amp and considering a Marshall Tube amp or a larger modeling amp. Which would be the better choice for tone?


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For what it's worth, Vox VT20 has been the best sounding modeler I've played.

Not as good as good tube amp though.

If you decide to go for modeler, upgrading to VT120 for instance would be very good choice.

 

[LLL]

Re: Tube or Modeling Amp?

Digital things fail. Get obsolete. Need updates. New firmware. Are obscelescented programmed so they fail after a fixed amount of time.
Analog staff also fails and gets worn by time, but it is fixable, more durable and more reliable.
I think analog staff will allways be a safer bet.

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He has a very good point.

And I use both tube/valve and VST (DAW plugins) amps.

That being said, there's no limitations (except budget, but you can make $$$) so "BOTH!" I say.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Tube or Modeling Amp?

He has a very good point.

And I use both tube/valve and VST (DAW plugins) amps.

That being said, there's no limitations (except budget, but you can make $$$) so "BOTH!" I say.

I say both too.

I love my Mustang III modeler and it’s the best one I’ve tried.

Most versatile amp I’ve ever owned and I do think modelers will eventually replace tube amps.

But that said I just spent a grand on a handwired all tube AC30 and I’ve never owned a better tube amp...altho the Mustang has a much wider range of sounds and every effect I need.

I also have no doubt that the AC30 will still be kicking butt 50 years from now and that Mustang will wind up in the landfill within 10 or 20.

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: Tube or Modeling Amp?

Moderate Derail:

Doesn't (or hasn't) Mark Knopler used AC30s?

 

[shupe13]

Re: Tube or Modeling Amp?

Moderate Derail:

Doesn't (or hasn't) Mark Knopler used AC30s?

All I know is that he gets his money for nuth’n and his chicks for free.


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[mantrasky]

Re: Tube or Modeling Amp?

I'll have to think on it! (although I do own an AxEfx II & Kemper) I also really love IR Technology, along with my SM57 & R-121 mic's.

 

[shupe13]

Re: Tube or Modeling Amp?

I'll have to think on it! (although I do own an AxEfx II & Kemper) I also really love IR Technology, along with my SM57 & R-121 mic's.

Nice!
Where’s the Friedman cab?


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[justFred]

Re: Tube or Modeling Amp?

Seymour Duncan Convertible, best modeling amp. Can't understand why it didn't take off???way ahead of the time perhaps?

 

[Aceman]

Re: Tube or Modeling Amp?

My current amp stable, low to high end:

Crate CA30 acoustic - For acoustic sing/play without PA hassle
Roland Cube 30 - A high frequency often used amp for low volume quickly plug and go on any style etc... (Plus the JC120, Blackface, and 5150 models are great + FX)
Peavey Express 112 Transtube - All around anything solid state amp. NO MAINTENANCEW EVER required, can play anything. Home/Gig
Marshall VS100 - Hybrid done right; 3 channels of Marshall goodness, and light, yet can drive a mega cab. Plus a 25/100 watt switch for home / jam use.
Fender Pro Jr. - 15 watts of class A awesome, with two knobs; Volume / Tone. That this is a little ultra tone beast. Wouldn't Gig with it, even though it is loud.
Mesa Stiletto - 50/100 watt Switchable head that I use for TWO sounds (even though it has 20). Dirt, and more dirt. But what a sound....Able to fill medium to large bars.

If I were not playing in a band - I'd get a Marshall DSL40, or maybe one of the smaller Blackstar, Jet City or whatever amps. If I wanted mega tube sound. But for all around playing, solid state or modeling (which has came a long way since my Cube 30) would be fine. Anyway - notice they all do something, even though a few can do many things.

If I had to pick TWO: Cube 30 and Pro Jr. (I assume never playing out, but possibly minor jams)

As said - what are you doing with it?

 

[PierceOkken]

Re: Tube or Modeling Amp?

Nice!
Where’s the Friedman cab?


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Wow... three of my favorite thing in one room, Charvels, Friedmans, and Soldanos. You are one privilledged dude to own that caliber of stuf

 

[Mincer]

Re: Tube or Modeling Amp?

Seymour Duncan Convertible, best modeling amp. Can't understand why it didn't take off???way ahead of the time perhaps?

I think there were reliability issues with some runs of them. That probably didn't help. They were good amps, though.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Tube or Modeling Amp?

I think there were reliability issues with some runs of them. That probably didn't help. They were good amps, though.

Stevie B's had one for the longest time. Almost got it.