whats with the solid state hate?
- Thread starter dazedandconfused001
- Start date
Re: whats with the solid state hate?
I skipped a lot of really awesome replies to simply state that early digital amps were noticeably more sterile sounding than their tube brethren. This was ages ago. They have come a long way since then but the opinion was taken as gospel and passed on and on. YMMV. If you like your amp, you like your amp.
I skipped a lot of really awesome replies to simply state that early digital amps were noticeably more sterile sounding than their tube brethren. This was ages ago. They have come a long way since then but the opinion was taken as gospel and passed on and on. YMMV. If you like your amp, you like your amp.
Re: whats with the solid state hate?
Ever try the built-in 'distortion'? Wow, man..just wow.
Ever try the built-in 'distortion'? Wow, man..just wow.
Securb
One of Jerry's Kids
Re: whats with the solid state hate?
I loved my JC120. I got great tonez out of it with my Chandler Tube Driver. The onboard distortion? Yeah, wow! I feel that distortion was designed for keys not guitar. I am almost sure of it.
I loved my JC120. I got great tonez out of it with my Chandler Tube Driver. The onboard distortion? Yeah, wow! I feel that distortion was designed for keys not guitar. I am almost sure of it.
omg81
New member
Re: whats with the solid state hate?
Don't know if it's hate, but I've been very dissatisfied with SS. I've owned a lot, including modelling amps/tools, but they always sounded **** to me, like some fuzzy plastic box thing. I think hybrids with a valve pre-amp are a good value compromise. But the sound, the punch, the response, the sparkle of an actual valve amp... It's like comparing a wooden violin to one made of plastic.
Don't know if it's hate, but I've been very dissatisfied with SS. I've owned a lot, including modelling amps/tools, but they always sounded **** to me, like some fuzzy plastic box thing. I think hybrids with a valve pre-amp are a good value compromise. But the sound, the punch, the response, the sparkle of an actual valve amp... It's like comparing a wooden violin to one made of plastic.
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El Dunco
Sock Supplier to RHCP
Re: whats with the solid state hate?
I reckon considering whether an amp is tube or solid state first is putting the cart before the horse and things work out a lot better if you just use your ears and think about what works and sounds best for what you're trying to do. If it blows my hair back, I don't care what's inside it.
I reckon considering whether an amp is tube or solid state first is putting the cart before the horse and things work out a lot better if you just use your ears and think about what works and sounds best for what you're trying to do. If it blows my hair back, I don't care what's inside it.
Re: whats with the solid state hate?
I agree. I don't dismiss anything till I hear it. I played too many dogs, either way. I even wrote a blog about it.
I agree. I don't dismiss anything till I hear it. I played too many dogs, either way. I even wrote a blog about it.
Dave Locher
New member
Re: whats with the solid state hate?
Amen! When I bought my Randall RG100ES used back around 1989 or so I thought it WAS a tube amp. Imagine my surprise when I pulled off the back cover a few days later and discovered it was all solid state! Didn't care then, don't care now. Been flogging it ever since and haven't had to replace any tubes.
Amen! When I bought my Randall RG100ES used back around 1989 or so I thought it WAS a tube amp. Imagine my surprise when I pulled off the back cover a few days later and discovered it was all solid state! Didn't care then, don't care now. Been flogging it ever since and haven't had to replace any tubes.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: whats with the solid state hate?
+1. There's a lot of mediocre-sounding tube amps. Some are designed to be as cheap as possible to produce, and tone quality isn't a consideration. They know they'll sell because of the common mindset that 'tubes are always better'. And if they're not thrilled with how their cheap tube amp sounds, they feel better when they think 'A solid state would sound even worse.'
+1. There's a lot of mediocre-sounding tube amps. Some are designed to be as cheap as possible to produce, and tone quality isn't a consideration. They know they'll sell because of the common mindset that 'tubes are always better'. And if they're not thrilled with how their cheap tube amp sounds, they feel better when they think 'A solid state would sound even worse.'
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Brandenburg
New member
Re: whats with the solid state hate?
i was going to say that the RG 100es sounds very tubelike but im a fanboi and my opinion is somewhat biased
if you dont turn on that sustain switch.. with the sustain, it sounds like a can of bees but w/o it.. very dynamic, powerful and aggressive
incidentally.. my randall is a 1989 one and have had it since 1990
i was going to say that the RG 100es sounds very tubelike but im a fanboi and my opinion is somewhat biased
if you dont turn on that sustain switch.. with the sustain, it sounds like a can of bees but w/o it.. very dynamic, powerful and aggressive
incidentally.. my randall is a 1989 one and have had it since 1990
Dave Locher
New member
Re: whats with the solid state hate?
Oh yeah, that "sustain" setting sucks!
Mine is a 1978, and I got it with no owner manual so I didn't know that option existed until a couple years later when the treble knob took a hit and I had to play with it popped out for one show. Yuck.
It's not just you - that amp brings on the thunder crunch like nobody's business. I have never wished I had more power or more crunch, and I have played it in punk bands, an industrial band, a rockabilly band (I handled the slightly fuzzy chuck berry tone, the other guy did the twang thing), and a few straightforward alt rock bands. Always happy with it.
Oh yeah, that "sustain" setting sucks!
Mine is a 1978, and I got it with no owner manual so I didn't know that option existed until a couple years later when the treble knob took a hit and I had to play with it popped out for one show. Yuck.
It's not just you - that amp brings on the thunder crunch like nobody's business. I have never wished I had more power or more crunch, and I have played it in punk bands, an industrial band, a rockabilly band (I handled the slightly fuzzy chuck berry tone, the other guy did the twang thing), and a few straightforward alt rock bands. Always happy with it.
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