rockinangus
New member
What is better, Tube or Solid State amp?, Tubes Sound really good and are cleaner IMO but I just want to see other peopls opinion
Which Is better?
- Thread starter rockinangus
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Jazz Rock
New member
Re: Which Is better?
from my limited experience, I got a Marshall valvestae 80W and a Laney LC15.
I can't really compare the distortion as the LC15 doesn't really produce a distortion as such (at least not at the volume I play). But the difference between both clean sound is quite sensible. The tube amps has a dynamic response to the picks mediator, which doesn't happen with the S/S. Furthermore there is some chime or sparkle in the valve amp that the Marshall is lacking.
I have just been playing the Marshall this afternoon (it was a while) and it was flagrant to me. Although, using the crunch mode on the clean channel offers a similar response to the attack it's still missing the extra sparkle.
Now is it kind of rule, I couldn't say?
from my limited experience, I got a Marshall valvestae 80W and a Laney LC15.
I can't really compare the distortion as the LC15 doesn't really produce a distortion as such (at least not at the volume I play). But the difference between both clean sound is quite sensible. The tube amps has a dynamic response to the picks mediator, which doesn't happen with the S/S. Furthermore there is some chime or sparkle in the valve amp that the Marshall is lacking.
I have just been playing the Marshall this afternoon (it was a while) and it was flagrant to me. Although, using the crunch mode on the clean channel offers a similar response to the attack it's still missing the extra sparkle.
Now is it kind of rule, I couldn't say?
F
Forbes
Guest
Re: Which Is better?
Tube, it just plain sounds better. Sure there are uses for SS and modelling (low volume, practicingand stuff). But when it comes down to it a cracked tube amp will blow 99.9% of solid state or modelling amps out of the water in a gig scenario. Hence why most pro musicians use them.
Tube, it just plain sounds better. Sure there are uses for SS and modelling (low volume, practicingand stuff). But when it comes down to it a cracked tube amp will blow 99.9% of solid state or modelling amps out of the water in a gig scenario. Hence why most pro musicians use them.
Metalman_666
Well-known member
Re: Which Is better?
I think the large majority of guitarists will agree unanimously that tubes kick the crap out of solid state. I would tend to agree as well, there just isn't anything that sounds or feels as good as an all tube amp.
I think the large majority of guitarists will agree unanimously that tubes kick the crap out of solid state. I would tend to agree as well, there just isn't anything that sounds or feels as good as an all tube amp.
gordon_39422
New member
Re: Which Is better?
As noted previously, for full-volume gigs/pactices, TUBE all the way!!! But around the house, SS gives you the same tone regardless of volume... When I try to play my tube amps at lower volume, that "connection" between the guitar and amp disappears... not to mention the tones are not as full either.... So SS has it's place in a musicians gear list, but HANDS DOWN, TUBES walk all over Solid State!
As noted previously, for full-volume gigs/pactices, TUBE all the way!!! But around the house, SS gives you the same tone regardless of volume... When I try to play my tube amps at lower volume, that "connection" between the guitar and amp disappears... not to mention the tones are not as full either.... So SS has it's place in a musicians gear list, but HANDS DOWN, TUBES walk all over Solid State!
Metalman_666
Well-known member
Re: Which Is better?
About the SS amps sounding the same at any volume, I disagree a little. I notice that at louder volumes my Randall sounds loads better. However that is probably due to speaker movement. Can't you open up the master volume of some tube amps and just use the preamp volumes to adjust to the overall volume? It works very well with the Peavey XXX apparently; I have yet to try that.gordon_39422 said:
Re: Which Is better?
too many generalizations- i have played too many tube amps that sound terrible live, and many ss amps that sound good. it also depends on the sound- most pro jazz guitarists use SS. try them out, before you peek in the back and see how it is made.
I use both, for different situations.
too many generalizations- i have played too many tube amps that sound terrible live, and many ss amps that sound good. it also depends on the sound- most pro jazz guitarists use SS. try them out, before you peek in the back and see how it is made.
I use both, for different situations.
STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: Which Is better?
I use both and love both...Depends on what amp you buy!
A great tube amp always edges out a SS one...In my opinion,but the SS stuff is getting pretty darn close now!
I use both and love both...Depends on what amp you buy!
A great tube amp always edges out a SS one...In my opinion,but the SS stuff is getting pretty darn close now!
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: Which Is better?
A good sound is a good sound wherever it comes from, and both have there +/-'s
Tube: + Lively, + output stage distortion, - often only good loud, - tubes unreliable/need maintenance, - usually expensive
SS: + Consistent, + No maintenance, - no output tube distoriton, - can lack [insert thing they lack here], + usually cheap
A good sound is a good sound wherever it comes from, and both have there +/-'s
Tube: + Lively, + output stage distortion, - often only good loud, - tubes unreliable/need maintenance, - usually expensive
SS: + Consistent, + No maintenance, - no output tube distoriton, - can lack [insert thing they lack here], + usually cheap
Re: Which Is better?
Yeah, but jazz guys don't want to hear the amp. I have always felt that the electric guitar is the red-headed step child of jazz. What they really want is just a louder version of an archtop acoustic. In rock, the electric guitar is NOT a musicall instrument. The combination of guitar and ampis the complete instrument. Not so in traditional jazz.Mincer said:
Re: Which Is better?
yeah this is probably true, but i guess they choose those SS amps because they are light, reliable, and sound great for jazz out in the room. i guess it depends on what you really want do- if you are into the classic guitar + amp+ power chords and the truth, a tube amp is what you want to rock out. if you are into jazz, or like lots of different tones quickly (or get your sound from a modeling preamp), SS is a better choice.
yeah this is probably true, but i guess they choose those SS amps because they are light, reliable, and sound great for jazz out in the room. i guess it depends on what you really want do- if you are into the classic guitar + amp+ power chords and the truth, a tube amp is what you want to rock out. if you are into jazz, or like lots of different tones quickly (or get your sound from a modeling preamp), SS is a better choice.
Jackson Distortion
New member
Re: Which Is better?
Solidstate is 'better' for me.
It has quick response, affordable, easier to improve upon (open to debate), and easy to maintain.
Solidstate is 'better' for me.
It has quick response, affordable, easier to improve upon (open to debate), and easy to maintain.
Re: Which Is better?
Now I will preface this by saying that I have never played through one, but the high end jazz amps that I see advertised in mags like Vintage Guitar look a LOT like fancy, exquisitely made versions of the amps that the major companies make for amplifying acoustic/acoustic electric guitars. Modeling pre-amps have their place. They are great idf you need a LOT of different sounds and they only have to be 90% true to the modeled amp. I am rather new at this, but I wonder if you truly get the synergy that you get with a tube amp. Unlike stereo amps, guitar tube amps use otherwise unacceptable "flaws" in the way the circuit, tubes, speakers, etc react to create the sounds we are looking for. I am thinking specifically about "touch sensitvity" where the harder you play, the more the "flaws", such as distortion, compression and sag come into play. and change the sound significantly. You hear about folks using Twin Reverbs and other big amps for "clean' sounds. Headroom so you can get loud and stay clean and not have to worry about those "flaws" messing up your tone..lol
Mincer said:
Now I will preface this by saying that I have never played through one, but the high end jazz amps that I see advertised in mags like Vintage Guitar look a LOT like fancy, exquisitely made versions of the amps that the major companies make for amplifying acoustic/acoustic electric guitars. Modeling pre-amps have their place. They are great idf you need a LOT of different sounds and they only have to be 90% true to the modeled amp. I am rather new at this, but I wonder if you truly get the synergy that you get with a tube amp. Unlike stereo amps, guitar tube amps use otherwise unacceptable "flaws" in the way the circuit, tubes, speakers, etc react to create the sounds we are looking for. I am thinking specifically about "touch sensitvity" where the harder you play, the more the "flaws", such as distortion, compression and sag come into play. and change the sound significantly. You hear about folks using Twin Reverbs and other big amps for "clean' sounds. Headroom so you can get loud and stay clean and not have to worry about those "flaws" messing up your tone..lol
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Re: Which Is better?
when i use my modeling preamp, i never thought of actually going after classic amps, or replicationg specific sounds, although, I am sure it can be done...i tend to go craft sounds that i like, or go for some seriously wacko things that dont even sound like a guitar. as far as the 'feel', i don't feel a difference, but it probably is different depending on how you play and the sound your after.
when i use my modeling preamp, i never thought of actually going after classic amps, or replicationg specific sounds, although, I am sure it can be done...i tend to go craft sounds that i like, or go for some seriously wacko things that dont even sound like a guitar. as far as the 'feel', i don't feel a difference, but it probably is different depending on how you play and the sound your after.
