why do I want a solid state head all the sudden?

DankStar

Her Little Mojo Minion
I keep browsing for solid state heads. Randalls, Crates, Carvins you name it.

Somebody stop me.
 
Re: why do I want a solid state head all the sudden?

I think what's going through my head is....."Dimebag used it, so can you. no tubes to maintain; clean power; cheap; reliable." I guess I want to see what Dimebag saw in them.
 
Re: why do I want a solid state head all the sudden?

Dimebag didn't have a great tone, in my opinion. But hey what do I know, I don't play metal.

I have a SS amp - a Roland Jazz Chorus 60. It's nice for crystal clear 100% clean tones, and for playing country or rockabilly. It's got a "snappy" tone.
 
Re: why do I want a solid state head all the sudden?

SS is great for that real in your face distortion, I like the Randall's with MosFet powersections, liquid smooth to grainy middy bellowing, actually I hate SS cleans...like tubes better there.
 
Re: why do I want a solid state head all the sudden?

I usually haTe SS cleans too but the JC is the exception to the rule.

It's not as warm and fat as a Fender Twin or anything but it's just such a clean pristine sound.
 
Last edited:
Re: why do I want a solid state head all the sudden?

My Marshall has never let me down, but it certainly doesn't have that warm feel that tubes do. At the same time, I haven't worried about blowing a tube when it's cranked on stage either. I guess it's all about priorities. When I bought it, I tried it through three different 4x12 cabinets before I found what I liked.
 
Re: why do I want a solid state head all the sudden?

I'm never worried about "blowing" a tube live.. I don't play it with everything at 10 but I play a fair volume...

I carry spare tubes around though! :)
 
Re: why do I want a solid state head all the sudden?

i love both amps... SS and tubes... but the overdrivens channels on the SS are harsh and out of shape... like EVH said... they sound like cardboard... lifeless and plain. but the irony is that i dont have any good tube amp but i think i have a great SS amp...
JJ
 
Re: why do I want a solid state head all the sudden?

At least get a useful one like a Valvetronix AD60 or 120, Line 6 147, Flextone II XL, or Vetta. At least modeling amps allow you to tailor each channel into tones that are convincing. I'm surprised companies can even sell a 2 channel SS amp these days.
 
Re: why do I want a solid state head all the sudden?

You want some awesomely bonecrushing tone, isn't it obvious?
 
Re: why do I want a solid state head all the sudden?

Gearjoneser said:
At least get a useful one like a Valvetronix AD60 or 120, Line 6 147, Flextone II XL, or Vetta. At least modeling amps allow you to tailor each channel into tones that are convincing. I'm surprised companies can even sell a 2 channel SS amp these days.
I find the "jack of all trades master of none" rule applies to modeling amps. They will do 100 sounds but none of them well. You can usually hear the 1's and 0's in the digital ones.

I like a nice simple 1 or 2 channel solid state, as is the case with all the "classic" amps. The Roland JC I have doesn't pretend to be something it's not - it's a one channel clean amp. And let me tell you, it DOES clean.
 
Re: why do I want a solid state head all the sudden?

ModestCargo said:
I find the "jack of all trades master of none" rule applies to modeling amps. They will do 100 sounds but none of them well. You can usually hear the 1's and 0's in the digital ones.

One of these days, I'm going to go rent a Twin Reverb, mike it up, record a track, then record the same thing through the Pod XT's Twin Reverb model.

I guarantee 99% of the people on this forum won't know the difference.
 
Re: why do I want a solid state head all the sudden?

You know what - I like SS for the same reason you do
but playing SS and rock music is kinda like losing the spirit of guitar.

rock n roll is about inconsistency and out of control sounds like tubes clipping. I hate that my amps sound different on some days or with different electric outlets or when it is re-tubed etc etc etc, but that's the spirit of the game. Kinda like hard hits in football, or throwing elbows and stiff arms in basketball - it's not in the rule book, but it makes it all wild and fun.

Everything no the radio is so sterile because they take the life outta the sound, compress it and EQ it to hell.

Crank a JTM 45 and you will hear more glass than a Crystal Palace (which is also the name of a Strip club in ATL, but I digress).

If you have to own an SS, I do like the POD XT's and the Vetta's.
 
Re: why do I want a solid state head all the sudden?

If your considering a Solid State amp, the simple truth is that you've been swayed by the dark side of the force!!!!

Snap out of it and go get that Marshall Super Lead you've always wanted. LOL
 
Back
Top