Guitar Amps

[Stormchaser]

Once you have your Marshall introduce yourself to a Leslie speaker..........you'll never be the same. Every guitar player thats ever tried playing through my Leslie has come away a new man! (not joking either!)

[maverickeastwood]

I'm just following this thread, relatively new to guitar (fender american deluxe tele), and was wondering what the difference was between the sound of a solid state amp and a tube amp. Does it make a difference with what guitar is used (les paul, strat, tele, etc)? Sound? Style of music played?

Thanks in advance...my crap amp will be replaced in the future.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by maverickeastwood

I'm just following this thread, relatively new to guitar (fender american deluxe tele), and was wondering what the difference was between the sound of a solid state amp and a tube amp. Does it make a difference with what guitar is used (les paul, strat, tele, etc)? Sound? Style of music played?

Thanks in advance...my crap amp will be replaced in the future.

A solid state amp is basically modern electronics, it's transistor chips and circuit boards and the sound is more digital and restrictive to a specific fidelity and sound range than anything because of digital signals. A tube amp has glass vacuum tubes, is generally considered warmer, analog, fuller with classic tone and ability to be pushed with more natural compression. The classic sound of an electrical guitar overdrive is what you get when tubes are naturally overloaded. Solid state components can only emulate this.

Solid state, if used with a modeling amp has it's benefits in much more range and variety of applications because it's like a modern computer, you can just program it to create whatever sound you want...but whatever sound that is will simply be a simulation of what the guitar would really sound like with a tube amp. It's also more reliable, lightweight, cheaper, etc.

But actually solid state amps as technology gets better are actually very good and some sound as good as many tube amps and the distinction is mostly to your ears so just try both out and see what you like. Get a crappy/cheap one (yours right now is probably solid state) and it will just sound like a guitar with a microphone going to a loudspeaker...add effects and it will be like your guitar going through a crappy synthesizer.

[stang]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

A solid state amp is basically modern electronics, it's transistor chips and circuit boards and the sound is more digital and restrictive to a specific fidelity and sound range than anything because of digital signals. A tube amp has glass vacuum tubes, is generally considered warmer, analog, fuller with classic tone and ability to be pushed with more natural compression. The classic sound of an electrical guitar overdrive is what you get when tubes are naturally overloaded. Solid state components can only emulate this.

Solid state, if used with a modeling amp has it's benefits in much more range and variety of applications because it's like a modern computer, you can just program it to create whatever sound you want...but whatever sound that is will simply be a simulation of what the guitar would really sound like with a tube amp. It's also more reliable, lightweight, cheaper, etc.

But actually solid state amps as technology gets better are actually very good and some sound as good as many tube amps and the distinction is mostly to your ears so just try both out and see what you like. Get a crappy/cheap one (yours right now is probably solid state) and it will just sound like a guitar with a microphone going to a loudspeaker...add effects and it will be like your guitar going through a crappy synthesizer.

Bang on!

There are some amps that are solid state that sound really good for what they meant to do. Roland Jazz Chorus have amazing clean tones and are solid state. If you are on a budget I would take a Roland Cube or Vox Valvetronix over a Marshall MG or line 6 spider every day.

A new company called Blackheart have some interesting looking amps that I cant wait to try out.

http://www.blackhearteng.com/

that little 1 watter looks cool

[MJK]

I think I am going with the:

Gibson Les Paul Studio Electric Guitar


Peavey ValveKing 112 Combo Amp



Thoughts?

[maverickeastwood]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

A solid state amp is basically modern electronics, it's transistor chips and circuit boards and the sound is more digital and restrictive to a specific fidelity and sound range than anything because of digital signals. A tube amp has glass vacuum tubes, is generally considered warmer, analog, fuller with classic tone and ability to be pushed with more natural compression. The classic sound of an electrical guitar overdrive is what you get when tubes are naturally overloaded. Solid state components can only emulate this.

Solid state, if used with a modeling amp has it's benefits in much more range and variety of applications because it's like a modern computer, you can just program it to create whatever sound you want...but whatever sound that is will simply be a simulation of what the guitar would really sound like with a tube amp. It's also more reliable, lightweight, cheaper, etc.

But actually solid state amps as technology gets better are actually very good and some sound as good as many tube amps and the distinction is mostly to your ears so just try both out and see what you like. Get a crappy/cheap one (yours right now is probably solid state) and it will just sound like a guitar with a microphone going to a loudspeaker...add effects and it will be like your guitar going through a crappy synthesizer.

So, to recap...

Tube amps=accurate sound.
Solid state amps=sound versatility.

My main factors behind another amp is more sound quality/price...like most others I guess. Getting some good ideas from all of you though (that blackheart 1 watter would be cool to have a look at), thanks a bunch.

[Sample00]

MJK, does that Peavy have a line out. make sure you get one with a line out. just in case you want to go through a main PA.

btw. good choice for a guitar. I like it!!

[stang]

Originally Posted by Sample00

MJK, does that Peavy have a line out. make sure you get one with a line out. just in case you want to go through a main PA.

btw. good choice for a guitar. I like it!!

Dont you mic your amp for that? I know I wouldnt use a line out... I wouldnt want to bypass my Vintage 30 speaker... Thats a good chunk of my sound...

[stang]

Oh MJK I would order a footswitch too for the valveking!!

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by Matata

In my experience, a 30W tube amp is about as loud as 200W RMS (not tube). I would shoot for at least 150W RMS or 15W tube.

Stop talking nonsense.. Seriously..

The only output power you should consider is that of the overall amp in RMS. 150W RMS is enough to destroy your neighbours ears. My Vox has a variable output and the only settings I ever use are 30W RMS and 60W RMS, and believe you me, 60W RMS is MORE than enough to keep up with a drummer.

You see rock bands with huge STACKS of amps.. Most of those are for show.

15W tube or 150W RMS.. that's just wrong.

FYI RMS is the only thing you should pay attention to because it's the true representation of what the amp can produce.

[foofighter15]

I would like to correct my error earlier. I don't know why I mentioned my 100w barely being loud enough. I meant my old 40w practice amp, not my new 100w practice amp.
My bad

[Matata]

[quote=kermitology;1161224]Stop talking nonsense.. Seriously..

[quote]

Now you did it, I'm going to have to bust out the physics and proffesional experience.

Lets compare High End SS (Mode 4 - 400W) and Tube amps (JCM 800 - 100W) made by Marshall. My friend who worked at Mothers would A/B the amps for customers who thought the 400W must be way louder, only to have them realize that the 100W was significantly louder.

Even if the 400W is not the RMS (which it is), the RMS voltage would only be 400x.707 = 282.8W RMS. Voltage comparisons are never clean cut due to varying efficiencies of amp designs (which is why I used two marshalls for my comparison), but this whole Tube RMS = SS RMS is just bad noise.

[Sample00]

Originally Posted by stang

Dont you mic your amp for that? I know I wouldnt use a line out... I wouldnt want to bypass my Vintage 30 speaker... Thats a good chunk of my sound...

Nope, I line out into the board and keep my amp as a monitor only. this way I can also control the stage volume without affecting the volume out to the mains. I can also still control the actual sound mix that way, because the board set up is a clean channel.
I dont like using microphones on my amp because of the number of things that could go wrong. but thats just my opinion.

[MJK]

Peavey ValveKing 112 Combo Amp Specifications:

• 21-2/5"W x 18-1/4"H x 10-1/4"D
• 44-1/2 lbs.

Peavey ValveKing 112 Combo Amp Features:

• 50W all-tube power
• Texture variable Class A/B simulation control
• 2 footswitchable channels
• (w/optional footswitch)EQ and volume for each channel
• Footswitchable gain/volume boost on lead channel
• 12" ValveKing speaker
• Reverb with level control
• Buffered effects loop
• Resonance and presence controls
• External speaker jack
• 2 - 6L6GC power amp tubes
• 3 - 12AX7 preamp tubes
• 4, 8, or 16 ohms

Will this do the trick?

[foofighter15]

That's not bad, but personally I think this is something you might like
http://www.mccshoponline.com/cgi-bin...&store_depid=2
Its a solid amp. I have played a bunch on the amp one upgrade from it, and will be ordering it myself soon

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by Matata

Lets compare High End SS (Mode 4 - 400W) and Tube amps (JCM 800 - 100W) made by Marshall. My friend who worked at Mothers would A/B the amps for customers who thought the 400W must be way louder, only to have them realize that the 100W was significantly louder.

Even if the 400W is not the RMS (which it is), the RMS voltage would only be 400x.707 = 282.8W RMS. Voltage comparisons are never clean cut due to varying efficiencies of amp designs (which is why I used two marshalls for my comparison), but this whole Tube RMS = SS RMS is just bad noise.

So you're talking about a 100W RMS single channel amp, and a 350W head that needs to be split among two full stacks unless you want to destroy the speakers..

My point still stands that power is power, no matter how you look at it. There isn't a difference between tubes and solid state, you'd be misunderstanding the amplification process. Bust out your physics if you want. I happen to be an electrical engineer who's personal experience tells me that 60W RMS is more than enough to make your ears bleed.

[foofighter15]

Winner by Knockout....KERMITOLOGY!

[Matata]

Originally Posted by kermitology

So you're talking about a 100W RMS single channel amp, and a 350W head that needs to be split among two full stacks unless you want to destroy the speakers..

My point still stands that power is power, no matter how you look at it. There isn't a difference between tubes and solid state, you'd be misunderstanding the amplification process. Bust out your physics if you want. I happen to be an electrical engineer who's personal experience tells me that 60W RMS is more than enough to make your ears bleed.

Actually, the mode 4 works fine with a single 4x4 cab. I don't really see how you countered my argument, or if you even made any sort of point. I also have an engineering degree, so don't think that impresses me or gives your argument any extra weight.

[MJK]

OK so now I am more confused than ever. My only question is this:

Will that 50W Peavey Tube Amp get the job done for me who will be playing with a drummer and another guitar player? AND how does the 50W tube amp compare to a 100W solid state amp??!!?!?!

Kermitology??? What are your thoughts on this?

Thanks

[foofighter15]

In my experience 50w is as low as you can go, and I've played with some heavy hitting drummers