Farview
Well-known member
Marshalls have solid state rectifiers, as do most of the tube heads I have ever come in contact with. It is still a tube amp.Buck62 said:
S
shredfit
New member
Buck62 said:
Not really so in the case of the store I used to work. There was only 1 neighbor (a evening dining business) next to us... So we could crank amps up well past club level.
I had a customer crank a 100w Marshall Plexi Full Stack (w/channels tied) about half way for about 15 minute... If you have ever heard that it is near bone shattering loud... that would blow most club PA's away
Shred
Last edited:
¤
-=¤willhaven¤=-
New member
tube amps are louder watt-for-watt
S
shredfit
New member
Buck62 said:
Modeling amps are getting better but they just don't have the response of a tube amp... wether it is the great sag you can get from a tube rectifier or the punch from a SS rectifier in a tube amp. I've never found one(a SS amp) that can and I've tried just about everything. Heck, I've only been playing about 22 years... ya got a few on me
BTW: I'm not a total tube bigot either... My current live setup consists of a POD pro with the cab simulation turned off run to a Hush then to a tube power amp feeding a Marshall cab. This setup allows me a very versitle sound (ie choosing amp models as my preamp) with the response of a tube power amp... really kind of the best of both worlds.
Shred
HangDawg
bUnGhOlIo
Yadda yadda tube amps are expensive, yadda yada epiphones are as good as gibsons, yadda modeling is the wave of the future yaddda.
People round these parts keep trying to justify cheap/cheaper alternatives to more expensive counter parts saying they've come along way, and are just as good. I understand some people don't have the kind of money it takes to purchase higher end gear, but you got to stop saying it's "Just as good". No it's not. Get over it already. I've never heard a solid state amp sound as good as my boogie (or even a Marshall for that matter
)
People round these parts keep trying to justify cheap/cheaper alternatives to more expensive counter parts saying they've come along way, and are just as good. I understand some people don't have the kind of money it takes to purchase higher end gear, but you got to stop saying it's "Just as good". No it's not. Get over it already. I've never heard a solid state amp sound as good as my boogie (or even a Marshall for that matter
)
Aaron Cheney
Favorite Chord: C 6/9
THe best non-tube amps I have heard are the Tech21 Trademarks and the Roland Blues Cube. They are both great amps in their own right.... tubes or not. But in general tubes just sound better.
A
A
Last edited:
A
acorec
Banned
HangDawg said:Yadda yadda tube amps are expensive, yadda yada epiphones are as good as gibsons, yadda modeling is the wave of the future yaddda.
People round these parts keep trying to justify cheap/cheaper alternatives to more expensive counter parts saying they've come along way, and are just as good. I understand some people don't have the kind of money it takes to purchase higher end gear, but you got to stop saying it's "Just as good". No it's not. Get over it already. I've never heard a solid state amp sound as good as my boogie (or even a Marshall for that matter
Exactly on point. True, all true.
Scottgman
Legend in Own Mind
Buck62 said:First of all, I doubt you've conveniently had these two amps "side-by-side" and carefully and scientifically compared them with a decible meter with the same guitar under controlled circumstances. But it sure makes for a good response.
But the Trademark 60 will hold it's own with a 50-watt Fender tube amp, which is what most people can afford and purchase at a rate many times higher than those who purchase a boutique amp like a Mesa. As far as tone goes, that's subjective. These two amps run neck-and-neck in their respective ratings in the user reviews at Harmony Central... check it.
Did you really just diss Shredfit's A/B test as an invalid comparison and then offer up Harmony Central reviews as evidence that a Trademark 60 sounds as "good" as a tube amp?
Sheesh, Buck, I think some of your points are valid... but that's getting a little carried away with your cause! There are kids on Harmony Central who claim their $50 Crate Combo is the best amp in the world!
The bottom-line is power tubes sound better than SS amps. I think some of the "maintenance" issues are exaggerated also (assuming you take decent care of your amp). I've had my Budda Superdrive for about 2 years now. It doesn't hum and crackle. It has hiss when I crank the Master to 11... big deal. I haven't had to change one tube and I play it every day. I let it warm up before I play and I let it cool down before I move it. I have a complete set of back-up tubes for gigs. It's really not a hassle at all.
I did have a Crate all-tube head many years ago that was a royal pain. One of the tube sockets kept burning out power tubes and nobody could fix it. But that doesn't reflect tube amps in general, it reflects Crate's poor QC.
If you can't afford a nice tube amp, get a nice solid state. There's nothing wrong with that. But don't go on a crusade trying to convince people that SS "sounds as good"-- it doesn't.
G
gitrguy87
New member
My Silvertone tube amp is a 1963. I have not had to replace the tubes once. It does not hum or crackle either.
cavedog101
Well-known member
A reasonable choice between the two worlds can be found here...Gerlitzamps.com...and yes I've played one quite a lot.These things sound GREAT at any volume...when you turn it down to a whisper, all of the harmonic artifacts of tube preamplification are still intact as well as when you want to irritate the neighbors two blocks away.Not nearly as noisy as a Mesa,Marshall,old Fender,Supro...etc...I do not own one but they are really good.
M
MrStitch
New member
Wow... i guess that really sparked a fire storm! hahahahhah
Anyways... I believe some of you are right, and some are wrong. It all depends on what you play.
Myself? I like metal... and lots of it. However, i don't want a Line 6 or anything else like it. Why? Cause i don't want to spend all night screwing around with effects processors, loops, and all the junk that basically has allready been done within the past few years.
I want an amp that I can plug into, and kick some ass. No pissin around with multi effect levels, patches, etc. Just plug, and kick ass!
Knowing that, I assume I need an amp thats gunna sound good right off the bat. Something with a solid distortion, but a good clean sound as well.
And I think I may have narrowed it down... but I could really use some input on this decision.... I'm thinking about buying a Randall head. (ducks for cover)
Just like anyone else.. i'm on a budget. But last time, I was on a tighter budget, and got stuck with this bottom of the line Marshall...... one of the worst decisions of my life.
Oh yeah... about the noise that some amps have...... If you get a cheap SS, it WILL make noise... constantly. In fact, mine won't shut the fuck up! =)
Furthermore... someone here said it best - "SS sounds annoying at high levels"..... Nailed that one on the head. My el'cheapo sounds like total dog meat. So bad, that i'm begining to wonder if my bandmates are going to keep me around =)
Heres another thing. Our drummer..... quite the "loud" fella he is. So coming up with a good sounding amp, and sounds good at high levels, good sound for metal style music, AND can out do the drummer.. has been the major challenge.
So the only reason I picked Randall is that not only do they have a lot of metal bands using them now, but also, they seem to have a fairly good line when it comes to the whole "Tube" thing.
Biggest problem right now is, there are no stores near me that have one to test out.
So, does anyone have any of the newer released Randall heads? What do ya think of it? Perhaps someone here has tested one down at the local shop?
Anyways... I believe some of you are right, and some are wrong. It all depends on what you play.
Myself? I like metal... and lots of it. However, i don't want a Line 6 or anything else like it. Why? Cause i don't want to spend all night screwing around with effects processors, loops, and all the junk that basically has allready been done within the past few years.
I want an amp that I can plug into, and kick some ass. No pissin around with multi effect levels, patches, etc. Just plug, and kick ass!
Knowing that, I assume I need an amp thats gunna sound good right off the bat. Something with a solid distortion, but a good clean sound as well.
And I think I may have narrowed it down... but I could really use some input on this decision.... I'm thinking about buying a Randall head. (ducks for cover)
Just like anyone else.. i'm on a budget. But last time, I was on a tighter budget, and got stuck with this bottom of the line Marshall...... one of the worst decisions of my life.
Oh yeah... about the noise that some amps have...... If you get a cheap SS, it WILL make noise... constantly. In fact, mine won't shut the fuck up! =)
Furthermore... someone here said it best - "SS sounds annoying at high levels"..... Nailed that one on the head. My el'cheapo sounds like total dog meat. So bad, that i'm begining to wonder if my bandmates are going to keep me around =)
Heres another thing. Our drummer..... quite the "loud" fella he is. So coming up with a good sounding amp, and sounds good at high levels, good sound for metal style music, AND can out do the drummer.. has been the major challenge.
So the only reason I picked Randall is that not only do they have a lot of metal bands using them now, but also, they seem to have a fairly good line when it comes to the whole "Tube" thing.
Biggest problem right now is, there are no stores near me that have one to test out.
So, does anyone have any of the newer released Randall heads? What do ya think of it? Perhaps someone here has tested one down at the local shop?
D
donkeystyle
New member
I recorded a metal band about a year and a half ago. they brought in a newer randall head.......i didn't pay much attention to it, so i couldn't tell you if it was tube or not, but i did notice it was extremely, extremely high wattage.
the guy plugged in and turned it on and it picked up the radio. i doubt under normal circumstances it would have been a problem, but i was recording them at a radio station, so the transmitter was extremely close.
it picked up the radio station and the guy insisted that his multi-effects pedal sounded "sick," so i didn't get to hear the amps distortion and cant comment on it, but we ended up just using my knucklehead that i bring to sessions just incase something like that happens. whatever his multi-effects pedal was........it sounded like complete crap.
If you're going for a really heavy metal sound, i would suggest looking for a mesa dual rectifier combo on ebay. i said combo because based on the line of amps that you're looking at, i'm assuming you are trying to keep the cost as low as possible. if you're not worried about it, get a head and 4-12 or 2-12 cab.
the guy plugged in and turned it on and it picked up the radio. i doubt under normal circumstances it would have been a problem, but i was recording them at a radio station, so the transmitter was extremely close.
it picked up the radio station and the guy insisted that his multi-effects pedal sounded "sick," so i didn't get to hear the amps distortion and cant comment on it, but we ended up just using my knucklehead that i bring to sessions just incase something like that happens. whatever his multi-effects pedal was........it sounded like complete crap.
If you're going for a really heavy metal sound, i would suggest looking for a mesa dual rectifier combo on ebay. i said combo because based on the line of amps that you're looking at, i'm assuming you are trying to keep the cost as low as possible. if you're not worried about it, get a head and 4-12 or 2-12 cab.
G
goldtopchas
New member
I've played in bands for 20 years. arghhhh!!! I just did the math! I've used a lot of different amps too. Some good..(my current 70's marshall, blackface fender super reverb.) Some bad ....(an 80's sunn beta lead, some old padded kustom head) Over all, the tube amps generally out-perform.
I've seen so many guys use pedals, floorboard units, and racks full of complicated and expensive gagets to try and get "THE SOUND". A good guitar plugged into a good tube amp will almost always yield good results.
I'm not a tube prude. I have a pod that I use mostly for headphone practice.
But i've also played thru a line 6 head, a johnson millenium,and a cyber twin.
They just don't "get it".
And for the coin that they want for these things,you could have a really good tube amp. Now, it's not going to have 30 models, 200 presets, slice, dice and puree settings,.....but it's one great sound will be better than the 30 mediocre tones dribbling out of it's digital counterparts.
By the way...I crank the fender to about 9 and it's as quiet as a church mouse. My Marshall never exhibits any hum or buzzing. They don't really take that much maintenence.
I've seen so many guys use pedals, floorboard units, and racks full of complicated and expensive gagets to try and get "THE SOUND". A good guitar plugged into a good tube amp will almost always yield good results.
I'm not a tube prude. I have a pod that I use mostly for headphone practice.
But i've also played thru a line 6 head, a johnson millenium,and a cyber twin.
They just don't "get it".
And for the coin that they want for these things,you could have a really good tube amp. Now, it's not going to have 30 models, 200 presets, slice, dice and puree settings,.....but it's one great sound will be better than the 30 mediocre tones dribbling out of it's digital counterparts.
By the way...I crank the fender to about 9 and it's as quiet as a church mouse. My Marshall never exhibits any hum or buzzing. They don't really take that much maintenence.
Last edited:
kismet
New member
MrStitch said:
Mmmmmmm, dog meat. You have to quit teasing me like that. Don't forget, I am Vietnamese. Just kidding, I've never eaten dog, at least I don't think I have.
Am I really that loud? You're gonna hate my new cymbals then.
I looked around Sioux Falls today for a Randall amp and came up with nothing. There used to be a dealer here. One guy said that the nearest dealer was Sioux City, and maybe Rapid City.
So it looks like we might have to take a road trip one of these weekends.
Buck62
噛んでくれ
Aaron Cheney said:
This is what I've been saying all along, but these guys keep twisting my words to read "solid state amps are better than tube amps"... which I never said.
Hope you don't mind if I quote you from another thread....
Aaron Cheney said:I'll chime in, and I'll be a dissenting voice. The Tech21 amps are great. I absolutely love them. I would also recommend a Roland Blues Cube. This is coming from a guy who has owned many tube amps, including a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. Right now I own a Rivera Quiana. I know what good amps sound like. These are both great amps that sound awesome by ANY standard. You can take yer tube mojo and throw it out the window!
Anyway.... back to the TM60: They're also great for direct recording. The only caviat w/ the Tech21 amps is they do not do clean well. They do all flavors of distortion, but if you need a pristine clean tone you'll be hard pressed. Given the choice between either the TM60, BluesCube, or Hot Rod Deluxe, I'd pick either of the first two.
A
Thanx for backing my assertion that solid state amps have come a long, long way in the past decade or so... getting closer than ever to tube amps in sweet, harmonic tone.
