Solid State Amps For LIVE, Rather Than Tubes?

  • Thread starter Thread starter stevieb
  • Start date Start date

The statment in the post is:

  • As TRUE as it can be. Exceptions would be very rare.

    Votes: 2 10.5%

  • As FALSE as it can be- TURN AROUND, YOU 180 DEGREES OFF.

    Votes: 11 57.9%

  • Mostly TRUE (about 60-80% correct.)

    Votes: 2 10.5%

  • Mostly FALSE (about 20-30% correct.)

    Votes: 4 21.1%
  • Total voters
    19
S

stevieb

Just another guy, really.
I am of a couple of apparently (but not really) contradictory opinions:

1. Tube guitar amps almost always sound better than solid state amps (Similar amps being compared- you wouldn't expect a 3-watt radio tube amp to sound as good as a quality, modern, 50-watt modeling amp.) For honing one's sound, and studio work, go with tubes, for sweet, control-able tone.

2. Solid state amps are almost always better for live shows, when playing with a band. For stage work, go solid state, for good sound and reliability.

Feel free to post, but please participate in the poll, too. Thanks.
 
stevieb said:
I am of a couple of apparently (but not really) contradictory opinions:

1. Tube guitar amps almost always sound better than solid state amps (Similar amps being compared- you wouldn't expect a 3-watt radio tube amp to sound as good as a quality, modern, 50-watt modeling amp.) For honing one's sound, and studio work, go with tubes, for sweet, control-able tone.

2. Solid state amps are almost always better for live shows, when playing with a band. For stage work, go solid state, for good sound and reliability.

Feel free to post, but please participate in the poll, too. Thanks.
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Where's the poll, and in the case of point 2...why?
 
Somehow, the thread went up while I was composing the poll.

As to "why?" Why, indeed? Is ANYTHING we post here REALLY important?
 
Complete BS. The amp that gets you the sound you want is the one you should use live.

solid state amps aren't any more reliable than tube amps in general.
 
Gotta be careful moving tube amps - the more they move, the more likelihood that a tube will get compromised. Let 'em cool down so you can touch the tubes before moving. Other than that - bring 'em! I love tube amps.

"Tube" pedals and such - no thanks. There's not much a tube getting 9, 12 or 18 volts can accomplish other than serve as a bit of an effect. Not exactly 600 v. :D
 
T-U-B-E

I played in a band for while and the other guitarist and I both had Mesa Stacks and we sounded ten times better for it. Though solid state amps usually have the benefit of having built in effects and stuff, nothing matches that of a customization from a pedal. Fiscally, solid states are usually cheaper, but to really just get that raw sound from an amp, go tube.
 
Farview said:
Complete BS. The amp that gets you the sound you want is the one you should use live.

solid state amps aren't any more reliable than tube amps in general.
Click to expand...

(gotta spread the rep around. :rolleyes:)

this is the best answer and isn't even in the poll.
 
Not sure I understand the premise of the poll.

Go to any show with a live band and an audience of 1000+ people. See how many watts are coming from tube amps (a couple hundred tops) and how many are coming from solid state power amps (thousands - I would quote a number in kilowatts but the conversion is obfuscated).

I have a vintage solid state Sunn amplifier on a stack of bass cabinets in my basement. Nothing sounds quite like that, and if that was my sound on stage, you better believe I'm taking my solid state Sunn on stage, despite what the esteemed experts might say (or have said already).

Amplifiers make electric guitar sounds.

Some day... one sunny, glorious, victorious day of triumph and wisdom, people will get the crazy idea to judge their amplifiers according to how it makes their electric guitar sound.

Maybe some people are ahead of the times.
 
GOYA said:
Everyone should play SS all the time and sell their worthless tube amps for cheap on Ebay.
Click to expand...

And the older they are, the worse they are, and thus the cheaper they should be sold :)
 
RejectionNinja said:
Amplifiers make electric guitar sounds.
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I thought that's what electric guitars did. I've got it all backward.

The logic of the original poll question caused my brain to actually twitch inside my skull. Why in the name of Lord Jeebus would you use a SS amp live if you claim...

RejectionNinja said:
Tube guitar amps almost always sound better than solid state amps For honing one's sound, and studio work, go with tubes, for sweet, control-able tone.
Click to expand...

Spend time honing that guitar signal. Get that sweet sound. Cut a record that sounds brilliant. Then take your fender frontman on tour. Makes a lot of sense.

Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
 
starbuck26 said:
Spend time honing that guitar signal. Get that sweet sound. Cut a record that sounds brilliant. Then take your fender frontman on tour. Makes a lot of sense.
Click to expand...

There are many, many better SS amps, including several from Fender. You are being absurd to suggest a Frontman, and frankly, it's not really that funny.
 
edit: nevermind, I was misquoted above by starbuck26 and was all like 'what the?' but now it's all clear.
 
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