Solid State / Modeler / Tube shootout!

  • Thread starter Thread starter metalhead28
  • Start date Start date
metalhead28

metalhead28

Hates Raymond
Okay folks. After much poop slinging in another thread, everybody wanted to hear a simple comparison of a solid state amp, a tube amp, and a modeler in action.
Here are three short clips. I recorded these as DI tracks first and each of these clips was created with re-amping so they are all the exact same performances. There is one performance on the left side and one on the right. No EQ or anything. I make no claims that any of these represent a perfect example from any of these sources. Each one was a matter of me simply dialing in a sound that I sort of dug and bingo, that's it. I think each one represents it's source pretty well. They may not be the sort of tones that everyone likes but how the hell can you possibly determine that? :D

I'm not going to identify which is which, I'll leave everyone to argue about it for a little while even though I think it's totally obvious. :D

Shootout # 1

Shootout # 2

Shootout # 3
 
im not very good with this seeing how I don't even own a tube amp and don't know the sound of it well. But I know I do like number 3 the most whatever one that is.
 
wait maybe 3 is modeller, 1 is tube, 2 is solid state.
 
I'm pretty confident 3 is the modeller. I think 1 is the tubes, and 2 is the SS.

Did you figure a way of playing the recorded DI as an instrument signal? I suspect something is a tad amiss, like an impedance mismatch.
 
ermghoti said:
I'm pretty confident 3 is the modeller. I think 1 is the tubes, and 2 is the SS.

Did you figure a way of playing the recorded DI as an instrument signal? I suspect something is a tad amiss, like an impedance mismatch.
Click to expand...

I use a Radial Engineering X-Amp re-amping box. It returns the signal to instrument level.
 
Now, the question shouldn't be: "Which one sounds like the tube amp?" but "Which one is the bettter sounding metal tone?"
 
i agree. Looks like amra and me are in an agreement with what is what. Also yes I think it should be what has a better metal tone. I think 3 does actually.
 
metalhead28 said:
I use a Radial Engineering X-Amp re-amping box. It returns the signal to instrument level.
Click to expand...

Kewl, I'm just hearing the room/mic, then.
 
could you explain in detail to me what that x amp thing does exactly? I never heard of those.
 
1) Tube
2) SS
3) Modeller

The modeller sounds best on its own, but the tube would probably sit the best in a mix.
 
ericlingus said:
could you explain in detail to me what that x amp thing does exactly? I never heard of those.
Click to expand...

It changes a line level signal to instrument level. It is used for feeding an amplifier a signal that sounds just like a guitar.
 
1 is tube
2 is solid state
3 is modeller

That's my guess at least.
 
I don't think this is a good depiction of any of those,......

A true sound would be without any effects whatsoever,.... and straight in to each one of those......

then just a couple of chords, and a clean strum...... no attempts at distorting the signal with volume or any nonsense like that,.....

Then you would get a truer sounding comparison....


to the untrained ear,... or the average listener,.... all three of those recordings sound so similar,... they would not notice any measurable difference,... and when you add drums, bass, and vocals,.... it becomes just another mix of a tune......

Not that it was bad or anything,.... just not a true way to decipher which is which,......

SS amps are usually the choice for metal players,.... at least the inexperienced, and semi-pro players,...... to the pros, they can afford pretty much anything they want,... and choose both tube driven and solid state,..... but multiple heads,... and lots of cabs......

just my opinions tho,... thanks for the attempt dude,.... nice of you to do that......



Steve
 
Thatupstateguy said:
A true sound would be without any effects whatsoever,.... and straight in to each one of those......
then just a couple of chords, and a clean strum...... no attempts at distorting the signal with volume or any nonsense like that,.....
Then you would get a truer sounding comparison....
Click to expand...

Well, the whole thing stemmed from an attempt to get heavy metal sounds. That's where the diostortion comes in. There are no other effects.

Thatupstateguy said:
to the untrained ear,... or the average listener,.... all three of those recordings sound so similar,... they would not notice any measurable difference,... and when you add drums, bass, and vocals,.... it becomes just another mix of a tune......
Click to expand...

You really think they sound that similar? I don't think you understand why I did this comparison. These sound nothing alike in a mix.

Thatupstateguy said:
SS amps are usually the choice for metal players,.... at least the inexperienced, and semi-pro players,...... to the pros, they can afford pretty much anything they want,... and choose both tube driven and solid state,..... but multiple heads,... and lots of cabs......
Steve
Click to expand...

This may all be true, but yet again this is not why I did the comparison.

Heavy metal rhythm sounds are what I am primarily after. These 3 sources offer distinctly different ways of getting them. That's where this whole topic started and that's why I did it this way. Sorry if it does you no good. ;)
 
Thats cool,... I just don't personally listen to, or play this type of stuff,... but I do build Class A recording amps,... and can tell you honestly..... that the average listener out there would not be able to tell the difference....

the usual way this type of music is played,... is VERY LOUD,... and so when it comes to subtle differences between tube or solid state,....no one in the audience is going to know the difference.......and I do kind of have a first hand look at what is out there currently TOURING, as I am a Union Stagehand, and set up a good percentage of the shows that come to our area......


Most of the bands that play this kind of music are SO freekin loud, there is really no nuances to be had at all,..... it is just loud,.... so much so, that most if not all of the stagehands that work these kinds of shows are always wearing earplugs,......myself included, so any subtle differences are totally lost in the volume.......


Thank you for doing this tho,... it is important that this sort of thing is available for those who need it,.... and it is members like yourself that go out of your way to do this, that makes this site a gold mine for beginners.....

Steve
 
I'd have to agree with alot of that as well. However I do think that in a recording, the subtle differences really add up. The sound of the tube amp that I posted is really just a building block of a finished sound. I wouldn't be satisfied with that sound on it's own. I would however, dig that sound in conjunction with another high gain track or two to really build it up.
In a recording, I think that's what it's all about. I think that is also why the subtle differences really matter. (athough I don't think the differences between these clips are very subtle at all)
 
Holy shit I forgot about this. I'll post my 3 asap. Stuck at work at the moment but I'll try to get something up tonight.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top