Post by DGDevinet...
Post by DGDevinPost by Ed CreggerDigital effects amps offer tons more
entertainment in confined quarters than any tube amp can
offer.
Maybe some day, someone will come out with a quarter watt
tube amp that could be screamed at full volume, but it
hasn't happened yet.
Ed Cregger
While I understand your argument, I have to say there are
low-power tube amps out there that not only sound better
than digital amps but which can
be
Post by DGDevinplayed in close quarters, I played through my new
(32-year-old) Champ most of the day, no complaints from the
neighbors. I wouldn't do so at one in the morning, but
then I wouldn't do so with any amp at that time, that's
what headphone amps are for. And actually there are tube
amps on the
market
Post by DGDevinthat go down to a tenth of a watt, and the way I play
that's probably a mercy for those close enough to hear.
;-)
I own tube amps too. Let me make that clear. I am not a tube
hater at all.
Some of the folks that bad mouth solid-state amps with
digital effects give the argument that nothing sounds as
good as a tube amp. They do not take into consideration that
the only time that a tube amp has a clear advantage over a
solid-state amp is when both are cranked wide open in order
to obtain distortion. To these folks, if it isn't distorted
and singing away like a rabid violin, it isn't any good.
There is no hope for these folks. Heck, I even like that
sound myself.
There are a few folks that are hooked on a certain vintage
tube sound at clean volume levels, but I don't think there
are that many. If there were, the Ampeg J-12T and SJ-12T
would have much better resale values. I just bought a used
one by the way. I like all styles of guitar playing, so a
jazz worthy amp is nice to add to the inventory. The SJ-12T
sells new for $599 these days. I just bought mine for $275
in great shape. I wouldn't call that a good resale price for
a six hundred dollar amp.
For the rest of the folks that strum electric guitar in the
confines of their homes, digital effects offer a lot of
entertainment for the buck. No, super ego-inflated lead
guitar wannabies won't be that enamored with them. But the
majority of guitar owners most certainly will be. I have a
great time playing my Behringer GX212. Its effects provide
me with lots of inspiration with which to create new songs.
Yes, there probably are very low powered tube amps, but then
we get back into the issue of the lack of sufficient SPL to
make the strings come alive, as they would when standing in
front of a dimed 100 watt tube Marshall with two 4x12"
speaker stacks, if you understand what I mean.
Ed Cregger
Hey Ed,
I agree that there are a helluva lot of folks out there who do
the majority of their playing through small SS amps and what
I'll broadly classify as headphone amps -- in this latter
category I'll include gear like PODs, Korg Pandoras, etc.
The desire to not pester the neighbors is a strong one. I think
that budget has been a strong driver as well (whether real or
imagined.. more on this in a bit). I actually had a couple of
the modellers for a while, but their primary usefulness for me
was to see what different effects sound like. Friends who still
have this stuff use 'em mostly for recording into their
computer on a budget.
I am also in the camp that the SS devices listed above just
don't sound very good in comparison to the tube gear I've
played (not to mention the tube gear I've designed and built).
Ignoring the differences when dimed and SS vs toob distortion,
my experience has been that the tube designs have richer
overtones, more depth, better response to pick dynamics, etc.
In general just more responsive gear -- more a part of the
instrument than just something to make it louder.
This does not argue that SS cannot achieve these things -- only
that, in my experience, it has not.
Too, I think the market is poorly informed, and, in some cases,
misinformed. Those marketing the devices mentioned above use as
their sales points almost exactly your arguments above.
However, there are low wattage and relatively low cost tube
designs that (again IMHO) can compete directly with this stuff
on price and sound better. Now is probably a good place to
admit that there are some awful tube designs out there also --
again, informed purchases will make the difference.
So, when folks ask "what to get" in this NG, Most of us will do
our best to steer them to the well designed tube gear. Some
offer a bit more vitriole in their review of SS gear than
others, but I'd wager the basis of these reviews is usually for
the same reasons I list above. Some folks just don't articulate
their views as politely as others :)
-Todd