Tube vs. Solid state

LC Pwince · Post by **LC Pwince** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 4:23 pm

Point conceded on extremely high gain metal. Also, bass is different. Our bass player just traded up from a solid state Ampeg head with a Sansamp in front to an SVT head with a tube pre and solid state power section, and it owns. But I'd ask anyone who's considering a solid state amp, when was the last time you saw someone who's tone and playing you respect play a solid state rig onstage, or on a favorite album? My theory is that amp manufacturers make tons of money from people who start out with a little solid state amp, move up to a bigger solid state amp, then move to another latest and greatest solid state amp...all chasing their ideal tone. If you cut straight to the end, where you end up with a sweet tube amp in the first place, you'll probably save money in the long run. In the end, whatever floats your boat.

rezin · Post by **rezin** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 7:44 pm

i thought this was about solid state the label versus tube the label...

but id never heard of tube records...

boxofrocks · Post by **boxofrocks** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 10:38 pm

Love the avatar man, SRV was KING....

Cale · Post by **Cale** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 9:36 am

bassjones wrote: Again this is not really applicable to bass amps. There are several high quality mid-priced bass amps with a tube pre/solid state power section. Examples include SWR, Ampeg, Eden, Hartke, etc... The ampeg tube pres have multiple tubes in them as well, while most have a single tube (typically a 12AX7).

I'm actually going away from any tube at all in my next rig, as I'm wanting a really quick hi-fi type response. The new solid state amps are much "warmer" sounding as well.

When my 11 year old SVT3Pro became untrustable I demo'd a new one and a SWR550X. The SWR was killer. I ended up going with another Ampeg because it just had more depth/growl and options I've learned to love, but the SWR was hi-fi and sounded stellar as well. The additional headroom was nice too.

I prefer tubes as well, but whoever said that someone with some good eq smarts can make anything sound decent is spot on.

rezin · Post by **rezin** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 11:35 pm

boxofrocks wrote:Love the avatar man, SRV was KING....

kings live forever.

TheDave · Post by **TheDave** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 12:53 pm

For me it depends on your budget. If you're going high end, then tube is most def the way to go. But if you don't have a lot of money to drop on your equipment and want something with decent tone/you can turn up then i'm a solid state man.

boxofrocks · Post by **boxofrocks** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 2:28 pm

The tube pre I got on eBay arrived today, so I put it to the test. It does significantly warm up the tone, and adds a saturated attack. On clean channel it adds tons of warmth and when you dig in,the single 12ax7a tube really adds a whole new dimension to a solid state amp. It really does work. Best of both worlds, just like Bassjones said... I am not getting the power tube break up, but the pre definitely adds the warmth I was looking for. Especially at lower volume levels.