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Old 11-19-2017, 03:01 AM
PhilNBend PhilNBend is offline
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Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Bend, Oregon
Posts: 83
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Really -- any amp you buy that is not too expensive and you enjoy playing on it is a good choice.

What I say next will be controversial.

1) If you want a real, authentic tube amplifier, buy one of the reputable do it yourself kits and build your own. That is the only real, sure fire way to get an authentic mid 20th century tube amp. And make sure it is one of the small ones so you don't blow out your neighbors when you play on it.

2) The reality is that to get a big high wattage tube amp to clip/distort, it has to be cranked up to eviction level decibel levels. So modern amp manufacturers use all kinds of electronic tricks to get consistent great sound at a much lower volume level. Also, if your tube amp has any effects on board, the effects may involve digitally manipulating the signal. In other words, the sound you may be getting off an expensive tube amp may not be a totally analog sound, though it is probably indeed a great sound.

3) If using a combo amp, some people use a small lighter weight, solid state amp with a great clean channel, then use higher quality effect pedals for that "great" sound. There are also modeling amps out there as well as solid state amp heads that can be dialed into what the player is after.
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