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  #1  
Old 10-18-2019, 02:48 PM
Sonics Sonics is offline
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Default R.I.P Tube Amps.

The digital amp has finally come of age. Half the weight and one third the price. If you can't hear the difference, then there is NO difference.




Even RK, who has a couple of boutique signature valve amps with his name on them, is digging it.

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Old 10-18-2019, 03:34 PM
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I would have to give them a try before making a judgement call. I have owned a few SS amps and currently own a Boss Katana 50, MK II, which is a fabulous amp. It sits right next to my Princeton Reverb tube amp. When I play them one after the other, the tube amp certainly has a warmth and feeling to it that the SS amp does not. The SS amp has more of a "sterile" tone, which works great for some things and not as well for others. I imagine that the tube tone could be replicated though, so again I'll hold off judgement to see what others say and to see what I think when I get to try one out. I think Mark Knopfler is now using a SS amp on tours, though I can't verify that.
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Old 10-18-2019, 03:53 PM
M Hayden M Hayden is offline
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Circuit modeling is getting better and better. I mean, the little Hotone Nano Legacy amps sound amazing for what they do (they’re kind of one-trick ponies) at 5W and under a kilo. I have one of them that stays in a gig bag and is a fallback when other options fail (or when i don’t want to carry a full amp and can just go through the PA).

That said, I like the fuss and bother of a tube amp..
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Old 10-18-2019, 05:17 PM
robj144 robj144 is offline
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To me, tube amps still have something extra going on that I love.

That being said, solid state modeling amps have come a LONG way in the last 10 years. I love my Yamaha THR 10c that I keep in my living room to jam while I'm watching TV. It sounds great. But, when I sit in front of my actual tube amp, it sounds just a little better.

Also, these things are $900. Tube amps are around $1500 new or under, so it's not even close to 1/3 the price. And, you can easily get a used tube amp for $900 or under.
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Old 10-18-2019, 05:48 PM
The Old Gaffer The Old Gaffer is offline
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Isn't the price more like 2/3 or 3/4 when you compare the Tone Master Deluxe Reverb and the '65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue?
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Old 10-18-2019, 05:56 PM
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I'm looking at the Tone Master Deluxe Reverb. I need to try one first. I have a Roland Blues Cube Stage that would be replaced. The TM Deluxe is a few pounds lighter and sounds great in ever review I've seen. Interested in trying one.
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Old 10-18-2019, 06:09 PM
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Rip? Just like we heard ad nauseum for Line6, then AxeFX, then Kemper, yada yada.
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Old 10-18-2019, 07:33 PM
Steve DeRosa Steve DeRosa is offline
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Default R.I.P Tube Amps

Bugera V22:

22 all-tube watts, switchable down to 15 for home practice/tonal variation...

Two switchable channels, 3-band EQ + presence/mid-boost...

Best built-in digi-verb I've heard to date...

Infinium circuitry makes tube swaps a DIY plug-&-play deal, rather than a $100 visit to your friendly local tech - tailor the tone to your liking for a one-time investment of about $100+/- in a set of preamp/power tubes ...

Turbosound speaker has a smooth, rounded British tonality - none of the nails-on-a-blackboard highs and nasal mids many UK-voiced speakers can exhibit in an open-back cab...

Chassis and all removable panels are secured with machine screws (something that many boutique amps don't even do)...

Enough grunt to fill a 600-700 seat house, clean as you need or dirty as you wish...

$400 street - can be had for much less at your local big-box dealer during Holiday/Coupon Day sales...

Do you believe in zombies...?
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Old 10-18-2019, 07:40 PM
Dru Edwards Dru Edwards is offline
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I wonder how the amp responds to a player's dynamics and touch/feeel? Some tube amps are amazing for that quality and the digital/modeling amps were never quite there.
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Old 10-18-2019, 09:09 PM
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PTony PTony is offline
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I do love my tube amps no doubt. Not sure I’d NOT have one. But, that being said...my Vox MV50 Clean with the Nutube technology is unreal. I have it on my live rig. Fits on my pedal board, has a line out and cab out that can be used simultaneously, built in attenuation, an eco switch that shuts it off if unused for x amount of minutes.

It’s VERY responsive to picking style. It’s RIDICULOUSLY loud if need be. Running any of my Gretsch guitars through it produces awesome tones. I’m a huge fan of this “new” technology. Not to mention the “tube” life.

Here’s a bit from Vox...

The MV50 is equipped an all-analog pre-amp circuit that features Nutube, a revolutionary new vacuum tube that produces authentic tube tone at a fraction of the size. By taking advantage of this incredible new technology, VOX’s engineers were able to design a true, miniature tube amplifier. Beyond the inclusion of Nutube, the pre-amp circuit in the MV50 features a staggering number of analog components that effectively reproduce the dynamic character of a traditional tube amp. Paired with this innovative pre-amp circuit is a reliable and efficient Class D power amp that has been specifically designed for the MV50. From warm, natural cleans to dynamic overdrives, this power amp has been engineered to respond to the nuances of your guitar and, of course, your technique.

I still love my lacquered Tweed BJ, but these little Vox heads are truly amazing.
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Old 10-18-2019, 11:14 PM
M Sarad M Sarad is offline
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Last week’s hoedown was four guitar players, two with Quilters. They sounded great.
I was stuck with a 1965 Black Face Princeton Reverb I first played through in 1969. It sounded great,

Whatever.
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Old 10-18-2019, 11:52 PM
rockabilly69 rockabilly69 is offline
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Tube amps will never die!
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Old 10-19-2019, 03:38 AM
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Bob Womack Bob Womack is offline
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Of course, what do modelers do? They model the analog topology of tube amps! How dead can tube amps be when thus next generation is designed to reproduce them? I'm not sure tube amps will die in this generation merely because this generation is profoundly attached to them.

Look at me: I have several tube amps but the majority of my recording sessions are executed on digital modeling platforms. Yet I'm definitely having trouble getting rid of my tube amps.

Bob
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Old 10-19-2019, 03:56 AM
Sonics Sonics is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rockabilly69 View Post
Tube amps will never die!
I'm not so sure about that! The Line 6 amps from 20 years ago were 'interesting'. The Fender modelling amps from 10 years ago were close. The Kemper amps closer still. Now technology is now on par with valve amps. We can expect in the future that this 'technology' will improve and cost LESS.

You can now turn up to a gig and know with near 100% certainty that your amp will work when you flick the power switch.

Finally as demonstrated by the Captain, you can now lift your new Fender Twin amp with just...ONE finger.

The writing, as they say, is on the wall...
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Old 10-19-2019, 04:38 AM
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I seriously doubt tube amps will die before I do, but I also doubt I’ll ever buy one again. My primary amp is a Roland Blues Cube Hot, which is conceptually very similar to these new Fenders. Just a simple, great sounding solid state amp, voiced like an old Marshall, small enough to fit on a table in my man cave, and with power scaling that makes it sound great at low volume. I rarely ever take it out of the house anymore, so the weight isn’t an issue, but the size and low volume sound quality matter a lot. I don’t need or want multiple models, just one that sounds really good to me - once I dial in the basic sound I like, I rarely touch the amp, just use my guitars and a few pedals in front to change the sound as needed...

-Ray
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