Is there a standard conversion????

kissmybASS01 · #1 10-10-2008, 05:49 AM

Hey!

I'm just wondering if there is a way to calculate (roughly) valve wattage against solid state wattage.

For example (numeric values are just as an ex.) a guitar pure valve amp's outputs at 50watts = 200watts in solid state watts. Is there a way to figure wattage out. Not that I can afford a new all tube bass head (yet...) but I'm just curious.

**Rune Bivrin** · #2 10-10-2008, 09:39 AM

Let me be the first to volonteer the obvious formula of 1 tube watt = 1 solid state watt. Anything else violates the laws of thermodynamics.

However, many tube amps are voiced in a particulare way and handle transients such that they'll deliver more than what they're rated for briefly, and in a frequency range where the speakers and ears are more sensitive.

kissmybASS01 · #3 10-10-2008, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rune Bivrin

Let me be the first to volonteer the obvious formula of 1 tube watt = 1 solid state watt. Anything else violates the laws of thermodynamics.

However, many tube amps are voiced in a particulare way and handle transients such that they'll deliver more than what they're rated for briefly, and in a frequency range where the speakers and ears are more sensitive.

So....I'm just perceiving that the sound coming out of a 50watt SS bass amp gets obliterated by a 50watt valve guitar amp?

Maybe if I had a 50w ss bass amp and a 50w valve bass amp to plug into side by side...???

**Pacman** · #4 10-10-2008, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kissmybASS01

So....I'm just perceiving that the sound coming out of a 50watt SS bass amp gets obliterated by a 50watt valve guitar amp?

Maybe if I had a 50w ss bass amp and a 50w valve bass amp to plug into side by side...???

apples/oranges comparing guitar amp to a bass amp.

Yeah, compare bass amp to bass amp, and you'll get a better idea.