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The Tube Challenge (Volume Two)

Which is the ALL-TUBE amp

  • Amp 1

    Votes: 30 32.3%

  • Amp 2

    Votes: 21 22.6%

  • Amp 3

    Votes: 42 45.2%
  • Total voters
    93
  • Poll closed .
#61
You're missing the point of using a tube amp entirely.
The magic doesn't happen at low power with flat EQ. if that's what you want just buy a SS amp and enjoy.

The tube magic happens when you push the amp into overdrive or full out distortion. That's the sound you can't get from SS amps.

Read up on the history of people using B15's , either the bass or the treble was always cranked up to at least 3/4 often both. That's where the famous B15 sound lives.
 
#62
jz0h4d said:
You're missing the point of using a tube amp entirely.
The magic doesn't happen at low power with flat EQ. if that's what you want just buy a SS amp and enjoy.

The tube magic happens when you push the amp into overdrive or full out distortion. That's the sound you can't get from SS amps.

Read up on the history of people using B15's , either the bass or the treble was always cranked up to at least 3/4 often both. That's where the famous B15 sound lives.
Click to expand...

Yeah, your point has been heavily discussed over the past week between this thread and the previous one. We all agree that this isn't the ideal situation for telling the difference, but that's the point of the experiment. If all conditions are equal, can you tell the difference?
 
#63
jz0h4d said:
You're missing the point of using a tube amp entirely.
The magic doesn't happen at low power with flat EQ. if that's what you want just buy a SS amp and enjoy.

The tube magic happens when you push the amp into overdrive or full out distortion. That's the sound you can't get from SS amps.

Read up on the history of people using B15's , either the bass or the treble was always cranked up to at least 3/4 often both. That's where the famous B15 sound lives.
Click to expand...
Don't be silly! The magic of a tube amp happens no matter where you set it! There seems to be this misconception that people who prefer tube amps like them because of their dirty sounds. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
 
#67
JimmyM said:
Don't be silly! The magic of a tube amp happens no matter where you set it! There seems to be this misconception that people who prefer tube amps like them because of their dirty sounds. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
Click to expand...

You've posted three sound clips that make it hard to hear a difference, and the majority of us can't pick out the all-tube head from the lineup. :ninja:

This is useful to me because it confirms that I am not missing anything by sticking with what I've got. Interestingly, my amp has pretty much the same sound at any volume setting too. YMMV of course.
 
#68
Cool! Didn't know you started this one already. I'm at work and can't listen to the files until late tonight, but I'm looking forward to it. When were you planning on posting results on this one? I want to make sure I get my vote in before then!

Matt
 
#70
Yeah, your point has been heavily discussed over the past week between this thread and the previous one. We all agree that this isn't the ideal situation for telling the difference, but that's the point of the experiment. If all conditions are equal, can you tell the difference?
__________________
Eden Electronics Club Member #67

Ok crank up the tone controls untill you get a sound like Duck Dunns, turn up the volume on both heads untill they just start to distort and when conditions are "equal" lets see who can tell the difference?
 
#71
JimmyM said:
Don't be silly! The magic of a tube amp happens no matter where you set it! There seems to be this misconception that people who prefer tube amps like them because of their dirty sounds. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
Click to expand...

I like tube amps for their distortion. I never really get clean tones from my SVT, and if I had a B-15 it would stay cranked.
 
#72
fdeck said:
You've posted three sound clips that make it hard to hear a difference, and the majority of us can't pick out the all-tube head from the lineup. :ninja:

This is useful to me because it confirms that I am not missing anything by sticking with what I've got. Interestingly, my amp has pretty much the same sound at any volume setting too. YMMV of course.
Click to expand...
That is the one flaw with tube amps, although some don't consider it a flaw at all. But my B-15's have a volume window between 10:30 and 11 o'clock just before they start to distort that when you get them up to that volume it sounds so full and rich compared to lower settings. The Markbass and SWR heads sound pretty much the same no matter how high or low you crank them unless you get into the high gain settings of the SWR.

BTW, once I post the results, please check back in, because I'm going to explain what I feel is a dead giveaway between solid state and tubes, and you will be able to hear it once I tell you what it is. It might not matter in the least to you, but I can always tell.
 
#74
jz0h4d said:
Ok crank up the tone controls untill you get a sound like Duck Dunns, turn up the volume on both heads untill they just start to distort and when conditions are "equal" lets see who can tell the difference?
Click to expand...
Well of course you can tell at that point! And when you do that, you will get 200 votes for the B-15 and nothing for anything else. What kind of a listening test is that? ;)

No, actually, my listening test is fine as it is. It won't be written up in Bass Player as any sort of breakthrough, but it's fun and it's challenging.
 
#75
JimmyM said:
That is the one flaw with tube amps, although some don't consider it a flaw at all. But my B-15's have a volume window between 10:30 and 11 o'clock just before they start to distort that when you get them up to that volume it sounds so full and rich compared to lower settings. The Markbass and SWR heads sound pretty much the same no matter how high or low you crank them unless you get into the high gain settings of the SWR.

BTW, once I post the results, please check back in, because I'm going to explain what I feel is a dead giveaway between solid state and tubes, and you will be able to hear it once I tell you what it is. It might not matter in the least to you, but I can always tell.
Click to expand...

Time to get my headphones and try to guess again, though I already voted. I have an idea. Let's see if I am right.
 
#78
jz0h4d said:
Ok crank up the tone controls untill you get a sound like Duck Dunns, turn up the volume on both heads untill they just start to distort and when conditions are "equal" lets see who can tell the difference?
Click to expand...

That would be a different test. As Jimmy points out, not everyone wants an overdriven tube sound. So this is an interesting pooll regarding clean sounds. I encourage you to make your own experiment if you want overdriven tubes vs overdriven SS.
 
#80
Eminor3rd said:
That would be a different test. As Jimmy points out, not everyone wants an overdriven tube sound. So this is an interesting pooll regarding clean sounds. I encourage you to make your own experiment if you want overdriven tubes vs overdriven SS.
Click to expand...

I would go further and say that practically nobody wants the sound of an overdriven SS amp. Overdriven tube sound its its own beast -- either you want it or you don't. If you don't want overdriven tube sound, the next option is probably to use a SS amp with enough power that you are unlikely to overdrive it.
 

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