I haven't played enough amps to give a personal view on the differences. But I've rocked out enough to know that in a live situation the audience are most unlikely to know the difference, or even care. They just want us to give them some booty so they can shake that thang!
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Tube power amps
- Thread starter ihaveaquestion
- Start date
Not to derail but:
Some here agree that having power tubes running in a clean output stage sounds great.
Hybrids in the past, used a 12AX7 or the like as the front end in order to emulate a tube tone.
In my opinion, the reason was to introduce distortion.
I've heard it mentioned on this board but curious why there aren't tube pre's with a low power output tube(s) that then drive a SS power section.
Is this one of those "looks good on paper" but a lousy idea in real life?
Some here agree that having power tubes running in a clean output stage sounds great.
Hybrids in the past, used a 12AX7 or the like as the front end in order to emulate a tube tone.
In my opinion, the reason was to introduce distortion.
I've heard it mentioned on this board but curious why there aren't tube pre's with a low power output tube(s) that then drive a SS power section.
Is this one of those "looks good on paper" but a lousy idea in real life?
Tube attack beats up solid state attack. Could be a class a/b issue, but even so I strongly prefer tube class a/b over solid state.
Seen stuff like that on occasion but none of it has lasted very long on the market, with the possible exception of the SWR Interstellar Overdrive preamp. But even that went by the wayside within a few years.
Late to the game , but please add me to this list: when I use a tube amp, especially my Reeves 225 HiWatt clone, it’s because of how amazingly deep and powerful it sounds clean.
I think a lot of Reeves and Hiwatt users will probably fall into the list. This style of amp excels at deep, powerful, and clean!
Getting a sound you like and getting it out into the house is something anyone who's been around the block a couple of times knows how to do. If I'm happy with my sound the audience will be happy with it.
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Good poll, but I think there may be one or two more questions that could have been added.
I have a tube in my preamp that feeds into my power amp. To me it sounds plenty warm, thanks to the help of a very good para-metric EQ, on board compression, and a pair of great speaker enclosures. I’ve never had a sound engineer ever say, boy, that sucks, and you should have an all tube head.
You’ve probably never had a chef poke you in the tummy and tell you how much you didn’t need the chocolate mousse either.
I've used them all. I had an Eden 300VT and I used an Alembic F1-X with a QSC-PLX1202->Whappo Jr. for several years. Now I'm using a Messa Subway preamp-DI into whatever class-D. If you like that spongy blume you get from all tubes then ALL-TUBE is for you. If you like the tube flavor a tube pre adds then a tube pre is for you. If you are like me and want ultra clean then try the Messa Subway preamp-DI. into the poweramp of your choice. It's all good.
No, but my wife sure has...lol!!!
Seriously, When I toured back in the 70s, I played a Ric in Rico-Sound using a SVT for the neck pick up and a Hiwatt 100 for my bridge pick up. A totally ridiculous rig by today’s standards, but trust me, I get the tube thing. Also, trust me when I tell you my current rig can get just a tuby as it need it to be.
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For about six months I ran Ric-O-Sound with the neck going to an SVT and the bridge going to a Fender Twin with JBL E120s. Man that was a heavy rig, but it did sound good
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For about six months I ran Ric-O-Sound with the neck going to an SVT and the bridge going to a Fender Twin with JBL E120s. Man that was a heavy rig, but it did sound good
All mine ever did for me was attract a lot of bassists....
Seriously, Ric-o-sound was the bees knees... btw, my SVT powered an Ampeg V-4B 2-15 Reflex Cab (discontinued as it was bigger than the “Fridge”). the Hiwatt powered a Highwatt 4-12 enclosure. This rig rocked. I was playing in a power trio at the time and PAs being what they were, primarily for vocals only, it was needed.
Mr. Foxen
Commercial User
Warwick Tubepath. But they paired it with a A/B power section that made it nearly as heavy as an actual valve amp anyway. Think coupling up SMPS and class D with valves wasn't figured out yet.
SWR interstallar overdrive was similar, worked as a preamp but also could be run as a 1 watt or 5 watt amp on its own. Used in some guitar amps as well, I think the vox valvetronix series use a 12AX7 this way.
