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Tube snobs suck?

E

Electricblue

Feb 1, 2011
1,204
49
Norfolk
#1
Ok, I have nothing against people that like tube amps, no problem at all. :D I mostly use SS amps because my pockets aren't too deep :crying:

Anyway, I was in my local music shop a few days ago looking at stompboxes which are situated near the guitar amps.

There was a guy trying out combos with the help of a shop assistant. He had a nice Ibanez, and his playing was pretty good so not exactly a noob.

Here's what I overheard, simplified:

*The customer finishes noodling*

Dude: Yup, I'm pretty sure this is the one for me, I love the sound.

Assistant: If it's in your budget we can order one, we won't sell our demo amps.

Dude: That would be great, could you order one and a re-tube kit for later down the line?

Assistant: This one's solid state Sir, you wont need to re-tube.

Dude: Oh... ok. Where are the tube combos?

:confused:
 
#9
I actually have to tip my hat to "the dude" (or His Dudeness, or Duder, or El Duderino if you're not into the whole brevity thing) for having enough brain tissue to know that no matter how good a SS amp sounds, a tube amp will always sound better!

(uh oh....Sactobass is now donning his flamesuit in preparation of the inevitable impending firestorm) ;)

All in fun, folks......all in fun.
 
#10
AND..........
Credit to him also, coz the NEXT line in the conversation, maybe 5 mins later, could've been "well, I tried both the ss AND tube combos & I liked ***** best" :)
I couldn't count the number of times I've played an amp in-store only to get a totally different vibe from same amp live.:mad:

So, maybe.... Maybe he knew he liked some all tube stuff & thought he'd better test em & compare??

Then again, he is a guitard, so...:confused:
 
#11
Really? I thought that this was a thread I would only see on a guitar forum, and I always assumed that bassists were more or less immune to this sort of nonsense.

I worked with very nice tube amps for many years (before ss had any real options to offer), but I have used ss amps as well (several different ones) since then.

In my experience, amps can be divided into those that sound great, and those that don't. Both tubes and transistors have representatives in both camps. I pick an amp on sound, robustness and luggability (if that's a word). On sound I find things to like (and dislike) in both types, but on the other criteria, my experience is that solid state has a decided advantage (YMMV of course).

Solid states have different characteristics to tubes, but to say that tubes ALWAYS sound better is just dumb I think. If you can't get a tone from a Markbass, Genz Benz, GK, Trace, Aguilar or Eden SS, then I really don't know what you are looking for.
 
#14
Or maybe he's smart and knows that buying, owning, maintaining and hauling a tube amp shows respect for tradition and dedication to music. That helps him earn the respect of soundmen, producers, other musicians, and possibly even the nerdier audience members.

No solid-state amp can get you that kind of Vebleny goodness.
 
#16
Electricblue said:
Ok, I have nothing against people that like tube amps, no problem at all. :D I mostly use SS amps because my pockets aren't too deep :crying:

Anyway, I was in my local music shop a few days ago looking at stompboxes which are situated near the guitar amps.

There was a guy trying out combos with the help of a shop assistant. He had a nice Ibanez, and his playing was pretty good so not exactly a noob.

Here's what I overheard, simplified:

*The customer finishes noodling*

Dude: Yup, I'm pretty sure this is the one for me, I love the sound.

Assistant: If it's in your budget we can order one, we won't sell our demo amps.

Dude: That would be great, could you order one and a re-tube kit for later down the line?

Assistant: This one's solid state Sir, you wont need to re-tube.

Dude: Oh... ok. Where are the tube combos?

:confused:
Click to expand...

If that's what he wants, it's all good. No?
 

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