My apologies! I saw that there is emulation going on to make it perform like the 400+, down to damping factor, but being blind I didn't read the details and only assumed there was some DSP going on. I just read the clarification on that.
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Tube vs. Solid-State Amps
- Thread starter Reedi
- Start date
EDIT TO ABOVE!
I had assumed there was some dsp happening in the BD-800's tube power amp emulation. Not so. Nothing going on dsp-wise.
A Music Man amp will satisfy that.
- Feb 12, 2006
- 60,961
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- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
This highlights why we don't have any commercially available amps like this today... it just wasn't all that commercially viable as the industry passed MM by.
It doesn't mean that it can't or won't work, just that the trade-offs weren't what the market was looking for or was willing to accept commercially. It it was commercially viable, we would see current examples in the marketplace.
I feel my solid-state stuff is warm. It has been reliable. Never switching to tube bass amps. Never. My Fender Rumble 2X10 combo at 38 pounds is (I think) one of those "Class D" amplifier/power sections. I'm not going back to a heavier bass amp, ever.
But...
For guitar: My Fender Deluxe Reverb Reissue is of course tubes, but it is only three pounds heavier than my Fender bass amp. A keeper. My Fender Blues Junior FSR (tube) with a (stock) Cannabus Rex speaker is about 30 pounds. Also a keeper.
It's not the technology I prefer or dislike. It's the weight and sound.
Completely and totally flawed premise. I’ve been playing 55 years and I have had almost exactly the same number of “on the gig” failures with both tube and solid state. I don’t know what these guys who whine about all the maintenance tube amps need are talking about. I use a stock Fender Deluxe Reverb Reissue for a practice amp at home. I run guitar, bass and keyboards through it and I’ve had two issues in the last 10 years. I bought it in 1994 and for the first 20 years it was flawless. I’ve had a couple of SVTs that were also never in the shop.
I have yet to hear an SS rig that completely captures the magic of hot power tubes, but my SS rigs get reasonably close: i.e. definitely not sterile!
The reliability difference has already been refuted. I choose SS Because Smaller and Lighter.
Oh, another factor: my 70s SVT became magical when it was run at the sweet spot between too clean and too dirty. This was my subjective sweet spot of course, but the bottom line is that it was LOUD, and I didn't often have the opportunity to push my stage rig that hard. A wonderful advantage to SS is that you can dial in the same level of overdrive at any volume.
Anyway, if I didn't have to schlep my own gear: all tube, all the time! But again, I'm happy with the tone of my SS gear.
The reliability difference has already been refuted. I choose SS Because Smaller and Lighter.
Oh, another factor: my 70s SVT became magical when it was run at the sweet spot between too clean and too dirty. This was my subjective sweet spot of course, but the bottom line is that it was LOUD, and I didn't often have the opportunity to push my stage rig that hard. A wonderful advantage to SS is that you can dial in the same level of overdrive at any volume.
Anyway, if I didn't have to schlep my own gear: all tube, all the time! But again, I'm happy with the tone of my SS gear.
I've always preferred solid state overall. I default toward maximum clean headroom with a minimally colored, full-range sound, with any drive coming only when I kick on pedals. I'm not in any way suggesting tube amps can't provide those things, but I've personally had great results with solid state when looking along those lines.
"Warmth" is not something I tend to go for in most situations, and I'm happy to use something like a lower gain drive pedal with a vintage-skewing color to go for a "warm" sound in the rare situations that I want it.
I have no comment on reliability of solid state versus tube amps on average since I don't have sufficient experience with tube amps.
"Warmth" is not something I tend to go for in most situations, and I'm happy to use something like a lower gain drive pedal with a vintage-skewing color to go for a "warm" sound in the rare situations that I want it.
I have no comment on reliability of solid state versus tube amps on average since I don't have sufficient experience with tube amps.
It's a question of flavor - and weight.
I do like my Markbass Little Mark Vintage head (with tube preamp). It hits a good balance between clean and warm tone with a little bit of grit, depending on EQ setting.
My next head will be an Ampeg SVT for more grit, I like the tone of overdriven tubes.
I do like my Markbass Little Mark Vintage head (with tube preamp). It hits a good balance between clean and warm tone with a little bit of grit, depending on EQ setting.
My next head will be an Ampeg SVT for more grit, I like the tone of overdriven tubes.
Yah, I was thinking the same thing, like maybe the Subway D-800 with a 4 tube power section
How about neither? An amp is a necessary evil IMO, and when I have to have one I want it to be small, light and easily portable, so class d amp with a small neo cab is my bread and butter
Love my HD-150 more than any other amp I own.
My main amp for shows is hybrid. Class A tube pre and A/B solid state for the amp.
My backup amps are class D full solid state……….. and they are a close match sound wise quite honestly :
My backup amps are class D full solid state……….. and they are a close match sound wise quite honestly :
