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Why do we tube lovers love tubes?

#281
johnk_10 said:
IMO, most people that haven't spent a great deal of time on stage playing with a tube amp in a band don't really know what alot of us are talking about. it's one thing to sit in your living room or in a music store, and listen to one, but another thing entirely, when one is pushing some air behind you in a full band mix and feeling its response. IME, no hybrid has ever captured the same touch-sensitive dynamics and the feeling of being 'connected' to your amp that a tube amp does inherently, and i feel that i still own enough high end tube pre channel strips/SS poweramps to determine that.
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+1

I've noticed several guys on this forum mentioning the "feel" they get from their all tube amps.
Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed you hardly ever see solid state power guys using that term?
 
#283
You go with what you like personally.If you think that a tube amp sounds better go ahead & get one. To me & other folks that used Tube amps have no reason to say that a S.S is better or worse only it can give a very close sound to a real tube amp when used with a good Preamp.What does a tube amp have over the S.S in sound & can it be proven that a tube amp has extra big balls compared to a S.S, im not talking about clipping either ? What you like another may not. Most guys that i know that have an all tube amp have much more problems then ive ever had with any S.S. They biggest problem ive had with a S.S amp is i had to change an input.
Tube amps......S.S amps.......Theres no answer its up to the bassist to decide what he or she likes.
 
#284
Growly Lytes said:
Ive read `alot` of reviews here on TB of people that used to use an all Tube amp untill they tried a S.S preamp say something like a Sansamp RBI or RPM & they hardly ever go back to the actual Tube amp again. Just do a search about these Tube emulators & read where Tube crazy bass players swear by them.Another thing is people that use Tubes amps must have a bit cash to throw around because their not vey cheap, the amp or the tubes & repairs that come with them also the maintenence.
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IMO, while my Sansamp RPM sounds very good, but doesn't really feel or sound anything like a real tube amp to me.
 
#285
duke2004 said:
yes, it was the fender tube section, spring reverb etc. until the Fractal replaced the whole shebang
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i haven't had a chance to hear a fractal, and i'm open minded, but i've yet to hear any modeling device that sounds as good as a 100% tube amp. IME, the focusrite liquid channel channel strip has come the closest for me, but it still doesn't quite do it.
 
#288
Growly Lytes said:
You go with what you like personally.If you think that a tube amp sounds better go ahead & get one. To me & other folks that used Tube amps have no reason to say that a S.S is better or worse only it can give a very close sound to a real tube amp when used with a good Preamp.What does a tube amp have over the S.S in sound & can it be proven that a tube amp has extra big balls compared to a S.S, im not talking about clipping either ? What you like another may not. Most guys that i know that have an all tube amp have much more problems then ive ever had with any S.S. They biggest problem ive had with a S.S amp is i had to change an input.
Tube amps......S.S amps.......Theres no answer its up to the bassist to decide what he or she likes.
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right on. anyway, balls are in the eye of the beholder. not literally ;) but for every person who says the tube amp is their definition of balls, there's another who says a ss amp has them. so yeah, you're absolutely right.

however, i don't think that's in dispute in this thread. this was originally started for me to understand why i like tube amps better. wasn't really intended to be another tube vs ss amp thread. guess that comes with the territory, though.
 
#289
Growly Lytes said:
Ive read `alot` of reviews here on TB of people that used to use an all Tube amp untill they tried a S.S preamp say something like a Sansamp RBI or RPM & they hardly ever go back to the actual Tube amp again. Just do a search about these Tube emulators & read where Tube crazy bass players swear by them.Another thing is people that use Tubes amps must have a bit cash to throw around because their not vey cheap, the amp or the tubes & repairs that come with them also the maintenence.
Click to expand...

I got my Mesa Bass 400 for $550. Every 18 months to 4 years I replace the tubes. I have only once had to pay a repair bill on it. When I was in a hurry and turned it on with the speaker cable unplugged. Fried the output transformer. Woohoo!
I have picked up Traynors YBA's for $150-350 on craigslist and pennysavers.

As far as being in need of repairs, IME most problems with a tube amp can be fixed with replacing the power or pre tubes.

When SS amps need repairs they often just dont come back!
 
#290
cal, may i ask why you totally retube it every so often? do you actually burn them out that quickly? i honestly can't see how you could unless you play doom at excruciating volumes. that is such a waste to replace good tubes. hope you at least hang onto the good ones.
 
#291
I just hope that every bassist out there has or is close to what they need in terms of sound , power & equipment because it seems no matter what we do , say or buy its never gonna be enough for us very demanding bassists.......& im one of`em so i know this for a fact.
 
#294
johnk_10 said:
IMO, most people that haven't spent a great deal of time on stage playing with a tube amp in a band don't really know what alot of us are talking about. it's one thing to sit in your living room or in a music store, and listen to one, but another thing entirely, when one is pushing some air behind you in a full band mix and feeling its response. IME, no hybrid has ever captured the same touch-sensitive dynamics and the feeling of being 'connected' to your amp that a tube amp does inherently, and i feel that i still own enough high end tube pre channel strips/SS poweramps to determine that.
Click to expand...

If I understand what you mean, I've gotten the "feel" from both SS and tube gear, and so have the audiences I've played for. Not the same "feel" in each case (different gear, music, bass, etc.) but that setup sweet spot you seem to describe that adds something extra to each note in the mix. I think it's easier these days, as there's more good gear out there (also more junk).
 
#295
JimmyM said:
back in the 80's when i was making $200 a week for a 6-night gig
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You ever notice how the pay hasn't changed much in the last 30 or 40 years?

As far as tube amps go, I've always loved them because of their "feel" onstage. If you want smaller and lighter, there will usually be some compromises. I've ended up playing with a Mesa Walkabout head because it "sounds" like what I want to hear and "feels" like a tube amp. YMMV

Dan
 
#296
okcrum said:
If I understand what you mean, I've gotten the "feel" from both SS and tube gear, and so have the audiences I've played for. Not the same "feel" in each case (different gear, music, bass, etc.) but that setup sweet spot you seem to describe that adds something extra to each note in the mix. I think it's easier these days, as there's more good gear out there (also more junk).
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i've gotten great tone from some of my SS amps, but there has always been something missing that a 100% tube amp has. i refer to it as sounding/feeling a bit more veiled, but it has nothing to do with its brightness or clarity. the SS ones just don't feel quite as 'connected' to my fingers like a tube amp. believe me, i've spent a TON of money trying to achieve it (with my Focusrite ISA430MKII, UA 6176, and my Avalon VT737SP) and it still hasn't happened yet, although they can sound great to me.
 
#299
JimmyM said:
cal, may i ask why you totally retube it every so often? do you actually burn them out that quickly? i honestly can't see how you could unless you play doom at excruciating volumes. that is such a waste to replace good tubes. hope you at least hang onto the good ones.
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Well when I am playing in a hiphop/R&B/comedy band the tubes last forever. When I am playing punk/doom/metal I like the sound of really cranking the daylights out of my amp. Then it will chew through a set of tubes in 18 months. And thats winged C's!
So yeah, when I talk about stuff like driving the transformer hard. I know what that sounds like.

BTW I wear hearing protection and stand quite far from my amp. So dont none of you younguns take my statement about cranking my amp as carte blanche to destroy your hearing. You cant hear how good loud sounds if you you cant hear. Wear ear plugs! (or over the ear hearing protection!).
 

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