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Why do we tube lovers love tubes?

#321
How can a $200 emulator sound as good as $2000 Tube amp = Easy !!
Its been done. If it doesnt sound like the $2000 Tube amp its going to get you 95% of the way there. And why would one go with a $200 emulator... because its $1800 cheaper for starters & the sound is very close if not exactly the same `imo.
Everybody has there reasons for what they choose to buy.
 
#323
About the emulation vs real tube;
I have a B15 (a '69) and I have a VB99 (wich has a B15 emulation) , wich one do I use Live ? you guessed it , the VB99.

Why you may ask , because it weights 90 pounds lighter , it also emulates 800 pounds of other amps and cabs , 100 pounds of basses , and another 100 pounds of stomp boxes and FX. All that 1000 pound of gear would need a big truck to fit in and a couple of guys to cary them. ( I wouldn't )
The VB99 weights 2 pounds.

Don't get me wrong , if I need a B15 tone in the studio , I'll use my b15 ( It's only goin to give that tone anyways )
On a live gig with the VB99 , in a busy mix , I challenge anyone to find out it's not a real amp ......
 
#324
um, you guys do realize this is a technical discussion about what it is in tube amps that make them so attractive to those of us who love them, and not a tube vs ss discussion, right? i don't mind a little discussion of emulators and ss circuits, and i even own a couple sansamp character pedals my own self, but opinions on why you like ss better i ain't lookin' fo'.

but fokof, since you brought it up, i'm a little curious...does your b-15 not come with tone controls? mine does, and the only sound i can't get out of it is that slappy tappy high end i have no interest in. otherwise i can get a ton of different sounds out of it, especially if i change basses or pickup configs. yours must be broken ;)

also, i've seen svt's go for $800 used, and other less powerful tube amps go for even less.
 
#327
JimmyM said:
sorry j-dogg, they got bounced off the server i had them on, and now i can't find them. if i get time tomorrow, i'll record new clips. can't right now because the wife's asleep.

the bolded part. no way you get the spaciousness and sensitivity. but for $150, it's about as close as you can get.

it's about time i rocked a new tube challenge, though, especially in light of all this stuff being talked about lately. personally, i find the vt a wonder pedal and it will definitely be tough to tell the difference. however,
in the same room it's definitely noticeable.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Jimmy! :)
 
#328
JimmyM said:
um, you guys do realize this is a technical discussion about what it is in tube amps that make them so attractive to those of us who love them, and not a tube vs ss discussion, right? i don't mind a little discussion of emulators and ss circuits, and i even own a couple sansamp character pedals my own self, but opinions on why you like ss better i ain't lookin' fo'.
Click to expand...

There is no purely technical answer that explains the appeal of tube amps. People don't have to like tubes for technical or objective reasons.
 
#329
fdeck said:
There is no purely technical answer that explains the appeal of tube amps. People don't have to like tubes for technical or objective reasons.
Click to expand...

+1. it seems that those that prefer playing thru them can hear and feel it, and those that can't, (or can't justify the weight of schlepping them) don't.
 
#330
Growly Lytes said:
How can a $200 emulator sound as good as $2000 Tube amp = Easy !!
Its been done. If it doesnt sound like the $2000 Tube amp its going to get you 95% of the way there. And why would one go with a $200 emulator... because its $1800 cheaper for starters & the sound is very close if not exactly the same `imo.
Everybody has there reasons for what they choose to buy.
Click to expand...

+1
It is easy.
If the subject is "Why do tube lovers love tubes" and it's because of the sound, and it's often said "imitation is the best form of flattery", why would tube lovers be offensive to modeling? It's imitation, and darn good these days.
 
#334
We're starting to enter a period where newer (younger, whatever) players only know what the "modeled" tones sound like. A lot of folks haven't actually played through an SVT stack properly (no, plugging into a barely audible amp at GC doesnt count!). Its hard to know who really has an experienced, informed opinion...
 
#335
scotch said:
We're starting to enter a period where newer (younger, whatever) players only know what the "modeled" tones sound like. A lot of folks haven't actually played through an SVT stack properly (no, plugging into a barely audible amp at GC doesnt count!). Its hard to know who really has an experienced, informed opinion...
Click to expand...
i know who doesn't... :D

btw, as i've stated before, i have a handful of modelers and i use them all the time. but they ain't a tube amp. and as big a comeback as tube amps have made with younger bassists lately, more and more of them seem to get it. again, it's not a make or break thing...nobody will walk out of your gig if you use a ss amp or modeler instead. but i prefer tubes. sorry it makes a couple whiny busybodies upset.
 
#336
scotch said:
We're starting to enter a period where newer (younger, whatever) players only know what the "modeled" tones sound like. A lot of folks haven't actually played through an SVT stack properly (no, plugging into a barely audible amp at GC doesnt count!). Its hard to know who really has an experienced, informed opinion...
Click to expand...

Actually, at least in the modern genres I listen to (variants in the Indie scene - from Toronto to Texas to the UK), it seems like most bassists have the SVT as a standard. I haven't personally met anyone who craps around with a modeler.

Ain't nothin' like the real thing, baby...:smug:
 
#337
michael_atw said:
Yes! and yes! Nothing smells better than my '69 Ampeg B25 burning off 40 years of dust.
Click to expand...

You are sadly behind the times, friend. Not only does the latest generation of VST Plug-ins emulate all tube amps with perfect accuracy, but the latest generation of Glade Plug-ins models tube amp smell with absolute fidelity.

I know I posted this in the now closed "Seamonkey explains why we are all wrong" thread, but it took me ages to edit this pic in MS Paint, and the point needs to made as often as possible:

nc1k0i.jpg
 
#338
scotch said:
We're starting to enter a period where newer (younger, whatever) players only know what the "modeled" tones sound like. A lot of folks haven't actually played through an SVT stack properly (no, plugging into a barely audible amp at GC doesnt count!). Its hard to know who really has an experienced, informed opinion...
Click to expand...

I have advocated all along that you can't try an amp out in a store and know how it work for you. You need to go to a store where they have a good return or exchange policy and check the amp out for a month and try it out on many venues. Same would be true for modeling. You just can't just try it out for a few minutes and dismiss it, you really need to practice it. And try it with non-bass cabinets and pre-colored amp heads. You need time to practice it and make an informed decision. And there are many if not more modeling solutions than heads these days.
 

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