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Topic: Tube Amp for steel? |
Tom Olson
From:
Spokane, WA
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Posted 13 Mar 2001 9:03 pm |
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I don't really know that much about amps, but from what I've read, the tube vs. solid state question depends on whether you want a clean sound or an "overdriven sound."
At lower power settings, you will get a clean sound from both the solid state and the tube amp. When you start to "overdrive" the amp, the tube amp often produces a warmer-sounding "distortion" than the solid state amp.
From my limited personal experience, a really good solid state amp is just as good or better than a tube amp because you can get just as good or better sound from a solid state amp, while avoiding the headaches traditionally associated with tube amps. It seems most of the ones who really want the tube amps are guitar players who want a bit of distortion or overdrive sound. When it comes to clean sound a good solid state amp should be just as good or better than a tube amp.
Just my $0.02 worth. |
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Blake Hawkins
From:
Florida
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Posted 14 Mar 2001 5:46 am
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Jeff, check the Forum archives. Both Carl Dixon and Jack Stoner have written extensively on adjusting the NV 400 in previous threads.
Also check the current "Amp Settings" thread in the Electronics section of the Forum.
Blake[This message was edited by Blake Hawkins on 14 March 2001 at 05:50 AM.] |
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David Biagini
From:
San Jose, CA, USA
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Posted 14 Mar 2001 7:17 am
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| I prefer tube amps. The tone has more depth and the amp responds better to all your picking nuances. |
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Ally
From:
Edinburgh, UK
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Posted 14 Mar 2001 7:38 am
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| I use a Fender Twin for pedal steel, and the sound is superb. Very clean and open. |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 14 Mar 2001 7:42 am
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For the most part solid state amps sound like dry dog turds compared with tube amps. Although there are some great solid state amps out there.
I play all the time and constantly check out different amps in studios and gigs. Overall tube amps have a deeper response and a richer tone. Anybody that says that steel players use SS amps so they can get a clean sound is somewhat naive. Tube amps can get a great clean sound.
Bob[This message was edited by Bob Hoffnar on 14 March 2001 at 07:50 AM.] |
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Tom Olson
From:
Spokane, WA
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Posted 14 Mar 2001 8:31 am
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Who ever said psg players use SS amps to get a cleaner sound? I've never heard anyone say that -- 'course I haven't talked with that many people about the subject. I agree that you can get a fantastic clean sound with a tube amp. You can also get a fantastic clean sound with a solid state amp.
If you think a tube amp sounds better . . . cool. There are many people, including countless professionals, who think a good SS amp sounds better. I'm not arguing about which one sounds better. If somebody wants to spend two or three times as much money just to have a tube amp, plus lugging around the extra weight and putting up with the maintenance of a tube amp . . . . .cool. But I wonder who's really the naive one here.
Anyone who makes a blanket statement that SS amps sound like dry dog turds has his head up his @$$
Just kidding . . . . . [This message was edited by Tom Olson on 14 March 2001 at 09:08 AM.] |
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Brandin
From:
Newport Beach CA. USA
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Posted 14 Mar 2001 9:12 am
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| Tom, stick with that solid state stuff, and leave the tube amps for those of us that appreciate good sound. |
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Tom Olson
From:
Spokane, WA
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Posted 14 Mar 2001 9:28 am
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| OK Brandin, whatever you say. [This message was edited by Tom Olson on 14 March 2001 at 09:29 AM.] |
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Bob Kagy
From:
Lafayette, CO USA
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Posted 14 Mar 2001 10:10 am
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| Quote: |
| For the most part solid state amps sound like dry dog turds compared with tube amps. |
I love it. |
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Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
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Posted 14 Mar 2001 11:02 am
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My Emmons sounded like "crap" on my old reliable 4x10 Fender Bassman that I'd used for years. I chanced to play thro' and old '65 Fender Tw-12" reverb and "THAT WAS the sound I've searched for, for many years".
I was encouraged however, by the owner, to get a Peavy Session 400; I did. A great amp but NOT THE SOUND I've longed to hear once again.I later added a Peavy LA-400 12", and it was closer to the sound I wanted but still not it. I now use those two amps with my ProFex and I have a lot of GREAT SOUNDS...but still not that great OLD TUBE sound of that Fender tw-12 reverb. I recently acquired the Peavy re-issue of that old Fender amp. It didn't sound anywhere NEAR......what I had envisioned. The closest I've been able to get to what I want, is to set "Saturation" at a fairly high level, on the LA-400. It seems to provide me with that overdrive of a tube amp. I'm not a professional and am nowhere near as knowledgeable as most of these Forumites but contribute this in good faith that it might lend some value to the original question asked. The "sound" you want to hear is EVERYTHING. Settle for nothing less!
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 Ray Montee-email: mraymond4@qwest.net
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Mike Bagwell
From:
Greenville, SC, USA
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Posted 14 Mar 2001 12:07 pm
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I love tube amps, I have a real 59 twin and a 66 Twin with JBL's. Ive also used a tube pre amp and Mcintosh power amps. MC60 and MC275. I also have some good solid state amps, peavey, Evans and Sho Bud. I consider most of these amps an indulgence. A more accurate phrase would be "time spent playing with amps when I should be playing my guitar".Tube amps are my favorite, mostly because of the coolness factor and I dig the tone when Im playing around the house plus, I love looking at them.
This being said the best tone Ive ever heard in a live setting was achived with solid state amps. The players were Buddy Emmons and Lloyd Green. These guys had tone that made the hair stand up on my arms and gave me cold chills. Not a dry dog turd all night.
One type of amp does not sound better or worse than the other, just a little different.Oh sure I can tell the difference in a twin and a session 400 in my music room , but go to a loud live gig and these differences become obscure the to the
audience .Under these situations how the amp is voiced ie. how the amps eq works with your particular guitar and set of ears is more important than the type of output stage. For example I could not hear any change in Greg Leisz's tone when he went from Twins to Evans amps. Did he suck thru the Evans and Im just not hip enought to hear it? I think he hears a certian tone in his head and thru eq and slight techniqe adjustments is able to make most any guitar and amp setup really sing.
Im probably the biggest tube nut on the forum,Ive foolin with this stuff for 25 years.I wish you could just plug into a good tube amp and have your live tone improve 50to 100%, but it just ain't so.
Red Rhodes( groove tubes head tube guru and friend of Leo Fender) sumed it up best when when I asked what kind of amp he used for live playing, he said " Man I use a Session 400 its just easier to get the tone I like"
Mike
[This message was edited by Mike Bagwell on 14 March 2001 at 12:11 PM.] |
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 14 Mar 2001 12:46 pm
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I'm moving this to the Electronics forum.
Personally, I'm a big fan of Fender amplifiers. Some of the new reissues can sound really nice with steel guitar.
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Brad's Page of Steel:
www.well.com/~wellvis/steel.html
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars
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