https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/practicality-of-tube-amps/ Guitar Noise Discussion Board en-US Fri, 05 Jun 2026 07:10:36 +0000 wpForo 60 https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/practicality-of-tube-amps/#post-161688 Fri, 24 Feb 2006 05:35:19 +0000
So the tube story is not all about saturation. Tube clean is distinctive and colored as well.]]> Live Sound gnease https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/practicality-of-tube-amps/#post-161688 https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/practicality-of-tube-amps/#post-161666 Fri, 24 Feb 2006 04:03:56 +0000
But what about a clean tone?? Clean tone is very important in many types of music like Country or Jazz, but Rock as well. In cases like this, many want a powerful tube amp that has a beautiful warm tone that does not distort or overdrive at all. The Fender Twin 100W and Fender Twin Reverb 85W are very popular with guitarists in this style because they can be turned up to extremely high volume and not distort. But they love the warmth and roundness of a tube amp.

But solid states are used by pros as well. The Roland JC-120 is a famous solid state amp used by pros for it's great clean sound.

Roland JC-120

All tube amps do not sound great. Some are awful. And many solid state amps sound great. You have to find an amp that gives you the sound you are looking for. A Rock guitarist is looking for a completely different tone than a Jazz guitarist.]]> Live Sound Wes Inman https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/practicality-of-tube-amps/#post-161666 https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/practicality-of-tube-amps/#post-161663 Fri, 24 Feb 2006 03:45:45 +0000 Live Sound rocker https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/practicality-of-tube-amps/#post-161663 https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/practicality-of-tube-amps/#post-161586 Thu, 23 Feb 2006 21:05:25 +0000 DON'T have to have a tube amp cranked all the time to sound good, and it's often inappropriate. One big disadvantage to it is that you lose nearly all of your dynamics when everything's cranked. Adjust your volume and gain for the music you're playing and the setting you're in. That's why there are knobs on the amp. There are knobs who don't need 'em, because they're just going to turn them up all the way, and 90% of the time it doesn't work well.]]> Live Sound Ricochet https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/practicality-of-tube-amps/#post-161586 https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/practicality-of-tube-amps/#post-161528 Thu, 23 Feb 2006 15:15:05 +0000 Tube tone is no academic pursuit - just ask all the modelling amp manufacturers - they spend millions, just trying to copy the tone of tube amps. If that's not convincing enough, just ask the thousands of pro musicians, who prefer tube to solid state.
You don't need a 100W amp to practice at home, though - a 0.5W or 1W amp is more than sufficient - both of those will drive a 4x12" cab - they're also great for mic'ing situations.]]> Live Sound greybeard https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/practicality-of-tube-amps/#post-161528 https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/practicality-of-tube-amps/#post-161524 Thu, 23 Feb 2006 14:09:42 +0000 What I would like to know is, will a tubed fender be able to be used by an average guitarist in such a way as to get the toneal advantage it has (ie not to loud and versatile enough to keep you interested while not needing all of Neil Youngs talent to make it sing).
What kind of amp do you guys use say 90% of the time?

I know tone, practicality etc is all personal preferance, but experience has taught me to seek advice from the experinced and save myself the pain of silly mistakes.]]> Live Sound Flintstone https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/practicality-of-tube-amps/#post-161524 https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/practicality-of-tube-amps/#post-161484 Thu, 23 Feb 2006 06:31:40 +0000
joe]]> Live Sound forrok_star https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/practicality-of-tube-amps/#post-161484 https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/practicality-of-tube-amps/#post-161474 Thu, 23 Feb 2006 05:27:39 +0000 Live Sound afterblast https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/practicality-of-tube-amps/#post-161474 https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/practicality-of-tube-amps/#post-161435 Thu, 23 Feb 2006 02:04:57 +0000
amen brother, amen, there is nothing like the tone you get from a good tube amp at saturation, i'll never go back to a ss amp :D]]> Live Sound rocker https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/practicality-of-tube-amps/#post-161435 https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/practicality-of-tube-amps/#post-161424 Thu, 23 Feb 2006 00:43:13 +0000
Everybody talks about great tone. What the heck is that? What I consider great tone might sound horrible to you. I love the tone of Neil Young's guitar on Farmer John. Neil Young likes to play one way. He turns his Fender amp up to max. It howls, screams, feeds-back, all distorted.... But it is a great tone to me. Total tube amp saturation. He is not getting his tone from a pedal, he is getting it from the amp. It is thick and full.

I absolutely love this tone, you may think it is terrible.

But there is tone most everyone agrees on. Play some clean guitar on a solid state amp. Play the same riff on a good Fender Twin Reverb. Believe me, you will hear the difference.

You can get great tone from a solid state. Many pros today use solid state amps. But most use tube amps. It is all what you as an individual are after.]]> Live Sound Wes Inman https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/practicality-of-tube-amps/#post-161424