Article on Tube Vs Solid state..

[Bloodrock]

http://geargods.net/editorials/why-solid-state-amps-are-better-than-tube-for-metal/

I've been a fan of SS amps for metal for years. That being said, Machine Head's 5150 tone is really hard to beat IMO. For the price of some of the modern metal tube amps, SS wins easily.... but I'm a cheap bastard.

 

[some dude]

I stopped reading after he claimed the SLO is a copy of the Mesa Mark II and that the Recto's modern channel has solid state diodes for tighter clipping.

The author seems to think that tightness and transient response is the most important aspect to good metal tone, yet how many great metal albums have been recorded using the saggiest of high gain amps through a boomy oversized cab? And how frequently is Dimebag mentioned in every "worst tone" thread?

 

[nigelpkay]

Love the sound of tubes, but honestly, I see more and more guys using solid state live these days, whether it's Line 6, Axe, Kemper etc..., just much more reliable and still sounds great. My favourite "amp" right now is the ISP Theta Preamp pedal through an ISP Stealth poweramp.

Recording... different story, I would much prefer tubes, but not sure if profiling your tube amp via Kemper is cheating and counts

 

[jsp]

I think it's funny how he talks down to "tube amp snobbery" but is a huge condescending asshole himself

 

[slaveunit]

It's just a "I'm against the grain" article.

 

[phil b]

Bah! Whatever works and gets the sound your after then go for it. I REALLY wanted to just use a S.S. rig. Axe fx and a poweramp and I would have been good. Back to one or two heads and a 12u rack. Hopefully sometime soon I can find a S.S. rig that works. For the guys that made the switch and are happy.. I am jealous!!

 

[some dude]

When I think solid state I think transistor amps... Old Peaveys and Sunns, etc.

I put modern emulators in a separate category. An AxeFx isn't really doing the same thing as a Bandit, and it's trying really hard to sound like it has tubes.

 

[Steinmetzify]

Stopped reading after I saw 'late 80s/early 90s synthy shred'.

 

[Stumplegriltskin]

I've had all the digital and SS stuff from the past. I use to be a rocktron fan boy.

Then I grew a set and learned what tone is all about. I guess some people can not discern the subtle differences between SS and Tube Tone. I have yet to try a Kemper, but I'm thinking that, for me, is just going to be another pod like device. I've had 3 of the Rack Pods and they did not impress me. This is not to say I would not be impressed with a Kemper. Lots of people use them, so there's got to be something there. But in the mean time, I'll stick to my multidimensional tone (as I call it).

 

[Stumplegriltskin]

When I think solid state I think transistor amps... Old Peaveys and Sunns, etc.

I put modern emulators in a separate category. An AxeFx isn't really doing the same thing as a Bandit, and it's trying really hard to sound like it has tubes.

Without a doubt, the worst amp I ever owned.

Until I got one of these to put in front of it.

And thought I was the shit, at 17 years old.

My friend still has the POS. Gave it to him in the 90's. Thing sounds like ASS.

 

[Rock Bodom]

I remember when I was a kid I didn't have a tube amp at first, but was using a Rockman X100 both for practice with headphones as well as pumped into a SS amp for band rehearsals. And I thought it sounded really good.

One day I was at a guitar shop and the guy asked me what I was playing through, and I told him the Rockman and he kind of laughed. And I started telling him how SS could be just as good these days (cause obviously I was an expert with zero tube experience, wasn't even playing out yet and hearing other rigs).

He did a very cool thing, he didn't argue, he just took me into their amp room and warmed up a JCM800 full stack and let me plug in. A few minutes later, he says to me "got it?" And I was like "yeah, got it." Good early experience for sure...the way you might learn things before YouTube clips and Internet forums.

 

[4406cuda]

One of the few guitarist to get a good sound out of a SS amp is Frank Marino. I believe he used tube amps in the studio, but live he used SS. His tone on the live albums sound great.

 

[Elric]

Love the sound of tubes, but honestly, I see more and more guys using solid state live these days, whether it's Line 6, Axe, Kemper etc..., just much more reliable and still sounds great. My favourite "amp" right now is the ISP Theta Preamp pedal through an ISP Stealth poweramp.

Recording... different story, I would much prefer tubes, but not sure if profiling your tube amp via Kemper is cheating and counts

I'm open minded wrt Solid State amps but modelers are not the same thing as analog solid state amplifiers which is what is being discussed. So I guess I would consider modelers "cheating"... Modelers are digital tone generators that can be amplified using either analog solid state or tube amplified power. The accuracy of the modeling can alleviate some of the onus for having a tube power amplifier in the signal chain but in terms of debating the merits of either power amplification technology they're irrelevant, IMHO.

Also, while as I noted, I have a soft spot for Solid State, I will also join the folks mentioning that the person who wrote that article is technically incompetent in his understanding of how amplifiers work as demonstrated by numerous verifiable inaccuracies cited in the content.