Solid State VS.Tubes , & WHY ?

[Drac]

-Amptone-
 We all want it,
& even if you got it, ye'll always be looking on the other side of the fence ANYWAY to confirm what you thought you "already" knew...

We're all biased-TUBES, or SOLIDSTATE/FET?
what do prefer, and why?-blow as much wind as ye like
-I think we are stage specific here, too...Please don't bring yer POD 'bean' to Donnington-
-If you do other things for recording, studio/home,
 well, chinwag on that , too...

I prefer tubes-To me, they are the real thing...
 like magnetic pickups vs. Variax, or VG8 instrument modeling...
not unlike "electronic" church bells coming from a speaker from a thing that looks like a bell.
-the difference is as subtle as that between
   1) a love sandwich with supermodels,
& 2) 'taking care of things' oneself...
Tubes are the 'real' organic deal-I like a FAT backbreaking backline pumping guitar so thick, you can lean back into it...
I 'believe' the sound- I like the purity, and feel like tubes are
part of the best recipe-
-brain/fingers/axe/pickup/amps/cabs/money shot!
-For recording scratch-cue tracks,sonic sketch pad,writing,practicing,etc.
Anything will do...I clock lots of time in Amplitube-an amp modeling suite in ProTools, and a little Zoom pocket studio-can play crunchy guitar at the beach!
-but-I don't want it on my "boxset of best-ofs "-(delusions of grandeur,sorry)
It's also important to me that my recordings sound like my live sound, and things don't get so layered/'cut&pasted' it won't work live.-think of the contrast between the rolling stones albums, & their parody of themselves melting down live...Ok-quick!-forget it again, sorry...
In my opinion, Tubes are "home cooking", the original  organic object of what solid state and modeling is striving for in the end- and although SS/Fet may create a likeness,   it's another substance under the sonic microscope...
I want the 'real' deal for playing live, and recording.

Got G.A.S. ? : (Gear Acquistion Syndrome )-I bloody do!

I'm always fiddling in my pursuit of the sonic grail-Beware!
beach-combing in the dark for amptone & button pressing is relevant, but not guitar playing-If you shred, someone might pluck you from oblivion, and bring the  creamiest gear to YOU, or ,(dream on) , give it to you/PAY YOU to play it...
If you play like a devil, people don't care what you play,they just want to hear MORE...The most dangerous billiard player will win with the most crooked stick.
-There are no rules, but we all have ways that work for us-
How do YOU do it, and why?- I want to know!

-Fair thee well,  axeslingers!-
yer cohort in soundcrimes,
old Drac

[Drac]

Right, then -
tubes 100%.
 S.S.- 0%

-I knew it!

-there you have it, thanks for coming!

 that was great,  I'd like to thank the tube manufacturers for sponsoring my production of this poll,  and  padding my slush fund-
- Drac

ps:  Just kidding!- please particate in the poll, me bruthers!
-for the record: I have voted ONCE,  yes: "SURPRISE !" : tubes...D.

[Bob Johnson]

I think it's a case of horses for courses. I love the sound of a full on valve job and for me it's a case of the older the better within certain limits. But I also play in a function band that has no backline at all except for one small, 30w, bass amp as a back fill monitor. Everything else is racked up, 3 power amps, dual 31 band EQ, 3 way crossover, lexicon, finaliser, guitar preamps, effects etc etc. All topped of with a Yamaha R02 desk. The rest of the PA is a mix of JBLs and Reflektor bass bins. It's perfect for what we do, we can get a studio like mix in anything from a restaurant to a large conference centre without a guitar amp in sight. So it just depends on what you want / need from your gear in any given situation in my view.

[Baxter]

Are we taking about tube being overdriven or tube amp played in their 'nornal' active range ??  Tube amps when overdriven produce a much more natural sound than SS amps, I'm sure most would agree.  However if you want a tonally clean sound then a SS amp is very good if not better then a tube amp.  If we are talking about tube overdrive then Im on the tube amp side.  If we are talking about an amp in with clean sound I would prefer to use good studio monitors as they do not distort the sound, and have a very flat response.  Tube amps tend to colour the sound in a very pleaseant way, but this may not be what you were looking for.

[The amazing Phil]

All the best amps I have played have been 100% all valve, the Orange AD30 and the C7-a-like are pretty much "the dogs bollox" for me. If I was playing metal, for the sound I want, I'd go valve, but several good players have had excelletn solid state metal tones, it's just not my thing. Pantera is the foremost in mind. And wether or not he changed afterwards, I think Cowboys From Hell sounds fantastic.

Apparently some jazzers like SS amps too.

[Drac]

Some clarity-
Stage Backline of your own,full gig volume
or Studio recording, thinking big, magnum opus...
or  every day noodling, too,-
what you would, if you could...
what you use now-are you happy?
-have you found it, or are you still looking?
 What's your ideal /preference/ bias, & why?
-Drac

[The amazing Phil]

Well the Laney I'm using gets me by, the Ashdown that's in the shop already was excellent, and crankable to en extent at home. Also the effects loop can be used to slave it out, so I can get pretty much the sound I'm after at home for recording or at small gigs or jam sessions. If I wanted more volume, by virtue of needing that volume in the first place I'd be playing "professionalyl enough" to justify getting Matamp to make a "bigger C7" for me. It fills all the niches though, and the only reason I wouldn't use it is if it was late at night, then it's headphones and effects box all the way.

For the PA it absolutely has to be 100% clear and transparent, so the opposite to valves applies for me.

[chrisola]

my rig at home is my JCM800 attenuated down with a MASS, the amps usually on 4 Master volume  :twisted:

crazyily good tone.

WIll never go back to SS or modelling amps (apart from my Guitarport to play late\practice with a basic tone + headphones) too much tweaking and messing about for my tastes... they dont really sound BAD... just different...

[HJM]

Whatever.....I own valves and chips, if it has a degree of dynamic response and sounds good for its function then great. JCM800s aren't great at home, the Roland Microcube's fun at home but no good for a gig.......get what I mean?

[Drac]

I think we're all thinking similar thoughts...

 -the "golf iron" approach...Right tool for the job, & conditions...
versus the "swiss army knife"-'a little of everything, and nothing well' theory...
-
at midnight, the gig might be in your head (phones),
and all the kit in the world won't  make a difference...


interesting...
Don't stop now, gang...

[rinse_master]

I voted tubes, although I'm kinda 50/50 - I have a PodXT running through an Atomic Reactor.

Before the Atomic I had never owned a valve amp (played loads though), and it made such a positive difference to the Pod 's tone that I wouldn't be without it now.

[TwilightOdyssey]

I voted WHATEVER, because they both have a prominent place in my life.

When I'm working on writing demos, or practicing, it is often more important that I play quietly, with headphones. So, I use a modeler for those purposes.

When rehearsing for a show, or recording, I try to always use my actual rig.

Tonally, I prefer the tube rig. But ... lepermeesa is able to get killer tones from his POD,  however.

[Ratrod]

I go for tubes. More dynamic, more natural and it pushes the sound better. I agree that Dime had a great sound from his solid state but I still wouldn't buy one. I saty as far away as possible from the digital stuff. It might be fun to experiment with or maybe for home practicing.

How about a post on Vinyl vs. CD vs. Mp3? :roll:

[Joe Dorcia]

I have hated all solid state and especially modeling amps since i had a Line 6 Flxtone II XL. It sounded pretty thin but not too bad, until it broke after a week, so they sent me a new one, whihch broke, then i got a third on, which broke. They suck. So now i go through a nice series of pedals into my DSL 50 and i love it. The distortion is huge on it. I am lookin at getting my teeth into a Fender Custom Vibrolux. It is the cleanest, most pure amp i have ever heard. I adore it. Hopefully i can get it around christmas and A/B it. SWEET!

[38thBeatle]

In an ideal world( ie. where you have roadies, time for a soundcheck etc) and every venue is large enough for you to crank it up, I'd go for a valve amp but the reality is that I play a wide variety of stuff in my band and we have to "be" so many groups. I have lately been using an old Laney tranny amp and frankly it sounds bloody good and at just about any volume. So, as usual, I am sitting on the fence but it is horses for courses. I have had an offer of a variax from a rich never satisfied bloke I know who buys gear one week and sells it the next. On one level it leaves me cold but at the same time, I can see the use for such stuff.