tube amps at low volume

[JDC]

ok I had my amp search down to 2 amps today

and then someone told me tube amps sound cr@p at low volumes, how this true?

it's for bedroom playing and future gigging when I join a band, modern metal tones, should I stick to solidstate instead of tube?

[indysmith]

what amp is it you're set on?
More modern sounding amps tend to be more focussed on pre-amp stage gain (as opposed to power amp gain), meaning that they sound good at any volume.
I'd advise to steer clear of solid state amps unless you are looking for a cold and sterile metal tone (a la pantera, static X etc.).

[JDC]

right now it's between a peavey 6505 combo and an engl fireball, I gotta find a cab for the engl

[Twinfan]

If you're using the amp's gain, they can sound a bit "fizzy" at low volumes.  Sometimes using a pedal along with the amp can give a nice tone at bedroom levels.

I would guess the 6505 and Engl will be OK at low volumes, but will obviously sound best when cooking a little.  If you're not gigging at the moment, I'd be tempted to get a low wattage valve amp and a pedal for now and a bigger amp when you need one.

For example:

Matamp Little Rock/Orange Tiny Terror/THD Univalve
+ 1x12 cab
+ E-H Metal Muff/Krank Distortious Maximus

[HTH AMPS]

for such high powered amps, both the 5150s I've had sounded good at bedroom levels thanks mainly to the resonance control which puts some 'chunk' into your tone at lower volumes.

fwiw, I'd try the both the shared EQ and dual EQ 5150s and see which you like best as they do sound quite different (I've just changed from a 6505 to a 5150 mkII and can confirm there is a significant improvement with the mkII)

 :twisted:

[Lord Blakers]

My Fireball sounds fine at low volumes, it just sounds a lot better when it's cranked.

[Antag]

someone told me tube amps sound cr@p at low volumes, how this true?

You used to have to wind valve amps right up to get a good sound (e.g. old Marshalls like the 1959 plexi, HiWatts etc) but it really isn't true anymore & certainly not for modern high gain amps like the ones you mention.

FWIW I have a Mesa Rect-o-Verb (50w) & an Engl Savage (120w) - both sound fine even at really low volumes (I still play after putting the baby to bed :)).  Of course you want to crank them to get a great sound but IMO they're better than just about any solid state option at any volume.

I've demoed the 5150 several times & even at "shop floor" volumes it sounded very impressive...

[JamesHealey]

the engl sounds far superior to the peavey at low volumes.

[JDC]

thanks for the help, now I just have to decide which amp

I really wish I could try both of them out but no where round here sells them, apart from a place 30 miles in the middle of no where that I can't get to

[TwilightOdyssey]

A high quality attenuator, like a Hot Plate, will do wonders for capturing a great tone at low volumes also.

[dave_mc]

my engl savage se sounds far superior to any solid state i've tried at low volumes (unless you're trying to run it at like TV volume, where it can sound a bit muffled/flat/compressed/fizzy).

it does depend on the amp as well, and what style of amp it is (if it has no master volume, or a rubbish master volume), what tones you're after, etc., etc. as rarely are any situations alike.

I think the argument that tube amps sound rubbish at low volumes is total cr@p. They definitely (again, depending on the amp) sound better at higher volumes, no doubt about it, but i certainly wouldn't say they sound cr@p at low volumes.

As ben says, you could consider an attenuator if it really worries you.

[_tom_]

In my experience, hotplates are ok but you cant really get a 'cranked' tone at low volume.. below -8db, I've found it to get too thin and fuzzy, which sounds worse than having the master volume low to me. Good for knocking off a bit of volume but they arent as good as everyone says they imho. That being said, they're better than the Weber minimass, which was shitee and made my tone muddy and dull. I think the Hotplate worked better on my Fender than it does on my Laney.

[dave_mc]

i've only tried the built-in hotplate in the univalve- as you said, extreme attenuation probably isn't the best (though the standalone hotplate has more features etc. and may do a better job).

I'm happy enough with my lower volume tones to not want to fork out £250 for one, though. That's obviously in my situation (i.e. skint) and in my opinion, too.

[JamesHealey]

I don't need an attenuator because my amps only 20watts.. hahaha!

[indysmith]

I don't need an attenuator because my amps only 20watts.. hahaha!

 :o How loud do you usually play!? i always have to use the attenuator on my 2W minimat