transtube vs real tube

Ebidis said:
As usual, like every one of these youtoob tests, I cannot tell the difference. I think that says something.
Click to expand...
It probably says lots of things. Like; youtoob audio sucks, the difference isn't that big anyway, no one would be able to tell in a live setting or a recording etc. etc.
 
Astral Traveler said:
It probably says lots of things. Like; youtoob audio sucks, the difference isn't that big anyway, no one would be able to tell in a live setting or a recording etc. etc.
Click to expand...
IMHO/YMMV, Youtoob audio isn't that bad, and if there is not a big enough difference to be readily apparent on youtoob, then there really is not that much difference.
 
Amp Mad Scientist said:
Well obviously, if you use effects pedals to demonstrate an amp, you are not hearing what the amp sounds like at all.
But most of these "demonstrations" are with effects pedals, which defeats the whole point.
You never hear the amp at all, just effects pedals.
This video is no exception.
Click to expand...

For the most part, I agree with these statements. Very often, these types of comparisons are done with heavy effects and lots of distortion which masks the true sound.

Also, I will say that I prefer tube amps. However, I’m not bashful around solid state amps or even processors. I’ve played all of them live. But, my overall preference is tube amps.

As for the video in the OP, it was a legitimate, apples-to-apples comparison. Both amps were played clean, without any effects, for the first few minutes. So, there was an unaltered demonstration of both amp’s clean sound. The effects were added equally to the clean channel of both amps. This shows that the Transtube, at least, handles effects very much like a tube amp, as demonstrated by the fact that they both sounded extremely similar. My guess is that this may have been the point of how the effects were added - to show that the Transtube responds to pedals similarly to a tube amp.

Again, my default preference is tube amps, but I think this was a pretty interesting comparison.
 
I love tube amps as much as anybody. I have a couple of them, and would not trade them. There was even a time when I would not consider owning a solid state amp. However, that was a long time ago. Solid state has come a long way, and two of my other favorite amps are digital.

I really don't give a crap anymore what's inside an amp. If it sounds good to me, then I have no problem owning it and using it. As a matter of fact, my tube amps never get used at home anymore. They reside at the rehearsal/jam space.
 
Ebidis said:
IMHO/YMMV, Youtoob audio isn't that bad, and if there is not a big enough difference to be readily apparent on youtoob, then there really is not that much difference.
Click to expand...
I think there is a huge difference in audio quality but
you can't tell the difference from the horrible audio quality of you tube videos.

In person the sound difference becomes much more obvious.

I have played transistors and tube amps and I definitely do not want a transistor amp.
But "clean" is not my objective.
I like the way tubes break up which is quite different.
The tubes create even harmonics.
I like sag, which gives the amp unique character. But there is no sag in transistor amps.
So to me, the transistors sound sterilized and bland.

Now Dumble does have 1 FET stage in his tube amps. But the whole amp is not transistors.
 
Amp Mad Scientist said:
I think there is a huge difference in audio quality but
you can't tell the difference from the horrible audio quality of you tube videos.

In person the sound difference becomes much more obvious.

I have played transistors and tube amps and I definitely do not want a transistor amp.
But "clean" is not my objective.
I like the way tubes break up which is quite different.
The tubes create even harmonics.
I like sag, which gives the amp unique character. But there is no sag in transistor amps.
So to me, the transistors sound sterilized and bland.

Now Dumble does have 1 FET stage in his tube amps. But the whole amp is not transistors.
Click to expand...
In the 35 years I've been playing the guitar, I have owned and played some of the all time classic vintage tube amps (they used to be affordable). Trust me I know the difference between tube amps and solid state amps.

There are some very good solid state/digital amps these days that I have no problems with at all.

JMHO/YMMV
 
Ebidis said:
In the 35 years I've been playing the guitar, I have owned and played some of the all time classic vintage tube amps (they used to be affordable). Trust me I know the difference between tube amps and solid state amps.

There are some very good solid state/digital amps these days that I have no problems with at all.

JMHO/YMMV
Click to expand...
Yeah, Fender and Marshall did make some pretty good sounding SS amps, at one time.
Even I thought they sounded good. And I am pretty critical about sound quality.
But I never thought that PV made a good sounding SS amp.
 
Last edited:
Ebidis said:
In the 35 years I've been playing the guitar, I have owned and played some of the all time classic vintage tube amps (they used to be affordable). Trust me I know the difference between tube amps and solid state amps.

There are some very good solid state/digital amps these days that I have no problems with at all.

JMHO/YMMV
Click to expand...

Though my preference is tube amps, as I stated earlier, I will say that processing power and digital signal processing capability have progressed by leaps and bounds beyond where they were just a few years ago.

Understand, this goes well beyond the simple question of ”tubes versus transistors.” It is more involved than that. The real issue is one of processing versus tubes. Yes, I believe processing technology and processing power are at a point where it is conceptually possible to create a sound that is indistinguishable from a tube amp, to include all the dynamics, sensitivity, and harmonics that are characteristic of them.

To me, the real question is not, “Can it be done?” The real question is, “Has it been done, yet?” Or, “When will it be done?” In short, the real issue comes down to execution, not possibility.

Some would argue, with some merit, that it already is being done with Kemper. Others would disagree.

So, why do I continue to prefer tube amps? It goes along the lines of what @ivan H suggested earlier. The easiest way to get a tube amp sound is to get a tube amp! Nevertheless, I can see a certain pragmatic value in using processing to get the same sound.
 
I get the TUBE devotion I do -- LIKE eBIDIS -- i LOVE MY TUBE AMPS

I have owned personally and spent time with well OVER 60 solid state amps and 28 ish tube amps I have "A/B" comped them
I have -- frankly-- tested the merits back to back front to side UP down left right and in and out

and the real conclusion is

everyone is right

AND WE ALL get to play what ever we want -- and have SO MANY OPTIONS now

All mostly BORN FROM guys 10-20-50 years ago that had 1 amp and 1 guitar sometimes even 1 of the 2 was BORROWED or RENTED!

AND THEY HAD TO MAKE THAT RIG sound like what they wanted

now we can have ANY & every past tone and ALL NEW sounds at our literal fingertips ............. for whatever our personal NEEDS are
recording
playing live
dicking around at home when the wifes away


the original video in this thread is meant to EDUCATE nt argue over

this is how close a transtube peavey sounds to a tube amp -- IF YOU AINT GOT THE COIN for the tube and are starting out -- the Peavey is damn good enough if you want a LOUD pedal platform -- again the Peavey is cheap and good enough

did we ALL START on 100 watt Marshall stacks? Mesa dual recs? vintage Hiwatts? ......... NO i THINK NOT

AND NO -- no tube amp is ever going to sound exactly the same as a ss amp or a digital or an analog or a computer software program ...... THERE ARE WAAAY to many variables
HELL no 2 Dumbles sound alike
2 Marshalls made the same month back in 1972 played back to back NOW arent GOING TO SOUND exactly the same ......


this was not meant as a FORD VS CHEVY debate --

the Bandit sounds good for what it is VS (in the video) a much more expensive tube amp --

I like both AND OWN BOTH
 
I’m digging my Kemper.
I still own ~8 tube amps.
I do own at least 3 other solid state amps(not counting PA power amps).
I really like 2 of the 3 SS amps…the 3rd is “ok”….I never really give it a fair shake I guess.
I would take a good deal on a Bandit(or the like) in a heartbeat….they have their place, and it’s cool.
But really, it‘s all good. Make some noise.
I really liked the first couple of videos in this thread…I picked the bandit in the first video, from 2015…again…I did when I first saw it too.(edit: to be clear…l picked the Bandit as the Bandit, but I liked it more for the overall tone…as I am usually a mostly rhythm guitarist in the live band situation, and I liked the beef it brought to the table.)

Peace!
:cheers:
Edit: I kinda miss my Marshall Lead 12 combo….
 
Last edited:
luvs me MASTER lead combo -- its just damn good-- frankly I PINED over it for years (it was @Hackmaster s) I would play it when ever I got the chance at his place

it just OOZES British Marshallness -- BUT - in a formaat and volume level I
1. can afford (thanks HAck!!!)
2. can USE in MY home

I would love to have 2 100 watt Marshall full stacks FILLING the wall of my little "boom room" ...... but frankly I couldnt turn them on -- much less use them!
(no really the power grid in this farm poop hole wouldnt handle it --- the aluminum wiring and cheap Chinese dry wall would melt and kill us all ...........
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top