why solid state amps suck

eSGEe said:
Riddle me this class..................

WHy do tube amps RULE THE WORLD but solid state pedals are all piled up in front of the tube amp to "tailor" the sound?
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I can only speak for me, but liking tube amps does not somehow exile all SS componentry from the signal chain, and some of the best sounding amps I have every played through use diode clipping. Nope, what makes a tube amp special is what happens in the output stage, so you can whack as many pedals in front or in the loop as you want and the magic is still intact. So far nobody has been able to replicate it with SS. Maybe some day, but considering the state of the art at this point in time that day is a ways off. IMO of course.
 
gball said:
Nope, what makes a tube amp special is what happens in the output stage, so you can whack as many pedals in front or in the loop as you want and the magic is still intact. So far nobody has been able to replicate it with SS. Maybe some day, but considering the state of the art at this point in time that day is a ways off. IMO of course.
Click to expand...

I totally get what you’re saying. Today, just for kicks, I plugged into my humble Marshall Class 5 and cranked it to about 2:00 on the dial.

I know that you know about the Class 5, but for others, it is a simple, single channel, all tube amp. It’s a non-master volume, Class A amp, with no effects loop.

Wow. That actually sounded pretty nice. There is no fizzy, hissy pre-amp distortion. It just has a thick, gutsy, grind. So, yeah, getting an all-tube power section pushing away, even on a little amp like the Class 5 is a nice experience!
 
gball said:
I can only speak for me, but liking tube amps does not somehow exile all SS componentry from the signal chain, and some of the best sounding amps I have every played through use diode clipping. Nope, what makes a tube amp special is what happens in the output stage, so you can whack as many pedals in front or in the loop as you want and the magic is still intact. So far nobody has been able to replicate it with SS. Maybe some day, but considering the state of the art at this point in time that day is a ways off. IMO of course.
Click to expand...

eSGEe said:
Riddle me this class..................

WHy do tube amps RULE THE WORLD but solid state pedals are all piled up in front of the tube amp to "tailor" the sound?
Click to expand...
smitty_p said:
I totally get what you’re saying. Today, just for kicks, I plugged into my humble Marshall Class 5 and cranked it to about 2:00 on the dial.

I know that you know about the Class 5, but for others, it is a simple, single channel, all tube amp. It’s a non-master volume, Class A amp, with no effects loop.

Wow. That actually sounded pretty nice. There is no fizzy, hissy pre-amp distortion. It just has a thick, gutsy, grind. So, yeah, getting an all-tube power section pushing away, even on a little amp like the Class 5 is a nice experience!
Click to expand...

Here is one that kind of demonstrates the concepts G, ESG, and Smitty speak of. Also BONUS Ramo Tele Material in the first clip.



A Little Ola.



 
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chilipeppermaniac said:
Here is my smallest amp.

I got it at a Savannah area pawn shop on my Trip to and from Florida the time I visited with Adrian, VoxAC30 and Hackmaster. I needed something to play through in my hotel room while my fiancee was in work conferences. I brought a few guitars and my Steve Harris Bass to share with the fellas at Ford's restaurant near Adrian's house.

View attachment 70497
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i have one of these.
 
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