Tube.

Only technology that doesn't currently require a PA. Solid State amps aren't powerful enough, virtual... obviously.

Also, how tube push. I know exactly where, when, and why it starts to push. I know what it does to my tone, I know how to play with it. And it sounds brilliant. And amp that is pushing is incredibly important, that is the difference between sounding like shit and sounding brilliant. Turn a tube amp under 3-4 and it is terrible!

Solid State, haven't tried the modern offerings. Owned some shit ones back in the day(shit but where supposedly nice for the time).

I'm really into going direct into Logic Pro X. I really get to build my own sound in it. I could use it live... but wouldn't. The level of trust need with the sound guy is WAY too high. I'd record with it though, in a heartbeat.

Solidstate. Quilters. 1000 bucks for a suitable one. gigable too. I heard the High Fidelics guitarist hang in with DD one nite. 1 small amp
with 1-12 hang in with 2 showmans and 3-15's. Edwin's quilter was more brilliant than DD's rig.
I've had 300 and 400 buck US made tube amps that sounded like crap. I've heard high end tube amps that sound like crap. I've had both that died when pushed hard. to me, tubes are not reliable and require too much maintenance--IMHO.
Years ago I had a silverface deluxe that sounded wonderful...but it eventually died. Replaced it with a Sunn Solarus that was great. it eventually died. When I say died I mean after the 3rd time it blew, I'm done with it. too much maintenance. I blew a Peavey Triumph 120 that actually burned when it blew. Amp repair shops were "dicey" in Memphis
back then. my opinion on Marshalls is unprintable. My Peavey Renown was SS and great! My Peavey Deuce was great and I couldn't tell you what it was. My Peavey Classic 50 was crap and it was hybrid.
Bang for the buck is what I'm looking for. great sound and great price, light weight for portability and low maintenance costs. I don't buy amps because my guitar heroes use something in particular--or my guitars.

If I could afford it, I would buy a Quilter amp. I probably would never buy another amp at my age once I got a Quilter. A Quilter would be for pure EGO cuz I don't play out anymore. no band and I no longer record. I play at home for my own pleasure. My ZT twins work fine for me.

Solidstate. Anyone else is welcome to play whatever they want to use!!

Enjoying the surf,sun and sand!!

I like my Quilter quite a lot but for gig'ing with a loud band, it's best to use a second cabinet (I don't have the 12" version - it's the MicroPro with 8" speaker). I recently used it at a gig without an extended cabinet and I had to push it fairly hard. I still keep a number of Fender tube amps for the more trad gigs.

"Hello Girls!"

I dunno. What I think is so great about "Old Iron" tube amps is that they define the sound of popular music, are cheaply repaired/rebuilt, and can be kept running virtually forever. Robust build and discrete (quality) parts has made amps Leo Fender and a few others built highly desirable over the last 6 decades. Like with used cars, resale value of vintage amps is inversely proportionate to cost of repair. Repairmen love old Fenders, and they became industry standard, because they were easy to fix, like old American cars.
I can't say anything about newer, more sophisticated amps as I avoid anything that costs 50% of purchase price to repair when it breaks down. And all gear breaks down eventually.
So real vs. fake is simple. Most classic rock was recorded with players on 'standard' gear. And the same gear – I mean the specific amps – is still around, because it's rugged and the parts that wear can be switched out readily. Any perusal of Craigslist will turn up a large number of old Fender amps, at prices below the new ones. And in my opinion, they are better amps because of their simple design and quality parts+workmanship. Just make sure to hire a reputable amp tech to keep an old amp in tune. There's no secret to it.

Squink Out!

I see what you mean about voice. good on that. need seems to mean more about application than anything else if I get you right.
Gotcha!!

Now, what else should matter??

Enjoying the surf,sun and sand!!

Last edited: Sep 26, 2014 00:56:09

JO--I get your point. Fender's tube amps are easily fixed and parts are around. I loved my old deluxe!
One bad thing about SS amps. a lot of them are throwaway as in disposable. candidates for the trash pile after they blow. or morph 'em into extension speakers. a lot of nasties are created during production of 'em too.

Makes me wonder it I should just sell all my electric guitars and amps.
just go acoustic. au natural. naked guitar music.

Enjoying the surf,sun and sand!!

JObeast wrote:

Just hate stuff that can't be fixed. Amps are not like guitars, which are so personal. Players switch out amps every couple years just to try something else. But the bond with an axe can be lifelong.

How about if it doesn't go wrong in the first place. Tube amps are enormously wasteful power wise, create heat, pushes components to the limit. The Quilter is so efficient it doesn't break a sweat at 50 watts RMS. Theoretically a solid state amp with a good design and components could last YOUR lifetime and beyond.

Different tools for different applications. They each have their pros and cons.

Old punks never die... They just become surf rockers.

J'Mo,
You spurred me to pine nostalgic for when I would clean and re-gap my spark plugs, and adjust my carburator on my Ford Torino.
What I like about tube amps is how you can push them into that sweet spot of break-up and compression, or clean-up with a warm twang all by adjusting the guitars volume knob. And I'm talking surf music.

I prefer tube amps live. If we don't play with a PA it is really necessary, and with a PA, just a nice sound. They can be unreliable on occassion (had a tube go at a gig in the summer, and ended up going direct into the PA), but if they are serviced regularly then they are more reliable. I prefer the way they break up when pushed.

I haven't played through a solid state that I could get a sound I liked for surf. I did use a Roland Stereo Chorus for a clean amp in my metal days (with a 5150 stack for the dirt).

Recording wise I have used both tube amps ,and the modelling amps in Logic Pro. It all depends on the engineer for sound quality.

Overall I think a good guitarist can work with whatever is given to him/her, and get a reasonable sound.

Rev

Canadian Surf

http://www.urbansurfkings.com/

Last edited: Sep 26, 2014 09:50:48