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Ok, aside from how to operate them, I know nothing
about amplifiers. I'm looking around for a good amp;
I want something decent sized in the middle price
range, (practice, maybe small venue one day, who
knows) and I'm getting advice from two schools of
thought. There's the tube guys and solid state guys.
Now most of you are tube guys, so I'm sure you already
know what you'd tell me. The solid state guys are all
saying, "lighter," "cheaper," "tougher" and "Don't buy
the purists line, you can't tell the difference." Now
outside of surf I'm also into punk rock and would like
as much of a catch-all amplifier as I can get. I have
very little experience as far as guitar amps go...I
haven't tried many. I've played one reverb reissue
(very nice) and a host of smaller, pretty crapped out
amps. I've been told that tube amps are most
certainly NOT for distortion. I use two digital
effects - I have a Holy Grail Reverb pedal and a Boss
Metal Zone pedal that I split time between. The
general question is, what are the major differences
and what couldn't I do with a tube amp that I could
with a solid state and vice versa?
~R
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Tone...is a very personal issue. Most of it comes from your fingers
(as Eddie Van Halen once quipped, Ted Nugent snuck onto a stage where
he and Van Halen were playing and asked a roadie to let him play thru
Eddie's equipment. He did...still sounded like Ted Nugent).
Take your guitar and play it through many amps. And decide what you
like best. Once you've narrowed things down to a half dozen or so,
take a friend who plays a lot and knows your style and preferences.
Then, buy the amp you really had FUN with, regardless. Period. You
have to listen to it, not the rest of us. If your talent is there, the
audience won't care if it is a Line 6 or a vintage Fender Bassman.
P.S. I have a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe with a Weber Cali 12" speaker
mixed NOS pre-amp tubes, both Ei and older RCA. These amps are common
as dirt, but my Strat and ES-335 sound great and quite unique with
only these modest tweeks. I use a re-issue Fender Reverb tank for surf
guitar, although the built-in Hot Rod reverb is plenty wet. I'll put
my tone up against the Vintage amp/Vintage guitar combos anytime.
--- In SurfGuitar101@y..., Richard <errant_jedi@y...> wrote:
>
> Ok, aside from how to operate them, I know nothing
> about amplifiers. I'm looking around for a good amp;
> I want something decent sized in the middle price
> range, (practice, maybe small venue one day, who
> knows) and I'm getting advice from two schools of
> thought. There's the tube guys and solid state guys.
> Now most of you are tube guys, so I'm sure you already
> know what you'd tell me. The solid state guys are all
> saying, "lighter," "cheaper," "tougher" and "Don't buy
> the purists line, you can't tell the difference." Now
> outside of surf I'm also into punk rock and would like
> as much of a catch-all amplifier as I can get. I have
> very little experience as far as guitar amps go...I
> haven't tried many. I've played one reverb reissue
> (very nice) and a host of smaller, pretty crapped out
> amps. I've been told that tube amps are most
> certainly NOT for distortion. I use two digital
> effects - I have a Holy Grail Reverb pedal and a Boss
> Metal Zone pedal that I split time between. The
> general question is, what are the major differences
> and what couldn't I do with a tube amp that I could
> with a solid state and vice versa?
> ~R
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do you Yahoo!?
> New DSL Internet Access from SBC & Yahoo!
>
I would definately disagree with any statement saying tube amps are bad at
distortion. That is so very very wrong. Solid state amps when they distort
will produce no harmonics at all, and sound kind of harsh ussually, while
tube amps will add natural harmonics when they distort and produce more
musical sounds.
Most solid state amps out there are an attempt to copy tube amps. So why not
get the real thing instead of something attempting to imitate the real
thing? There are exceptions out there, and they sound good. That roland jazz
amp is one.
I would say go with a tube amp - a nice old fender tube amp. Turn it up when
you want distortion and kick on the pedal. It would work fine.
----- Original Message -----
From: Richard <>
To: <>
Sent: Tuesday, September 24, 2002 3:54 PM
Subject: [SurfGuitar101] Newbified question - Tube vs. Solid State
>
> Ok, aside from how to operate them, I know nothing
> about amplifiers. I'm looking around for a good amp;
> I want something decent sized in the middle price
> range, (practice, maybe small venue one day, who
> knows) and I'm getting advice from two schools of
> thought. There's the tube guys and solid state guys.
> Now most of you are tube guys, so I'm sure you already
> know what you'd tell me. The solid state guys are all
> saying, "lighter," "cheaper," "tougher" and "Don't buy
> the purists line, you can't tell the difference." Now
> outside of surf I'm also into punk rock and would like
> as much of a catch-all amplifier as I can get. I have
> very little experience as far as guitar amps go...I
> haven't tried many. I've played one reverb reissue
> (very nice) and a host of smaller, pretty crapped out
> amps. I've been told that tube amps are most
> certainly NOT for distortion. I use two digital
> effects - I have a Holy Grail Reverb pedal and a Boss
> Metal Zone pedal that I split time between. The
> general question is, what are the major differences
> and what couldn't I do with a tube amp that I could
> with a solid state and vice versa?
> ~R
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do you Yahoo!?
> New DSL Internet Access from SBC & Yahoo!
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> .
> Visit for archived messages,
bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
>
>
Whoever told you that tube amps are no good for distortion is an
idiot and hasn't got a clue what he's talking about, or probably a
salesman trying to sell you the latest modeling
gizmo.
--- In SurfGuitar101@y..., Richard <errant_jedi@y...> wrote:
>
> Ok, aside from how to operate them, I know nothing
> about amplifiers. I'm looking around for a good amp;
> I want something decent sized in the middle price
> range, (practice, maybe small venue one day, who
> knows) and I'm getting advice from two schools of
> thought. There's the tube guys and solid state guys.
> Now most of you are tube guys, so I'm sure you already
> know what you'd tell me. The solid state guys are all
> saying, "lighter," "cheaper," "tougher" and "Don't buy
> the purists line, you can't tell the difference." Now
> outside of surf I'm also into punk rock and would like
> as much of a catch-all amplifier as I can get. I have
> very little experience as far as guitar amps go...I
> haven't tried many. I've played one reverb reissue
> (very nice) and a host of smaller, pretty crapped out
> amps. I've been told that tube amps are most
> certainly NOT for distortion. I use two digital
> effects - I have a Holy Grail Reverb pedal and a Boss
> Metal Zone pedal that I split time between. The
> general question is, what are the major differences
> and what couldn't I do with a tube amp that I could
> with a solid state and vice versa?
> ~R
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do you Yahoo!?
> New DSL Internet Access from SBC & Yahoo!
>
Hi Richard,
I got to agree with Victor here. Having played for years on a solid
state amp for years, and now playing on a tube amp I must conclude the
following.
I have played in a punk rock band for seven years, yep The NOFX, LAG
WagoN, PennyWise kind of thing.
The Distortion on a tube amp is something with a lot of power that you
can't get out of a solid State amp. The sound is warmer, more powerful,
and at higher volume still sounding very good. Solid State Amps will
produce a lot of feedback at these higher volumes. Imagine you playing
with a bass player and a drummer. If you want some good sounding guitar
next to the drum and Bass...You will need that bit of extra volume.
I always used and still use a Sovtek MiG 100 head, this tube baby is 100
watt and a Marshall knock off, not as good for surf, but Punk Rock...Oh
man...Pack up those JCM 900. This thing is loud!!
O.K. a tube amp is more pricy, I agree...But look around. I bought my
Sovtek for $ 325. and my Marshall 1960 "4x12" cabinet for $ 150. I know
you surfers will laugh, since no one needs this kind of power.
I recently added a delay unit and a spring reverb unit and hooked it up
on the amp....Sounds o.k. So surf is possible too. ( most comes out of
your fingers anyway, the sound matters, but you have to produce it)
When the same amp was used with a Mesa Boogie V-Twin pre-amp, which
produces a distortion so powerful, (since it has a tube pre-amp) That
even most metal heads got jealous.
So look around, play thru as many amps if you possibly can before buying
one. Draw your conclusions. Look for the sound you like, ask around see
what friends and family have in their basements and stuck under their
beds. You'd be surprised.
After all you have to like the sound.
Jerry S. from Belgium
-----Original Message-----
From: Richard [mailto:]
Sent: woensdag 25 september 2002 0:55
To:
Subject: [SurfGuitar101] Newbified question - Tube vs. Solid State
Ok, aside from how to operate them, I know nothing
about amplifiers. I'm looking around for a good amp;
I want something decent sized in the middle price
range, (practice, maybe small venue one day, who
knows) and I'm getting advice from two schools of
thought. There's the tube guys and solid state guys.
Now most of you are tube guys, so I'm sure you already
know what you'd tell me. The solid state guys are all
saying, "lighter," "cheaper," "tougher" and "Don't buy
the purists line, you can't tell the difference." Now
outside of surf I'm also into punk rock and would like
as much of a catch-all amplifier as I can get. I have
very little experience as far as guitar amps go...I
haven't tried many. I've played one reverb reissue
(very nice) and a host of smaller, pretty crapped out
amps. I've been told that tube amps are most
certainly NOT for distortion. I use two digital
effects - I have a Holy Grail Reverb pedal and a Boss
Metal Zone pedal that I split time between. The
general question is, what are the major differences
and what couldn't I do with a tube amp that I could
with a solid state and vice versa?
~R
__________________________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
New DSL Internet Access from SBC & Yahoo!
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:.
Visit for archived messages,
bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
for the most i agree with what's been said about the tube/solid state thing.
in general, tube amps are way better then solid states for overdrive. but if
you want heavy overdrive SOME tube-amps might react a little too wild to
stomp-box distortions. (but then again, others are great.
a question for Gavin: does the hod rot have tube driven reverb? i used to
own the older tweed version of the same amp, and sold it 'cause of the solid
state reverb driver, which in my opimnion just didn't have "it". never heard
the hot rod though, i heard it just has an extra channel. all the better if
they improved the rev too.
as for volume: if you have an amp with preamp out power amp in plugs (as the
hod rot has), it's possible to put a little cord inbetween with a resister
between ground and signal. this will diminsh the power going in to the power
amp; you will loose a little tone in comparison to the full amp, but you
also loose volume; works pretty well for home practice.
by the way, my first amp was a fender sidekick 65 reverb. all solid state,
but very decent sounding, a very usable volume range (home practice to small
gigs) and good rev. and very cheap nowadays.
>From: "windanseabeachboy" <>
>Reply-To:
>To:
>Subject: [SurfGuitar101] Re: Newbified question - Tube vs. Solid State
>Date: Wed, 25 Sep 2002 02:42:07 -0000
>
>Tone...is a very personal issue. Most of it comes from your fingers
>(as Eddie Van Halen once quipped, Ted Nugent snuck onto a stage where
>he and Van Halen were playing and asked a roadie to let him play thru
>Eddie's equipment. He did...still sounded like Ted Nugent).
>
>Take your guitar and play it through many amps. And decide what you
>like best. Once you've narrowed things down to a half dozen or so,
>take a friend who plays a lot and knows your style and preferences.
>Then, buy the amp you really had FUN with, regardless. Period. You
>have to listen to it, not the rest of us. If your talent is there, the
>audience won't care if it is a Line 6 or a vintage Fender Bassman.
>
>P.S. I have a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe with a Weber Cali 12" speaker
>mixed NOS pre-amp tubes, both Ei and older RCA. These amps are common
>as dirt, but my Strat and ES-335 sound great and quite unique with
>only these modest tweeks. I use a re-issue Fender Reverb tank for surf
>guitar, although the built-in Hot Rod reverb is plenty wet. I'll put
>my tone up against the Vintage amp/Vintage guitar combos anytime.
>
>--- In SurfGuitar101@y..., Richard <errant_jedi@y...> wrote:
> >
> > Ok, aside from how to operate them, I know nothing
> > about amplifiers. I'm looking around for a good amp;
> > I want something decent sized in the middle price
> > range, (practice, maybe small venue one day, who
> > knows) and I'm getting advice from two schools of
> > thought. There's the tube guys and solid state guys.
> > Now most of you are tube guys, so I'm sure you already
> > know what you'd tell me. The solid state guys are all
> > saying, "lighter," "cheaper," "tougher" and "Don't buy
> > the purists line, you can't tell the difference." Now
> > outside of surf I'm also into punk rock and would like
> > as much of a catch-all amplifier as I can get. I have
> > very little experience as far as guitar amps go...I
> > haven't tried many. I've played one reverb reissue
> > (very nice) and a host of smaller, pretty crapped out
> > amps. I've been told that tube amps are most
> > certainly NOT for distortion. I use two digital
> > effects - I have a Holy Grail Reverb pedal and a Boss
> > Metal Zone pedal that I split time between. The
> > general question is, what are the major differences
> > and what couldn't I do with a tube amp that I could
> > with a solid state and vice versa?
> > ~R
> >
> > __________________________________________________
> > Do you Yahoo!?
> > New DSL Internet Access from SBC & Yahoo!
> >
>
