Tube/Valve Amps
Tube amps are legendary for their unique warm tones; every tube amp has its own signature sound. The saturation from multiple stage vacuum tube amplification colours the players guitar tone in such a way that could never be digitized or recreated in an engineers lab.
Tube amps are a favorite among classic guitar players and those seeking a warm vintage tone. But these sweet tones come at a heavy price in the wallet and on the poor sucker caught carry this iron cast amp head to gigs—Hopefully you have roadies to tempt with beer for this! Allas, both of these factors are a mere sacrifice to achieve the classic tones that are different with each amp, getting boutique quality sounds in every piece of gear.
Solid State amps have come along way since the hair metal days! Solid State amps are made with the "modern" guitarist in mind and they are transistor driven. They are significantly ligher and embody a much different tone with more un-even harmonics compared to tube amps, which creates a more harsher dry sound. These amps are favoured among metal guitar players because the tonality is at the other end of the spectrum from the warmth and lush qualities of tube amps offering dark and compelling swells for metal playing.
These amps are much lighter and cheaper—so you wont break your roadies back or your budget! With modern advances in technology these amps are at the fore-front of getting digital modelling treatment. You will notice that many of these amps have an FX section, which offer controls for digital guitar effects—So you can leave a couple guitar pedals at home so it doesn't look like space-craft mission control. The amps work best with hum-bucking guitar pickups, so if you are a guitar player that uses this technology you might want to look into solid state.
A new emerging technology is taking studio guitar players by storm: Axe Fx|| is endorsed by some of the greatest modern guitar players and has been featured on some impressive albums. The tube amp purist will stay far away from this technology and many feel that completely turning your guitar signal digital is sacrilegious—I was included in this group until I heard the impressive leaps and bounds this technology has made. Digital modelling is the technical term and most units come designed to fit in 2 rack spaces. The units, especially the high-end, don't come cheap but they sure offer an incredible pallet of sounds.
Being a tube amp analogue purist I am looking at Mesa amp heads predominantly, but as soon as Axe Fx|| comes with tube amp integration in their amp heads it will be very tough to pass up that opportunity.
Solid State amps have come along way since the hair metal days! Solid State amps are made with the "modern" guitarist in mind and they are transistor driven. They are significantly ligher and embody a much different tone with more un-even harmonics compared to tube amps, which creates a more harsher dry sound. These amps are favoured among metal guitar players because the tonality is at the other end of the spectrum from the warmth and lush qualities of tube amps offering dark and compelling swells for metal playing.
These amps are much lighter and cheaper—so you wont break your roadies back or your budget! With modern advances in technology these amps are at the fore-front of getting digital modelling treatment. You will notice that many of these amps have an FX section, which offer controls for digital guitar effects—So you can leave a couple guitar pedals at home so it doesn't look like space-craft mission control. The amps work best with hum-bucking guitar pickups, so if you are a guitar player that uses this technology you might want to look into solid state.
A new emerging technology is taking studio guitar players by storm: Axe Fx|| is endorsed by some of the greatest modern guitar players and has been featured on some impressive albums. The tube amp purist will stay far away from this technology and many feel that completely turning your guitar signal digital is sacrilegious—I was included in this group until I heard the impressive leaps and bounds this technology has made. Digital modelling is the technical term and most units come designed to fit in 2 rack spaces. The units, especially the high-end, don't come cheap but they sure offer an incredible pallet of sounds.
Being a tube amp analogue purist I am looking at Mesa amp heads predominantly, but as soon as Axe Fx|| comes with tube amp integration in their amp heads it will be very tough to pass up that opportunity.
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