Do amp modeling pedals sound better through solid state?

Frank Roberts · April 27th, 2004, 05:55 PM

I have been a dyed in the wool tube amp guy forever. But I am intrigued by the possibility of multiple tones at my feet as touted by the modeling amp mfg's. A couple of days ago in my local guitar store a local pro was demo'ing some pedals and the conversation turned to how various pedals react differently through different amps (or vice-versa). His experience was that he got a much better result from modeling pedals when using a solid state amp. That made some sense to me; I was thinking a tube amp would add it's own coloration to the model while a solid state amp might be more "sterile," for lack of a better term, and therefore reproduce only the coloration built into the model. I thought I'd run this theory by the collective knowledge and experience of the TDPRI. What are your thoughts?

stantheman · April 27th, 2004, 08:52 PM

Like Peaveys and MusicMan are the "true bomb" because
they have solid state Preamps with 6L6 Power Sections.
I'd much rather have my Classic with a Tech 21 GT-2
than an actual JTM-45 ReIssue....no worries EVER, though "drunks tilting" with a pitcher and a Mississippi
Saxophone wanting to "jam on a few songs" translation:
"solo non-stop over everyone like the obnoxious s.o.b.'s
that begat them" are still fair game

.

DADGAD · April 28th, 2004, 12:19 PM

My Digitech RP-50 sounds best through a SS amp. Through my tube amp, it was lackluster using Strat, Tele, LP or 335 clone. It was still a bit dry so I put an ART tube MP between the modeler and the amp to sweeten it up and I'm happy with it.

/2 cents

Frank Roberts · April 28th, 2004, 04:06 PM

Hee-hee..........LOL, stan(you are)theman I know exactly what you mean with those other worries! We let a semi-pro (drunk) friend and a harmonica player on stage the other night. Couldn't get 'em off! Not gonna open that floodgate again.
About the modeling pedal thing: I'm interested in the Vox Valvetronix SE (?) pedal version. Has anyone got an opinion?

trag-o-caster · April 28th, 2004, 07:27 PM

The Vox Valvetronix stand alone unit got high marks in the latest issue of Vintage Guitar magazine (the issue with Clapton on the cover). They made it out to be superior to the Pod, or anything else like it out there. I've not seen them yet, so I can't say.

Frank Roberts · April 29th, 2004, 06:23 PM

You are on the ball. It's that very article in VG that got me started thinking about this Vox unit. BTW each time I read one of your posts and see "Trying to find the happy medium between Buck Owens and Jimi Hendrix. " I think of Junior Brown. Bet you've heard that before, Eh?

Doc · April 30th, 2004, 12:16 AM

I have played a lot of digital stuff and the truth is it depends. Is the tube amp a flat amp or does it ave some characteristics it is adding? A fair nyumber pf layers use tube power amps into guiar cabs and love the result. There is also a tube amp called the Atomic Amp which is designed for modeling amp preamps.

I have, so far, liked running my modelling amps direct into a PA or keyboard amp. I have done this for about 3 or 4 years now.

April 27th, 2004, 05:55 PM	#1 (permalink)
Frank Roberts Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 242	Do amp modeling pedals sound better through solid state? I have been a dyed in the wool tube amp guy forever. But I am intrigued by the possibility of multiple tones at my feet as touted by the modeling amp mfg's. A couple of days ago in my local guitar store a local pro was demo'ing some pedals and the conversation turned to how various pedals react differently through different amps (or vice-versa). His experience was that he got a much better result from modeling pedals when using a solid state amp. That made some sense to me; I was thinking a tube amp would add it's own coloration to the model while a solid state amp might be more "sterile," for lack of a better term, and therefore reproduce only the coloration built into the model. I thought I'd run this theory by the collective knowledge and experience of the TDPRI. What are your thoughts?

April 27th, 2004, 08:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
stantheman Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: White Mountains Posts: 5,071	I think yes/maybe....but Hybrids Like Peaveys and MusicMan are the "true bomb" because they have solid state Preamps with 6L6 Power Sections. I'd much rather have my Classic with a Tech 21 GT-2 than an actual JTM-45 ReIssue....no worries EVER, though "drunks tilting" with a pitcher and a Mississippi Saxophone wanting to "jam on a few songs" translation: "solo non-stop over everyone like the obnoxious s.o.b.'s that begat them" are still fair game . __________________ Somebody Loan Me A Dime

April 28th, 2004, 04:06 PM	#4 (permalink)
Frank Roberts Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 242	Thanks guys Hee-hee..........LOL, stan(you are)theman I know exactly what you mean with those other worries! We let a semi-pro (drunk) friend and a harmonica player on stage the other night. Couldn't get 'em off! Not gonna open that floodgate again. About the modeling pedal thing: I'm interested in the Vox Valvetronix SE (?) pedal version. Has anyone got an opinion?

April 28th, 2004, 07:27 PM	#5 (permalink)
trag-o-caster Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Flushing, Michigan Posts: 4,631	The Vox Valvetronix stand alone unit got high marks in the latest issue of Vintage Guitar magazine (the issue with Clapton on the cover). They made it out to be superior to the Pod, or anything else like it out there. I've not seen them yet, so I can't say. __________________ Timothy Jon Lamb

April 29th, 2004, 06:23 PM	#6 (permalink)
Frank Roberts Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 242	Thanks trag You are on the ball. It's that very article in VG that got me started thinking about this Vox unit. BTW each time I read one of your posts and see "Trying to find the happy medium between Buck Owens and Jimi Hendrix. " I think of Junior Brown. Bet you've heard that before, Eh?

April 28th, 2004, 12:19 PM	#3 (permalink)
DADGAD Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Palmdale, CA Posts: 801	My Digitech RP-50 sounds best through a SS amp. Through my tube amp, it was lackluster using Strat, Tele, LP or 335 clone. It was still a bit dry so I put an ART tube MP between the modeler and the amp to sweeten it up and I'm happy with it. /2 cents

April 30th, 2004, 12:16 AM	#7 (permalink)
Doc Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: South Dakota Posts: 981	I have played a lot of digital stuff and the truth is it depends. Is the tube amp a flat amp or does it ave some characteristics it is adding? A fair nyumber pf layers use tube power amps into guiar cabs and love the result. There is also a tube amp called the Atomic Amp which is designed for modeling amp preamps. I have, so far, liked running my modelling amps direct into a PA or keyboard amp. I have done this for about 3 or 4 years now. __________________ Guitars: Teles, LP, others. Amps: El Diablo, Richter 5E3, 5E3 Head, Traynor Bass Master II, Epi Jr Head, Gretsch/Supro, 60's Univox and others. Current Board-Guitar>Tuner>Java Boost> Huckleberry>Fuzz Head>Top Fuel>SFX-03> Keeley Comp>Clone Chorus>FL3> Amp