I honestly can't hear a difference between tube and solid state amps.

[cousinpaul]

I think the differences become smaller when playing through a pedal board.

 

[68goldtop]

Hi!

I think the differences become smaller when playing through a pedal board.

From my experience, I´d say "mh, it depends"

A while back I went to a concert (medium-size club, around 100 people) to see two local bands (contemporary psychedelic rock - loud, room-filling music!).
I knew the guitar-players in both bands before and it was a blast overall!
Both of them used - you guessed it - plenty of pedals.
The first guy used a Marshall JTM45-RI + 4x12", the guy in the 2nd band used two Vox SS-Combos (1 left, 1 right).
The 2nd guy is quite well-known around Germany/Europe for his devotion to his music, and has been touring for around 25+ years.
He plays the heck out of it, but his tone/sound is very, very hard to listen to - unlike the guy with the Marshall

cheers - 68.

 

[Sax-son]

Point 3 - Distortion can sound identical on any amp, period. So that comparison means very little. A clean tone, or a semi-clean tone (with some hair!) is where there is no comparison, in my opinion.

For many years, players have always commented on the tube overdrive quality that they were searching for. That wasn't my big attraction to tube amps. It was the clean tone that I loved. I have a Silverface Twin Reverb and a Deluxe Reverb reissue that gives me that in spades. For practice and small rehearsals, I also use a Hughes & Kettner Triplex solid state that comes as close to a tube amp that I have used. It sounds great with pedals and is loud enough to cut through the mix when dimed. Another good SS is the Peavy Bandit. I have never owned one but have played through a few over the years. They sound good in my opinion.

 

[MilwMark]

Do we really believe "more money buys more tone"? Of course, there is entry level "they don't know any better" gear. That's a really, really low threshold. Beyond that, I have found no evidence that more $ produces better tone. Whatever that is.

 

[fretWalkr]

Science!

 

[Mr Perch]

For many years, players have always commented on the tube overdrive quality that they were searching for. That wasn't my big attraction to tube amps. It was the clean tone that I loved. I have a Silverface Twin Reverb and a Deluxe Reverb reissue that gives me that in spades. For practice and small rehearsals, I also use a Hughes & Kettner Triplex solid state that comes as close to a tube amp that I have used. It sounds great with pedals and is loud enough to cut through the mix when dimed. Another good SS is the Peavy Bandit. I have never owned one but have played through a few over the years. They sound good in my opinion.

I dawned on me, when I was a tube purist, that most of my tone was actually coming from analog or digital pedals. After finding a good, up-to-date modeling amp, I lost both the tube amp and the pedalboard -- I am happy with the built-in effects and overdrive.

 

[nojazzhere]

I thought I could, and spent years in a "tube only" phase. But this past week or so, I've come to the realization that it was all in my mind. Now, I can tell the difference between a good and a bad amplifier, regardless of technology. And I have owned bad tube amps and bad solid state amps; however, as far as tube "warmth", "dynamics", etc., I simply don't hear it. The seeds of doubt began a few years ago when I had a Fender Frontman with a built-in LED distortion circuit. I also had an ADA MP-1 which was the rackmount tube preamp of the late-80's into the early 90's. Anyone who was anyone had one of those. I plugged that MP-1 into the Fender Frontman clean channel, A/B'd back and forth between that and the Fender's distortion channel (with the MP-1 bypassed), and with a little gain and EQ tweaking, both sounded identical. The LED distortion of the amp sounded exactly the same as the MP-1.

"Dynamics" is one element that tube amplifiers supposedly excel in (responsiveness to picking), but every single amp I've played through, tube or solid state, would respond dynamically if the gain knob was set right. "Warmth"? I've been fooled plenty of times by what I thought was a tube amp that turned out to be solid state. I thought I got a fantastic deal on a Hughes & Kettner tube rack preamp when I was stationed in Germany. The price was great for what (I though) I was getting based on the tone I heard in the store. I opened it up to see how many 12AX7's were in there and all I saw was a circuit board...

Of course, there are things like tube rectifier "sag" that is exclusive to tube amps, and that is something I've never really had a thing for, though I understand some people love it. But as far as tone itself and dynamics, no - I can't hear the difference. Odd and even-order harmonics? Can't hear the difference.

I'm open to the possibility that if I sat down with one good example of each, and spent some time going back and forth, there might be something I'd notice, but that "something" just might be the difference between two different amplifiers anyway.

I haven't read all 22 pages of replies, so I apologize if I'm just repeating what others have said......but, while I "think" I sometimes hear a difference, it's never enough to matter. Either can be good OR bad. My first "good" (to my ears) solid state was my first Vox Pathfinder 15R......amazing tones for a solid state. I gigged with a Pathfinder 15R in a cab with one 12" speaker for several years, and would still use it if the need arose. Lightweight, LOUD, and sounds great......everything I want in an amp.

 

[tele38200]

I have read the 22 pages.
That was a very interesting read. I haven't really been around gear forums for a few years. Reading how mentalities have changed was pretty cool. I thought when first landing on this thread the push-back against the OP's statement, that he can't personally feel any difference between SS and tube amps, would have been much stronger.

My takeaways:
- Most people seem to agree that tone-wise, SS has come a long way and it's become difficult, maybe even impossible to differentiate from tube amps.
- What I read is that for most who still prefer tube amps, their "feel" playing them is the only remaining thing they have over SS.
- It really looks like those pushing back the most against the OP's statement haven't played a SS amp for a long time.

Solid state guitar amplification has come a long way. Especially in the last 5 years I would say. To the point where today the pros vs tube amps outweigh the cons.
The problem of tube amps is that you need to hit their sweet spot. To get there, they just become too loud, even with low-wattage amps, for most applications. That's why there are so many OD pedals out there. Basically, the vast majority of guitarists get their tone from an SS pre-amp.
They are also heavy (30 lbs, or even 25 lbs, is not "featherlight"), a pain to maintain, and you are never sure how they will sound depending on the quality of the venue's wiring.

I switched to SS (amp-in-a-box + Class-D power amp) before COVID hit. I haven't looked back since.
Consistent tone at any volume level, wherever I play. Respect of the guitar's tone, of the playing dynamics, is here. Pushing it with an OD pedal like you would a tube amp, it works just the same. It's actually light.
My bandmates are happy, the singers are happy, the sound guy is happy. I'm happy.

 

[rs-guitar1]

Just saw this, surprised - haven't read all the pages. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and there are some simply awful works of art (paintings), to my eyes, that other people will pay thousands of dollars for. Comparatively, if someone can't tell the difference (with their ears) between tube vs. digital, then they don't need to worry about transporting or paying for heavier/more expensive tube amps...Don't worry - be happy. But, for those of us who can hear and appreciate the difference and warm tone of a tube amp, it's our choice what to spend, transport, and invest in for our own pleasure and performing needs.

 

[jefffed]

The difference is that tube amps produce even order harmonics that make an amp "sing" while solid state amps produce odd order harmonics that are less sonically appealing. However digital modeling has changed much of that as they "model" or copy the audio signal that is produced by a tube amp. So it comes very close to sounding like a tube amp. However, the question is: do you want the real thing or a copy?

 

[ChicknPickn]

The difference is that tube amps produce even order harmonics that make an amp "sing" while solid state amps produce odd order harmonics that are less sonically appealing. However digital modeling has changed much of that as they "model" or copy the audio signal that is produced by a tube amp. So it comes very close to sounding like a tube amp. However, the question is: do you want the real thing or a copy?

Tubes were what marketers today would call "first movers." They established the market. They came before other technologies. So it is logical that we compare the new to the old. If one had never played anything but one of today's leading solid-state amplifiers, and then heard tubes, would they immediately think the tube sound was superior? Or just different?

 

[tele38200]

But, for those of us who can hear and appreciate the difference and warm tone of a tube amp...

I was agreeing with you until this statement. This is the perfect example of why some people call those who love their tube amps and want to stick with them cork sniffers.
Sorry if I am quoting you, I am not really targeting you personally. It's just we see this kind of statement again and again from tube lovers.

So tube lovers have special powers? Or super-human hearing?

Everybody here knows what a nice warm tone is. This kind of statement is very condescending.

Anyway, enjoy your gear everybody. May it bring smiles on your faces and peace in your hearts.

 

[pmjennin]

Irregardless of sound, the fact that a good tube amp - with a little maintenance - should easily outlive its current owner is a comforting thought, and adds to my appreciation of tube technology. It's timeless (for as long as there are tubes). There's no CPU or logic board that will render that amp useless because it can't be replaced when it fails 10 to 20 years down the line due to lack of manufacturer support. The digital stuff that's popular these days just strikes me as future e-waste. Not that it doesn't sound good in the present!

 

[Muadzin]

I am SO glad that I don't have the Golden Ears of the Gods. My Axe-FX II is good enough. A solid state amp is good enough. An amp in a pedal is good enough. A cheap guitar is good enough. Tonewood does not matter. Life is so much more simple that way. Now, I can understand that from a recording POV you want the best possible sound and that bringing a good well maintained tube amp to a recording studio makes sense. But most of us will probably never see a recording studio in our lives, and if we do we will end up with boxes full of unsold CD's because we are not major recording artists. The most successful guitarists nowadays don't even have bands anymore but play youtube. And youtube compresses and condenses the **** out of your sound anyways.

 

[Dr Improbable]

At the end of the day all that matters is what YOU like best.

 

[Brent Hutto]

I am SO glad that I don't have the Golden Ears of the Gods. My Axe-FX II is good enough. A solid state amp is good enough. An amp in a pedal is good enough. A cheap guitar is good enough. Tonewood does not matter. Life is so much more simple that way. Now, I can understand that from a recording POV you want the best possible sound and that bringing a good well maintained tube amp to a recording studio makes sense. But most of us will probably never see a recording studio in our lives, and if we do we will end up with boxes full of unsold CD's because we are not major recording artists. The most successful guitarists nowadays don't even have bands anymore but play youtube. And youtube compresses and condenses the **** out of your sound anyways.

I've never been able to play guitar well enough to develop an ear for subtle things about amps (or guitars). But early in my life I spent hundreds of hours (maybe thousands?) hanging around high-end audio shops listening to all sorts of gear I'd never be able to afford.

I developed something close to Golden Ears of the Gods, or at least felt like I did, when it came to recorded music and it was a curse. Nothing sounded good any more. I pretty much quit listening to recorded music at all because I couldn't listen to even a really good stereo setup in a nice room without nitpicking every tiny little nuance that I thought I could detect in the recording or the playback chain.

It took nearly a decade of going cold turkey to get over it. Got rid of my high-end turntable, most of my other gear, gave away all of my direct-to-disk and 100% analog mastered vinyl. Listened to nothing but occasional live music, the built-in FM radio in my care or the television until music started sounding good to me again. It was worth it, now I can enjoy a great performance or an interesting tune even if I'm listening to it with my iPhone playing through Bluetooth through an $89 portable speaker that honestly sounds like poop.

 

[Barquentine]

I say exactly the same thing about my Blues Cube.

I had the Blues Cub Artist for a while and returned it. It wasn't bad but I'm far happier with the Cub. Have you tried one?

 

[middy]

I'm a little surprised that you can't hear and feel some differences in the response because with the possible exception of some really well-developed and high-end SS rigs, there are slight differences that the human ear, fingers, and brain (which are super sensitive and can be highly developed) can sense and process. I'm fine with almost any workable amp, and have had both, but generally can tell them apart. That being said, there's no reason why differences have to mean "better" and "worse" because that depends on what you want. Since tube amps shaped what we think of as conventional, good guitar tone, I suppose we reflexively tend to think they sound right, but with all the processing going on now, including all kinds of amazing effects, and changes in musical styles, I suspect we are hitting a generational change in which what was once considered ideal is no longer really even a thing. I'm not sure the world really needs toxic tube factories at this point.

There’s nothing particularly toxic about a tube factory.
Tube amps do use a lot of electricity compared to class D amps, but what’s 20 watts between friends?

 

[middy]

Honestly, OP, get your hearing checked. I noticed the difference the first time I plugged into a tube amp at my first guitar lesson.

 

[Dr. Ika]

I thought I could, and spent years in a "tube only" phase. But this past week or so, I've come to the realization that it was all in my mind. Now, I can tell the difference between a good and a bad amplifier, regardless of technology. And I have owned bad tube amps and bad solid state amps; however, as far as tube "warmth", "dynamics", etc., I simply don't hear it. The seeds of doubt began a few years ago when I had a Fender Frontman with a built-in LED distortion circuit. I also had an ADA MP-1 which was the rackmount tube preamp of the late-80's into the early 90's. Anyone who was anyone had one of those. I plugged that MP-1 into the Fender Frontman clean channel, A/B'd back and forth between that and the Fender's distortion channel (with the MP-1 bypassed), and with a little gain and EQ tweaking, both sounded identical. The LED distortion of the amp sounded exactly the same as the MP-1.

"Dynamics" is one element that tube amplifiers supposedly excel in (responsiveness to picking), but every single amp I've played through, tube or solid state, would respond dynamically if the gain knob was set right. "Warmth"? I've been fooled plenty of times by what I thought was a tube amp that turned out to be solid state. I thought I got a fantastic deal on a Hughes & Kettner tube rack preamp when I was stationed in Germany. The price was great for what (I though) I was getting based on the tone I heard in the store. I opened it up to see how many 12AX7's were in there and all I saw was a circuit board...

Of course, there are things like tube rectifier "sag" that is exclusive to tube amps, and that is something I've never really had a thing for, though I understand some people love it. But as far as tone itself and dynamics, no - I can't hear the difference. Odd and even-order harmonics? Can't hear the difference.

I'm open to the possibility that if I sat down with one good example of each, and spent some time going back and forth, there might be something I'd notice, but that "something" just might be the difference between two different amplifiers anyway.