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

[Mr Perch]

This is my solid-state digital Mustang LT50 in a live setting. It's the Fender Deluxe model with a bit of gain and a bit of the built-in overdrive. I couldn't be happier with the tone.

 

[Mr Perch]

This is my solid-state Mustang LT50 in live setting, with the Fender Deluxe model setting and a bit of the built-in overdrive. I couldn't be happier with the tone.

 

[jgmouton]

Hearing any kind of difference on YT is fully misleading. The only way to know what you hear and what you like/dislike is to play the amps. When you play an SS amp, you know it immediately. That's why I stay away from them.

 

[68goldtop]

Hi!

Hearing any kind of difference on YT is fully misleading. The only way to know what you hear and what you like/dislike is to play the amps. When you play an SS amp, you know it immediately. That's why I stay away from them.

Yes, I agree to that!
Having said that - only tomorrow I´ll be picking up a Marshall "Lead 12" (with REVERB!).
An "ss"-Marshall which is said to have a great sound to it - and to be rather well-built, too.
I´ll let you know how it turns out

cheers - 68.

 

[Blrfl]

When you play an SS amp, you know it immediately.

Have you done those tests blind, or are you biasing yourself knowing what it is ahead of time?

 

[chris m.]

I bought my son a used Marshall MG50 for $120 and I have to say it sounds really quite good. I'd gig it.

Waiting for the dreaded noisy cooling fan problem to happen, but already have the info on the replacement fan and how to switch it out.

 

[printer2]

When you play an SS amp, you know it immediately.

No heat off the tubes...

 

[68goldtop]

Hi guys!

I´d like to quote myself here, although I would not (usually) do this...

... only tomorrow I´ll be picking up a Marshall "Lead 12" (with REVERB!).
An "ss"-Marshall which is said to have a great sound to it - and to be rather well-built, too.
I´ll let you know how it turns out ...

I took delivery of the amp today and played it for a bit - and I´m thoroughly underwhelmed...

I happen to have a Marshall "Origin 5" here with me (which I´m trying to unload, as it´s not exactly a great-sounding amp) and it still sounds much better than the "Lead 12".

Seems like I just don´t get the ss vs. tube debate

cheers - 68.

 

[Bourbon Burst]

I have both tube and SS amps and I like both for different reasons. I use the SS amps for jazz as it is really clean and sounds good for that reason. I also use one just for practice.

I use my tube amps for everything else. I love the 3Dish sound (hi-fi people call it "bloom). I can feel the amp as well. I use to play in a band with the least liked Marshall amp (JCM 900) with the least liked speakers (Celestion Modern Lead). Still, even with that it sounded much better that the other guitar players SS amp. His amp sounded one dimensional and thin. By the 3rd set my amp sounded really good as the mids became creamy and fat. That was my favorite part of playing out - that sound.

 

[Cosmic Cowboy]

Lucky you...I sure can

 

[dreamsinger]

Solid state amps have evolved quite a bit. The difference was immediately noticeable. I run an Ethos OD Amp on my pedalboard; 30 honest watts and you can't tell it from a boutique tube amp. They're not exactly cheap, $800+ with all the bells and whistles. Outrageous for what some would call a stompbox but a bargain for an amp that does the Xumble thing so authoritatively.

 

[Mr Perch]

I have both tube and SS amps and I like both for different reasons. I use the SS amps for jazz as it is really clean and sounds good for that reason. I also use one just for practice.

I use my tube amps for everything else. I love the 3Dish sound (hi-fi people call it "bloom).

When I was playing a solid body or semi-hollow guitar I felt that I needed that "bloom". Now I'm playing a full hollow guitar, and the "bloom" sometimes sounded a little like "mush," so I came to prefer my solid state modeling amp.

 

[Monoprice99]

I can detect the differences in the solid state amps that I have (different brands) as well as the tube amp head. Might have more to do with the cab though & even the preamp section. Once I record & play it back, that difference is even less.