The only thing that's going to be hurt by leaving a tube amp on all day is your electric bill.
Should I Just... Give Up?
- Thread starter BrettFuzz
- Start date
Quilter SS or just leave your tube amp on (or shift to standby). Heat and dirty power/power fluctuations are what generally do tubes in...remembering all the tube radars and radios on ships and at land stations that often operate for weeks at a time without being shut down. Tube amps are not as delicate as we think.
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I was basically in your situation. Home with frequent practice sessions during the day. I didn’t like leaving my tube amp on or frequently cycling the power. But I thought I needed tubes and wanted my dirt from tubes with no
pedals.
There were other things I didn’t like about tubes: heat, weight, maintenance, fickleness.
Looking for simplicity I tried modelers and was disappointed.
I now play a Quilter head with a good cabinet and some good analog pedals. No tubes and no modeling and I couldn’t be happier.
pedals.
There were other things I didn’t like about tubes: heat, weight, maintenance, fickleness.
Looking for simplicity I tried modelers and was disappointed.
I now play a Quilter head with a good cabinet and some good analog pedals. No tubes and no modeling and I couldn’t be happier.
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Instead of trying every cheap option under the sun, step up to the good stuff. I think you’d love the tones from my rig (Boss GT1000 and QSC CP8), but you’re going to have to spend some money.
Trying a couple cheap FRFRs is a common source of modeler dissatisfaction.
Trying a couple cheap FRFRs is a common source of modeler dissatisfaction.
CCK1
Tele-Afflicted
Agreed, I would not recommend it, but in my music room/basement, I have left tube amps on (unintentionally) for over 24 hours, and occasionally, left them on for a couple of days. Some on standby, some not. None have suffered ill effects.
1 21 gigawatts
Tele-Afflicted
Sounds to me like the Katana 50 did everything that you wanted.
I’d recommend a Blues Cube. The smaller “hot” model will probably suffice. I had the Hot and now have the Artist and they’re great, imo.
However, my tube amps (currently just a Laney Lionheart) is ready to go in less than 30 seconds. I check my tuning while it warms up. That doesn’t seem like a huge time sink. If you leave it on, you’ll waste electricity, but I don’t know how much the standby on a tube amp cuts power use.
However, my tube amps (currently just a Laney Lionheart) is ready to go in less than 30 seconds. I check my tuning while it warms up. That doesn’t seem like a huge time sink. If you leave it on, you’ll waste electricity, but I don’t know how much the standby on a tube amp cuts power use.
JIMMY JAZZMAN
Tele-Afflicted
I purchased the Spark and with the app you can get some varied tones. I do like tubes amps over ss
but the Spark serves the purpose of not buying 50 pedals to achieve various and sundry tones.
but the Spark serves the purpose of not buying 50 pedals to achieve various and sundry tones.
Thanks everyone for your input. I guess I made leaving the tube amp on for most of the day a bigger deal for myself than it actually is. I've been reading good things about Quilter so might give that a try but for now I'll just play my tube amp and see what happens. 
One last question... is it better to leave the amp on thru the day or turn it on for a few hours at a time (2-3 times a day with about an hour between)?
One last question... is it better to leave the amp on thru the day or turn it on for a few hours at a time (2-3 times a day with about an hour between)?
sax4blues
Poster Extraordinaire
I have three high end boutique amps which I play at home. I also have HX Stomp into pair of 8” studio monitors. I can play any of them and be happy so I have no idea what the problem is sound wise. As for 15 minute playing I’ll switch on any of the amps without second thought.
I owned a 200 Watt RMS Kasino Fever Solid State amp, (non modelling), from the mid "70s to the mid '90s and recorded two cassettes using it in the early / mid '80s. I've owned a Yamaha THR10X High Gain Solid State amp, (modelling), for at least ten years that I keep in my locker at work for use during breaks. That's thirty years of experience with Solid State amplifiers. They have their pluses. They don't produce the heat nor need as much care as a tube amp. As long as something doesn't actually break they cost less to own with no normally occurring replacement part requirements. A Solid State head also weighs less, (no difference in the cabs of course), and handles travel better. No tubes coming loose in the sockets, etc. . All that said ..... they never sound like / produce the tones associated with tube amplifiers.
Some of the best Solid State Modelling amps, (very expensive), do a pretty close approximation of Class AB tube amp builds but still fall short. Nobody in the audience will know but the player will definitely know. They don't respond the same to pick attack nor vibrato and their sustain sounds different. Notes tail off differently. Where tube sustain trails off like the repeats of an analog delayed note Solid State Modelling sustain trails off like the repeats of a digital delay. The sustain is distinctly different. If you want your sustained note to have zero change to anything other than a slowly dropping volume level you might actually prefer a Solid State Modelling amp for this purpose.
I've never heard even the most expensive Solid State Modelling amp ever come close to the tone of a Class A tube amp but neither do Class AB tube amps. I think, because of the prominence of Class AB amps in the market, Modelling amp builders have focused on creating tones most associated with Class AB tube amps. I've owned and used Solid State amps and still have a use for them. I've wondered at the masses forming up on one side or the other of the Solid State / Modelling vs. Tube Amplifier debate. I'm old and old fashioned and maybe that plays a part in it. Today I have my Yamaha THR10X at work. At home I have seven other amps that I use for recording, jamming with other musicians and rarely .... playing out with. Three are Class AB tube amps. Two Fender Concerts and one Mesa Boogie Mark V. The other four are Class A tube amps. Two Bruno, one Cornford and one Dr. Z.
There are distinct difference between the three, (actually four build types if you separate Solid State and Solid State / Modelling), build types. I earlier listed the pluses of Solid State and / or Modelling amps that will always keep me as a user. When it comes to the two types of tube amp builds my preference runs against the grain of most builders and users. I prefer Class A. No. It doesn't produce that "in your face" Hard Rock tone of an AB amp like most Fender, Marshall, Mesa, Soldano, etc. models. No. It doesn't distort / overdrive in the same way. The Crunch tone loved by so many is far better in a Class AB tube amp.
Class A, in my opinion and to my ears, creates tones better for a smaller / less listened to selection of musical genre. Those focused on soulful cleans with a long long sustain that slowly morphs into something containing harmonically rich overtones as it slowly fades away. Using High Gain a Class A develops tones that can't be reproduced by any other build. They appeal to me. They may not appeal to other players. It's very specific to this type of amp build. Something based on early Tweed that became more refined over the years. Less grit. Smoother.
Even though most of my idols created their tone with Class AB type amps Class A allows me to create all of my own tones to perfection while allowing for close approximations of Eric Johnson's, Carlos Santana's, and David Gilmours lead tones. No. It doesn't work for their crunch rhythm tones but I've got other amps to record those parts. Lastly, Class A, to my ears, mind and fingers, is far more reliant on a players "touch". The slightest differences stand out. I can make so much happen or not just by the way I interact with the strings.
Yes. If you're a player trying to blaze through X number of notes in a matter of seconds you probably don't want touch to play such a prominent role. This go's double if the Class A amp is tube rectified, (which the majority are). If you're a player who's trying to palm mute identical rhythmic Heavy Metal tones this touch quality will be a detriment and I would recommend you stick with either Solid State or Class AB tube amps.
You see ..... there shouldn't be a War. The War starts when folks say this or that is better. I feel that all four build types are extremely useful in their own way. All four are better at this but not better at that. In my case I've built my life and tone around the two least used types of amplifier build. Original Solid State and Class A. The true King of Guitar amplifier build types is Class AB. Nothing comes remotely close. Later Tweed and Blackface forward Fender, Mesa Boogie, Marshall, Orange, Laney, Diezel, Peavey, Hiwatt, Soldano, etc. Three of my eight amps belong to this group. If pushed into it I would keep three of my four class A's for main / primary use and my Yamaha Solid State for use at work. I would sell my two Fender Concerts and Dr. Z.
Why do folks want their favorite build type to be the end all greatest of all times? What's up with that? Modelling will always be "copies". If they can pull it off .... so be it. Hurray! Solid State answered so many questions and made everything so much easier .... I just can't diss them. Class AB tube amps. The voice of at least three to four generations of electric guitarists. From the mid '60s to present day. Nothing last's this long without a vast number of admirers. Class A guitar amplifiers. For old folks like myself that followed them to what they are today. Perfection. Your taste may differ. But isn't that what this is all about?
I may have run a little long. Sorry.
All four amp builds are their own thing. Buy whatever fits your needs.
Some of the best Solid State Modelling amps, (very expensive), do a pretty close approximation of Class AB tube amp builds but still fall short. Nobody in the audience will know but the player will definitely know. They don't respond the same to pick attack nor vibrato and their sustain sounds different. Notes tail off differently. Where tube sustain trails off like the repeats of an analog delayed note Solid State Modelling sustain trails off like the repeats of a digital delay. The sustain is distinctly different. If you want your sustained note to have zero change to anything other than a slowly dropping volume level you might actually prefer a Solid State Modelling amp for this purpose.
I've never heard even the most expensive Solid State Modelling amp ever come close to the tone of a Class A tube amp but neither do Class AB tube amps. I think, because of the prominence of Class AB amps in the market, Modelling amp builders have focused on creating tones most associated with Class AB tube amps. I've owned and used Solid State amps and still have a use for them. I've wondered at the masses forming up on one side or the other of the Solid State / Modelling vs. Tube Amplifier debate. I'm old and old fashioned and maybe that plays a part in it. Today I have my Yamaha THR10X at work. At home I have seven other amps that I use for recording, jamming with other musicians and rarely .... playing out with. Three are Class AB tube amps. Two Fender Concerts and one Mesa Boogie Mark V. The other four are Class A tube amps. Two Bruno, one Cornford and one Dr. Z.
There are distinct difference between the three, (actually four build types if you separate Solid State and Solid State / Modelling), build types. I earlier listed the pluses of Solid State and / or Modelling amps that will always keep me as a user. When it comes to the two types of tube amp builds my preference runs against the grain of most builders and users. I prefer Class A. No. It doesn't produce that "in your face" Hard Rock tone of an AB amp like most Fender, Marshall, Mesa, Soldano, etc. models. No. It doesn't distort / overdrive in the same way. The Crunch tone loved by so many is far better in a Class AB tube amp.
Class A, in my opinion and to my ears, creates tones better for a smaller / less listened to selection of musical genre. Those focused on soulful cleans with a long long sustain that slowly morphs into something containing harmonically rich overtones as it slowly fades away. Using High Gain a Class A develops tones that can't be reproduced by any other build. They appeal to me. They may not appeal to other players. It's very specific to this type of amp build. Something based on early Tweed that became more refined over the years. Less grit. Smoother.
Even though most of my idols created their tone with Class AB type amps Class A allows me to create all of my own tones to perfection while allowing for close approximations of Eric Johnson's, Carlos Santana's, and David Gilmours lead tones. No. It doesn't work for their crunch rhythm tones but I've got other amps to record those parts. Lastly, Class A, to my ears, mind and fingers, is far more reliant on a players "touch". The slightest differences stand out. I can make so much happen or not just by the way I interact with the strings.
Yes. If you're a player trying to blaze through X number of notes in a matter of seconds you probably don't want touch to play such a prominent role. This go's double if the Class A amp is tube rectified, (which the majority are). If you're a player who's trying to palm mute identical rhythmic Heavy Metal tones this touch quality will be a detriment and I would recommend you stick with either Solid State or Class AB tube amps.
You see ..... there shouldn't be a War. The War starts when folks say this or that is better. I feel that all four build types are extremely useful in their own way. All four are better at this but not better at that. In my case I've built my life and tone around the two least used types of amplifier build. Original Solid State and Class A. The true King of Guitar amplifier build types is Class AB. Nothing comes remotely close. Later Tweed and Blackface forward Fender, Mesa Boogie, Marshall, Orange, Laney, Diezel, Peavey, Hiwatt, Soldano, etc. Three of my eight amps belong to this group. If pushed into it I would keep three of my four class A's for main / primary use and my Yamaha Solid State for use at work. I would sell my two Fender Concerts and Dr. Z.
Why do folks want their favorite build type to be the end all greatest of all times? What's up with that? Modelling will always be "copies". If they can pull it off .... so be it. Hurray! Solid State answered so many questions and made everything so much easier .... I just can't diss them. Class AB tube amps. The voice of at least three to four generations of electric guitarists. From the mid '60s to present day. Nothing last's this long without a vast number of admirers. Class A guitar amplifiers. For old folks like myself that followed them to what they are today. Perfection. Your taste may differ. But isn't that what this is all about?
I may have run a little long. Sorry.
All four amp builds are their own thing. Buy whatever fits your needs.
I do both…it all depends on what is next on my plate. I might give the tubes a minute or two to warmup and two-three minutes to cool off…or I might not. It is normal to overthink it…but mostly I don’t anymore. Just play.
nebojsak
NEW MEMBER!
Buy a Peavey Bandit transtube.
JeffBlue
Friend of Leo's
Both jimmy Page and Eric Clapton use pedals. You might want to reconsider your thoughts on pedals. They both use tube amps to acquire their tone(s). My preference is always tube amps for electric guitar and solid state is okay for acoustic guitar, bass, vocals and drum machine.
richard1986
TDPRI Member
Don't leave amps on standby for long periods of time. Causes interference resistance growth, wearing the valves out. https://www.valvewizard.co.uk/standby.html
If you're not going to turn them off, it's better to leave them fully on with nothing plugged in.
If you're not going to turn them off, it's better to leave them fully on with nothing plugged in.
Ted Witton
Tele-Meister
If you like Clapton style blues try this - Blues Baby also available in kit form in USA
gimmeatele
Friend of Leo's
This. Left my blues junior on a day and a half by forgetting to switch it off when I got distracted whilst playing, the world never ended!
That's what I do, and I don't even have a job.
I thought about getting another one a few times but every time I did I realized I only remember it fondly because it was a huge positive change from the crap I had before and not really because it was all that great.
I am aware of that but pedals ain't happening for me.
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