Solid State amps

[Roseweave]

I was discussing this with another guitarist, he uses a large Solid State Fender, probably a Frontman of some description, basically he overall prefers the consistant feel of a solid state amp, and finds Tube amps to feel a little "compressed"(which they are, technically, since Tube amps compress in a funny way to get smooth distortion that just clipping right off).

I'm wondering whether I'd prefer to play a Tube or Solid State amp. I like both, and I like modeling. I have an Ad30Vt which is a bit of everything, but gives you primarily quite tube-ish tones. Sometimes I do like the straight up sound of Solid State amp. I don't think it's unnatural. Actually that guitarist remarked that he found tube based gain kind of unnatural, and I can kind of see how even though technically it is more natural.

I was thinking of picking up one of the Orange Crush amps because I like Orange tones and don't want to fork out for a Tiny Terror which I'd have to attenuate. That kind of tone would make more sense from an SS amp in some ways. The Clean headroom of an SS amp is useful, but I do tend to like having a bit of amp dirt too.

Nearly all SS amps to an extent emulate how tube amps work, same for many dirt boxes. I'd love to know how they manage to get away with it, because I've heard some amazing SS tones that sound quite tube-ish.

[Caesar]

I have a Fender FM65, and I hate it. It's difficult to listen to it. It is consistent. Consistently harsh. I prefer my Peavey Delta Blues.

[Ghost Hip]

On the contrary I have a FM100 head and love it, especially if i play my bass through it. I just wish I had a better speaker cabinet for it.

[Roseweave]

Frontmans are ridiculous, some people think they sound like a decent Tube amp, other people say they're harsh.

I'll give this guy's a listen. It probably depends on the guitar you're using too.

[metalmariachi]

I generally don't like SS amps.

I played around with an Orange crush bass version and listened while a guy who was using a guitar version. I liked both.

One SS amp to look for is any of Lab Series amps. They sound great.
Very nice clean tone and respond well to pedals.
You can usually find one for pretty cheap.

Note: the compressor/limiter knob is actually a limiter to protect the output from overload.
So if you find one and the guy says 'the compressor doesn't work', it's because he doesn't understand it's function. Then you won't have to pay as much.

All the versions, Guitar, Bass and Keyboard work with any thing you plug in.
The difference is mainly reverb on the guitar and the keyboard has an input pad for impedance matching.

The keyboard version is killer with Bass.

MM

[1,2,3, Pull Out!]

For bass I prefer solid state, because of the quicker response and consitency, guitar, I think sounds better on tube amps, because I like my guitar tones to be warmer and twangier. Also pedals work better on tube amps from my experience.

[Ghost Hip]

Oh I had an orange crush once, I liked the amp by itself, but I didn't think it took pedals well. I also figured out that orange is a mid range heavy company which is probably why I wasn't too savvy. Cool little amp though if you like the orange sound. It was the 30R by the way.

I didn't know this was tube vs. solid state thread, I prefer tube for guitar. I haven't played through a tube bass amp, but I have issues playing through my friend's solid state.

[dronemachine]

One SS amp to look for is any of Lab Series amps. They sound great.
Very nice clean tone and respond well to pedals.
You can usually find one for pretty cheap.MM

That's pretty much it...I've had the L5, probably the most popular and common model .It sings, clean headroom is all the way up, great compressor and reverb, too! It's a rare case of the ss amp that sounds surprisingly nice, really bluesy, loud and works great with pedals.Three years ago, when I bought my first Devi - TBD - I was using the L5. People seem to like the reverb and frequency channel better, but I would suggest using the first - dry channel with a good fuzz pedal, cranked to the max and it will make any fuzz head a believer. HUGE sound.

Of course, it's no secret that ss amps can't really mimic the tube amp sound and feel 100%. When tubes are good, they're much better than any ss, I'm speaking of playing a guitar thru it, in this case. Acoustic amps are solid state, and great for bass guitar, i think.

As for modeling,I can't deal with that stuff...i don't like it in most cases.


EDIT:

Note: the compressor/limiter knob is actually a limiter to protect the output from overload.
So if you find one and the guy says 'the compressor doesn't work', it's because he doesn't understand it's function. Then you won't have to pay as much.

SO TRUE!!

[1,2,3, Pull Out!]

I have owned an, 80s SS Fender amp (the Johnny Greenwood one) and I loved how surfy and trebly it got but all my dirt pedals sounded WAY too trebly so I got a Fender Blues DeVille, whcich is AMAZING (IMO). I also like Peavey amps alot, the SS bass amps sound really bad ass and for guitar, the valve king heads and roadmaster heads make everything sound soo rawk. Too bad tube heads are so expensive.

[Roseweave]

Tubes do tend to be a bit better at taking a lot of dirt.

[starcastic]

I play through a vintage Sunn Concert Lead (a '78, I believe). It's my favorite amp that I've ever owned. Sounds huge for just being 100w solid state. Cost me about 200 bucks back in the day. Totally worth every penny.

[Ghost Hip]

I play through a vintage Sunn Concert Lead (a '78, I believe). It's my favorite amp that I've ever owned. Sounds huge for just being 100w solid state. Cost me about 200 bucks back in the day. Totally worth every penny.

That looks like a fun amp. I want it. -humping motion-

[starcastic]

That looks like a fun amp. I want it. -humping motion-

Funny thing is that's how I claim my gear. By hump.

But seriously, if you ever come across one in good working order snatch it up. I have the bass version too, I just have to fix it.

[Roseweave]

I want to hear it now.

[1,2,3, Pull Out!]

You bought the bass version broken or it broke after you bought it? If the latter is the case then how does it sound? I'm shopping aroung for a new bass amp.