Here is a simplified guide to Guitar Tube Amps.
In spite of being considered outdated technology, a tube amplifier is still preferred by many guitarists. Read more to know why.
Guitar Amps: Beginnings
Once upon a time, guitar amps were made of tubes (small amplification devices), and the reason for that is, because that was the technology available then.
But then there were some practical problems associated with using Tubes.
Later on, when transistors (IC chips) were invented, amplifiers based on that technology started getting produced.
And it is supposed to be a much cleaner and modern technology, makes the amps much lighter, requires no maintenance required, and has all that good stuff.
But then the experienced guitarists, after having used these newer amps, started going back to the old Tube amplifiers, In fact, most guitar players have started using tube amps again.
Natural Distortion
So why this new-found love for tube amps? Because of the natural distortion it produces!
Guitar amps based on solid-state technology are no doubt good, but then they are quite predictable. They do what they are supposed to do.
Tubes, on the other hand, distort the sound when the sound signal exceeds their limitation. And that is why it distorts, but in a more pleasing way.
And guitarists love that sound produced from Tube amps.
Why Tube Amps Sound Louder
There’s a reason why a Tube amplifier sounds louder than a solid-state amp, even if you compare two products have the same wattage. Even though they should sound the same at the highest volume, its the way a tube amp is built that allows it to sound louder.
And its related to distortion (clipping). After a particular threshold, any increase in volume causes the to cause distortion. In any PA system or bass amp this would be unacceptable, but most guitar players love to have some amount of distortion added to their guitar sound.
Solid state amps are built such that it remains clean until the time it reaches the distortion level. Most manufacturers of solid state amps set their volume knobs to nearly 10 before the clipping/distortion sets in. So to get a 50 watt solid state to full wattage, you have to turn it up nearly all the way. And the clipping is also very sudden, which doesn’t sound good. It’s either not clipped or fully clipped.
On the other hand, a Tube amps clip/distort gradually as the wattage is increased, and the gradual clipping is what adds to the flavor of a guitar. And the best part is that a guitar player (using a Tube amp) can play harder to get more clipping and play softer to get a smoother sound. These subtle nuances is what makes these amplifiers so popular with the pros. Manufactures of tube amps know this and they build their volume knobs accordingly. So a tube amp reaches its maximum wattage at a much lower volume setting, probably 3/4 of the way up, past which you get clipping, but it’s a warm and good sounding clipping.
So if two guitar players are in a room, one with a tube amp and one with a solid state amp, the tube amp is going to sound louder than the solid state one. This is not to say that Tubes are always better than solid-state. Its just that some players like the sound and warmth of tube amps more, despite their faults.
Tube Amps are Still Popular
A Tube amp will usually sound louder than a solid-state amp of the same wattage and hence are preferred by guitarists who are usually into playing rock guitar.
But because of wear and tear over time, the tubes need changing as their performance can deteriorate with passage of time.
Most tube amps have separate channels that can switch from clean to distorted tones instantly. Besides, they are preferred by many guitarists for their warm tone and natural distortion.
Experts see Vacuum tubes (valves) based technology as obsolete, compared to the more recent solid-state technology (semiconductors based). Tube amps also tend to be more heavy and bulky because of the tubes. But the fact that tube-based amps produce some great distorting sounds still makes it a preferred choice among the pro musicians.
There are some advantages of tube amps as well since they’re easily repaired; you just have to change the tube (worst case scenario) whereas semiconductors (solid-states) need much more efforts to repair.
Semiconductors are more sensitive to high heat/power and so most solid-state amplifiers are designed for smaller configurations and tend to be cheaper than tube amps.
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KeytarHQ editorial team includes musicians who write and review products for pianists, keyboardists, guitarists & other musicians. KeytarHQ is the best online resource for information on keyboards, pianos, synths, keytars, guitars and music gear for musicians of all abilities, ages and interests.
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