Tube Amps versus Tube Pedals???
- Thread starter music6000
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Paradox916
Well-known member
Recently I found I actually like an AT7 in my MBP Archibald (BK butter) for cleanish edge of break-up tones. It’s very chimmy and has this great percussiveness that works really well on the lower strings. Not sure how that exactly works with a starved plate but I like it
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Paradox916
Well-known member
Given the choice I completely agree I’ll take the real thing over an emulation( digital, or physical.)
drgonzo1969
Well-known member
I don’t think a tube pedal will ever be able to compete with an actual tube amp but I can’t sit here and pretend my SushiBoxFX Lab Rat build doesn’t sound better than all the other rats I’ve used/built in the past. I can’t say 100% it sounds better just because of the tube and not other factors. I’ve had some bogus tube pedals in the past too. I owned a Radial ToneBone Hot British back in the later 2000’s that I could never get good sounds out of but that was a starved plate tube situation pretty sure.
Harry Klippton
Not Interested
Paradox916
Well-known member
ICTRock
Well-known member
the great ones weren't chasing energy star ratings ... I imagine all those sagged out tube rectifier amps I love to death would sound like a blocking distortion fart machine with SMPS power ... that said, an ultra-linear twin would be sofa king quiet and clean ... like fine china and polished silver for your tone
also without putting too fine a point on it, you're limited to the output of a voltage doubler without a transformer so if we're talking amp circuits at their proper voltages, you're talking transformer or transformer plus extra steps.
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RetiredUnit1
Well-known member
Well I can build tube amps. So....
And there's nothing like the sound of some overdriven EL34's..... My model 1987 plexi I finished in 2012.... I used the instructions from MetroAmp but sourced the components and fabricated the circuit board. Stuck it in a small JTM45 chassis...
And there's nothing like the sound of some overdriven EL34's..... My model 1987 plexi I finished in 2012.... I used the instructions from MetroAmp but sourced the components and fabricated the circuit board. Stuck it in a small JTM45 chassis...
I used to use a Badcat Two-Tone overdrive as my main drive. If I kept the bass and treble knobs at around 9.00 to let some mids through it sounded fantastic. After all, it's a Vox AC30 preamp channel in a box. The tubes run at proper voltages etc. Used that for a long time.
But now I don't hear that much difference with some of my favourite little op-amp-with-clipping-diode ODs, or JFET ODs. The little boxes need less maintenance and are a lot easier to work on. The Two-Tone didn't necessarily sound more "amp-like" or anything. The key is to find a really good overdrive pedal regardless of how it works.
Now amps... I have yet to hear anything other than tubes sound as good. And not just in sound but in how they respond. Unfortunately you do need to get a tube amp above a certain volume - even my 10W tube amps need a little volume to really come to life - but when they do they sound and feel so good! But again, it needs to be a good amp. Cheap tube amps won't automatically sound better than cheap SS or whatever amps.
But there are no rules here. Anything can sound amazing in the right context. There is no "X is better than Y". There are too many variables. Try a bunch of stuff and if it works for you then it works. This is what works for me but then I have my own way of playing and expectations of sound. I don't use a lot of dirt nor do I play pristine clean.
But now I don't hear that much difference with some of my favourite little op-amp-with-clipping-diode ODs, or JFET ODs. The little boxes need less maintenance and are a lot easier to work on. The Two-Tone didn't necessarily sound more "amp-like" or anything. The key is to find a really good overdrive pedal regardless of how it works.
Now amps... I have yet to hear anything other than tubes sound as good. And not just in sound but in how they respond. Unfortunately you do need to get a tube amp above a certain volume - even my 10W tube amps need a little volume to really come to life - but when they do they sound and feel so good! But again, it needs to be a good amp. Cheap tube amps won't automatically sound better than cheap SS or whatever amps.
But there are no rules here. Anything can sound amazing in the right context. There is no "X is better than Y". There are too many variables. Try a bunch of stuff and if it works for you then it works. This is what works for me but then I have my own way of playing and expectations of sound. I don't use a lot of dirt nor do I play pristine clean.
