Tubey or not Tubey

Kane17 · Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2003 10:55 am Post subject: Tubey or not Tubey

I just picked up a peavey TG Raxx Tube preamp from ebay real cheap and it's pretty sweet. Im not exactly used to the passive EQ -> Active EQ thing, but after a little tinkering I can always get awesome sound.

Anyways right now I'm using my SS Yamaha Powered Mixer head for amplifying it and I need that for my PA so Im eventually going to need a seperate power amp If I ever play-out.

Im looking for an amp with will push around 100-200 Watts Give or take a little, but Id sacrifice power for an amp that may sound better.

I already have all the effects and pedals that I need so the power amp would only need to be very basic and supply power (With maybe reverb but I dont really care).

Should I go for a tube power amp or just get SS. Ive found some good prices on 150 Watt SS Poweramps but Some people rave about all-tube setups so I'm at a loss for thought at what I should look at.

Any suggestions??

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Jesus Wept.

ACfixer · Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2003 8:31 am Post subject: Tubey or not Tubey

Tube watts (for what I know...) sure seem to be alot bigger than solid state watts. I don't think the amp people play by any set standard as to what a watt really is but I can tell you that I have 2 amps right now. A peavey classic 30 tube amp, and a Roland "Cube 30". I can use the cube for a bedroom practice amp, tha classic 30 however is about five times as loud. I used to have a Peavey 120W Ultra head and it is so rediculously loud that unless you have a full-on concert style gig or an outdoor gig you would never use it. If you cranked it in your garage the neighbors would call the cops simple as that. I guess what I am trying to say is that comparing a 100W tube and a 100W SS is not comparing apples and apples. The tube amps generally don't give you that "knock your socks off" sound until they are cranked up past halfway wheras a SS amp sounds pretty much the same throughout the range. Tube amps are more fragile and require more maintenance over the life of the amp.

Kane17 · Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2003 10:31 am Post subject: Tubey or not Tubey

Yea I thought there might be some factors I didn't think of.

I heard people talking about the volume issue over at seymour duncan.com but they were referring to AVTs which only have Tube preamp but SS Power...so I didn't know if they were just talking out their wha-zoo or what..

Well Im not really excited about maintaining or replacing tubes so I'm probably going to get SS unless I find a decent tube for cheap.

Thanks for the reply.

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Jesus Wept.

Bates15 · Moderator Joined: 19 Feb 2002 Posts: 1084

What kind of gigs do you do? Do you play mostly in churches and small places or are you a big time, stadium/concert hall player.

I would be very carefull buying a 100/200 watt amp indeed. I found out I was mostly a church player and after that, I would play outdoor 15/15 times a year, play concerthall and other places about 10/20 times a year.

That meant for me I did not need all the power. I got me a 50 watt head (the one on one of the pictures ) Used to be 100 watts but we cut it in half.

For outside I have a 100 watt London City, if needed I have two hehehehe. I have never needed it tho.

I hate it when people are always complaining that the guitar is to loud. I now go for the spreading. Every one gets some guitar couse of the wedge type monitors I made. The Front of House system does the sound for the public.

O well, just think of what you want to do with your amp and think hard before you buy anything.

nate

Kane17 · Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2003 7:57 am Post subject: Tubey or not Tubey

Well I'd only use this rig for the bigger gigs which are probably coming up. But I've noticed that more wattage makes the sound bigger even at normal listening volumes. I'd like to stay with the Fairly Hi-Powered Mixer I have now but its just a waste to use that whole thing on just a guitar cab.

I'll be honest too...some of the power is best for when Im just all alone and really want to hear it!

So anyways, I should add that I'd PREFER a rack-mountable amp...

Does anyone have any specific suggestions??

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Jesus Wept.

Bates15 · Moderator Joined: 19 Feb 2002 Posts: 1084

If you dont want to break your back, check out Peavey. The have a bomb of a stereo amp, tube, with power reduction. Marshal makes some good amps, starting with the 50/50 amp. The 20/20 lackes some bottum end it think.

The best sounding are the Mesa Boogie amps. The 50/50 is cool but the 100/100 is the bomb. It of course will also have you paying the bank for a sweet time....... Check out the Peavey I say....

Anyone else ?

Bates15 · Moderator Joined: 19 Feb 2002 Posts: 1084

Did you check some amps out yet ?

Kane17 · Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2003 12:45 pm Post subject: Tubey or not Tubey

I checked out the Marshalls and they seem a bit steep in price.

I didn't find any Peavey's that seems to fit the bill. The smallest I found was a 260 watter for 285 bucks and I dont think thats really a good deal...

I saw a 'Gem Sound PA550 Power Amp' at Musiciansfriend.

Dual 250 Watt amps for $160 bucks, but I dont know anything about it..

Im thinking Ill pick up the Gem unless I hear something good about another one or see a good deal on ebay (which I usually try to avoid).

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Jesus Wept.

Kane17 · Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2003 11:02 am Post subject:

Well as it turns out, I stepped into a Goodwill and found a Power amp for $5. Cool

It's actually a home stereo power amp but all i needed was a 1/4"->RCA plug and it worked.

I'm getting a guitar with the money I saved from that one Hehe Wink