Tube or Solid State Amp

This is a subject that is always up for alot of discussion.  Should I use a tube amp or solid state?  Choices, choices…  Traditional tone mongers always go the way of the tube amp because they produced some of the greatest tones on the biggest albums of yesteryear.  And is, as a matter of fact; what inspired alot of us to play guitar today.  The warm natural growl and tone you get from tube amps has become the staple for many guitarists today.  But, on the flip side, tubes are extremely delicate and fragile; they are also becoming more and more in less supply all the time, which makes owning a tube amp more costly to own and maintain than solid state amps of equal size and power.

But for many there are just no alternative to tube distortion and makes the higher cost and maintenance well worth it.  Solid State Amps on the other hand have had great advancements in technology over the past few years, since the late 60’s introduced them.  They are very popular it seems with, Jazz, Funk and country players that enjoy the clean headroom they give.  Recently hybrid amps have hit the market with mega-tone generating preamp along with solid state power amp.  Really when it boils down to shopping for a  tube/solid state amp you just have to decide how much true vintage tone means to you and your playing style and also how many modern effects you need.  Tube amps for the most part are simple critters.  But, there are some more complicated four channel models out there.

Typically, hard core tube enthusiasts enjoy less circuitry over more.  But on the other hand, many of today’s solid state amps offer a broad range of on board multi-effects and tuners making gigging easier and streamlined.  If your an acoustic guitarist then mostly you will use a solid state amp for the clean distortion free sound solid state offers along with built in effects.  The best advice I can give you is to know what you like, meaning, if you are a metal-head; get a high gain tube or solid state with a good preamp or if your a country player solid state gives you headroom you need for that style.  Think with your ears and not your eyes.  Doesn’t matter how awesome your rig looks if it sounds like crap.  Play a ton of amps and get the one that sounds good to you and your ear.  Be thinking, do I need an amp that cuts through for big outside events hence, high gain tube or solid state or a practice amp 30 watt tube or solid state, let your ears be the judge.  Then you’ll be happy with your amp of choice for years to come.

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