Re: Tube amp question
In case you're not aware, one difference is that tube distortion tends to sound good (plus come in slowly and early) while solid state distortion tends to sound bad and happen all at once. When pushing either type toward and past its limit, the tubes will seem to sing right along (even if a mathematical analysis would say that there's lots of difference between the input and output signals) while the solid state will sound like a ton of bricks.
My (way back!) rock playing was mostly with an all-tube 40-watt piggyback Fender Bandmaster (two 12s). Bass-heavy rhythm was usually played on 4, LOUD. Current amp is a partially-tube (and possibly hot-rodded) Champ 12 from the early '80s that I found in the early '90s (12-watts, one 12 speaker), still on either 3 or 4. Especially on the "drive" channel (that is, intentionally distorted), peak volume is WAY louder than I'll ever use.
Yeah, there's no easy conversion... ya just gotta listen. Sortta like buying a new mandolin!
- Ed
"Then one day we weren't as young as before
Our mistakes weren't quite so easy to undo
But by all those roads, my friend, we've travelled down
I'm a better man for just the knowin' of you."
- Ian Tyson
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