Buying Guide for Tube Amplifiers

Buying Guide for Tube Amplifiers

Tube Amps (also known as Valve amps) evolved from amps designed for radios. Luckily, tube technology just happened to be the perfect match for producing great tone with an electric guitar. As a result of this synchronistic good fortune, tube amplifiers have changed very little since their earliest designs. In general, tube amps produce a fatter and richer tone than their Solid-State counterparts and also produce more volume. In other words, a 50-watt tube amp will sound louder than a 50-watt solid-state amp. If you are planning on using a tube amp in a small situation a 20 to 40-watt amplifier will probably work just fine, as these amps sound better the more you turn them up or “push” them. In a larger environment it is safe to go with anything between 50 and 100-watts. The speaker enclosures will also play a major role in the volume you’ll project. A 50-watt 1x12 combo will not sound as loud and full as a 50-watt head and a 4x12 cabinet.

Here are some pros and cons of Tube amps:

Pros:

• Smooth tone and warm distortion


• Over driven sound is more “musical”


• Better resale value


• Fuller “presence” and tone


• Natural Tube Compression enhances tone

Cons:

• Weight - Amps are heavier due to large power transformers


• Maintenance – Tubes need to be replaced approximately every year for optimum performance.


• Noisier


• Price - More expensive than solid-state amps.

Despite their cons, tube amps are still preferred by most guitarists (particularly Pro’s) for the warm, smooth tone they deliver. Bassists favor them for the punchy, warm sound and the natural compression, which works well for bass guitar.