The_Dummy
First Lieutenant   Posts: 6 Registered: 8/2/2005 Status: Offline
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posted on 8/13/2005 at 08:31 |
I am new to this forum. This is my first post.
I am in the market for another amp. Currently, I am playing a Telecaster
via a Peavy Vegas 400. The combination is excellent except that the Peavy
weighs in at 80 pounds which I finding to be a bit heavy to carry to gigs
in small settings. I, also, have a all tube V 30 made by Crate that weighs
44 pounds but it does not produce the sound that I need for the Bob
Wills/big band swing that I play although it does have ample power.
Solid state units and processors have come on the market since I have
shopped for amps and I know absolutely nothing about them. I wonder if
either of these is a viable option to my needs.
Can someone here describe the differences between tube and solid state amps
regarding sounds, durability prices etc. or whether or not a processor may
be available that will tease the VSeries into producing a sound suitable to
the music that I play. The sound that I am seeking is a clean sound with
no distortion other than a decent reverb.
Thank you in advance.
George
[Edited on 8/13/2005 by The_Dummy]
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brian
Moderator   Posts: 1038 Registered: 12/22/2003 Status: Offline |
posted on 8/14/2005 at 00:41, Reply 1 |
Tube amps are better sounding amps overall. Tubes are moody and react to
every note you play as a solid state is always the same. The down side the
tubes need to replaced about once a year if your playing the amp alot. You
will get a cleaner sound with solid state as tubes break up the more you
crank the amp.
Look into a tube amp with EL84 power tubes not EL34 as the EL34 are best
known for the crunch in a Marshall etc...
6L6 tubes are not bad but I get better clean results with EL84s
Hope this helps
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The_Dummy
First Lieutenant Posts: 6 Registered: 8/2/2005 Status: Offline |
posted on 8/14/2005 at 08:58, Reply 2 |
Thanks, Brian. Your reply did help. It, also, stimulated more questions.
The Crate V Series has three 12AX7A pre amp tubes and four EL84 power amp
tubes. The manual says that by changing the tubes around the tone can be
changed. I exchanged the three AXs for ATs and the tone did change but not
enough. I wonder if these tube can be mixed, like using two AXs and one
AT. As much as I want to get a different tone, my desire to not harm the
amp is stronger.
Do you have any thoughts on this?
Thanks again.
George
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brian
Moderator Posts: 1038 Registered: 12/22/2003 Status: Offline |
posted on 8/14/2005 at 18:17, Reply 3 |
Are you using Groove Tubes,Telsa????? 12AT7's are cleaner then the 12Ax7,
ECC83's etc.. Try putting the 12AT7's in the pre section and 12AX7 in the
post or vice versa.
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FireFret
First Lieutenant  Posts: 20 Registered: 7/13/2005 Status: Offline |
 posted on 8/15/2005 at 01:51, Reply 4 |
Hey man, if you want a warmer, smoother tone then my suggestion is tube.
But i have played on some sweet solids. If you're going for a Big-Band
sound then try out a Fender tube. Go to Guitar Center or something and test
one out. And i can't stress it enough: play it before you buy it. Find what
you like.  ____________________
De profundus clamo ad te domine
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The_Dummy
First Lieutenant Posts: 6 Registered: 8/2/2005 Status: Offline |
posted on 8/16/2005 at 01:12, Reply 5 |
Brian: I was in the little darlin' today and changed the pre amp
tubes around every way possible using the AKs and ATs. I did not notice
the brand of the tubes. The rearranging of the tubes did indeed produce
different tones but the sharpness or brightness in the small string octaves
were still present. The best combination was the three AKs and they are
just too bright.
It looks as though I probably need to replace the EL84s with 6L6s as that
is what some of the larger amps use that have no overdrive functions.
Right now, I am not inclined to lay a couple of hundred more into this amp
for tubes, especially on the come because I do not really know if the 6L6s
will solve the problem. This is why I am asking about solid state units.
The Fender FM 65 R can be had for a couple of hundred and it should be
strong enough for my needs if the clean channel is soft enough tone wise.
If this turns out to be true, the V 30 will sell for more than enough to
cover the Fender. It is time for me to go music storing and disturb the
tranquility of their atmospheres while trying out amps.
Thank you very much for your interest and comments in trying to solve my
problem.
FireFret: I agree with your thoughts on a Fender tube. However,
they are a bit pricey for a guitar that is not earning its keep. I already
have the V 30 and was hoping to make adjustments to it that would deliver
the sound that I want. Turns out that dog won't hunt. What I need is some
insight into some of those "sweet solids" that you mentioned. My need is
for something that produces as close as possible absolutely no distortion
whatsoever beyond that of a decent reverb.
Thanks for the reply. I appreciate your thoughts.
George
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The_Dummy
First Lieutenant Posts: 6 Registered: 8/2/2005 Status: Offline |
posted on 8/21/2005 at 08:13, Reply 6 |
Here is a post script to all of the above.
I bought a Peavy Envoy 110 solid state 40 watt combo new for $200. Both
the clean and the lead channels can be adjusted to acceptably clean tone
levels. The volume is adequate for my at home and small gig needs. I
credit the input from this forum for my success in this effort. Thank you
all!
George
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ZeldaMentalEvil
First Lieutenant  Posts: 21 Registered: 2/27/2004 Status: Offline |
 posted on 8/25/2005 at 04:39, Reply 7 |
And That Is how a forum thread should go. In my years of browsing
forums on various topics, i found this one the most sane, reasonable and
intresting thread i have read.
Some others are great too until some idiot comes along
saying this is the best......  ...ummmm okay I'll
shut up now. 
[Edited on 8/25/2005 by ZeldaMentalEvil]
[Edited on 8/25/2005 by ZeldaMentalEvil] ____________________
7 days without prayer makes one weak!
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tattoo
Captain  Posts: 270 Registered: 7/31/2004 Status: Offline |
posted on 9/3/2005 at 10:17, Reply 8 |
| I agree with you brother. Every forum post/thread should end on a good
note. ____________________
Get the name to sell first then the trend makes millions.
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wanka
First Lieutenant Posts: 12 Registered: 2/14/2007 Status: Offline |
posted on 2/14/2007 at 23:16, Reply 9 |
You can't just replace EL84s with 6L6s, they have completely different
voltages and pin locations. Anyway, the power Tubes are not your primary
problem, they simply amplify the Preamp signal. Sounds to me like you need
a Tube amp with a great Clean channel[Fender, etc]
The Wanka
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