3 ms·

Right, super popular for death metal guitarists, for some reason.

nicolaslem 3y ago
Tube amps are really the default type of guitar amp for every genre. I can name hundreds of guitar players famous for playing tube amps, I don't think I can name a single one known to play solid state amps.
- yodsanklai 3y ago
  With digital simulation, things are slowly changing and a lot of players now use digital amps on tour as a matter of convenience, even big names. This has been debated to death on guitar forums, but some would argue that digital is now undistinguishable from the tubes.
  - throwaway1004 3y ago
    >This has been debated to death on guitar forums, but some would argue that digital is now undistinguishable from the tubes. I find that it's impossible for the average listener to identify the difference in recorded music, especially if there's a lot of distortion in play, but I can entertain the idea that it's a detectable difference. As someone who moved from solid-state and digital amps to tube amps I find there to be a huge difference in terms of dynamics and response, which massively influences the way I and others play. I can't imagine Jeff Beck or Gary Moore getting the same results with non-tube amps, since their playing relies so much on dynamics and physically feeling and moving air in the room. edit: for live touring, though, it's so much more efficient to use digital or solid-state options for size, weight and reliability, if it doesn't directly impact the artist's ability to perform
    - jimnotgym 3y ago
      I have never used a top line modelling amp, like kemper or whatever...but I immediately play better through my tube amps than lower end digitals (Katana or whatever). It is dynamics as you say. Anyone would prefer to hear me play (as if) through a valve amp (vacuum tubes are called valves in Britain). Valve amps are still the default option for higher end enthusiast amps, although modeling is taking over with pros for convenience
  - ddingus 3y ago
    As compute power continues to improve, so does simulation. Yeah, I would expect modern software able to do the job for all but extreme cases. Basically, custom Amp mods.
- throwaway1004 3y ago
  >I don't think I can name a single one known to play solid state amps. Dimebag Darrell and Buckethead are two names who come to mind, favouring the even response of solid state over the more-dynamic valve amps. If we include pre-amplification such as guitar pedals, solid state is everywhere - a DS1 or a Rat gives that even response for big gnarly cold distortions. Then there's the Boss HM pedal which spawned a whole genre of it's own when players used it as a pre-amp for that unique "chainsaw" sound. So, you're right that most players opt for valves at the amplification stage, but solid state is all over guitar music.
RajT88 3y ago
I don't want to be that guy but I think you are thinking of Doom Metal / Black Metal.

Tube amps are really the default type of guitar amp for every genre. I can name hundreds of guitar players famous for playing tube amps, I don't think I can name a single one known to play solid state amps.

yodsanklai 3y ago
With digital simulation, things are slowly changing and a lot of players now use digital amps on tour as a matter of convenience, even big names. This has been debated to death on guitar forums, but some would argue that digital is now undistinguishable from the tubes.
- throwaway1004 3y ago
  >This has been debated to death on guitar forums, but some would argue that digital is now undistinguishable from the tubes. I find that it's impossible for the average listener to identify the difference in recorded music, especially if there's a lot of distortion in play, but I can entertain the idea that it's a detectable difference. As someone who moved from solid-state and digital amps to tube amps I find there to be a huge difference in terms of dynamics and response, which massively influences the way I and others play. I can't imagine Jeff Beck or Gary Moore getting the same results with non-tube amps, since their playing relies so much on dynamics and physically feeling and moving air in the room. edit: for live touring, though, it's so much more efficient to use digital or solid-state options for size, weight and reliability, if it doesn't directly impact the artist's ability to perform
  - jimnotgym 3y ago
    I have never used a top line modelling amp, like kemper or whatever...but I immediately play better through my tube amps than lower end digitals (Katana or whatever). It is dynamics as you say. Anyone would prefer to hear me play (as if) through a valve amp (vacuum tubes are called valves in Britain). Valve amps are still the default option for higher end enthusiast amps, although modeling is taking over with pros for convenience
- ddingus 3y ago
  As compute power continues to improve, so does simulation. Yeah, I would expect modern software able to do the job for all but extreme cases. Basically, custom Amp mods.
throwaway1004 3y ago
>I don't think I can name a single one known to play solid state amps. Dimebag Darrell and Buckethead are two names who come to mind, favouring the even response of solid state over the more-dynamic valve amps. If we include pre-amplification such as guitar pedals, solid state is everywhere - a DS1 or a Rat gives that even response for big gnarly cold distortions. Then there's the Boss HM pedal which spawned a whole genre of it's own when players used it as a pre-amp for that unique "chainsaw" sound. So, you're right that most players opt for valves at the amplification stage, but solid state is all over guitar music.

RajT88 3y ago

I don't want to be that guy but I think you are thinking of Doom Metal / Black Metal.