Is it realistic to have a tube amp at home?

My personal opinion and tastes lean towards a tube or analog head into a couple of cabs with a really good master volume over playing a modeler into studio monitors for low volume. I think for me feel / tone wise it’s better than direct. YMMV

Edit: Just so I don’t get some sensitive people who love using their modelers on my ass barking at me will nonsense that I shit on modelers… I think digital modelers are absolutely amazing in the right context. I have them and I use them when they are the best tool for the job.
 
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ejecta said:
My personal opinion and tastes lean towards a tube or analog head into a couple of cabs with a really good master volume over playing a modeler into studio monitors for low volume. I think for me feel tone wise it’s better than direct. YMMV
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Agreed.

Yesterday night at about 7:30pm, I was playing my Mark V. I turned on the effects loop so I could use it as a master volume. Kept the output knob at about 10 o'clock. I could talk over it in the room. But it still felt really good to play, and honestly? Much more instant gratification than the modellers I own.

I love my modellers to be sure. But there's something just great about having a 4x12 and an amp, even at bedroom levels, right next to you.
 
Orvillain said:
Agreed.

Yesterday night at about 7:30pm, I was playing my Mark V. I turned on the effects loop so I could use it as a master volume. Kept the output knob at about 10 o'clock. I could talk over it in the room. But it still felt really good to play, and honestly? Much more instant gratification than the modellers I own.

I love my modellers to be sure. But there's something just great about having a 4x12 and an amp, even at bedroom levels, right next to you.
Click to expand...

Could this also be done with a pedal like a Tubescreamer?

Sounds interesting. Get a Tone Master Deluxe reverb or a Tonemaster Reverb. Add a pedal to it.. to keep the volume low?

(that is not a tube so maybe not the same feeling)

/gear noob
 
mercifulfuzziness said:
Could this also be done with a pedal like a Tubescreamer?

Sounds interesting. Get a Tone Master Deluxe reverb or a Tonemaster Reverb. Add a pedal to it.. to keep the volume low?

(that is not a tube so maybe not the same feeling)

/gear noob
Click to expand...
In short, yes. It could. It really depends on what tones you like. Personally I don't really like the tubescreamer into a clean channel. I'd rather have a SD-1 or BD-2. But yes, in principle you can use a pedal to get an acceptable tone at lower levels.
 
Orvillain said:
In short, yes. It could. It really depends on what tones you like. Personally I don't really like the tubescreamer into a clean channel. I'd rather have a SD-1 or BD-2. But yes, in principle you can use a pedal to get an acceptable tone at lower levels.
Click to expand...

Me neither, I don't like most overdrive or gain pedals but that is also because I find it often ruins the tone of the amp. The Deluxe Reverb sounds nice as it is, with a TS I just seem to make it into a tone I dislike. It probably also has to do with the HX Stomp, where I am capable of putting the master and gain on what in real life would mean very high volume.
 
I have three(soon to be four) tube amps in my home studio space.
Reeves Custom 50(Hiwatt) head w/ 2x12 cab... 50 watts
Louis Electric Columbia Reverb... 18 watts
Carr Telstar... 17 watts.
Two Rock Vintage Deluxe 40/20 watts coming beginning of December.
Tubes rule! :beer
 
duzie said:
So are you going to get anything or continue with what you currently have?
Click to expand...

I might have enough for now with the HX Stomp but def. would consider going LT or Floor and commit to it.

I still think a tube amp is reasonable, like @Eagle and others have mentioned. But maybe I'll wait a bit until my kids are a bit older.

For now, I'll stick to what I have and try to keep the GAS in check.
 
Depending on how patient your family is with higher volume levels, it might be just fine. We live in an apartment, and I've got a Fender "Evil" Twin Amp and an old Ampeg VT-22 looking at me while I type, among other big fellas.

I don't play them all too often, but when they do see use, no one complains. Definitely not designed as bedroom-level players.
 
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