Baba
Shredder
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Ewwww powertube distortion
Ewwww powertube distortion
Echo chamber for the win. FWIW, I use traditional amps mostly these days and have a bunch of tube power amps to run modelers through as well as multiple SS options and cabs. I think most of the respondents here are grossly over generalizing and over simplifying, TBH. But that is how these kind of discussions go. There are a lot of variables.
I'll go against the grain here. I've tried several modelers through a Fryette Power Station 100 (2x 6550 tubes) vs my BluGuitar Amp 1 Mercury Edition (hybrid with subminiature tube for tube response + Class D solid-state poweramp).
The difference between them was minor soundwise with the BluGuitar having a bit of a "character" to it - no surprise since it's meant to emulate a guitar poweramp - but the BluGuitar is more compact and less noisy (no idle noise and no audible fan noise) so for modelers I'd even say it's the better poweramp.
As always ..... "if it sounds good it is good "
But isn't there an issue (?) in that the Modelers [mostly all of them] model the Tube Power Amp Stage so you would be running a model of a cranked virtual Tube Power Amp Stage -into- a real cranked Tube Power Amp Stage ? ... doubling up so to speak ?
So if doing it with an Axe 3, would it not be "best" / "advisable" to Globally Turn OFF the Power Amp Modelling if running into the EFX Return of a real Tube Power Amp (?)
With Helix this cant be done.
Just some random thoughts.
Ben
Looks like it’s time for me to point out that the Tech 21 PE60 (preferably with the original speaker) is still my undisputed champion for amp tones out of any modeler.
Ewwww powertube distortion
Yeah the Bandit is SS and a couple others I didn't mention were a Samson SS power amp and little Joyo Meteor which is technically a SS amp with a tube pre. I actually didn't mind the Bandit all that much but yeah stiff and and a bit sterile comparatively.
Those Spider Valves are a great value for what you get. A Bogner designed power amp and if you get a combo, like you said stock V30's come in them.
Saw a used DT50 at the store yesterday for $400 and was pretty intrigued. Any idea how close they are (or aren't) to the Spider Valve? It had some rebranded Celestion speaker in it, looked pretty decent quality, but weighed an absolute ton.
Which effectively turns off the power amp emulationIt's true you can't turn off the power amp modelling on the Helix, but you can swap out the amp block for a preamp block.
As always ..... "if it sounds good it is good "
But isn't there an issue (?) in that the Modelers [mostly all of them] model the Tube Power Amp Stage so you would be running a model of a cranked virtual Tube Power Amp Stage -into- a real cranked Tube Power Amp Stage ? ... doubling up so to speak ?
So if doing it with an Axe 3, would it not be "best" / "advisable" to Globally Turn OFF the Power Amp Modelling if running into the EFX Return of a real Tube Power Amp (?)
With Helix this cant be done.
Just some random thoughts.
Ben
Good lord, of course not. WTF would even make you think that was being said? Basically the data and anecdotes here are a small sample space and a small group of people are generalizing a topic/problem with *many* variables... the whole thing is basically many shades of grey but the ensuing discussion makes it seem to be black and white on a cursory reading if you don't consider any other outside information.Well I don't think anyone's trying to kiss my ass if that's what you're saying.
For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong. (H.L. Mencken).
Good lord, of course not. WTF would even make you think that was being said? Basically the data and anecdotes here are a small sample space and a small group of people are generalizing a topic/problem with *many* variables... the whole thing is basically many shades of grey but the ensuing discussion makes it seem to be black and white on a cursory reading if you don't consider any other outside information.
It's typical of net discussions like this and is not the fault of the folks here; it's just how things like this go down in this context.
IIRC that tube poweramp emulation in the Amp1 is similar to the strategy used in the original blue Vox Valvetronix amps. I believe Mahaffay amps also uses that approach for their amps…and I have to say after playing them…there is something there that I find very agreeable to play through. The Amp1 and Mahaffay HiLo Plexi both get unbelievably close to my bigger Marshall style heads in how they compress and bounce through the speaker cab.I'll go against the grain here. I've tried several modelers through a Fryette Power Station 100 (2x 6550 tubes) vs my BluGuitar Amp 1 Mercury Edition (hybrid with subminiature tube for tube response + Class D solid-state poweramp).
The difference between them was minor soundwise with the BluGuitar having a bit of a "character" to it - no surprise since it's meant to emulate a guitar poweramp - but the BluGuitar is more compact and less noisy (no idle noise and no audible fan noise) so for modelers I'd even say it's the better poweramp.
Great. Now you're making me gas for a local Spider Valve 212 at about 330$ - even though I have "no" use for it...When it comes to using my Helix LT through the return of an amp, I have used the following amps generally with a horizontal half open back 2x12 of English V30's.
Mesa DR Tremoverb head
Marshall DSL100H
Marshall DSL40c combo
Line 6 Spidervalve combo or HD100 head
Mesa Mark V 90 combo
Mesa DC-3 head
Jet City JCA100 head
Peavey Bandit Red Stripe combo
Peavey Valveking II 100 head
and a few others that instantly sucked so I didn't spend much time dialing.
I don't have any hard empirical evidence to prove anything but the very best I have experienced so far is the Line 6 Spider Valve HD100.
Not surprised because the tube power section is designed to work well with amp and fx modelling. Seriously it's really not even close what I prefer. The Spider Valve brings out the best in every modeler I have plugged in to it. Sounds and feels the most natural. I have a small collection of Spider Valves because they can be had so cheap on the used market and I want to make sure that if one dies I have backups.
It IS ironic that modelers sound best through a tube power section and real guitar speakers. However it is certainly true IME. Also:How ironic. Modelers usher in the death of tube amps, but only sound good with tube amps.
For me, it’s guitar cabs sound better when being driven by a tube amps. I don’t think the modeller really gets affected, but cabs have a certain feel that can easily get disrupted if we treat them like they are studio monitorsHow ironic. Modelers usher in the death of tube amps, but only sound good with tube amps.
How ironic. Modelers usher in the death of tube amps, but only sound good with tube amps.
How ironic. Modelers usher in the death of tube amps, but only sound good with tube amps.
Dynamics (compression/sag) comparison between the Katana and the Blackstar power amps.Any requests for the next episode?
Dynamics (compression/sag) comparison between the Katana and the Blackstar power amps.
It may just need to be another setting or layer that needs to be tweaked. Or maybe not, could just be my very small sample size.
I would have to assume since Cliff has dozens (or hundreds) of tube amps, he's measured everything and already has modeled the EQ of the tube power amp. But to my ears, I just hear a very pleasing difference and I measured what I heard as well.