Tube Amplifiers

[steveneddy]

Who likes and uses tube amplifiers?

Guitar amps

Hi-Fi amps

Radio transmitter amps

anyone?

[mips]

One day I will build a stereo amp for music, one day...

[steveneddy]

One day I will build a stereo amp for music, one day...

I build guitar tube amplifiers at this time - but on my design table I have plans for a surround sound amp that will accept speaker level out in from a regular receiver - like my favorite Sony surround amp - simply use the Sony for all of the switching and signal processing - and letting the tube amp do it's wonderfulness to the sound.

No master volume on the amp - but little trim pots on the rear to "tune" the amp to the room.

Of course - I would keep the powered sub self powered.

[Frogs Hair]

I have 1967 Fender Princeton and a later Fender Super 60 watt and both are tube powered. Nothing sounds as warm as tubes regardless of amplifier brand.

[ManamiVixen]

When it comes to sound, I believe you should use a component where it is needed and only where needed and nowhere else. With Tubes, I prefer them on bass amplifiers, sub-woofer systems, but transistors for high-treble and tweeters. Also when dealing with waveforms, sharp, crisp waves do best on transistors and dull, mellow waves on tubes.

[uc50_ic4more]

I have a 1964 (pre-CBS) Fender Bassman, a 1971 Ampeg B-15 and several tube mics and mic amps. Love 'em!

[PC_load_letter]

I have a guitar tube amp (Blackstar) but it's not getting too much use these days thanks to GuitarRig 5 I don't think GR is on the same quality but it's pretty close. My next amp will probably be the Kemper profiling amp, it's just mind boggling, watch this to see what it does.

My office mate is a die hard audio tube amp aficionado, he owns several self-built headphone amps, he even has one at work.

[steveneddy]

I have a 1964 (pre-CBS) Fender Bassman, a 1971 Ampeg B-15 and several tube mics and mic amps. Love 'em!

Those are some really cool amps - what kind of mics are in your collection?

[lisati]

Some nice gear mentioned in this thread.

I haven't used a tube-based appliance for many years. Unless, of course, you count our TV, one of the last (if not the last) CRT-based TVs I recall seeing in our local shops.

[papibe]

I had a Fender Pro Re Reverb. I REALLY loved it.

I had to sell it when I moved to Texas

Both state solid and digital amps have come such a long way, that sometimes I forget and think there's no significant difference... until you hear a good tube amp again

Best Regards.

PS: these days I'm playing on a small practice amp: 40 watts Vox Valvetronix.