Are stereo tube amps better?

So which is it: do tubes sound better, or is it all the same? Both! If you match everything, they will sound the same, but in real life, things are never matched. In reality, tube amplifiers tend to have enough distortion that does make them sound different.

Are tube amps still worth it?

In many cases, tube amps do not require the amount of maintenance that they have a reputation for. As long as you properly take care of your gear, owning a tube amp is simple and very well worth it for the tone.

Can you leave a tube amp on all the time?

Long story short, unless you plan on using your amp a lot throughout the day, you should turn off your tube amp when you are done using it. Here’s why: Tubes deteriorate with use, so leaving a tube amp on shortens tube life. Many tubes produce a significant amount of heat.

Are tube amps fragile?

Tube amps are built with gigging musicians in mind. They are not as fragile as you might think and they could take up a beating. If you take care of them with common sense you would be fine and not have any breakdowns. However, valves have a limited lifespan and probably will be the first point of failure.

Are tube guitar amps really better than solid-state?

Here are some other key differences between tube and solid-state amps. Solid-state amps are great for players who want maximum headroom (a.k.a a loud, clean, undistorted signal). But without a bit of natural distortion, an electric guitar can sound a bit brittle.

How long do tubes last in a tube amp?

Power tubes like EL34’s and KT88’s are good for about 2500 hours or more. But may go longer in an amplifier with a conservative design. Small signal tubes with numbers like 12AX7, 12AU7, and 6922, and rectifier tubes like 5AR4 may go 10,000 hours.

Is it OK to leave a tube amp in the cold?

It turns out that tube amps can be stored at reasonably cold temperatures without any issues. While temperatures of -40 degree Fahrenheit and beyond can be damaging to some electrical components, the biggest problem that results from storing tube amps in the cold is temperature fluctuation.

How do you ruin a tube amp?

Never, never, never run the amp with no speaker plugged in. This can cause major damage. Do not flip the power switch off, then back on rapidly. This can cause power supply damage.

How long do tubes take to burn in?

Within thirty minutes or so they should be stable.

Do power tubes need to burn in?

All new production power tubes we offer are burned in for 48 hours and then tested to get the most precise matches we can for both plate current (mA) and transconductance (gm). We also screen for leakage, gas, and noise.

Do any pros use solid state amps?

James Hetfield, Adam Jones, Kirk Hammett, Johnny Marr, etc, etc… – Roland JC-120.

What is the best book on tube amplifiers?

The Bobbs-Merrill Co. Inc., 1974. International Standard Book Number 0-672-20675-7, Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 77-82885. This huge volume is arguably the best book ever published on tube amplifier circuits and other electronic circuitry, from filters to test equipment and everything in between.

What are some good amps schematics books for beginners?

A Desktop Reference of Hip Vintage Guitar Amps – Gerald Weber. Published by Kendrick Books, 1994. ISBN 0-9641060-0-0. Lots of good schematics, primarily Fender-oriented, but some other amps as well.

What are some of the best Ampeg books?

Lots of good schematics, primarily Fender-oriented, but some other amps as well. In addition, it contains a lot of mod information for Fender amps, if you are into that kind of thing. Ampeg – The Story Behind The Sound – Gregg Hopkins and Bill Moore. Published by Hal Leonard, 1999. ISBN 0-7935-7951-1. The definitive Ampeg book!

What do you learn in the amplifier course?

There are also chapters on how to solder, bias an amp, how to use a multimeter, how to read schematics, the tools you need. There is a chapter on voltage charts of common amplifiers.