1 Topic by cytania (edited by cytania 2007-10-21 07:57:53)

  • From: Nottingham, UK
  • Registered: 2006-08-08
  • Posts: 690

Topic: World's Gone Tube & Valve

Was scouting around for ideas for a louder amp, in case of gigs (ha ha). As so often happens I felt out of date. I'm sure when I last looked hybrid tube/valve amps were new and unusual, now they appear to dominate the combo market but are still pricey.

Look at straight transistor amps and they all have digital sound processing built in ('for a valvey response'). They have effects like reverb, phaser, flanger, delay but not my current fave -compression.

Have these new tube amps overcome the old problems of valves? They were fragile ('watch it roadie, aargh! no play!') and prone to cutting out (which is why Clapton used two amps in Cream), particularly as they got older.

'The sound of the city seems to disappear'
  • From: BELGIUM
  • Registered: 2007-01-27
  • Posts: 3,403

Re: World's Gone Tube & Valve

Cytania, what you wrote is 100% correct.
I have a Fender cybertwin, this amp utilizes both analog and digital components to instantly become over 120 of the world’s most sought after classic and modern classic amplifiers tones.
2 tubes are used in the pre-amp with reconfigurable analog and digital circuitry, it is probably one of the best amps you can find. The knobs turns automatic when you change the sound of a Fender Vibro King to a Fender Twin Reverb, or all the other types of amps, Fender has produced.
I know some people who listened to the different amps, and after showing them a few amps in the cybertwin, THEY ALL TOLD ME THE SAME, owning an amp like the Twin Reverb, or Bassman that the sound was identical. You have the opportunity to turn the knobs manually and try finding another sound, which you can store.
This amp is the best amp I saw, price $1,299.99 .
Expensive, but you get so much for your money. There are also artist effects, allowing you to play sounds like Buddy Guy, SRV...

[color=blue]- GITAARDOCPHIL SAIS: TO CONQUER DEAD, YOU HAVE TO DIE[/color]   AND [color=blue] we are born to die[/color]
- MY GUITAR PLAYS EVERY STYLE = BLUES, ROCK, METAL, so I NEED TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY IT.
[color=blue]Civilization began the first time an angry person cast a word instead of a rock.[/color]

gitaardocphil's Website

  • From: Frederick, MD
  • Registered: 2006-12-28
  • Posts: 851

Re: World's Gone Tube & Valve

I played on a KUSTOM hybrid amp and wow was it awesome. All the warm fuzzies that a tube amp gives and the wonderful combination of effects without a bajillion foot pedals.

It was truly, the greatest sounding experience that I've had at the guitar store.


=]
Dm

"Talent instantly recognizes genius,
but mediocrity knows nothing more than itself."

-Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle

Detman101's Website

  • From: BELGIUM
  • Registered: 2007-01-27
  • Posts: 3,403

Re: World's Gone Tube & Valve

Detman, as far I can see, more and more companies start to make an hybrid amp? I remember me that my brother had a Kustom amp, a head and a box, pretty big, and powerful.
I think sooner or later there will be more and more of these amps.Vox has also a new "hybrid amp" I don't know who was making the first hybrid amp, I think Fender, with the cybertwin.
If you start thinking about "how is it possible to create an amp using tubes, providing us a warmer sound, and at the same time, digital giving us 100 different sounds" well you get crazy. I respect those guys. I still remember the day I received my Cybertwin, nobody knew a lot about this new kind of amp, being probably a start of a new generation in the amp world. Yes, using effect floorboards, some "patches" showed in their display: tube. I think more and more companies will produce these amps. BUT will they all be accepted by sworn tube lovers?

[color=blue]- GITAARDOCPHIL SAIS: TO CONQUER DEAD, YOU HAVE TO DIE[/color]   AND [color=blue] we are born to die[/color]
- MY GUITAR PLAYS EVERY STYLE = BLUES, ROCK, METAL, so I NEED TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY IT.
[color=blue]Civilization began the first time an angry person cast a word instead of a rock.[/color]

gitaardocphil's Website

  • From: Nottingham, UK
  • Registered: 2006-08-08
  • Posts: 690

Re: World's Gone Tube & Valve

Sworn tube lovers will always find something to scoff at in any mass-market amp. Transistors are certainly out of fashion except for the Roland Cube family. My current favourite V-amp tone suggests the right amp for me is a Roland Jazz Chorus, a huge transistor box with a big price tag... but they can be hired so there is hope ;-)

I think I'm finding out why electric players get obsessed with 'tone'. Sure with a modelling amp the right sound can be summoned up for a wide range of songs, but once you find that magic tone you want to play everything in it and only play songs that suit it.

'The sound of the city seems to disappear'