Tube Amp vs Solid State – What's the Difference?

To each their own! If you have any questions let us know in the comments 👇 Thanks for watching, don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe!

Precise and informative! Considerably enriched my perception of the tech side of the question. Thanks, man! 🙂

What a pointless video. I was expecting to hear side-by side differences, not some guy waffling on for 9 minutes.

This is MG's best video he's every made. Period. Mitch...drop the mic!

Finally somebody explained it in a way I can understand it being technical like I am and understanding electronics the last 50 years. Usually they try to teach you electronics like your a novice and make little effort to explain the question you asked in the first place.

Good explanation. Tubes are great. Newer solid state great. The key is to find what works for you and satisfies your tone requirements.

Solid State amps are for the stage. Tube amps are for the studio.

I think it is about the sound that you're wanting to get I've found that I can get the sound that I want with an orange crush dirty Channel with gain 1 oclock position . Solid state

That was great info Mitch. I have both types. Fender Mustang GT100 and a Peavey Classic 30 (purchased form Sweetwater). While I like the GT100 for all of it's modeling and effects, My go to amp is the Classic 30. Also, the GT100 didn't have the tonal spectrum that I wanted so I made a head out of it and built a enclosed cabinet with a 15" speaker, that made a world of difference. Have a great day Mitch.

I finally kinda start to understand how thus all works. But how does different Watts play into this? Does this dictate how much power is used from my putlet awt home in the power stage? So effectively just how loud this thing gets? Or is it how „hard it can push cabinets“? Do physical cabs even have volume control or is this all dependent on how hard the amp pushes the signal?

What about the „master“ knob on amps. This is probably part of the power stage, I assume? But only at a certain master level the amp starts to sound good, so … still confused :D

Well Said Mr Gallagher; I like the way you described the internal factors; this is a very personal issue; with all the new technology that's come out, solid state isn't quite the same as it used to be; very timely topic 👍 thank you; from; Scranton, Pennsylvania

Is there any difference in frequency range between the two kinds?

Excellent information. But you'd better be paying attention. He moves along quite quickly....

Here is the real answer : Solid state, modeling amps and PC based amp programs all market on "sounds like a Marshall or a Vox or a Mesa etc" But have you ever, ever seen a tube amp manufacturer advertsisng how their tube amp "sounds like a solid state amp or computer program"? NOPE!
That is all yhe information needed to settle which is better,

Excellent explanation of tube versus solid state. A worthy listen for someone considering shopping for an amp. worth the listen especially for newer players but good for more experienced players as well. Thanks!

THANK YOU, MITCH, FOR A VERY DETAILED, AND WELL EXPLAINED OVERVIEW, OF THESE TWO "TYPES" OF AMPLIFIERS! MUCH APPRECIATED!!!

I own this Cr120 pro... But I'm no longer satisfied. I will go for a tube amp next time. Gotta try some different amps but I think I'll stay with orange... Maybe Th100

Modern music does not have "tone" metal bands sound like they all record their music through the same amp.

Hi Mitch, the differences between the two was explained very well, the best I've ever heard. Great job and very well presented. Thank you Mitch.

Despite the closeness in sound generated between tube and ss amps, it all comes down to the name on the front.

Can I punish the input on a modeling amp?
Too much will sound bad I'm sure..He drives used to daisy chain together 4 solid state amps Iin da studio
Alohas

Love my tubes. Sounds great, infinitely repairable, lasts a lifetime, sounds exactly how I want it to.

Without a doubt, the best comparison of tube versus solid-state guitar amplifiers I’ve ever run across. As always, kudos to Sweetwater and of course Mitch!

a VERY important thing while considering amps are the speakers!! two amps can sound the same but put different speakers? Its gonna sound different.
ive seen people go through the same amp with different speakers and they were able to nail any tone. So keep that in mind too
good video!!

Solid state doze not compare at all. Maybe ok for this man. Cos he only a beginner player.

I appreciate the lack of tube snobbery in the comments section. Mitch is great as always! Contrary to popular belief, different tubes don't have different frequency response. Mostly just gain and headroom.

I has a reason that tubes went instinct.....

good video.

Thanks Mitch, that was great!

Thank you, Mitch! Learned a ton through this video.

I've been through three tube amps in my time. After the last one I owned crapped out on me mid song at an open mic night I was performing at with a friend, I am off the tube amp bandwagon for good. Took it to my local store, got it sent away to be looked at and they couldn't figure out what was wrong with it..... Lucky it was still under warranty because god knows what it would have cost me...

Reliability is far more important to me now than outdated technology that is just destined to fail. I now play through a Fender Champion 100 and it's the best amp I've ever owned. Modelling effects in it are nice, can easily switch between the two channels with the foot switch and it's clean tones are beautiful and rich sounding when the eq is dialled in nicely. The tweed setting on it is magic to play with. Truly wonderful tone. I primarily play blues and the main pedal I use is the Boss BD-2, I put that pedal in front of the amp and i'm in blues rock heaven. It just concludes for me that tube amps aren't all they're cracked up to be. Modern day solid states are just as good and a thousand times more reliable.

In no way am I trying to tell any of you not to buy a tube amp if you want one, but for any of you that don't have any experience owning and using them, be warned, they can be a royal pain in the fuckin' ass. I'll never go back to tube amps as long as I live after what happened with my last one.

Solid state was good enough for B.B. King. That means it is good enough for me.

I have a cheap solid state "transtube" peavey vypyr 15w practice amp that I bought new 13 years ago. Recently bought a tube peavey 6505+ and tbh, at bedroom volumes the vypyr 6505 model sounds 90% what the real tube version sounds like to my ears. But its that extra magic makes a tube amp what it is

Love my Quilter ToneBlock!

I dont believe I've ever heard a more concise, in-depth, and too the point explanation of anything ever.

Great explanation! Thanks a lot

This isn’t confusing. The answer is always the same - 100% Tube amps are the only way to go.

distortion comes more immediately on solid state? what

Lame.....

Of course they never talk about how much more affordable solid state amps are. According to all these gear companies, everything just costs whatever it costs and you really should be able to afford it. Honestly, who needs rent and food when you could sound like a god among men?

Hi

I'm here for the "Tube amps only Dude!". Y'all are hilarious.

Thank You. Very educational.

there couldnt possibly be a better explanation anywhere. bravo.

Thank you! Very good info and video. I wasn't sure about the a/b class you explained. Thx!

Sounds like tube amps will be kinda obsolete in a decade?

He’s very knowledgeable. Clear explanation.

The videos that that guy are always excellent.