Solid state or tube Power amp?

[bshilkitus]

Hi, my plans are to use either a Marshall JMP-1 or a Mesa Triaxis pre-amp live. Would you all suggest using a tube amp like to Mesa 2:90 or a solid state amp like a QSC to power it to my 1960A Cab? I have hears tube amps can muddy up the longer you play them. I prefer MIDI controlled rack gear so I can create and access many different sounds with one step of a button.
Thanks, Bill

[msi-brat]

Originally posted by bshilkitus
Hi, my plans are to use either a Marshall JMP-1 or a Mesa Triaxis pre-amp live. Would you all suggest using a tube amp like to Mesa 2:90 or a solid state amp like a QSC to power it to my 1960A Cab? I have hears tube amps can muddy up the longer you play them. I prefer MIDI controlled rack gear so I can create and access many different sounds with one step of a button.
Thanks, Bill

well, first let me spam and tell you i am selling a jmp-1 and a peavey classic 50/50. as well as a digitech valve fx.... p.m. if you're interested.

next let me give you my unbiased opinion. i'm not selling these things because i think they suck. ask any owners of them and they'll tell you how good they are... i'm just looking into a head setup.

have you played the triaxis and the jmp-1? because imo they sound nothing alike... the jmp-1 is like an encyclopedia of marshall tones, while the triaxis is like an encyclopedia of mesa/boogie tones.
both pretty equal in goodness, but voiced very differently.

for the poweramp, it all depends on the sound you want... if you want very little coloration to you tone i'd say s.s. is the way to go, i used a peavey cs 800(2x400w) for these tones. but if you want "warmth" and sweet breakup/saturation to your tone then tubes all the way, that's what i bought the classic 50/50 for(2x50w or 1x100w).

i'm not sure what you mean buy tube heads muddy up the longer you use them... sure they're looser and saggier sounding than s.s., but usually that is a subtle yet desired trate with tube amps.

good luck with it.

[sbcgroup1]

I would highly suggest to avoid solid state; it will kill the tone you'd want to get from your triaxis (sound totally different).

If you go marshall, go JMP-1 & Marshall EL 34 100/100 poweramp (or 9100).

If you go Boogie, I'd personally recommend a strategy poweramp over the 2:90. But if you want brand new, go with the 2:90.

If you want something tighter sounding, but different than the boogie, check out the VHT stuff.

As for the peavey, just plain forget it. Don't try cutting corners...you'll cut your tone in the process.

-Ed

[ASHJN]

If you want that full on tube sound and feel i would suggest tube power amp. Even if I was using a solid state preamp like a POD or something I would still get a tube power amp to give it that juice. Yes tube power amps do color your sound but usually in a good way

[sleewell]

go tube, especially if you plan on either one of those preamps. why spend so much on a good preamp only to put it through a SS poweramp?


tubes will sound worse after about a year or so, depending on use, but then you just replace them and it sounds like a new amp.

bill

[sbcgroup1]

Originally posted by sleewell
go tube, especially if you plan on either one of those preamps. why spend so much on a good preamp only to put it through a SS poweramp?

+1

SS combined w/anything tube will still sound SS.

[Scorpius]

SS combined w/anything tube will still sound SS.

That´s total BS. Tubes add something to your sound, whereas SS doesn´t. But that doesn´t mean SS kills your tone. SS reproduces the input perfectly without changing it, that´s why it´s used in pa-systems. You will see on the tech21 site that they actually recommend SS poweramps when using them in a rack system.

[ASHJN]

Originally posted by Scorpius
That´s total BS. Tubes add something to your sound, whereas SS doesn´t. But that doesn´t mean SS kills your tone. SS reproduces the input perfectly without changing it, that´s why it´s used in pa-systems. You will see on the tech21 site that they actually recommend SS poweramps when using them in a rack system.

+1 Totally agree. A good tube power amp can very nicely color your solid state preamps tone

[fatgraymatt]

If you plan on playing your rig live with a band I'd go tube, I've found that tube stuff is ususally warmer, cuts through a mix better and is easier on the ears than S.S.