I've been a recording producer for almost 20 years now, been kepping up with the amp/plug in since since 2005, until the last beast modeller such as quad cortex, kemper etc. I love both tube amps and amp sims/modeller. IMO, if we're talking about efficiency in a live situation, where there are alot of things and important decisions to make (if you're in a band) then amp modeller is the wisest choice, people won't be overly noticing the detail in your tone, the just need to hear your guitar roaring properly. BUT, when it comes to recording, you want like the most superior and purest tones as best as possible, that's where tube amps rule. amp sim? almost every year, I do some test to compare my tube amps & amp modeller to see if there are significant changes in terms of quality. and almost every year, I also got dissapointment. Those amp sims, they are great, 'at a glance' you can even think that those are real amp, but it's not. the dynamic, frequency response, compression/clipping, the girth, rudeness, dimension, it's just not there, even how they react to your finger is different from real amp. Especially if you're a tweaker, you'll find that amp sim/modeller are really limited in the terms of tweak-ability, they mostly sounds weird and un-natural whenever you try to do experiment with them. amp sims/modellers mostly reduce the tons effort to get to your tone by sacrificing the quality of the tone itself and over complicating a process that should've be simpler, in the name of efficiency, this is a grey zone. tube amp? we don't need debate about this. they're great, but hard to maintain, they're heavy, and they cost fortunes, but still, they're magical. let's take a case. look at the quality of nowaday (recording) Production that uses amp sim/plugins/modellers, and compare it to the production from 15 or 25 years ago, are they getting any better? some YES, but mostly NO, look at the percentage, they're all degrading and getting more over-processed day by day. is quality worth to sacrificed for the sakes of efficiency? let's ask ourselves. I personally still have 6 tube amps, and 2 modellers in my studio, they can coexist. there are still alot of reason why modeller will keep coming out and why tube amps are still in sale and getting sold out everytime. and we should be ready for it. i'm not trying to be conservative, I will always be open to every advancement in technology, if it's not created to help you do less the work, than it's not technology right? so i see no point in hating amp modellers, they are advance technology, they're supposed to help us, of course there will be cost to every change right? and maybe, just maybe in some community and ecosystem tube amps are dying, but in another community, they are shining brighter than ever, so as the amp sim/modellers. still, they're both great things if you know how, and when to utilitize 'em. just choose what you guys want and maximize to fullest. yakopo lur? wes paham a?
To be fair, if you're using a loadbox/attenuator and leave it hooked up all the time, it takes almost zero effort to record a tube amp. Love my Torpedo Captor X (16 ohm).
I have a kemper but also a good collection of tube amps. Ever since I got my two notes my kemper has turned in to a paper weight. Tube amp and two notes is the move in my opinion.
Torpedo Captor X helps record tube amps in a way that takes care of alot of the issues you were mentioning. Been watching videos about how alot of bands are moving away from tube amps live for the conveniences digital brings and recording with tube amps in studio for the tubularness.
My daughter's first amp is a Boss Katana Mkll 50 watt combo. It does almost everything, and the 0.5 watt mode. I switched to a Fender Rumble 100 for my bass, years ago. It's lighter than my Thunderbird.
I love your take on it. For being part of the live music industry, modellers are just the best for being so consistent and reducing setup time. But when you have once in a while a band with real amps on stage, it is such a blessing.
I'm running an Orange Rockerverb mk.iii into a two notes to record. Benefit is that I can set my tone in the room at a decent volume because of the built in attenuator, and then record silently and preserve my tone. It will never be as flexible as a QC, but I sound like me every time I record, and to me, that's more valuable than the versatility
Hey Man, I’m interested in getting into the Sim as well for Guitar. Can you maybe do a video in the future kind of showing the beginners on how to get into the Sim or maybe what programs to first use and etc. and what things we might need thank you bro.
I have the JVM 50 watt dual channel aswell and love it! It's actually super easy to quickly record with most tube amps, just hook the pre-amp out with your interface and load up a poweramp and impulse response plugin.
Went from playing a Marshall MGHDFX with 4x12 loaded with WGS 25W Green Berets just bought The EvH 80W Iconic Head same cab. The difference in everything was night and day. My hands get less tired and this allows me to play more because of it’s overall responsiveness ❤❤❤
Nothing easier for me than switching on the amp and just have fun without having to operate a software suite with plugins. Just the guitar, a pedal or 2, my amps and a nice cab. I used to play around with modelling software when I didn’t have room for a proper amp, but it just made me want to have the real deal. I’d probably build an analog pedalboard rig if I was a touring musician and would use plugins if I was recording a lot, but I’m not. So I don’t. As I said, forever grateful to modelling software, saved me a lot of money when buying my actual amps: 5150 II, Powerball II and Marshall VS8100 + JVM205. Ok, the last one partially because of your video! My amp needs are fulfilled, I can get all the sounds I like so no desire for new rabbitholes whatsoever.
Been playing for 20 years and the ease of recording with a quad cortex or plugins has been very positive to the point where my amps are in a closet collecting dust. I do very much miss an amp. But my neighbors don’t miss it at all.
You should try the jvm410h. It’s a beast. The OD2 channel would be more up your alley imo. OD2 orange is like Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and red mode is just beastly.. you can definitely get away with OD1 mode though especially with a boost pedal. As one metal guy to another though.. I’m surprised you didn’t go for the 4 channel
I love both. They both have their strengths. I love cranking up my KSR Orthos MKII with 6550s, and blasting. It's one of my favorite things, but it's not the best thing for playing at midnight. If I'm playing around late at night it's 100% my Kemper (with a profile of my KSR). It gives me 99% of my tone at headphone volume.
I have a Hughes & Kettner Black Spirit 200, it’s a solid state amp but EVERYONE that’s ever heard my amp says that it sounds like a tube amp. I don’t plan on getting a tube amp anytime soon but honestly for anybody reading this use what you like man, there are no rules saying that you have to use a tube amp and there’s no rules saying you have to use solid state or modelers, sims, etc. It doesn’t matter what you use cause at the end of the day everyone likes what they’re hearing and that right there should be enough for you to realize that you’re perfectly fine with what you got.
I have the Hughes and ketner amp man and you can dial that in to sound like a tube amp. Hughes and ketner has replaced my Marshall dsl 20 head as my main amp
@@elancaster3989 Hellyeah, that right there is amazing man, that goes to show just how far non tube amps have come. H&K make amazing amps man and I really think H&K hit the ball park when they made this amp, right on the money man.
Solid state amps sound good, but don't change any of the reasons why people use modellers. Idk why they always say "tube" amps cuz solid state amps are in the same boat.
I absolutely love my EVH 5150 Stealth and there is nothing I love playing more, but as I want to do more recording I find a modeling amp to be perfect for recording in a home studio.
Modelers are great for a consistent live tone for a working musician these days. I did a few dates playing Whitesnake material. My rig was 2 Mesa heads into 2 212 cabs. Crushing tones. On the other side of the stage, the other dude used a Helix rack unit. We had a badass sound together. For recording at home, I use plugins for convenience but there is a Mesa and Diezel I can use through a load box and then IRs in box. And that sound is smoking.
I agree with you on many points. You're a professional and I think you see it a little differently. You can also see the big ones like Megadeath (even though I'm not a fan) that are on the road with Cortex. For me a tube amp is like an old Mustang with a V8. Expensive, heavy, but fat sound and awesome. Keep on rocking dude! 🤘🤘🤘
You could still use your tube amp for monitoring only, if you had a DI box to capture the DI signal and then have a ampsim on the computer :) No reason to record the amp, but if you like the feel of it, you can do that. I have a old GSP1101 modeler I use for monitoring when recording, but I capture a serpate DI track with ampsims. Best workflow to when writing and recording and also lowering CPU usage by not having to monitor ampsims in Cubase itself
I would say what might happen is amps with reactive loads will become standard (as the tech gets older with higher production numbers, it’ll be more accessible in the future). That way, amp enthusiasts can still buy amps but also have the convenience of being able to send a direct signal and an IR. Sure they have direct outs, many with cab sim now but generally that’s a preamp out type of thing and won’t capture the compression of power tubes, which is the distinction with reactive loads, like how the captor X behaves.
For recording and especially writing, digital is great. I go the pedalboard -> tube amp -> Captor -> IR loader route at home and am really happy with my tone. I tried digital (Tonex pedal) at practice last night and was really unhappy with it though, super bright and fuzzy regardless of what I did. For me it's digital at home and amp/cab live until I get better at digital tone chasing 😬
I own 15 tubes amps (mostly boutique), 3 tubes power amps, a bunch a synergy modules and preamp pedals and 2 rackmount preamps with 5 2x12. I own a Hx stomp xl too And honestly nothing can compare to the feeling of playing a real amp on real cab and o will never exchange any of my amp to get a modeler.
@@mojoredfoot that’s right. 1 month ago, I saw Beast in Black and Gloryhammer in Paris. It was obvious that they used modelers plugged directly into a console and the sound was without any deepness, without any intensity… it was almost flat. No horrible but when i play my amps I feel the sound/waves vibrating into my body, with modelers it’s weird
@@mojoredfootnah it's because analog tubes produce harmonics software simulations don't. I can run my FM9 into a power amp and cab it still doesn't sound as good.
Everything has its time and place. For me, I absolutely adore Amplitube 5 Max and TONEX Max for quick practice sessions or to change tones and tunings quickly. Nothing can replace my tube amp for long play sessions, however. There’s just something about having all the controls at my fingertips, be it my tube or combo amp, I just love it. I’ll always use physical amps and cabs but Amplitube 5 is a close second. Once I am able to afford a Neural DSP Quad Cortex, my options might change but until then, it’s a tube amp for me.
digital amps are like having a 1,001 games in one cartridge NES classic games and analog amps are like purchasing a 1 or two games full size arcade with a joystick And buttons
I totally get your points on this here... Mainly for recording purposes etc. I use my NDSP stuff as well. But for practice and joy... while playing at home I totally rely on my tube amps. And this is mainly because of the feel. For me they feel the most natural. On a sonic perspective I think there is not as much of a difference... as you said
i've found a tube amp into a captor x gives the best results for me. i can'y deny the bogren peavey plugins are a lot of fun and have a super fast workflow
I demo stuff with a tube amp, there is a sm57 sitting in front of the cab at all times. Volume isn't an issue for me, I just use the volume knobs on my amp and computer.
i think owning a big tube amp head cab setup is kinda like bragging rights at this point when im watching a guitar videos regardless its a cover, guitar review or recording tutorial, seeing a collection amps in the background can be pretty pleasing
Got Peavey 6505 2 months ago. Smokes every modeller I've heard live. Lot more dynamics that multifx are missing. And guess what, plugged my bari equiped with freshly swapped PafJoe&Fred and nearly shat myself, ON THE CLEAN CHANNEL of 6505 with only bit of reverb and delay!!! MultiFx are convenient, that's it. By the way, if You get a chance to try OLP MM5 Bari or the real MM, do it. Most comfy of my 30"ers, beats others by miles.
I'm using the Amp1 with the One Control from Bluguitar. It has all I need and fits on my pedal board. It's a super light 100w tube amplifier and flexible in the sounds. I don't have to carry heavy equipment anymore. I play the Mercury model with my baritone, but if you want it more extreme just try the Iridium model from Bluguitar. I'm also using the 1x12 Fatcab, but I will try the Radical 2x12 from Barefaced Audio. These cabinets sounding great.
Hey Ray, have you heard all talk lately about people dialing in their amp sims wrong due to adding gain on your audio interface? The problem has nothing to do with whether or not you can dial in tones you like that way, but rather about getting as accurate as possible response from your amp sims, which can really only be done by having your audio interface gain / input knob all the way down. I think you should look into that if you haven't, Ed S is the guy that got the ball rolling on this, and a lot of TH-cam guitarists are talking about it, albeit mainly clean / Classic Rock players... Metal guys are VERY late to the party on this because playing with high gain, ultra-saturated tones was mostly masking this issue to us. It would be a big favor for the community if you could help stem some of the misconceptions when it comes to digital VST plugins! \m/
You can enjoy both form factors. I use them both for different situations. Modellers for recording, tube amps for for live gigs and just jamming out with my buddies. If you use a tube amp invest in a power soak or attenuator and you can play them at bedroom levels no problem
I like my 7-20 watt tube amps. They're fun, cheap, sound good at bedroom levels. For recording, there's plug ins on the DAW. I'll never be a touring musician, but a rig in a backpack makes a Subaru Outback tour a real possibility for a band without a lot of money.
I'm still using a tube amp, I don't know much if anything about using modelers live and getting as powerful sound. You should make a video about the equipment you need to play live using modelers.
If the venue has a good PA and runs the whole band to front of house, you need your modeller, and IEM rig or the venue's stage monitors. If the PA is shit then you need to bring a cab and power amp but can ditch the IEM rig. You gotta spend money and haul gear unless the PA can handle your whole band and they have stage monitors for you.
When writing and recording I use amp sims now. But for live I have a monster of a rig. I also reamp into my rig after recording sessions are complete and mix is 90% along.
I run with a 6505, and I love it. But, I’m finding myself more and more wanting to dip my toes into the modeler world. For ease of recording, and also, the tonal options. I’m just trying to figure out where to start. 🤘🏼🤘🏼
I own 15 tube heads. From 20 watt to 120 watt. 5 speaker cabs. Never tried a modeler. But I agree. Tubes amps aren’t as used as they used to be. Easier to travel with modellers. Faster to set up. Faster to break down. And they’re sounding better and better every year. They are the future
awesome man, I think amp plugins and IR are getting better for each year. if I made a gig some day I will use my computer and my interface. But there is my amp my Randall 100 watt solid state is pure awesome and I would test it someday in live.... yeah, but I think amp sim is the future soon
Live, I play a 100W all tube half stack, but would gladly switch to something smaller and lighter (and cheaper to maintain) if I thought it sounded as good or better. For songwriting, yeah - straight into the computer.
I quit using tube amps 8 years ago. Plugins and modelers are way faster as you said. Live I use a Katana 100 head set clean and pedals. Sounds great and loud. I honestly can’t tell the difference at this point as technology has advanced so far. So many great amp sims out there. Great video!
I’ve been using a fractal fm9 for just over a year now and I haven’t turned on any of my amps since honestly!! I do run it through a power amp and a Mesa 2x12 live though!
I have the FM9 with a power amp and mesa 212 and it sits in a pedalboard bag at home. The pedalboard power amp rig is as big and heavy as my 6505 head, there is zero reason to use it.
I really want to downsize and use plugins and modellers, but I just keep going back to my tube amps - the current simulations just aren’t quite there for me. That said, I haven’t tried an Axe FX III yet. One thing that bothers me is that modellers and plugins are basically disposable, there will always be something better and eventually companies will stop supporting them. A tube amp will be still going strong 50 years from now (as long as the tube supply doesn’t run out).
So do you have videos of your recording process? Because I am starting to record more and you're right. The whole lining up the mic, and tone checking and getting the levels right IS getting old. Would love your advice on changing my recording process lol
If it’s my guitar Im recording I definitely still prefer a real amp into a ir loader. I saw a few people have this take as well. I really do despise the latency of amp sims. Even though it’s gotten insane from were they used to be. I still feel it. It takes me longer to track guitars with an amp sim over a for that reason. That’s something I’d adjust to over time and wouldn’t be an issue if I just played amp sims but i don’t so it’s brutal. However for di’s people send me and flexibility the road amp sims are so sick. The new transpose feature on Nural dsp sims is a life saver. Adjust the key in post and it sounds pretty dang natural. It’s wild. So the TLDR i love both. Both have a home in the studio. But for my personal sessions. I track with an amp 10 out of 10 times.
I rarely use an amp sim. It takes no extra time to use a real amp head if you’re running Captor X. You don’t even need a cab. I’ll take an EVH Stealth over a plugin all day long.
I completely switched from Tube to Modeller and can honestly say I don’t miss the tube amp at all. They are still awesome and cool as shit but I can get the job done with my Quad and a power amp on a pedalboard. My other guitar player is full tube and is kicking and screaming to keep it that way. In all honestly modellers… this is the way. Change my mind (sipping coffee)
I got a kraken tube preamp at home and a two notes cab sim hooked up with headphones. I was thinking about getting a power amp and a load box to get the whole thing on tubes but I would rather spend money buying another guitar these days coz it's more fun😊. I get the tone I want very easily that way it's all about the music in a very compact set up. Thanks for sharing your experience I don't understand why people get threatened all the time 😊 we are just chilling talking about music!
I find myself in the same situation: haven't been using my 6505 in like a year. However, creatively I found that having a real amp makes me come up with cooler stuff (?) It's hard to explain. I get the initial riff idea with my Orange Terror Stamp rig, and then I finish arranging with a VST in Reaper. By the way, the Terror Stamp is awesome! You should give it a try 😁
Ray, you should see if the company that makes your signature guitar will do a deal with you where you can do a giveaway at 100k subs. It would be cool little deal.
My main issue with amp sim plugins vs real amps is that no matter what you do, there is slight latency with plugins. Even with a top-tier audio interface/PC and the lowest buffer size, plugins are not as responsive as real amps. I've never used outboard gear like a Quad Cortex or Axe FX, so I can't speak for those.
I sold all of my amps (except my 4x12 cab) to get a quad cortex. I had a EVH 5150iii stealth 50 watt, Peavey 5150 block letter and a three channel Mesa Triple Rectifier. I love my quad cortex but now I'm finding myself wanting a real amp again, probably will get something cheap like a Peavey 6505 to play on the weekends when i want to unleash that wall of sound that we love playing when we blast our amp and half stack. Love this video !
@sqlb3rn Not really. I love my quad cortex and don't feel like investing extra amounts of money on a speaker and other things when I already have a cab. I also prefer the sound of my cab over a speaker anyways. I don't really like plugins either. I love the quad cortex ability to capture things which is a other reason why I bought it other than it playing all sorts of amps and it being small and compact is perfect for bringing on tours while I can't really do the same with plugins unless if I have a lap top which I don't. I use a gaming pc
@@TYLERtheMAGGOT1 selling the amp heads for a QC is what I'm referring to as a bad move. I just got done playing Voice of the Soul by Death thru my 6505 and it screams.
As a broke person I've never had a tube amp but my entire world changed with amp Sims and my katana mk2 100 is the best thing that has happened to me as a guitar player if I could afford a good tube amp I'd like to get one but the price is crazy
Same here. I got a small tube amp in 2015 and started writing my own music right after, which led me to using plugins 99% of the time. My only concern for live playing was having decent pedals. And unless you're using your own amp and have your own sound tech, you might work as hard as you want for your live tone, but in the end, the FOH will dictate how you (and your band) sound. Talking from a small, local band perspective, of course.
Love my 205h too. I fleeced a guy like 5 years ago who thought he was fleecing me because the led lamp was going out lmao. Got it for 500 bucks. Sick amp.
I think Tube Amps becoming more like an Oldtimer or a sportcar. If you can afford it, you will have one, just for fun. But the main work horse will probably be somewhere in the Modeler/Plug-in world
The argument for Amps will not die is that Modelers need the real thing to model after, especially Machine learning types. AI and software could only copy, not invent)
I've never had a big amp, let alone a tube amp. The first amp I've ever had was a small practice amp. I didn't like using it not only for it's tone but also because it was loud enough that I couldn't play the guitar at 8:00 at night. When I tried to record something with that amp I only got dissapointing results. Then, when I was first learning English, I found out about Amplitube. That changed my life. Now I only play amp sims and multi effects pedals and I just generally don't like real amps anymore.
If you go to a local hardcore show, you’ll see a plethora of 5150’s and 6505’s. A lot of louder noisier metal bands will have their Dean Costello HMW’s The common denominator is: stage volume Even players that use modelers most likely will have a power amp cab set up.
I’ve been using a Marshall JCM2000 and two 4x12’s live for the past 3 years. But recently my band just went all DI with an in ear rig and I’m using a Headrush live now and honestly I’m wondering why I waited this long to do it. Our set up and load in time is so much faster and I can actually hear everything perfectly at shows. I love tube amps but, as far as live shows go I have to agree. I don’t see the point in huge stacks at live shows anymore. Especially when you can build an in ear system for your whole band for what a good tube half stack would cost anyway.
Love your stuff man hey I'm new to the digital stuff and I got a line 6 pod go but I don't know what to use for it so I guess a Head Rush will be fine then right I don't want to use it with my amp because then I'll just use my amp any suggestions would be greatly appreciated what speaker cabinet PA how am I going to get sound out
Using a tube amp you can get sounds that any emulator amp can't do. You'd have to be an old school 70s and 80s player to understand why tube amps are better than a computer emulated amp
@@xanderraymondcharles lol, I've been playing music before you were born, I've played on tube amps computer emulator amps aka amplitude, and solidstate amps, as well ad hybrid amps.. a tube amp gives you real sounds that emulators only emulate as close as its designed to. All seasoned and professional players will use tube amps on stage, there are only few places and players who use emulation modeling amps to run through sound systems, and it still doesn't come close to the real thing. I play night clubs and I choose a real amp to control what I want my tones, and effects, as well as if I want to get my sounds to purposely feedback without using a pedal, or ebo/sustainer, even thought some songs I use a sustainer, it's called realtime techniques, new guitar players are starting to forget that
@@xanderraymondcharles you got my answer! You lack the experience that true players have and he e experienced themselves, you wish to be what we did back in 80s, you can only emulate what you heard, we experienced it .. that's the difference between a wannabe, and those who are. Good luck lil boy🤣🤣🤣
Two Notes Live and amps for 11 years now at home recording. A few plugins for other to to supplement. I used to use modellers live for about 8 years but moved back to amps just because that’s what I prefer and because I can. Both work fine depending on the situation. Just not a fan of endless scrolling of IR’s, menus etc Options stop me playing 😂
I switched from a rig using a tube amp for tones and a modeler for effects and midi switching to 100% modeler this year and I couldn't be happier. Its so much quicker to get set up and I can get my entire rig in and out of the venue in one trip. That makes such a difference because we get more time to soundcheck and it leads to more consistency. I have even had people compliment my tone more since I made the switch. No regrets here. More people should try it.
I use tube amps for recording running them through an OX and I have set up my fav cab and it's super quick and quiet to record as well. I also have an FM3 on the floor right now and it's off, not because I don't like it but because to me the amp is easier and more responsive to me, the Fractal is great but it lacks that quality. And to me the Fractal is at the top of the food chain on modelers, but that's only my opinon of course.
I was Team Tube For Life until I joined a band where the other guitar player used a Quad Cortex into a Duncan power amp. Both setups sound good and complement each other. Modelers have come a long way since the dark ages when I was growing up and they sounded bad. It's all about preference. That said, I feel the opposite you do about ease. I can't wrap my head around home recording or running plugins for some reason, so it's easier for me to create by turning an amp on and recording that with my phone or a 4-track.
i love tube amps, but i sold all of my amps to get a quad cortex and multiple different solutions for live playing depending on the venue, what i got from it is less back pain and a constantly awesome tone no matter if on stage, at home, in the rehersal room or just practicing backstage with headphones, for me it's a win on every level. I still love tube amps tho, but i'd not buy another one
I love having a tube amp. Personally, I pay a EVH 5150 iii 2x12 6L6 combo. I'm just not a fan of EL34s. To me they sound more "muffled" or darker. The 6L6 is brighter and has a clearer tone. Again, just personal preference.
it's the aesthetics for me. hearing feeling and playing metal through a big-ass heavy amp with old-school technology vs. a compact device using micro chips through a simulator. kinda like the difference between driving a nostalgic old school gas-guzzlin' muscle car with a double-barrel carb big-block 454 with over sized headers and a straight exhaust on steel rims with big meaty tires that you dreamed of building when you were just a kid vs. a brand-new compact little import tuner turbo-charged fuel-injected 2-liter or a tesla. which is "better". each have their advantages and disadvantages but which aesthetics please you the most? which do you prefer? it's also an age thing i guess. i 'm not a big fan of new tech replacing old things that are tried and true and fucking badass. the old fashioned analog way is simpler easier and quicker for me to figure out than to fidget around with all the new tech that gets me frustrated agitated and irritable. i could go on and on... good points you raise for both. it's nice that we still have a choice though. i just hate to see great things go to waste and disappear forever. thanks man.
After doing gigs for 10 years with a tube amp I got a modeler and full range speaker, and after doing my first gig with a modeler I sold my tubes. Yeah tubes are way more fun and cooler than a modeler but modern technology makes life so much easier not having to walk up stair etc with your full stack.
idk what is but i just hate using VSTs. I keep my evh and 4x12 at my band's practice space and play with VST's at home but like idk, I hate playing thru my PC, and I also sit in discord VC's like, basically all day when im at home working on stuff and routing audio so i can hear it, hear me play, hear everyone in the voice chat, and still be able to talk and all that KILLS me lmaoo, it becomes much more annoying setting up voicemeeter and shit every time i wanna play compared to just plugging into my amp rq lol, also for age reference im in my 20s, most bands i play with in my age group are still using tubes live, if you are into any underground extreme metal/hxc/skramz scene you're gonna be seeing a lot of younger 20 somethings playing gigged to all hell peaveys and marshalls straight out the 90s
I prefer tube amps, but the convenience of digital is undeniable. For recording a tube amp, just get a 1X12 and make yourself an isolated cab. Adjust the mic, done.
I've been a recording producer for almost 20 years now, been kepping up with the amp/plug in since since 2005, until the last beast modeller such as quad cortex, kemper etc. I love both tube amps and amp sims/modeller.
IMO, if we're talking about efficiency in a live situation, where there are alot of things and important decisions to make (if you're in a band) then amp modeller is the wisest choice, people won't be overly noticing the detail in your tone, the just need to hear your guitar roaring properly.
BUT, when it comes to recording, you want like the most superior and purest tones as best as possible, that's where tube amps rule.
amp sim? almost every year, I do some test to compare my tube amps & amp modeller to see if there are significant changes in terms of quality. and almost every year, I also got dissapointment. Those amp sims, they are great, 'at a glance' you can even think that those are real amp, but it's not. the dynamic, frequency response, compression/clipping, the girth, rudeness, dimension, it's just not there, even how they react to your finger is different from real amp.
Especially if you're a tweaker, you'll find that amp sim/modeller are really limited in the terms of tweak-ability, they mostly sounds weird and un-natural whenever you try to do experiment with them. amp sims/modellers mostly reduce the tons effort to get to your tone by sacrificing the quality of the tone itself and over complicating a process that should've be simpler, in the name of efficiency, this is a grey zone.
tube amp? we don't need debate about this. they're great, but hard to maintain, they're heavy, and they cost fortunes, but still, they're magical.
let's take a case. look at the quality of nowaday (recording) Production that uses amp sim/plugins/modellers, and compare it to the production from 15 or 25 years ago, are they getting any better? some YES, but mostly NO, look at the percentage, they're all degrading and getting more over-processed day by day. is quality worth to sacrificed for the sakes of efficiency? let's ask ourselves.
I personally still have 6 tube amps, and 2 modellers in my studio, they can coexist.
there are still alot of reason why modeller will keep coming out and why tube amps are still in sale and getting sold out everytime. and we should be ready for it.
i'm not trying to be conservative, I will always be open to every advancement in technology, if it's not created to help you do less the work, than it's not technology right? so i see no point in hating amp modellers, they are advance technology, they're supposed to help us, of course there will be cost to every change right?
and maybe, just maybe in some community and ecosystem tube amps are dying, but in another community, they are shining brighter than ever, so as the amp sim/modellers.
still, they're both great things if you know how, and when to utilitize 'em. just choose what you guys want and maximize to fullest.
yakopo lur? wes paham a?
anyway, great video brother, always love your content. cheers!
Great comment
@@warbound91 thank you sir.
To be fair, if you're using a loadbox/attenuator and leave it hooked up all the time, it takes almost zero effort to record a tube amp. Love my Torpedo Captor X (16 ohm).
That’s a fair point indeed. I appreciate you taking the time to comment
This is what I do too. I don’t mic my cab anymore, one of the IRs is identical to my home cab. I have the mesa cabclone plus and it works great.
I have a kemper but also a good collection of tube amps. Ever since I got my two notes my kemper has turned in to a paper weight. Tube amp and two notes is the move in my opinion.
Torpedo Captor X helps record tube amps in a way that takes care of alot of the issues you were mentioning. Been watching videos about how alot of bands are moving away from tube amps live for the conveniences digital brings and recording with tube amps in studio for the tubularness.
For the Fallen Dreams riffs 🤘
It essentially comes down to using whatever form factor works best for you in whatever you are trying to accomplish.
Love my Orange tube amp. Sounds so sweet.
My daughter's first amp is a Boss Katana Mkll 50 watt combo. It does almost everything, and the 0.5 watt mode. I switched to a Fender Rumble 100 for my bass, years ago. It's lighter than my Thunderbird.
I love your take on it. For being part of the live music industry, modellers are just the best for being so consistent and reducing setup time. But when you have once in a while a band with real amps on stage, it is such a blessing.
After years of playing on various processors, when you go back to a real amp, there's no comparison
I'm running an Orange Rockerverb mk.iii into a two notes to record. Benefit is that I can set my tone in the room at a decent volume because of the built in attenuator, and then record silently and preserve my tone. It will never be as flexible as a QC, but I sound like me every time I record, and to me, that's more valuable than the versatility
Hey Man, I’m interested in getting into the Sim as well for Guitar. Can you maybe do a video in the future kind of showing the beginners on how to get into the Sim or maybe what programs to first use and etc. and what things we might need thank you bro.
I already have a video like that on my channel. Look up how to use an amp sim
Make sure to check out Ed S how to dial input gain for plugins video if you want to dial in accurate as possible tones form your amp sims! \m/
I have the JVM 50 watt dual channel aswell and love it! It's actually super easy to quickly record with most tube amps, just hook the pre-amp out with your interface and load up a poweramp and impulse response plugin.
also works with the effects loop send btw
Do a rig rundown for the upcoming tour.
You bet!
Went from playing a Marshall MGHDFX with 4x12 loaded with WGS 25W Green Berets just bought The EvH 80W Iconic Head same cab. The difference in everything was night and day. My hands get less tired and this allows me to play more because of it’s overall responsiveness ❤❤❤
Nothing easier for me than switching on the amp and just have fun without having to operate a software suite with plugins. Just the guitar, a pedal or 2, my amps and a nice cab. I used to play around with modelling software when I didn’t have room for a proper amp, but it just made me want to have the real deal. I’d probably build an analog pedalboard rig if I was a touring musician and would use plugins if I was recording a lot, but I’m not. So I don’t. As I said, forever grateful to modelling software, saved me a lot of money when buying my actual amps: 5150 II, Powerball II and Marshall VS8100 + JVM205. Ok, the last one partially because of your video! My amp needs are fulfilled, I can get all the sounds I like so no desire for new rabbitholes whatsoever.
Been playing for 20 years and the ease of recording with a quad cortex or plugins has been very positive to the point where my amps are in a closet collecting dust. I do very much miss an amp. But my neighbors don’t miss it at all.
Not to mention endless possibilities with IR.
You should try the jvm410h. It’s a beast. The OD2 channel would be more up your alley imo. OD2 orange is like Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and red mode is just beastly.. you can definitely get away with OD1 mode though especially with a boost pedal. As one metal guy to another though.. I’m surprised you didn’t go for the 4 channel
I love both. They both have their strengths. I love cranking up my KSR Orthos MKII with 6550s, and blasting. It's one of my favorite things, but it's not the best thing for playing at midnight.
If I'm playing around late at night it's 100% my Kemper (with a profile of my KSR). It gives me 99% of my tone at headphone volume.
please wear the adidas track suit on the ftfd tour!!!! giving big korn vibes
Korn uses real amps and always has and admitted the digital stuff always sounds subpar live. Just FYI. Love Korn and I agree about the tracksuit lol.
@@hyperbolekid never said anything about the amps bro just talking about the tracksuit
@@Raijinx13 i know. More meant to relate to theme of his video 👍
Nothing better than a tube amp. I’m getting my Bugera 333XL INFINIUM serviced rn and I miss her. Gone for two weeks and I’m getting impatient
Awesome, and informative video. I appreciate it when people don’t sugarcoat stuff and tell it how it is!
I have a Hughes & Kettner Black Spirit 200, it’s a solid state amp but EVERYONE that’s ever heard my amp says that it sounds like a tube amp. I don’t plan on getting a tube amp anytime soon but honestly for anybody reading this use what you like man, there are no rules saying that you have to use a tube amp and there’s no rules saying you have to use solid state or modelers, sims, etc. It doesn’t matter what you use cause at the end of the day everyone likes what they’re hearing and that right there should be enough for you to realize that you’re perfectly fine with what you got.
I have the Hughes and ketner amp man and you can dial that in to sound like a tube amp.
Hughes and ketner has replaced my Marshall dsl 20 head as my main amp
@@elancaster3989 Hellyeah, that right there is amazing man, that goes to show just how far non tube amps have come. H&K make amazing amps man and I really think H&K hit the ball park when they made this amp, right on the money man.
Solid state amps sound good, but don't change any of the reasons why people use modellers. Idk why they always say "tube" amps cuz solid state amps are in the same boat.
I absolutely love my EVH 5150 Stealth and there is nothing I love playing more, but as I want to do more recording I find a modeling amp to be perfect for recording in a home studio.
Modelers are great for a consistent live tone for a working musician these days. I did a few dates playing Whitesnake material. My rig was 2 Mesa heads into 2 212 cabs. Crushing tones. On the other side of the stage, the other dude used a Helix rack unit. We had a badass sound together. For recording at home, I use plugins for convenience but there is a Mesa and Diezel I can use through a load box and then IRs in box. And that sound is smoking.
My Spark sits on my Mesa. Love them both
I agree with you on many points. You're a professional and I think you see it a little differently. You can also see the big ones like Megadeath (even though I'm not a fan) that are on the road with Cortex. For me a tube amp is like an old Mustang with a V8. Expensive, heavy, but fat sound and awesome. Keep on rocking dude! 🤘🤘🤘
You could still use your tube amp for monitoring only, if you had a DI box to capture the DI signal and then have a ampsim on the computer :)
No reason to record the amp, but if you like the feel of it, you can do that.
I have a old GSP1101 modeler I use for monitoring when recording, but I capture a serpate DI track with ampsims.
Best workflow to when writing and recording and also lowering CPU usage by not having to monitor ampsims in Cubase itself
Dude…you are so right…when a cool riff or idea pops into my head, I gotta get it down somehow, someway or it is indeed gone forever!!!
I would say what might happen is amps with reactive loads will become standard (as the tech gets older with higher production numbers, it’ll be more accessible in the future). That way, amp enthusiasts can still buy amps but also have the convenience of being able to send a direct signal and an IR. Sure they have direct outs, many with cab sim now but generally that’s a preamp out type of thing and won’t capture the compression of power tubes, which is the distinction with reactive loads, like how the captor X behaves.
That’s funny, for the last three years I’ve got back into Randall solid states. Have no idea why I stopped using them. Don’t miss my tube amps at all.
I fired up my old RG the other day and now my marshalls are collecting dust
For recording and especially writing, digital is great. I go the pedalboard -> tube amp -> Captor -> IR loader route at home and am really happy with my tone. I tried digital (Tonex pedal) at practice last night and was really unhappy with it though, super bright and fuzzy regardless of what I did. For me it's digital at home and amp/cab live until I get better at digital tone chasing 😬
I own 15 tubes amps (mostly boutique), 3 tubes power amps, a bunch a synergy modules and preamp pedals and 2 rackmount preamps with 5 2x12.
I own a Hx stomp xl too
And honestly nothing can compare to the feeling of playing a real amp on real cab and o will never exchange any of my amp to get a modeler.
Because air is being pushed. People forget that or don’t care. Well…guitarists do for the most part.
@@mojoredfoot that’s right. 1 month ago, I saw Beast in Black and Gloryhammer in Paris. It was obvious that they used modelers plugged directly into a console and the sound was without any deepness, without any intensity… it was almost flat. No horrible but when i play my amps I feel the sound/waves vibrating into my body, with modelers it’s weird
@@mojoredfootnah it's because analog tubes produce harmonics software simulations don't. I can run my FM9 into a power amp and cab it still doesn't sound as good.
Everything has its time and place. For me, I absolutely adore Amplitube 5 Max and TONEX Max for quick practice sessions or to change tones and tunings quickly. Nothing can replace my tube amp for long play sessions, however. There’s just something about having all the controls at my fingertips, be it my tube or combo amp, I just love it. I’ll always use physical amps and cabs but Amplitube 5 is a close second. Once I am able to afford a Neural DSP Quad Cortex, my options might change but until then, it’s a tube amp for me.
digital amps are like having a 1,001 games in one cartridge NES classic games and analog amps are like purchasing a 1 or two games full size arcade with a joystick And buttons
Awesome analogy bro I agree 💯
I totally get your points on this here... Mainly for recording purposes etc. I use my NDSP stuff as well. But for practice and joy... while playing at home I totally rely on my tube amps. And this is mainly because of the feel. For me they feel the most natural. On a sonic perspective I think there is not as much of a difference... as you said
i've found a tube amp into a captor x gives the best results for me. i can'y deny the bogren peavey plugins are a lot of fun and have a super fast workflow
I've never played a tube amp. I'm scared to go down that rabbit hole. My wallet may never recover. Lol
It's cheaper than a fractal quad cortex or helix
I demo stuff with a tube amp, there is a sm57 sitting in front of the cab at all times. Volume isn't an issue for me, I just use the volume knobs on my amp and computer.
i think owning a big tube amp head cab setup is kinda like bragging rights at this point
when im watching a guitar videos regardless its a cover, guitar review
or recording tutorial, seeing a collection
amps in the background can be pretty pleasing
And there's also what you can't hear or see...the aroma of old gear and tubes getting cooked
Got Peavey 6505 2 months ago. Smokes every modeller I've heard live. Lot more dynamics that multifx are missing. And guess what, plugged my bari equiped with freshly swapped PafJoe&Fred and nearly shat myself, ON THE CLEAN CHANNEL of 6505 with only bit of reverb and delay!!! MultiFx are convenient, that's it. By the way, if You get a chance to try OLP MM5 Bari or the real MM, do it. Most comfy of my 30"ers, beats others by miles.
I'm using the Amp1 with the One Control from Bluguitar. It has all I need and fits on my pedal board. It's a super light 100w tube amplifier and flexible in the sounds. I don't have to carry heavy equipment anymore. I play the Mercury model with my baritone, but if you want it more extreme just try the Iridium model from Bluguitar. I'm also using the 1x12 Fatcab, but I will try the Radical 2x12 from Barefaced Audio. These cabinets sounding great.
Hey Ray, have you heard all talk lately about people dialing in their amp sims wrong due to adding gain on your audio interface? The problem has nothing to do with whether or not you can dial in tones you like that way, but rather about getting as accurate as possible response from your amp sims, which can really only be done by having your audio interface gain / input knob all the way down. I think you should look into that if you haven't, Ed S is the guy that got the ball rolling on this, and a lot of TH-cam guitarists are talking about it, albeit mainly clean / Classic Rock players... Metal guys are VERY late to the party on this because playing with high gain, ultra-saturated tones was mostly masking this issue to us. It would be a big favor for the community if you could help stem some of the misconceptions when it comes to digital VST plugins! \m/
You can enjoy both form factors. I use them both for different situations. Modellers for recording, tube amps for for live gigs and just jamming out with my buddies. If you use a tube amp invest in a power soak or attenuator and you can play them at bedroom levels no problem
If people need a loud transitor amp then check out the Peavey Bandit redstripe and convert it into a lightweight amp head.
I like my 7-20 watt tube amps. They're fun, cheap, sound good at bedroom levels. For recording, there's plug ins on the DAW. I'll never be a touring musician, but a rig in a backpack makes a Subaru Outback tour a real possibility for a band without a lot of money.
I'm still using a tube amp, I don't know much if anything about using modelers live and getting as powerful sound. You should make a video about the equipment you need to play live using modelers.
If the venue has a good PA and runs the whole band to front of house, you need your modeller, and IEM rig or the venue's stage monitors. If the PA is shit then you need to bring a cab and power amp but can ditch the IEM rig. You gotta spend money and haul gear unless the PA can handle your whole band and they have stage monitors for you.
When writing and recording I use amp sims now. But for live I have a monster of a rig. I also reamp into my rig after recording sessions are complete and mix is 90% along.
I run with a 6505, and I love it. But, I’m finding myself more and more wanting to dip my toes into the modeler world. For ease of recording, and also, the tonal options. I’m just trying to figure out where to start. 🤘🏼🤘🏼
I own 15 tube heads. From 20 watt to 120 watt. 5 speaker cabs. Never tried a modeler. But I agree. Tubes amps aren’t as used as they used to be. Easier to travel with modellers. Faster to set up. Faster to break down. And they’re sounding better and better every year. They are the future
Great episode thank you 😊
awesome man, I think amp plugins and IR are getting better for each year. if I made a gig some day I will use my computer and my interface.
But there is my amp my Randall 100 watt solid state is pure awesome and I would test it someday in live.... yeah, but I think amp sim is the future soon
We need a 2010 drop A# metalcore revival
I’m up for the task
Live, I play a 100W all tube half stack, but would gladly switch to something smaller and lighter (and cheaper to maintain) if I thought it sounded as good or better. For songwriting, yeah - straight into the computer.
I quit using tube amps 8 years ago. Plugins and modelers are way faster as you said. Live I use a Katana 100 head set clean and pedals. Sounds great and loud. I honestly can’t tell the difference at this point as technology has advanced so far. So many great amp sims out there. Great video!
Me too honestly but just because I’m lazy. Got my 5150iii half stack 4ft away but always just end up using the boss katana under my desk.
I’ve been using a fractal fm9 for just over a year now and I haven’t turned on any of my amps since honestly!! I do run it through a power amp and a Mesa 2x12 live though!
I have the FM9 with a power amp and mesa 212 and it sits in a pedalboard bag at home. The pedalboard power amp rig is as big and heavy as my 6505 head, there is zero reason to use it.
I really want to downsize and use plugins and modellers, but I just keep going back to my tube amps - the current simulations just aren’t quite there for me. That said, I haven’t tried an Axe FX III yet.
One thing that bothers me is that modellers and plugins are basically disposable, there will always be something better and eventually companies will stop supporting them. A tube amp will be still going strong 50 years from now (as long as the tube supply doesn’t run out).
I've been using a Fractal AX8 with a tube poweramp and real cab for quite some time now and it's honestly the best of both worlds
So do you have videos of your recording process? Because I am starting to record more and you're right. The whole lining up the mic, and tone checking and getting the levels right IS getting old. Would love your advice on changing my recording process lol
Just leave the mic there instead of setting it up every time. Or just download a free amp sim plugin.
If it’s my guitar Im recording I definitely still prefer a real amp into a ir loader. I saw a few people have this take as well.
I really do despise the latency of amp sims. Even though it’s gotten insane from were they used to be. I still feel it. It takes me longer to track guitars with an amp sim over a for that reason. That’s something I’d adjust to over time and wouldn’t be an issue if I just played amp sims but i don’t so it’s brutal.
However for di’s people send me and flexibility the road amp sims are so sick. The new transpose feature on Nural dsp sims is a life saver. Adjust the key in post and it sounds pretty dang natural. It’s wild.
So the TLDR i love both. Both have a home in the studio. But for my personal sessions. I track with an amp 10 out of 10 times.
I rarely use an amp sim. It takes no extra time to use a real amp head if you’re running Captor X. You don’t even need a cab. I’ll take an EVH Stealth over a plugin all day long.
4:18 laughs in Positive Grid Bias Fx
I completely switched from Tube to Modeller and can honestly say I don’t miss the tube amp at all. They are still awesome and cool as shit but I can get the job done with my Quad and a power amp on a pedalboard. My other guitar player is full tube and is kicking and screaming to keep it that way. In all honestly modellers… this is the way.
Change my mind (sipping coffee)
I got a kraken tube preamp at home and a two notes cab sim hooked up with headphones. I was thinking about getting a power amp and a load box to get the whole thing on tubes but I would rather spend money buying another guitar these days coz it's more fun😊. I get the tone I want very easily that way it's all about the music in a very compact set up. Thanks for sharing your experience I don't understand why people get threatened all the time 😊 we are just chilling talking about music!
I find myself in the same situation: haven't been using my 6505 in like a year.
However, creatively I found that having a real amp makes me come up with cooler stuff (?) It's hard to explain.
I get the initial riff idea with my Orange Terror Stamp rig, and then I finish arranging with a VST in Reaper.
By the way, the Terror Stamp is awesome! You should give it a try 😁
We got both , software is really good now .
Tube amp companies are upping their game .
By the time you get a cortex and a good power amp you’re into it the same as a head 🤷🏻♂️
Ray, you should see if the company that makes your signature guitar will do a deal with you where you can do a giveaway at 100k subs. It would be cool little deal.
The blend that works best for me being the standard at home player is my helix into a 5 watt tube amp. Best of both worlds for my life right now.
I will never get rid of my Peavey XXX. It will sit right there under the work bench in my music room. It's mine.
My main issue with amp sim plugins vs real amps is that no matter what you do, there is slight latency with plugins. Even with a top-tier audio interface/PC and the lowest buffer size, plugins are not as responsive as real amps. I've never used outboard gear like a Quad Cortex or Axe FX, so I can't speak for those.
I sold all of my amps (except my 4x12 cab) to get a quad cortex. I had a EVH 5150iii stealth 50 watt, Peavey 5150 block letter and a three channel Mesa Triple Rectifier. I love my quad cortex but now I'm finding myself wanting a real amp again, probably will get something cheap like a Peavey 6505 to play on the weekends when i want to unleash that wall of sound that we love playing when we blast our amp and half stack. Love this video !
Dude that was a mistake. Unless all you do is jam at home, but then you might as well sell the QC and use an amp sim.
@sqlb3rn Not really. I love my quad cortex and don't feel like investing extra amounts of money on a speaker and other things when I already have a cab. I also prefer the sound of my cab over a speaker anyways. I don't really like plugins either. I love the quad cortex ability to capture things which is a other reason why I bought it other than it playing all sorts of amps and it being small and compact is perfect for bringing on tours while I can't really do the same with plugins unless if I have a lap top which I don't. I use a gaming pc
@@TYLERtheMAGGOT1 selling the amp heads for a QC is what I'm referring to as a bad move. I just got done playing Voice of the Soul by Death thru my 6505 and it screams.
As a broke person I've never had a tube amp but my entire world changed with amp Sims and my katana mk2 100 is the best thing that has happened to me as a guitar player if I could afford a good tube amp I'd like to get one but the price is crazy
Same here. I got a small tube amp in 2015 and started writing my own music right after, which led me to using plugins 99% of the time. My only concern for live playing was having decent pedals. And unless you're using your own amp and have your own sound tech, you might work as hard as you want for your live tone, but in the end, the FOH will dictate how you (and your band) sound. Talking from a small, local band perspective, of course.
The Cats Pyjamas 😂 Have never heard that one before.
Love my 205h too. I fleeced a guy like 5 years ago who thought he was fleecing me because the led lamp was going out lmao. Got it for 500 bucks. Sick amp.
I think Tube Amps becoming more like an Oldtimer or a sportcar. If you can afford it, you will have one, just for fun. But the main work horse will probably be somewhere in the Modeler/Plug-in world
I use Neural DSP amp sims. Kicks arse!
The argument for Amps will not die is that
Modelers need the real thing to model after, especially Machine learning types.
AI and software could only copy, not invent)
I've never had a big amp, let alone a tube amp. The first amp I've ever had was a small practice amp. I didn't like using it not only for it's tone but also because it was loud enough that I couldn't play the guitar at 8:00 at night.
When I tried to record something with that amp I only got dissapointing results.
Then, when I was first learning English, I found out about Amplitube.
That changed my life.
Now I only play amp sims and multi effects pedals and I just generally don't like real amps anymore.
If you go to a local hardcore show, you’ll see a plethora of 5150’s and 6505’s. A lot of louder noisier metal bands will have their Dean Costello HMW’s
The common denominator is: stage volume
Even players that use modelers most likely will have a power amp cab set up.
I’ve been using a Marshall JCM2000 and two 4x12’s live for the past 3 years. But recently my band just went all DI with an in ear rig and I’m using a Headrush live now and honestly I’m wondering why I waited this long to do it. Our set up and load in time is so much faster and I can actually hear everything perfectly at shows. I love tube amps but, as far as live shows go I have to agree. I don’t see the point in huge stacks at live shows anymore. Especially when you can build an in ear system for your whole band for what a good tube half stack would cost anyway.
Love your stuff man hey I'm new to the digital stuff and I got a line 6 pod go but I don't know what to use for it so I guess a Head Rush will be fine then right I don't want to use it with my amp because then I'll just use my amp any suggestions would be greatly appreciated what speaker cabinet PA how am I going to get sound out
Honestly. For most of my stuff. I prefer digital. I only like tube amps for cleaner pushed tones and higher 6 string tunings
I think live we're going to stop seeing big amps on stage, Mostly modulars or smaller amps like the dark micro terror or the copper v4.
Using a tube amp you can get sounds that any emulator amp can't do. You'd have to be an old school 70s and 80s player to understand why tube amps are better than a computer emulated amp
Do you have any proof or evidence to back up this claim? Thanks!
@@xanderraymondcharles lol, I've been playing music before you were born, I've played on tube amps computer emulator amps aka amplitude, and solidstate amps, as well ad hybrid amps.. a tube amp gives you real sounds that emulators only emulate as close as its designed to. All seasoned and professional players will use tube amps on stage, there are only few places and players who use emulation modeling amps to run through sound systems, and it still doesn't come close to the real thing. I play night clubs and I choose a real amp to control what I want my tones, and effects, as well as if I want to get my sounds to purposely feedback without using a pedal, or ebo/sustainer, even thought some songs I use a sustainer, it's called realtime techniques, new guitar players are starting to forget that
@@sniperforce34 so in other words, no.
@@xanderraymondcharles you got my answer! You lack the experience that true players have and he e experienced themselves, you wish to be what we did back in 80s, you can only emulate what you heard, we experienced it .. that's the difference between a wannabe, and those who are. Good luck lil boy🤣🤣🤣
Two Notes Live and amps for 11 years now at home recording. A few plugins for other to to supplement. I used to use modellers live for about 8 years but moved back to amps just because that’s what I prefer and because I can. Both work fine depending on the situation.
Just not a fan of endless scrolling of IR’s, menus etc Options stop me playing 😂
I switched from a rig using a tube amp for tones and a modeler for effects and midi switching to 100% modeler this year and I couldn't be happier. Its so much quicker to get set up and I can get my entire rig in and out of the venue in one trip. That makes such a difference because we get more time to soundcheck and it leads to more consistency. I have even had people compliment my tone more since I made the switch. No regrets here. More people should try it.
Awesome which modeler are you using? I'm still trying to choose one
I use tube amps for recording running them through an OX and I have set up my fav cab and it's super quick and quiet to record as well. I also have an FM3 on the floor right now and it's off, not because I don't like it but because to me the amp is easier and more responsive to me, the Fractal is great but it lacks that quality. And to me the Fractal is at the top of the food chain on modelers, but that's only my opinon of course.
I was Team Tube For Life until I joined a band where the other guitar player used a Quad Cortex into a Duncan power amp. Both setups sound good and complement each other. Modelers have come a long way since the dark ages when I was growing up and they sounded bad. It's all about preference. That said, I feel the opposite you do about ease. I can't wrap my head around home recording or running plugins for some reason, so it's easier for me to create by turning an amp on and recording that with my phone or a 4-track.
I kinda feel what you're saying is simply an objective truth really. Regardless of how ANY of us feel about it.
i love tube amps, but i sold all of my amps to get a quad cortex and multiple different solutions for live playing depending on the venue, what i got from it is less back pain and a constantly awesome tone no matter if on stage, at home, in the rehersal room or just practicing backstage with headphones, for me it's a win on every level. I still love tube amps tho, but i'd not buy another one
It would be cool if you and I could jam, I live in North Wilmington, DE and I'm from Media, PA.
You got rid of your stealth , for that abomination 😱🤨🧐🧐
I love having a tube amp. Personally, I pay a EVH 5150 iii 2x12 6L6 combo. I'm just not a fan of EL34s. To me they sound more "muffled" or darker. The 6L6 is brighter and has a clearer tone. Again, just personal preference.
Try as I might, I cannot get a warm clean tone from a non tube amp. But my Blackstar HT Stage 100, sweet.
it's the aesthetics for me. hearing feeling and playing metal through a big-ass heavy amp with old-school technology vs. a compact device using micro chips through a simulator. kinda like the difference between driving a nostalgic old school gas-guzzlin' muscle car with a double-barrel carb big-block 454 with over sized headers and a straight exhaust on steel rims with big meaty tires that you dreamed of building when you were just a kid vs. a brand-new compact little import tuner turbo-charged fuel-injected 2-liter or a tesla. which is "better". each have their advantages and disadvantages but which aesthetics please you the most? which do you prefer?
it's also an age thing i guess. i 'm not a big fan of new tech replacing old things that are tried and true and fucking badass. the old fashioned analog way is simpler easier and quicker for me to figure out than to fidget around with all the new tech that gets me frustrated agitated and irritable. i could go on and on...
good points you raise for both. it's nice that we still have a choice though. i just hate to see great things go to waste and disappear forever. thanks man.
After doing gigs for 10 years with a tube amp I got a modeler and full range speaker, and after doing my first gig with a modeler I sold my tubes. Yeah tubes are way more fun and cooler than a modeler but modern technology makes life so much easier not having to walk up stair etc with your full stack.
idk what is but i just hate using VSTs. I keep my evh and 4x12 at my band's practice space and play with VST's at home but like idk, I hate playing thru my PC, and I also sit in discord VC's like, basically all day when im at home working on stuff and routing audio so i can hear it, hear me play, hear everyone in the voice chat, and still be able to talk and all that KILLS me lmaoo, it becomes much more annoying setting up voicemeeter and shit every time i wanna play compared to just plugging into my amp rq lol, also for age reference im in my 20s, most bands i play with in my age group are still using tubes live, if you are into any underground extreme metal/hxc/skramz scene you're gonna be seeing a lot of younger 20 somethings playing gigged to all hell peaveys and marshalls straight out the 90s
When you giging regularly and hit ,30...you amps start to get lighter...when you hit 50...they become almost non existent
I prefer tube amps, but the convenience of digital is undeniable. For recording a tube amp, just get a 1X12 and make yourself an isolated cab. Adjust the mic, done.