Tube amps are generally preferred by serious guitarists for their warm, harmonically-rich tone. They usually sound louder than solid-state amps of a similar wattage and have a presence to their distorted sound which is hard to replicate with transistor or even digital modeling technology. Almost all tube amps come with separate channels to allow switching from clean to distorted tones. These amps do require more maintainence as Tubes deteriorate over time, and require changing from time to time.
The following are 3 classic tube amps that have written their way into rock history.
Marshall JCM 800
Marshall amps are a British institution and the JCM800 is one of the company’s most universally acclaimed pieces of work. An evolution of the Plexi but with extra punch and edge, the JCM800 became the sound standard for modern Rock and Metal. Initially rebranded as the JCM800 in the early 80s from the MV (master Volume) series, they were Marshall’s flagship until the JCM900 in 1989. Finding favour with guitar players such as Randy Rhoads, Steve Vai and Slash, JCM800 stacks were standard in countless rock and metal live gigs and videos.
Marshall JCM800
Soldano SLO-100
Soldano was founded in Los Angeles in 1986 by Michael Soldano and became known for high gain amps as well as stompboxes and effects units. The Soldano sound is intensly overdriven and saturated and also features EQ after the preamp distortion. They SLO(Super Lead Overdrive) amps were especially popular as with lead guitarists in the late 1980′s. The tube-driven Soldano’s began as modifications to a Mesa Boogie Mark II amp, and the resulting product became known for it’s high quality, attention to detail and the company for it’s customer service.
Soldano SLO 100
Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier
Mesa Boogie has had a long history of producing amazing amps, Their Mark I – IV amps are some of the most admired in history. Their Rectifier series took off in the 90′s and before long was the signature heavy guitar sound for that era, used by artists such as Metallica, Korn, Dream Theatre and Limp Biskit. The Rectifiers produced a crazy extreme distorted guitar sound, combined with an amazingly creamy Tone and earth shaking bottom end. The Rectifiers were also renowned for their punchy mids.
Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier
