high power tube amps vs ss


I have always had low efficiancy speakers and had powerfull ss amps to power them. Now I see there are a number of tube amps in the 150 - 200 WPC range. My questions is: is there anything to be gained by switching to these higher power tube amps over ss amps?
winggo

Showing 8 responses by isochronism

Winggo, if you post which particular speakers you are using or have in mind, members will be better able to give opinions or advice. Some also just seem to have a personal preference of one over the other.
I happen to have ALWAYS preferred tubes by a wide margin. That goes for guitar amplifiers, as well. Some prefer SS for both. It is well worth your investigation, otherwise you will never know what you may be missing.
Schubert does make a point in that high power tube amps do use MORE tubes. Unless you are prepared to go with different speakers, as in very high efficency, low power amps use a much lesser amount of tubes. Then of course, some of those tubes can be a bit more expensive, tho they DO last a long time.....
Schubert, now why did you have to go and open up this can of worms!!!
Csontos, as to your question toward French_fries, I will expound on guitar amplification for your edification. Guitar amplifiers have always been in mono form since inception.
French_fries, Twins are high power, but what a glorious tone!!
My 58' tweed champ @ 5 watts is loud for my apartment. It does one tone only, one I agree with, and the volume goes up to 12!
Onhwy61,
I did have a SS guitar once for a few months A GK 250ML. The cabinet was metal and built like a tank!! Very interesting little amp. It screamed!
Csontos,
And yes, this GK amp was stereo, 50 watts,
I believe.
I am unaware of any other stereo guitar amps, but I would not doubt that others do exist.
Onhwy61 & French_fries
Also, in regard to your mention of two channels,
I have an old beat-up black face Super Reverb. When I got it my amp tech made it "healthy" and since it's condition, I didn't mind adding a toggle switch in the back.
You would play through the clean channel, the reverb and tremolo would work with that channel. Throwing the toggle would overdrive into the second channel. ALL controls worked together!!!
Many tonal combinations and MUCH power!!
It was a real sleeper. People always wondered how that amp could crank so much!! HA And the original speakers always stayed intact :)
It is currently in my "archive". I had considered getting an additional Super cab, minus amp, to use as an additional extension speaker cabinet...
ala' Super Full Stack!
Onhwy61,
That amplifier can be tweaked very easily, most don't know.
Removal of the top allows access to (I'm going by memory) five white nylon setting screws. Two of which, will adjust the Gain amount.
CAUTION: Turning up the wrong ones can result in possibly frying the board or such. I
would imagine the information is easily found online.I had adjusted mine at least a few times. Great Crunch!!