Kick ass solid-state amps?

[amper]

I've got an Ampeg VH-140C 2x12 combo that I just can't get rid of because it sounds so damn good. What other solid-state amps do you love?

[Jon]

Tech 21 Trademark 60 + Power Engine 60 extension cab.

Also I've got an old Session Duette which I've had since the late 80s which is still my main home practice amp - sounds pretty good both clean and overdriven.

roland jc 120. I love the cleans

[Randy]

Gallien Krueger 250 RL and ML. I used one in a rack setup for years and years. Held it's own against anything I tried against it and never let me down. I wish I still had it sometimes.

[Unburst]

Pearce.
Pritchard.

Some of the Roland amps sound good, JC120 and the later Blues Cube series sound pretty decent.
Lab Series were pretty nice sounding too.

[HHB]

I had great success w/ the old Marshall Mosfet 100 head , also the SS 9001 preamp and Valvestate power amp. I've been abusing a Tech21 TM60 for the last few years and really like it ( I also use tube amps )

[samtheman]

Pearce G2, 2x100 pure SS power with alesis FX, hard to find, rare I think?

sam

[Blueser]

I became a Pritchard believer after hearing the amp. Very tube like, but I still wouldn't abandon my tubes amps just yet!

[landru64]

Originally Posted by Blueser

I became a Pritchard believer after hearing the amp. Very tube like, but I still wouldn't abandon my tubes amps just yet!

so what is it you "believe in" about the pritchard, especially since you won't abandon tubes yet? there must be something lacking in it for you?

i would say the pritchard is the best of anything mentioned here. i've had pearce, tech 21 et al and the pritchard is in a different league. it's not a perfect amp, and for the record, i somewhat disagree with the attempts at marketing it as a replacement for or 'equal to' a tube amp. it's its own thing. i think it's better than a lot of tube amps. it does things that tube amps mostly can't do. i.e. it has the composure and control of a solid state amp (after living with it, i find most tube amps, well, slow and unresponsive) and the harmonic bloom and as ekp puts it "embellishment" of a tube amp. the cab design allows to really fill a room like pretty much no amp that size can. the DI works wonders, as long as you have a merely decent engineer. the PODs, side by side with the pritchard, sound like absolute poo. just wretched. it gives you the 'line 6' stuff to an extent....a variety of sounds, but really what it gives you is a combination of sonic mastery in a wide variety of situation and sonic quality that nothing out there can do in one unit. ironically, the pritchard re-opened my eyes to the virtues of solid state, rather than 'tricking' me into thinking it was tubes. it's the best of both worlds, not a replacement for the old world. most guys just say 'wow that sounds good!'

[Blueser]

Originally Posted by landru64

so what is it you "believe in" about the pritchard, especially since you won't abandon tubes yet? there must be something lacking in it for you?

i would say the pritchard is the best of anything mentioned here. i've had pearce, tech 21 et al and the pritchard is in a different league. it's not a perfect amp, and for the record, i somewhat disagree with the attempts at marketing it as a replacement for or 'equal to' a tube amp. it's its own thing. i think it's better than a lot of tube amps. it does things that tube amps mostly can't do. i.e. it has the composure and control of a solid state amp (after living with it, i find most tube amps, well, slow and unresponsive) and the harmonic bloom and as ekp puts it "embellishment" of a tube amp. the cab design allows to really fill a room like pretty much no amp that size can. the DI works wonders, as long as you have a merely decent engineer. the PODs, side by side with the pritchard, sound like absolute poo. just wretched. it gives you the 'line 6' stuff to an extent....a variety of sounds, but really what it gives you is a combination of sonic mastery in a wide variety of situation and sonic quality that nothing out there can do in one unit. ironically, the pritchard re-opened my eyes to the virtues of solid state, rather than 'tricking' me into thinking it was tubes. it's the best of both worlds, not a replacement for the old world. most guys just say 'wow that sounds good!'

Well.....A two year old thread coming back from the dead!!!!

So I'll tell you what I "believe" in. I "believe" in the fact that solid state amps have nearly caught up in the tone they deliver in comparison to a good sounding tube amp. Other than the occasional decent sounding setting on a modeler (mostly Vox Valvetronix), I have never heard any SS amps sound as good as the Pritchard at the last NYC ToneFest. In fact, I would agree that it sounds better than many of the tubes amps available today, and many that were being demonstrated that day in NYC.

The thing is, I own some of what I consider to be the best tube amps available, so why would I dump the real thing for a SS facsimile, especially considering that a Pritchard costs nearly as much as some of the best tube amps available? If I were shopping for a new amp today, I would not rule out a great sounding SS amp, but I am certainly not going to sell my Komet Constellation, or my Bruno UG30, to spend all of the $2+K that I got during the sale on a SS amp that will come close, but still fall a bit short for the specific tones I am looking for. I would see/hear that as a downgrade.

I am not gigging, and I am not looking for a Swiss Army amp, so I would rather have the few of the very best tones that I use all the time, than a bucket load of tones that are just really good sounding. It's just all about the right horse for the course, and also a matter of taste, which is totally subjective.

In closing, I would also state that I think the Pritchard amps are pretty pricey, considering the fact that they are solid state. His top of the line multi-channel jobby is as much as a top shelf tube amp (over $2K). If someone else finds value there, then far be it from me to question that, but quite honestly, I don't see myself paying that much for a SS amp today. That said, if in the future, I hear tones from a SS amp that eclipsed anything that I have ever heard before, then I would be all over it.

Enjoy,
B

[Ben Furman]

Originally Posted by Blueser

The thing is, I own some of what I consider to be the best tube amps available, so why would I dump the real thing for a SS facsimile, especially considering that a Pritchard costs nearly as much as some of the best tube amps available?

Portability. The fact that one amp can replace at least three good tube amps.

Originally Posted by Blueser

I am certainly not going to sell my Komet Constellation, or my Bruno UG30, to spend all of the $2+K that I got during the sale on a SS amp that will come close, but still fall a bit short for the specific tones I am looking for.

In short, you felt it was close but no cigar. What was lacking? Can you describe that to us? Is it at least reproducible in your own mind?

Originally Posted by Blueser

I am not gigging, and I am not looking for a Swiss Army amp, so I would rather have the few of the very best tones that I use all the time, than a bucket load of tones that are just really good sounding.

Fair enough... you're not carting all of that stuff around! Portability is a major selling point for SS technology. If you don't mind your amps being boat anchors as long as they sound good, then that isn't a selling point for you.

Originally Posted by Blueser

I would also state that I think the Pritchard amps are pretty pricey, considering the fact that they are solid state. His top of the line multi-channel jobby is as much as a top shelf tube amp (over $2K). If someone else finds value there, then far be it from me to question that, but quite honestly, I don't see myself paying that much for a SS amp today.

It is very clear to me that you believe SS technology to be inherently flawed and/or less expensive to produce than a tube counterpart. The fact is that Pritchard amps are hand built in the US using superior componentry that will last for ages. Even Wichita has stated on this forum that the new V-Stack amps would cost as much if they weren't produced in China.

Originally Posted by Blueser

That said, if in the future, I hear tones from a SS amp that eclipsed anything that I have ever heard before, then I would be all over it.

Unless you can qualify what that attribute is that would attract you to the amp, thereby eclipsing current technology, then I believe you've already demonstrated that your mind is made up to the contrary.

-Ben

[Blueser]

Originally Posted by Ben F.

Portability. The fact that one amp can replace at least three good tube amps.


In short, you felt it was close but no cigar. What was lacking? Can you describe that to us? Is it at least reproducible in your own mind?


Fair enough... you're not carting all of that stuff around! Portability is a major selling point for SS technology. If you don't mind your amps being boat anchors as long as they sound good, then that isn't a selling point for you.


It is very clear to me that you believe SS technology to be inherently flawed and/or less expensive to produce than a tube counterpart. The fact is that Pritchard amps are hand built in the US using superior componentry that will last for ages. Even Wichita has stated on this forum that the new V-Stack amps would cost as much if they weren't produced in China.


Unless you can qualify what that attribute is that would attract you to the amp, thereby eclipsing current technology, then I believe you've already demonstrated that your mind is made up to the contrary.

-Ben

So I'll tell you what Ben.....I don't need to qualify my opinions to your or anyone else, so you can take the passive aggressive B.S. elsewhere. My opinion is subjective like anyone elses. If you like your Pritchard, or any other SS state amp, then enjoy it. I like my tube amps more at this point, and for what I do and play, they work best for me. End of story!

[Ben Furman]

Originally Posted by landru64

i would say the pritchard is the best of anything mentioned here. i've had pearce, tech 21 et al and the pritchard is in a different league. it's not a perfect amp, and for the record, i somewhat disagree with the attempts at marketing it as a replacement for or 'equal to' a tube amp. it's its own thing. i think it's better than a lot of tube amps. it does things that tube amps mostly can't do. i.e. it has the composure and control of a solid state amp (after living with it, i find most tube amps, well, slow and unresponsive) and the harmonic bloom and as ekp puts it "embellishment" of a tube amp. the cab design allows to really fill a room like pretty much no amp that size can. the DI works wonders, as long as you have a merely decent engineer. the PODs, side by side with the pritchard, sound like absolute poo. just wretched. it gives you the 'line 6' stuff to an extent....a variety of sounds, but really what it gives you is a combination of sonic mastery in a wide variety of situation and sonic quality that nothing out there can do in one unit. ironically, the pritchard re-opened my eyes to the virtues of solid state, rather than 'tricking' me into thinking it was tubes. it's the best of both worlds, not a replacement for the old world. most guys just say 'wow that sounds good!'

The best explanation I've ever read here. And for the record: he ain't braggin', so I'll do it for him. landru64 has owned some of the best-of-the-best tube amps. Pay attention to what he's saying.

-Ben

[jb70]

to ben f or landrau64:

do you guys have any sound clips of your pritchards? i'm really interested in these amps but, quite frankly, the clips on the pritchard site leave something to be desired. thanks.

[landru64]

Originally Posted by jb70

to ben f or landrau64:

do you guys have any sound clips of your pritchards? i'm really interested in these amps but, quite frankly, the clips on the pritchard site leave something to be desired. thanks.

i have a recording of some film source cues i did with it. the only problem is it's just 'one' sound--and not even one i would or could ever use live--as it involved turning the amp up basically all the way without the speaker connected (were recording thru the DI). the producer wanted a super heavy, splatty fuzz-metal sound. but feel free to email me if you want to hear.