software

alot of poeple like to crank tubes, and I understand that but does the same go for a solid state?

thank you for your time

not really. it tends to get a little ratty when you crank a solid state amp up too far

I know that when I picked up a Digitech Bad Monkey it quot;simulatedquot; pushing the tubes in my solid-state. I dunno if it was supposed to do that, but the amp got more articulation, more front end, and a helluva of a good tone. Anyway, I'm not sure if that's the same as quot;pushingquot; a tube amp but it certainly took on the characteristics of a pushed tube amp.

Pushing a solid state power amp is way way different. When power tubes are pushed, they clip in a manner that is pleasant sounding. When solid state power chips are pushed, they clip in a much different way to the point that it sounds blatty and nasty. Not pleasant at all.

I've had a few SS amps I'd like to push...

off a cliff.....Erik is spot on....square clipping...odd/even harmonics and all that....

I find solid-state amps tend to have a sweet spot which differs from amp to amp. I dont think you want to push the amp but the speaker needs some power to make it work right.

JeffB

I've had a few SS amps I'd like to push...

off a cliff.....Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!

Dude that was too much!!

thanks for a good laugh


Originally Posted by JeffBI've had a few SS amps I'd like to push...

off a cliff.....Erik is spot on....square clipping...odd/even harmonics and all that....

I've finally found a sig! That gave me a good laugh.


Originally Posted by ErikHPushing a solid state power amp is way way different. When power tubes are pushed, they clip in a manner that is pleasant sounding. When solid state power chips are pushed, they clip in a much different way to the point that it sounds blatty and nasty. Not pleasant at all.

As a bonus, the hard clipping in SS power sections can do nasty things to speakers.


Originally Posted by john5959I find solid-state amps tend to have a sweet spot which differs from amp to amp. I dont think you want to push the amp but the speaker needs some power to make it work right.

A huge 1 on that fact!!! I just picked up a transistor driven Randall today. It totally ******d the more expensive Randall tube combo that was on display for around hundreds more, FOR METAL CRUNCH! The solid-state Randall is nice and super-crunchy for my home/friends. There was no tube amp I could buy, used or new that has this amps sound at its intended volume, for its intended purpose. Tubes can sound so sweet, but I was not looking for sweet.

The Boss MT-2 Metal Zone may be the answer to boost an amp you already have. I was using it on the clean channel of my crappy 2x10 Crate POS* for a while. The tonal range is far greater than 95% of guitar players know. IF YOU WANT TO TEST DRIVE A METAL ZONE IN THE GUITAR STORE, INSIST ON SEEING THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL! Sorry for the caps. In it you will find suggested tones...and the easiest to like is the quot;Heavy Metalquot; setting on the quot;Sample Settingsquot; page. I also like the quot;Overdrivequot; setting. It may be no coincidence that these two settings are featured first and second.

gt;gt;gt;Lots of people sh8t all over the Metal Zone pedal. I think this is largely because it is not the easiest pedal to figure out without a little guidance from the user's manual. Also, the MIDDLE/MID FREQ dual control is a powerful set of controls as well as the LOW.

I hope this helps. Let your ears decide!

edit: *buy the way, the POS is not a real CRATE model...I meant to say that my little Crate is a piece of human excrement! Your guitar has to have least better than decent pickups with any distortion pedal, or it will squeel like a pig at any volume.

In general, pushing a solid state power amp will give you bad sounding clipping. The exceptions I have heard are old solid state Sunns and Acoustics (the blue and silver and white ones...Acoustic Sound Research Corp maybe?), which give a fat low fi old school fuzz tone when pushed. It is useful for things like sludgy riff rock or the Melvins, but not so useful for other things.

[QUOTE=JeffB]I've had a few SS amps I'd like to push...

off a cliff.....[QUOTE]Nice one!!

One thing that you may find, huck, is that they do sound better when they're cranked up a little bit. It's not because they're being pushed, per se, it's because of the interaction between the guitar and the amp caused by the increased volume.


Originally Posted by john5959I find solid-state amps tend to have a sweet spot which differs from amp to amp. I dont think you want to push the amp but the speaker needs some power to make it work right.

WORD.


Originally Posted by HamerPlyrOne thing that you may find, huck, is that they do sound better when they're cranked up a little bit. It's not because they're being pushed, per se, it's because of the interaction between the guitar and the amp caused by the increased volume.

And because every amp seems to be more dynamic to the human ear when turned up.


Originally Posted by KommerzbassistAnd because every amp seems to be more dynamic to the human ear when turned up.

yeah that too


Originally Posted by JeffBI've had a few SS amps I'd like to push...

off a cliff.....Erik is spot on....square clipping...odd/even harmonics and all that....

Hey Jeff......Please spare it buddy! Most of the tone is in a guy's hands!

As an avid user of both tube and SS stuff,the gap is narrowing! Plus let's be specific on what SS amp we're talking about here?