tulsaslim Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 I wanted to tag this on to the thread about amps but it's getting pretty long. We all know that tube watts are louder than solid state watts. Why is that? Isn't a watt a watt? I do know that my 15 watt tube amp will blow away (in volume) any 30-watt solid state amp but don't know why. But I know at least one of you guys has the answer :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stymye Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 you can push a tube with great results..., push a transistor and it clips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitar slinger Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 Thats because tubes have MOJO! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L5Larry Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 "Watts" is a mathematical calculation of power consumption, not a measure of loudness. Loudness is measured in "decibels". Though higher watts does certainly mean higher volume, the only actual way to compare the volume output of any two amps is to measure the decibels they produce, for each amp, or type of amp, may have a different "efficiency". It's just like the fact that light bulbs are described per wattage, but the brightness of light is actually measure in "lumens". That's why a the new compact fluorescent light bulb listed as 15w (power consumed) puts out the same light as an old style 60w incandescent bulb (950 lumens). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stefptycia Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 Nice one L5Larry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruznolfart Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 You can push tubes beyond their rated power and they'll ease on through various stages of distortion, which our ears find pleasing, before they hit a square wave output, which our ears DON'T like. IOW, they'll keep getting louder. Transistors go straight to a square wave when overdriven. They don't have any sweet spots. When they hit the wall, that's all they have to give. So you can't drive them like you can tubes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeRom Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 It's because when a tube clips it does so in a more rounded fahion (not simply clipped) and produces more overtones so you hear more sounds. Great article explaining how tubes work here. http://digital.premierguitar.com/premierguitar/200901/?folio=143 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80LPC Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 I believe that tube amps can peak at twice their rated (RMS) wattage. This doesn't happen with transistor amps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dynadude Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 My Twin is rated at 135 watts RMS. That means it is producing 135 watts at it's lowest setting. It's peak wattage is almost 300. More than double the RMS rating. SS amps also are rated at RMS, but I don't believe they have a higher peak rating. They just bleed off unused power at lower settings. I would imagine it's similar to the differences in passive and active pickup systems, with the tube amp being the active, and the SS amp being the passive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80LPC Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 I think the doubling of the RMS is a standard guide to the peak output, but there are probably some variations. Transistor amps are very efficient, and don't bleed power off unless they are operating in class A. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basshole Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 word of adivce, never put hair on a hot tube, it smells bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluemoon Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 also, never lick a hot tube on a dare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basshole Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 never eat the tube Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet22 Posted December 20, 2008 Share Posted December 20, 2008 I can't explain the science, but I will say this: My new Marshall all tube 1923 50w 2x12 DSL combo absolutely SMOKES my 80W Marshall hybrid. With a full band inc drum kit, I have the volume control at or around 3.5 and our 2nd guitarist could barely hear his 100W Solid State combo on full whack, too. I'd happily have a 30W or even 22W tube, but the 1923C was just too sexy, there were only 500 made and they include a cert signed by Jim Marshall, too - for added candy. Edit - I need to update my signature.! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brundaddy Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 Thats because tubes have MOJO! Don't be ridiculous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TattooedCarrot Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 Because tube watts are true man watts, and SS watts are sissy watts. So everyone knows men are stronger than sissies. Duh.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kubog Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 Because tube watts are true man watts' date=' and SS watts are sissy watts. So everyone knows men are stronger than sissies. Duh....[/quote'] YEAH! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slogold Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 "Watts" is a mathematical calculation of power consumption' date=' not a measure of loudness. Loudness is measured in "decibels". Though higher watts does certainly mean higher volume, the only actual way to compare the volume output of any two amps is to measure the decibels they produce, for each amp, or type of amp, may have a different "efficiency". It's just like the fact that light bulbs are described per wattage, but the brightness of light is actually measure in "lumens". That's why a the new compact fluorescent light bulb listed as 15w (power consumed) puts out the same light as an old style 60w incandescent bulb (950 lumens). [/quote'] X-zactly . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boston004681 Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 'cause tube amps are AWESOME!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfpup Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 Much more importantly - tube watts aren't just louder... they're gooder! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowb5str Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 ...We all know that tube watts are louder than solid state watts. ... You are committing a thinko: confusing power and loudness. This involves efficiency. "Watts" is a mathematical calculation of power consumption' date=' not a measure of loudness. Loudness is measured in "decibels". Though higher watts does certainly mean higher volume, the only actual way to compare the volume output of any two amps is to measure the decibels they produce, for each amp, or type of amp, may have a different "efficiency". It's just like the fact that light bulbs are described per wattage, but the brightness of light is actually measure in "lumens". That's why a the new compact fluorescent light bulb listed as 15w (power consumed) puts out the same light as an old style 60w incandescent bulb (950 lumens).[/quote'] Excellent explanation, and nice analogy. Should we be referring this to a wiki somewhere? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boston004681 Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 also' date=' never lick a hot tube on a dare.[/quote'] Amen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarooster52 Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 It's because when a tube clips it does so in a more rounded fahion (not simply clipped) and produces more overtones so you hear more sounds. Great article explaining how tubes work here. http://digital.premierguitar.com/premierguitar/200901/?folio=143 Hey, thanks for the article. That's great info...now I'm primed to go digging for my college course materials...probably long gone by now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fast fret Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 Tube amps are measured for their watts before they distort so a 50 watt head could be putting out 80 watts with a distorted tone. The solid states are just digital and the watts in the front really is the limit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BreeeZe_ Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 It's because when a tube clips it does so in a more rounded fahion (not simply clipped) and produces more overtones so you hear more sounds. Great article explaining how tubes work here. http://digital.premierguitar.com/premierguitar/200901/?folio=143 Little kick on an older topic. For anyone interested: Part 2 of this article is now available: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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