Guitar Amplifiers - Tube or Solid State?

Should I buy a tube amp or solid state amp? That debate has gone on in the guitar player community ever since solid state amplifiers were introduced and has not really been settled. The truth of the matter is that amplifier choice really depends upon your budget and the type of sound you want out of your guitar. Tube amps have a reputation for being "warmer" than solid state amps and of course many of the classic guitar sounds were produced from tube guitar amps. Solid state amps however are typically more rugged, more affordable, and less temperamental.

Tube guitar amplifiers tend to be more expensive than solid state amps. That is mainly because tubes are fairly expensive themselves.
If you want original Mullard or Telefunken tubes in your amp then you're probably going to have to pay hundreds more than you would
otherwise. There are some manufacturers out there currently making tubes so you're not just stuck with new old stock (NOS) tubes but
even the newly manufactured tubes are relatively expensive and substantially add to the cost of the amp. A simple 12ax7 tube that is commonly used in many tube guitar amps can cost $18 and up new. Power tubes such as the 6L6 can run into the hundreds of dollars for a matched pair. Keep in mind that tubes don't last forever either. Somewhere down the line you're probably going to have to re-tube your amp which will add to the overall expense. So, while you may really want a tube amp you'll also have to consider your budget.

Solid state guitar amplifiers are usually more affordable than tube amps because the electronic components of the amp can be mass produced very cheaply. Transistors, capacitors and diodes cost only pennies a piece these days. Solid state amps don't normally contain sensitive or fragile parts either so they tend to be a little more rugged than a typical tube amp. A well built solid state amplifier should last many years and will require very little maintenance. While the sound of a solid state amp may not be as "warm" as a tube amp, amplifier manufacturers are getting better at emulating that tube amp sound so you may not hear much of a difference with the newer models. It may also be the case that your particular music style may not call for a warm sound so tubes would not be something you would want.

So, which guitar amplifier is best for you? Well, if you're on a budget or are trying to avoid the warm tube tone then stick with a
solid state amplifier for now. If you've got the money to spend, want a warm tone and the coolness factor that goes with a tube amplifier then a tube guitar amp is definitely for you.

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