Are Tube Amps Obsolete?

There is a lot of talk in the guitar world about this being the end of tube amps. Are tube amps a thing of the past? This video will give you some perspective. I am trying to sell a once coveted vintage tube amp and not having much luck. Is this a sign of what is to come for tube amps. Are they being replaced by digital and solid state amps and are they becoming obsolete?

[@RearviewMirror-ij2pr]

A good tube amp has a warmth that is unmatched.

[@FrankPersico]

absolutely..

[@albertomarino242]

Wouldn’t use anything else then a tube amp vintage or not …

[@FrankPersico]

Same here.

[@giulioluzzardi7632]

Wait up chaps, some very very good 1 man builders are emerging using all valve Fender designs(Rock n Roll amps, NY, even mojotone are getting good) but the originals are too good, even the bigguns.

[@richardhermans4457]

I think for home and pro studio recording, tube amps can add a nice vibe to a track/tracks. For live use, these days I don't think it matters. One thing I've learned from decades of having a home studio(hobbyist), is don't sell something you love a)to fund something newer, shinier and louder b)because it's considered old and out of vogue c) because the value is dropping. I sold a vintage MiniMoog in the 90's for $500(average price at the time), now they're going for $4-5000. LESSON LEARNED. Everything is cyclical and some day that old tube amp may be highly valued, if not pass it down to a family member. Nothing, absolutely nothing compares to what tubes can add. Not modeling or magic.

[@FrankPersico]

ughh i know what you mean. i always say if i had just kept everything I'd ever sold.... you know the rest. hahah

[@christophernoia5197]

Ya, my mind has definitely been changing around modelling or even just the amp in a pedal format. Milkman has a new stereo amp for a pedalboards and it seems great. For live use, I'd totally get into that world for convenience and to help the front of house engineer. However, I'll never sell my ac30 or fender vibrolux tube amps as I use them for recording 95% of the time. I also have a cool vintage solid state amp from the 70s with 1 ten inch speaker and spring reverb. It's clean tone is good, but the distortion circuit in it is wild! It also allows you to blend the distortion and clean together and is great for production purposes. I got mine free and they're pretty hard to come by, but it's a sleeper and I'd like to get a couple more before the cats out of the bag. Also, the Peavey bandit 65 has one of my favorite sounding spring reverb tanks ever and you can get those amps pretty cheap. They're built like tanks, but don't sound all that special except for the reverb. I've thought about swapping speakers for something else, but either way it's another great solid state production tool. Even running vocals through it to get that spring reverb drenched 60s garage rock sound.

[@Mountainrock70]

Tube amps in small venue are absolute magic in the right hands.

[@johnsmith-bk4ps]

Wait till a blackface Princeton goes for 10 k… yes it will happen. look at the tweed deluxes! Big money now. There’s a reason why folks including famous musicians won’t give them up

[@FrankPersico]

@@johnsmith-bk4pscrazy. Even my 72 SF Princeton has gone up crazy. I think I paid like 900$ for it 8 or so years ago. Now it’s almost triple

[@donmakowski71]

As the owner of a harmonica customization business I can tell you that the market there is definitely suffering. Harps that I would normally sell for over $250 aren't selling for $100. I really think it's the economy. I own a Rivera Suprema 55 tube amp and I love the sound. Of course I am old and grew up with the tube sound, my first real amp being a Traynor.

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks for the insight. I think you have a good point about the overall market in general.

[@GaryRubinstein]

No way! I am keeping my tweed Vibrolux and Harvard...

[@FrankPersico]

oh wow... 2 great amps!!

[@FASFatherandSon]

Who knows, the amp you're trying to sell might be worth ten times the amount in ten years. Like you said, if you love it, it still has great value.

[@FrankPersico]

That’s a good point!

[@JungYT]

I mainly use a Line 6 Pod Go pedal running into powered studio monitors. It has all the amp models and effect pedals I could want built into a relatively small enclosure and it has great stereo sound. This setup is so much more cost and space efficient and I am not limited by a conventional setup.

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks for sharing!

[@johnsmith-bk4ps]

You might consider tube powered studio monitors to warm it up

[@edbarry1724]

How ironic that I find this post today. I just bought a 1981 Fender Pro Reverb this afternoon off of FB marketplace. I was very hesitant for the reasons you just laid out . Guys like us are a dying breed and the nostalgic market is about done for this style amp in my opinion. But I bought it anyway! Good price and I will enjoy it until I die and then my poor wife will have to find some strong dude to carry it out of the house to the dumpster I guess ?? Thanks for the good topic.

[@FrankPersico]

Hahaha that’s funny. In a perfect world we should buy them because they inspire us and for no other reason. Glad you got a good deal! Enjoy the amp!

[@ashevilleguitar]

So many of the great, hugely influential records of the past that we all love and have such affinity for are all recorded using tube amps, modelers are not and never will be the REAL THING ! They mimic the real thing and get better and better with each new leap in technology but will never entirely replace the authentic, magical sound of the classic real tube amp that they are all trying so hard to copy in the digital realm.

[@FrankPersico]

There is definitely no real replacement for a greAt tube amp. It is “that” sound. Maybe that’s why I have four lol…

[@toesalad]

What is interesting to me about your comment is that you are talking about recordings and the recorded sound of tube amps... if one thing modellers are good at, it is actually recording. Hearing a recording of a tube amp and a recording of a good model are indistinguishable. That is because the modellers are also modelling the entire chain, including microphones, placement, and even room dynamics (depending the IR being used). The sound you hear when playing a tube amp is not at all the recorded sound you will hear on the album, as there is no microphone involved. If you put a tube amp in a walled off studio, with a microphone, and listen to it through the mixing desk and studio monitors, it will sound just like what you would get out of a modeler.

[@saltyphucker777]

I've been wondering the same thing, Frank. There are only a handful of places in the world that are still making tubes, and the prices of tubes (and tube amps themselves) have absolutely skyrocketed here in the US. When you factor in the maintenance (biasing, etc.), weight (especially if you have speaker cabs), and unreliability (your amp is only as good as its tubes), it's no wonder that a lot of guys are "going digital" these days. I've been thinking of doing the same thing myself.

[@FrankPersico]

Ughhh me tooo. Hoping I’m not going to end up stuck with a lot of expensive amps that are worthless one day lol

[@GaryDGuitar]

It's time to buy those tube amps up, starting with the ones I have for sale on reverb.

[@FrankPersico]

Ohhh yeah! Lol good luck with the sale.

[@jhvuvnik65s24]

The top end digital stuff can now get so close in tone to vintage style tube amps that I can't tell the difference unless they're side by side. While there's always going to be a collectors market for vintage amps, there's going to be a continued shift toward digital amps until mainstream companies like Marshall, Fender, Vox etc will go out of business if they don't start getting more competitive with their prices. This is because digital amps are just going to get less expensive like all technology. By the time we're seeing gen 4 boss katanas a decade from now for $200 that sound as good as the curent high end digital for stuff, it's going to be really hard to charge almost a grand for a blues Jr that's going to go up in price to manufacture. This is especially going to be true as the boomers die off. Young players aren't going to shell out money for inferior products because of brand loyalty or image. It's why Gibson is going under. Who's dropping 3k on a Les Paul that's not anymore well built as $500 guitars made in China?

[@FrankPersico]

You make a lot of very good points. on the issue of china. I remember a few years ago going out to buy a cordoba acoustic. I had tried many and it came down to two instruments. One Portugese made Cordoba and one China made cordoba which was almost one third the price. I tried to convince myself that I liked the Portugese one better but the truth was that the one made in China was actually the better sounding and playing of the two. Lets just say I have 4 vintage amps and I am definitely looking to sell one or two of them at some point before they are worthless. I don't need 4 of them to play.

[@TheObserver37]

It seems to be the consensus that tube amps have a dope sound having said that the digital ones have gotten pretty close to where you have to have a pretty good ear to tell the difference good musicians will be able to but music Fans probably not so much. I tweaked the mythic crunch, setting on my little fender digi amp wow Best tone I’ve ever dialed in.

[@FrankPersico]

Yeah nowadays there is definitely a lot to be said for the digital versions of tube Amps

[@Artty-fl8ul]

I've played both. After a while. Solid state amps sound great these days. Hard to tell any difference? Why deal with the weight, the price? I've grown to like solid state better.

[@FrankPersico]

Good point! Thanks for sharing

[@RobertGadfly]

The economy is wobbly right now. Luxury items are just that, a luxury.

[@FrankPersico]

Good point. That has to be taken into account

[@paul67958]

When I track guitars I ONLY use a 6505 and plexi with vintage 30's and cream back for my cabs with a 57 and 609, you cannot reproduce that sound I know you can get close but the real thing is the real thing.

[@FrankPersico]

I live my vintage combos. Nothing inspires my playing more. It’s also funny when u go to a gig with a Princeton let’s say and people compliment your tone. I’m always like dude it’s just the way that amp sounds lol

[@markyymarkXL]

It's not just a sound thing man; I've been using plugins for the last 2 years,(ndsp toneking, mesa boogie 2c+, soldano...you get the point) and I always end up disappointed. I'm not getting the feel and dynamic response that I love out of a quality tube amp. It just feels fake, the way a real cab speaker breathes and fills the air, no digital signal will ever compare to that , ever. And regarding the market, they will be in demand. The consumer will always exist for it, and will always demand it when they are ready.(long as society doesn't collapse lol) Plugins and modelers have their place and so do tube amps. It doesn't seem to be an unhealthy competition.

[@FrankPersico]

Good points made and i thank you for sharing

[@bernardm3066]

I currently don't own any amps I mainly use modelers/vsts because they are really convenient and sound good for me at lower volumes or headphones. Even so I would have had at least one good tube amp but I think another limiting factor is that if you live in an apartment it is very hard to enjoy it. Even normal volumes you will be heard by a few apartments around you and honestly even if there are no complains for me it is not comfortable to play like this systematically. Aside from that maybe the market is slowing down a bit after the covid era idk. A lot of people is said to be offloading stuff so this could also be a factor.

[@FrankPersico]

Yeah I definitely think the market is slow as a result of this immediate post Covid era. Will be interesting to see where it settles. Ideally I am keeping my 2 princetons and 1 vibrolux.

[@TAM-gz5tc]

Hi from Australia. I would like a vibrolux but you never see them here. There is always a buyer you just have to find him. I use all different types of amps valve, solid state, digital, and hybrids of these. All sound good but different. Love my twin with 12L EVS but need to build a loading ramp to car for it as it weighs about 130LB.

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks for the info!

[@soundsgood12]

How you so love your tube amp, that's how others so love their tube amp. What's the point, let's just have fun with whatever. THX

[@FrankPersico]

So true

[@camp0017]

Just my case: currently I own a Boss Katana which has all the sounds I want and I can't really see a reason why I should keep more amplifiers in my smallish flat and perhaps injure my spine carrying a tube amp to gigs. My son bought a tube amp several years ago, was using it for some time, then had to move once or twice and also didn't take the amp with him. Tube amp: good sound? Yes. Clumsy, heavy, in need of maintenance? Yes.

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks for sharing!

[@johnsmith-bk4ps]

A good tube amp rarely needs maintenance

[@iRevolVeR21]

I have ac30, ac50, Marshall dsl2000... all need repairs. Just got a tonex, katana and boss switcher... I'm hoping it all sounds good.

[@FrankPersico]

That’s the other factor we always have to consider with tube amps. Maintenance!

[@sdriza]

I know many younger (~college) aged musicians out here on the west coast.... maybe we did a bad job of educating these kids? Tube amps were just "the thing" way back when - then I think all this digital/modelling/technology/internet stuff took off.... But these kids I know are literally rediscovering tube amps RIGHT NOW - and desiring them very much.... Could totally be a unique, isolated experience - but I think we are about to see a resurgence of demand. (I'm long tube amps,,,)

[@FrankPersico]

I would love that…

[@sdriza]

@FrankPersico me too.... and I'm aware that colors my perception - quite possible these kids are jerking my chain too - "tell the old guy we love those big heavy amps, maybe he'll give us more free stuff...." good luck brother

[@chongli297]

I don't think supply and demand for tube amps has anything to do with their obsolescence/non-obsolescence as a technology. You can do the exact same analysis for CRT televisions/monitors. Or many other technological product (like refrigerators!). New things come out all the time and supply/demand changes for this stuff. But new things come with different tradeoffs, they're rarely an exact replacement for the old thing. Vintage refrigerators will last decades and decades whereas new ones are often breaking down in 5 years or less! Of course, new refrigerators are a lot more energy efficient, so that's a tradeoff. But they often have digital control boards that cost so much to replace you might as well buy a new fridge! I don't see anyone saying "modern" transistor amps have reached a point where they can exactly reproduce the sound of a vintage tube amp. So I would say tube amps are definitely not obsolete. They may be falling out of fashion at the moment but that can always change. Tastes in music are highly cyclical!

[@FrankPersico]

good point. everything comes back eventually. like bell bottoms hahaha

[@tubedude4859]

Antiques have value always will

[@FrankPersico]

😊hope so

[@florabee9283]

In the case of the Vibrolux Reverb, the various re-issues through the decades warped the demand for the originals I think. I mean if one is shopping for the amp to actually use for gigs etc, then there is the ‘68 reissue that can be had for around 900 dollars, vs the actual one for 3-4 times as much, you’re kinda gonna have to really think about it. Will the vintage one be too precious to take out of the house? Will the re-issue do the job but not be such a stress monster generating worry about it being stolen or getting beer on it at the show? True the “real” amp has better internal construction with the grommet board vs the printed circuit cost cutting on the re-issue, but on the re-issue, every single part is new, vs the steady trickle of parts dying in the old amp, so the reliability of the more robust vintage construction is offset by all the components being fresh in the re-issue. The Vibrolux Reverb is one of the all time greats and will continue to be praised- I just think with all the viable re-issues, commanding 4k for and old version of a currently or recently produced 1k amp is a little harder than is was.

[@FrankPersico]

Thats an excellent point. I never did think about how the vibrolux reissue effects it. Thanks for the insight!

[@johnsmith-bk4ps]

Except old fender amps don’t slowly die. They run decade after decade. With propper voltages they just run forever. I’ve been doing ir

[@warwolf383]

my general assessment is economic times are tough... and it also may depend on how big the amps are... i kinda want to build up a small collection of smaller tube amps that i can play at home somewhere around the 5 watt realm... but they're all expensive... and this year has monetarily whomped me soo far. I expect it will take years to get to what i have in mind... also, i can't necessarily speak for everyone? but i kinda want to buy my stuff new... because i can in fact, sorta afford to do so... if i'm patient anyway...

[@FrankPersico]

Wow sounds like a great goal. I wish you good luck and hope you can get some great deals on the amps you desire

[@user-st8bk4sk9i]

I sold my Mesa Boogie Studio. 22 due to the fact I live in a flat and can't play it at rehearsal room volume at home anymore (new neighbors). It sounded amazing when playing it loud, but at "bedroom volume" I chose to stick with an Orange solid state. It took a while for me to sell the Mesa Boogie, but all of a sudden the phone rang. The guy knew everything about this amp and bought is unseen/unheard. He sent his son to pick it up. I haven't regretted selling it - it deserves to stretch out! And a better guitar player than me... 🙂

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks for sharing your experience. Even if the market is tough right now there is potentially always a match for a piece of gear I suppose. Glad you found a willing buyer and glad you are not regretting your decision to sell. I actually have a video about my regret it selling a vintage blackface deluxe reverb LOL

[@davegrice3423]

Interesting topic, good video. I wouldn't say tube amps are obsolete, per se, but their market value like any commodity will be driven by supply & demand. The demand seems to be falling faster than the supply. So if your goal is to maximize cash, I'd probably agree - selling sooner is better than later. If your goal has more to do with the tone aesthetic, I still think it's tough to beat a tube amp. And I play plugins on my workstation most of the time. The tube amp is as convenient, but at least at this point, nothing digital quite does that same trick for me.

[@michaelwilson2497]

I use a 20 watt tube head. And run my Fractal thru it. And it makes all the difference. Some amp "models" don't sound as good that way. But, things like the rectifiers, the EVH's and the Fender clean's sound magnificent. Best of both worlds.

[@FrankPersico]

Yeah good point. The other thing I wonder is what happens in 10 years are so when these amps really are even harder to come by. Markets can be fickle and they may go up even more. This softness we are seeing right now may be the overall health of peoples finances as a whole... we shall see:) I'm definitely keeping my fave tube amps (my 2 princetons and 1 vibrolux) but just thought it was odd that the vibrolux i'm trying to sell really has gotten zero interest. And its in excellent shape too...

[@davegrice3423]

@@FrankPersico yeah also surprised your Vibrolux hasn't moved quickly. They're well-regarded among the tube amp combos. May have more to do with macro economic conditions though, more than anything specific to the amp market. Just a theory.

[@michaelwilson2497]

Economic issues are the biggest part of it I believe. But at the same time, if I go somewhere to play, I don't want to carry a box that's the weight of a 4'×10' piece of 5/8" thick sheetrock. Hence the 20 watt. I use it more like a Marty Freidman tube pedal I guess. Like I said, Tube wash my fractal. Between the two, I have the best tones I've had in years out of an amp. Keep the Vibrolux. Nice tones bro. Unless you need the $$$. Which I totally understand. Which brings us back to the Economic issues LOL

[@FrankPersico]

@@michaelwilson2497 thanks for the response. Not selling for $$ issues thankfully. Just don’t need 2 vibroluxes so was gonna free up $$ to possibly fund something else.

[@victor493]

My problem is I cannot buy tubes and I am in Vancouver Canada, plus they are expensive, all my amp need power tubes, I have now gone acoustic .

[@FrankPersico]

Wow you can’t get tubes at all??

[@victor493]

@@FrankPersico The selection is minimal at all the major dealers, I use to have no problem, EL84 quad set hard to fine, even Mesa, I order some and I just wait, looking to order on line or get on a plane to USA, all the stores want to do is sell me a new amp, I love my tube amps and not going transistor amps, I am 61, I can’t go there.

[@FrankPersico]

hahah i get it. I will personally never play a SS amp. I'm 50 but same idea

[@1thess523]

Maybe somebody watched too many videos saying tube amps are obsolete and that's why you can't do KZbin amp now 🤔🤔

[@FrankPersico]

Lol not quite

[@iamkimes]

If your playing is compelling, a tube amp won't tip the favor over a good modern solid state/modeler. Wes Montgomery playing a banjo would blow most of us away. Stop worrying about your gear and learn how to play better.

[@FrankPersico]

Hahaha very true.

[@gben2457]

Tube amps are the best. Hang onto it.

[@FrankPersico]

For now it looks like i have no choice !! LOL

[@steveb9325]

Ill buy a deluxe or Princeton from you anytime! My 2 favorites

[@FrankPersico]

Love my princetons and should have never sold my deluxe:(

[@giulioluzzardi7632]

Don't be silly now, as you say Frank if you put one of the Princetons for sale it would sell faster than the Vibrolux...no other amp ever built sounds as satisfying as a "Larger" Fender combo. Look on the bright side, you have a very "Unique" amplifier for sale and that needs a very "Unique" lover of Fender amps to take it home and use it. Let us all hear this "Legend", the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Lastly ,at 16 years old I was dragging a Fender Quad reverb around till the bass player got his own amp(we all plugged in to it) so I dragged a twin with 2x12" celestions(I think) around after that. We were so enthusiastuc about playing music that we just took it un our stride, maybe our need to Rock n roll gave us muscle. It's not a sound thing , it's a lazy generation thing, ask Pete Townsend before 1978 when most Guitar players(even Jazz) produced the groundbreaking sounds we all still search for. A good amp is a fully working amp. 1 small one for home/recordung, 1 bigger(40 watter) for band jamming and trouser flapping.

[@FrankPersico]

Hahaha yes!!! Thanks for laying down the law !!

[@user-he6qm6zn5l]

It’s not that tube amps care going away the market is flooded right now with gear

[@FrankPersico]

Good point

[@chrisorrell3066]

I love my tube amps. I have only a few. A 5150 , maz 38 senior , reverb deluxe , and I will play them until the day I die or they die. I don’t think they are going anywhere, right now anyway. I live in Canada and we have long and mcquade music stores up here are ours biggest chain store and I’m in there religiously every week,, ya ya I have a problem I know lol but I still see rows of tube amps. Sure there is solid state amps and digital and such but still way more tube amps. Always has been. So I don’t think they are going anywhere anytime soon. They are getting more expensive though that’s for sure but so is everything else in life. So keep your fender up it will sell.

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks for posting! Good luck with your amps brotha

[@humorustrout.]

Yep those new tube amps sitting in L&M have literally doubled in price over the last 5-6 years *cough* Fender *cough*

[@domg7616]

Tube amps will never go away. Digital sounds very good. But will never match a tube amp.

[@FrankPersico]

I hope you are right!

[@michaelmorrow7735]

The Tube Amp is the instrument. The modeling amp is trying to copy it. It will always be a copy of the real thing. They still make real pianos.

[@FrankPersico]

I agree.

[@johnsmith-bk4ps]

There were only so many pre 71 fender amps built and as population increase's there will be less to go around . Better get yours now. They aren’t loosing desirability we are just in a terrible economy right now

[@FrankPersico]

It seems to be the consensus here that it is indeed the economy… thanks for sharing your thoughts

[@Mountainrock70]

Your amp not selling might be a blessing.

[@FrankPersico]

True. I think about some gear I have parted with in the past that I now miss!

[@leogolive]

Hmmm…if tube amps were going to become obsolete I think it would’ve happened already. I personally don’t need a tube amp anymore but there are some players who will never use anything but a tube amp. Even if it’s just for the sake of tradition.

[@FrankPersico]

Tradition! Lol like fiddler on the roof

[@leogolive]

@@FrankPersico Yeah you know, some people are slaves to tradition. I’m not personally, but some people are.

[@thewhiskyscout1238]

I hope they do, I want to buy me another one for Penny’s on the dollar.

[@FrankPersico]

Lol that was the idea actually if my next video. If you wanna get the amp of your dreams we may be heading into a time when you can for less money!

[@888jimm]

Market??

[@FrankPersico]

Yes the market for buying and selling gear. Amps in this case

[@Andybaby]

I always assumed my 1975 100w Marshall Super Lead, and (less vintage) Mesa Boogie Tremoverb will always be 'highly sought after', but since Sachel from Steel Panther said he uses amp sims live... now I'm not so sure. Also the dudes who were 15 in 1973, and wanted to be Jimmy Page etc are now 65... and will literally start dying off in 10 years... will anyone under 40 know or care? Do the kids even aspire to be guitar heroes these days?

[@FrankPersico]

i often wonder myself about the younger generation and if there is enough interest in playing the guitar to support the industry. I gotta say when i walk into a guitar center or sam ash here in NYC it is a pretty sad sight. I often think to myself who exactly is buying all of these new guitars???

[@Andybaby]

@@FrankPersico I just googled, and (iiuc) acoustic guitars are up, electrics are 'stable or decreasing'. (ie units sold)

[@FrankPersico]

@@Andybaby very interesting. Good to know

[@dunxy]

20 years ago, id scoff "thi will never happen", today i don't remember last time i fired one up, use my Kemper instead...

[@FrankPersico]

I hear ya. Looks like i may be stuck with this amp forever lol

[@johnes0522]

The economy is terrible a lot of music stores are sitting on a lot of inventory.

[@FrankPersico]

that definitely has a lot to do with it i think

[@Scott__C]

The bottom line to me is always use the gear you want, whether it's tube amps, modelers, a Tube Screamer direct into a PA or whatever. Everything will be worth something at some point. Not long ago, 70s Gibsons were considered garbage, now Gibson is selling recreations of them and people are asking for a ton for them.

[@FrankPersico]

Very good point. I appreciate the comment

[@Scott__C]

@@FrankPersico I appreciate that even though you said you prefer tube amps you didn't do the whole "anything else is terrible" thing that some folks do.

[@JH-ks9oi]

I still prefer tape! You think I’ll give up my analog ways because “technology”! Ya how’s smartphones working out for the world?! We’ve become so dependent on tech we’re losin our humanity..

[@FrankPersico]

YEah... old school! i appreciate your comment

[@sonnyobrien]

No, they will never be obsolete. What your video doesn’t discuss is the psychological aspect of using these instruments- the hands that have touched it, the nature of its circuitry and the electricity. People who get it, understand. Emulations are always lies. “Am I going to get stuck?” Don’t collect gear if you ever intend to one day sell it. That’s your answer. Only buy things that you are going to keep with you your entire life. Easy heuristic. “Is it time to get out of vintage tube amps while you can” Man, your mentality to instruments is like that of a stoke broker. Are you conscious of that? It’s pretty awful to hear that mentality.

[@FrankPersico]

I appreciate the comment for sure and I for one will always play tube amps. But you can’t always keep every amp you buy as you discover what works best for you on your journey as a musician. And as a professional the money spent on equipment is most certainly a concern when you need to sell to fund other purchases. Perhaps I will do another video with that perspective in mind. Have a great day!!

[@johnsmith-bk4ps]

That’s your prospective living in an apartment. Many musicians never sell amps as they go back to them over and over throughout the years

[@brianbloom1799]

I think It has to do with People Not Having the Extra Cash, Unless there Loaded, Everyone I know Even People ,That I thought Had been saving, I think There Buying Gold or Silver instead of Amps.

[@FrankPersico]

yeah. i do think a good portion of this has to do with the greater economy and not about "amps" per se

[@zero318]

From a gigging perspective, the tube amp is a dinosaur. Sorry, but it is. I stopped gigging with tubes decades ago. They don't hold up to road wear like solid state does, and definitely require more judicious maintenance and care. There's also the cost of retubing, parts availability, and the initial buy in to begin with. They're simply not the best cost effective option. That said, I've owned and rebuilt some really nice tube rigs over the years. I've gigged with Ampeg, Marshall, Fender, Vox, and all the usual cast of characters. These days? Tech 21, BIAS, and I still have an old 1988 Peavey Bandit that you just have to admire for it's stubborness and 'never say die' attitude. It's the most cost effective option on the planet. hehehehe. Due to sentimentality, there will always be a market for old tube amps, just like there is for old radios, and other antiques. They will always fetch a premium solely on exclusivity, but you are correct. The young players are definitely doing their own thing. Cost is a big driver, portability and reliability the other. I teach a lot of young players and the rhetoric is always the same...sure, tubes sound great, but there are fewer and fewer good tube technicians, and certainly not as affordable as the old TV repair guy used to be. The price of parts is absolutely ridiculous, and if you're gigs are paying with exposure you simply have to do something different. I'm currently repairing a 65 Deluxe Reverb for my inlaws who used to have a recording studio way back when. They asked if I wanted it...nope. I'm good. Why? Oh sure it sounds awesome! But not enough snort for a good bar gig, it's worth too much to take to a bar gig, whereas my Bandit still hasn't blown it's fuse and can cut through the mix like a Ginsu knife (also from the 80's). hahahahaha.

[@FrankPersico]

All great points. Funny you should mention the Deluxe Reverb. I sold mine for the same reason you did not want to take ownership of one. Too valuable to gig with!

[@johnsmith-bk4ps]

Why would you retube? Tubes have ratings of over 100.000 hours. And they don’t heat up and turn off like solid state amps with :protection: cuircuts .

[@sassulusmagnus]

Yes, yes. They are all becoming obsolete. As a public service I will let those of you who want to get rid of those awful old tube amps sell them to me for super cheap.

[@FrankPersico]

hahaha...

[@jacobbockover1628]

So i cannot sell a guitar either. I mean people offer me like 1 to 300 or stolen guitar prices. Everyones broke. I am. Id have a certain ss amp i like if people were buying stuff. I do gotta say a very good ss amp kinda sounds like my amp at super low levels and would be a good practice or jam amp. Idk. I just took down all my listings cause i was tired of nothing but scammers n lowballers

[@FrankPersico]

Totally. I too have been hit up by low ballers ... its a drag

[@timothykresko1984]

No.

[@FrankPersico]

There it’s settled lol:)

[@timothykresko1984]

Bet:)

[@mark006868]

Frank Persico...It's really quite simple...If it's not selling... it's because you are asking too much or no one is buying right now...Stop over thinking it and for the love of God!...Stop making boring vids about things you don't understand...

[@FrankPersico]

Lol ouch.

[@taewankim6283]

All of the above. 1) When you and I were growing up we were limited to Valves or Transistors. Now, we have Valves, Trans, Modeling, and IRs. Why limit yourself? 2) The cost. You do the math. 3) The Portability. Imagine the idiot carrying amp(s) up and down the stairs. You'd be out of your goram mind if you'd think that I'd ever do that again. 4) The Convince. How many presets does your amp have, again??? I don't ever have to stare at an hairy asscrack ever again. That along is worth the money. 5) The Mindset. Generational Difference between you the twenty year old and even the tweens that just started playing. In the 90s it was Valve and Trans, Primarily. Late 90s it was Modeling followed by Plugins. And more recently IRs. Kids just have more Options and they are entitled to it because they made it happen. 6) The Summary. Laptop weights 6 lbs. It is loaded with infinite combinations and possibilities, literally. What is my incentive to lug around backbreaking one trick-pony amp(s). 7) The Afterthought. My first amp was a Fender Valve and I loved it. Part of me will always love Valve Amp(s). I may buy a Valve Amp again just for home/studio, but I will NEVER carry one around, EVER. I have started my journey with a Valve, but soon as plugins were available, I jumped ship and never looked back, because it was the SMARTEST thing to do. And my spine isn't fused into a concrete block. 8) The Most Important Thing. The sound has only gotten better over the decades, if you were paying attention. 99.9999... percent of the listeners can't tell the difference and the same listeners don't give two rats ass, if you lug around a backbreaker or 6 lb. laptop. P.S. If you a clown, you a clown. P.S.S. Play what you love and what moves you.

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks for the thoughtful comments … all great points and perspectives

[@johnsmith-bk4ps]

Well… I’d rather see some hot chick sporting a 57 Strat and a red Marshall half stack than a laptop and a Harley benton

[@taewankim6283]

@johnsmith-bk4ps That's all you will be doing when your back is broken. You can watch me rock out on that Strat plugged into my laptop and Rock that Hotties Ass for days on end, and then fly all around the world, buying up Harley to donate to children all over asia so the next generation of guitar players aren't idiots like you. 🤗🤗🤗 Mic Drop, MOFO!!!

[@karldettling5981]

I know the trick to get fantastic sound, but i am not telling anyone for free? How to do it?

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks for the comment. I hope you make $$ showing people your secret

[@SeanApplePie]

As a owner of a vintage amp aswel 2 vintage (hmm more) guitars. Just make them priceless for yourself and don't sell. See it as your job to be the conservator of these diamants and not a dealer or so. One exeption and that is a dealmaker for an other object (guitar or Hammond B3 duhhh). Its a crosss to bear. Which we choose cuz we beatiful sounds ( and maybe smells). AI is gonna beat you in the recordings. Question; If you are a todays kid ( with ears) and you can buy them all or just one which did your inner kid choised. So its a whole other source today ( a vintage car electric driven...who ever thought?).......So here my thouhts

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks so much for sharing the thoughts with us all.

[@edisonkillingelephants]

Correction a KEMPER literally sounds as good or better than a tube amp look up Kemper Beano tone. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYaTXoWZdqeJY9Usi=VAl2o8Oa2SnMW6zW

[@FrankPersico]

I will check it out thanks. But how are they on clean sounds?