Unplugged Decisions: Why I Ditched Tube Amps!

[@jonsterngold4942]

Though I've only been playing for 65 years [rolleyes]... and I'm still a hack player though my bandmates love my playing... but I've been through a zillion amps and modelers over the decades, from my '63 SR I bought new in '63 through everything from. Two Rocks to Bogners, Fractal, Line 6, etc. All done now!! The Mach 3 is beyond belief. The direct and phone outs are the best ever. I use a Boss MS3 in a 4CM config to give me various effects/drives/boosts, etc. I also prefer the Vox channel for clean AND for OD with the gain up, +/- goosing with the RAT model on the Boss. So incredibly versatile, powerful, and beautiful. I had a question about it early on, emailed Quilter, and Pat himself responded!! Great company. At age 77, I'm as certain as I can be that this is my last amp!! Thank you, Brad. And killer playing!!

[@badbrad]

Wow man so cool! Great minds think alike lol. To my ears the top boost is the best platform for pedals on the Mach3. I haven’t even messed with any other of the tones or use the channel switching… I suppose I could try em but once I dialed in what my ears wanted to hear, I just didn’t look back. The blend live between the direct and the combo is so sweet hard to capture unless you hear it for yourself…. I know you know what I’m talking about. I’m real happy with the Mach 3 I haven’t even considered trying anything else. Thanks for watching and chiming in. Best to you and keep picking!!!

[@Tonetwisters]

I've been playing 62+ (I started in 1958-59, seriously in 1961). My first amp was a brand new 1964 Super Reverb! I am closing in on 77! Were I playing out, one of these transistor amps would be the way to go. Save the back!

[@Tibetyaks]

Great Video. Great ideas for extreme gear snobs. I totally clicked to watch this video just because I thought it was Pete Thorn. haha... Your playing was awesome. Thank you.

[@badbrad]

Thank you for tuning in.

[@timruss3192]

I've been playing for over 50 years, I'm still gigging presently. I only own and use Fender solid state amps. 1 x 12 and 2 x 12 depending on the gig. Reliable, lightweight and some good built in effects.

[@badbrad]

Solid!

[@jonathanboddie8073]

Hey Bradd. This video was right on time for me. I have been looking for a different lighter weight solution. I was looking at the Quilter Cub but I may come up to the Mach 3. I’d like to play them both. It’s actually been hard to find any videos with someone talking about their real life gigging experience with these. Keep up the great work man. Thanks.

[@badbrad]

Hey man. I used the Mach3 alot. The reason why I bought the Mach 3 over the Cub was the ability to use the speaker cab if the amp failed. Never had an issue with it ever. Always had a quilter in my gig bag for backups. For the type of playing that we both do, it works great. I normally wouldn't gravitate towards a Vox Top Boost tone but for me that gave the best clean platform tones for those R&B style tunes.

[@hopecollins2041]

@@badbrad Good stuff!! Thanks man

[@valkyriekl]

I love my Quilter Aviator Cub - 20lbs, plenty loud, lots of tone-options, can DI to the sound system. It's my grab-and-go amp.

[@badbrad]

Same for me. It just works!

[@DarylMaihori]

My Superbloc has an XLR DI, I don’t see one on the Aviator?

[@rayprevailer8454]

Years ago I bought a Quilter Tone Block 200. I was so impressed with it that I bought a 2nd one so I can have a stereo rig. I will never sell those Quilters. Clean headroom to the moon. Perfect pedal platform amps. I plug this rig into a 2x12 stereo cab I built. In the home studio I use a Digitech GSP1101 with a BluGuitar Iridium in the GSP1101 FX loop. The stereo outs from the GSP1101 go into a Marshall 9000 series tube amp then to a 4x12. I switch presets with a Rocktron Midi Mate. Great video Brad!

[@badbrad]

Wow what a rig! I did another video where I went more in depth with the aviator. They really are a great solution to carefree tone. Thanks so much for watching!

[@RandyFricke]

That's what I did. Nice tones and playing BTW Brad... I put together a bunch of pedal boards with Godlyke Deluxe (11 tap) power supplies, two, sometimes three distortion pedals, a chorus, flanger, delay, phaser etc... and an EQ. I have a couple with Moorer baby Bomb 30s, Joyo BantAmps, one with a Seymour Duncan Power Stage 170, and one with a TC Electronics BAM200 bass amp that sucks for bass but works great for guitar. I can run any one of them into a 1x12", 2x12", or 4x12" 8 or 16 Ohm speaker cabinet and they all sound great. I also have three Bugera amps that are just for the house. I love those things. A V22 1x12" combo, a V55 head, and a 6262 that weighs in at 70 pounds. It's just insane to spend $3000 on an amp when there are so many options for mounting an amp right on a pedal board.

[@badbrad]

Lots of options out there and it sounds like you found a solution that works for you! Thanks for chiming in!

[@JustChiminin]

I agree with your assessment of tube amps. They sound great, when they work right. As a local working musician, I can't afford, nor would I need a multitude of back line amps like a touring pro. Currently using a Roland JC40 as a pedal platform for the past few years and very satisfied with it.

[@badbrad]

Those amps are well known for a reason and that chorus is awesome!

[@briansmith6862]

Right! I just watched a short documentary about AC-DC. Angus has NINE Marshall heads on every gig, and they expect to blow three of them. They have a full-time roadie dedicated to amp repair.

[@badbrad]

I tell you another scenario I dealt with and I traveled with a rack containing three guitar heads. I had a meter on my rack that would tell me what the voltage was that night. If the power was slightly under 120 the amp tended to sound its best. If the power was over say 130...it was gonna be a tough night. Now I know they have the brown box now so that would be something to own but every night my guitar would sound different and feel different. Some nights good and some not good. I kept joking that I was gonna get a Kemper but it really would have been a good option then. There were nights where I'd be on amp number three or I would be on amp 2 and the other guitarist would be using my third backup. It's a lot to manage even if you are making $$. @@briansmith6862

[@JustChiminin]

Excellent point, not to mention being at the mercy of grounding issues from the electrical wiring at the venue.@@badbrad

[@badbrad]

@@JustChiminin oh man...forgot about that...nothing worse.

[@StratsRUs]

I love quite a few from nearly every category.Keep Rockin'.Sweet intro too !

[@clausmadsen6754]

LOL - the algorithm landed me this video in my feed. Click on it thinking it was a Pete Thorn video and couldn’t believe the video title. How wrong was I 😂😂😂

[@badbrad]

Hey thanks for clicking! Pete is great!

[@CarlosCruz-xd8is]

Thanks for your great videos Mr Thorn!

[@badbrad]

Thanks for watching Carlos.....@@CarlosCruz-xd8is

[@mikedr1549]

Haha - I thought it was Pete too! Glad I stuck around though - some nice playing by this Brand guy!

[@badbrad]

Thanks so much for sticking around watching!@@mikedr1549 Pete is great, love watching his videos.

[@sharkair2839]

I have the first edition aviator I love that amp

[@badbrad]

Wow very cool!

[@colinfreeman-ib1zz]

I have a Quilter Aviator US, that I'm getting used to, after using a Quilter Superblock US for a year or two into a 1x12 homemade cab. In between I got a blonde Tonemaster DR. which is the duck's guts, but is a bit unwieldy with the big cabinet, and I'm afraid to knock it around. I prefer US sounds to the UK sounds. I think the Quilter stands a better chance of surviving multiple load-ins and outs. I still can't dial in tones from the amp that I want without pedals, but a clean pedal platform is what I was after. Thanks for the vid.

[@badbrad]

Hey thanks for watching. It takes time to dial in a sound that you're happy with that's for sure. I tend to lean towards US amps for clean tones and British for lead.

[@evallejo8735]

Great video. I use a fender champion 40 with a mojotone greyhound speaker(1/2 British 1/2 American tones). I also use alot of Wampler pedals among others(about 18 pedals all together). I lived in Nashville 2008-2018. Great city,back in Htown TX these days. Keep up the great work.

[@badbrad]

Very cool. Champion 40 I’ve heard good things about that amp. Wampler makes some great pedals for sure. Fellow Nashville veteran! Thanks for chiming in. Keep rockin in Tx and thanks for tuning in.

[@BAGOTCORNER]

Excellent Vid Brad , My son used to demo Revv amps at Namm a few years back . Great local company up here in Mid Canada

[@badbrad]

Awesome Thanks man! I would love to try the Revv stuff! Canada makes such good stuff...Godin is great as well.

[@DonFonzarelli-uq9yx]

About 12 years ago, i decided to build pedals. Had no clue what i was doing, just looked up schematics, bought the parts, and started soldering. Made 5 total, and 1 was suppose to be the ocd, but i got a real ocd, looked at it, and it has one more transistor, so the schematic i found was wrong, but it sounds just as killer. Thats when i sold the marshall half stack. To much to carry, and pedals do alright through a solid state, especially at low volumes.

[@badbrad]

Pedals work great with this amp for sure.

[@donciseau]

very educational video!

[@badbrad]

Thank you!!!

[@antoonhermans8953]

i have an fender tonemaster dr for about 5 years now and i am very happy with it , but these quilter amps sound great too , if i did not have the fender amp already i think i woud go for the quilter option too , now , recently i bought an joyo bantamp blue jay and a harley benton G112 cab for my practiseroom ( and as back up ) and that too sounds really good and it only cost me 200 euro , so happy , happy , joy , joy : ) , like the vids , keep em coming .

[@badbrad]

Very nice! Thank you!

[@charlesbecker101]

I run the same way you do. Love my my Mach 3 and that Top Boost chnl. I'll occasionally switch to the Sweet voice if I'm in a live boomy room. I did swap the spkr to an Eminence Wheelhouse to get better mids for classic rock and high gain. I also worked with my sound tech to match my amp tone to foh. I run my Limiter at 12 for a little sag and the Boost at 9 o clock for a little bit of push, which makes the amp sing cranked Boogie style with a heavy gain, like a RevvG3 pedal.

[@badbrad]

That sounds like a killer setup. Haven’t tried a speaker swap yet. My favorite part is load out. Super light!

[@Scott__C]

Great tones, great playing and great discussion. Back in the 80s I had a stupid amount of gear to play in clubs. Marshall 50 watt combo with rack effects in the loop for clean sounds, a Peavey VTM120 with an oversized 4x12 cab for the dirty sounds with different rack effects in the loop for that and a pedalboard w/an A/B and some other effects in front of all of it. I've tried out many of the modelers from Headrush to Helix to Boss GT to Hotone to Valeton to Mooer to Atomic. The bottom line is all of it can get good sounds, it's just a matter of picking the one you want and going with it. I tired of getting pedals, wiring up a pedalboard, then having to re-do it whenever I thought I needed the new thing because each company has to make a different size and geometry for their stuff. Still have a couple of tube amps and a. 1x12 cab, but they get used infrequently. EDIT: Also more recently tried some of the Blackstar Amped stuff. It's similar, but in a pedal format. Cool stuff.

[@badbrad]

Now that’s a real tone journey. You’re right there are so many ways to get a good tone now. The Peavey VTM was such a killer amp. I miss the days when Peavey was made in the U.S.

[@Scott__C]

@@badbrad You and me both. The VTM was awesome, but man, the head was at least double the weight of my bandmate's Marshall.

[@badbrad]

yeah it was notoriously heavy....but built like a tank.@@Scott__C

[@anthonypanneton923]

Sounded great! I'm with you 100%. Pedals into a clean solid state amp. I got lots of old tube amps in the basement (they still sound good), but nowadays I only play for myself in the house, and I use a little 1x8" 10W solid state combo amp. And LOTS of pedals. My faves are the amp-in-a-pedal things (like Joyo American Sound). And a 10-band EQ pedal. I'm too old to be lugging those tube amps up and down the stairs!

[@badbrad]

Man I hear you there.

[@ScottyMcYachty]

My Quilter Mach 3 combo is amazing! Nice to see Quilter getting some love!

[@badbrad]

I'm a big fan of that amp.

[@1man1guitarletsgo]

I do like the look of that Quilter Mach 3. My main amp for some time has been a Fender BDR, and I've recently started using a 1989 Peavey Bandit. The Fender might have to go! Both of these are rather heavy, and a lightweight amp is quite appealing.

[@badbrad]

Yeah Peavey was at the forefront of Solid State back in the day, they really did have something going. The BDR is a great sounding amp but both of those are pretty heavy. Old Peavey's were built like tanks but similar in weight. This is what led me down the rabbit hole. I was looking for something to replace the tube amps for gigs. I've had good experiences with the Quilter stuff. There are plenty of times where I am kind of shocked with how good it sounds. This was a quick demo using what I had up in my office....Live I use a J.Rockett The Dude v.1 as my main drive...it works great with this amp. I also use a full drive 3 the boost side to goose the clean tone and make it nice and squishy. I'm real happy with it and especially happy on load ins and load outs....

[@2beJT]

Quilter + Neodymium speaker = back heaven.

[@badbrad]

My back loves it!@@2beJT

[@natrixxvision6997]

0:12 I saw a video on Anderton’s channel about the Laney Ironheart pedal and I bought one. No more tube amps to lug around, no more overdrive and distortion pedals needed. Sounds great. Zero regrets. That’s a solid state preamp pedal. Then I tried some Orange amps at guitar center that were solid state. Those sounded great too. Quilter makes some good stuff as well. The technology is getting so much better.

[@badbrad]

Yes indeed

[@natrixxvision6997]

@@badbrad I was hangin out at an outdoor jazz jam yesterday for a little bit. The guitar player had a Henriksen Bud 6. This thing could fit in a child’s car seat. And I don’t know how much he had it turned up but it was pretty loud. The Henriksen stuff is a little more expensive though.

[@badbrad]

@@natrixxvision6997 yeah I have seen those would be curious to hear it...

[@natrixxvision6997]

@@badbrad Fareed Haque, one of my favorite players, has been using the Henriksen stuff for a good few years now as his main rig. Especially for gigs. Check some of his videos. He plays more clean stuff unless he’s with his fusion band. But either way it projects really well in most venues. Or just stick a mic on it.

[@badbrad]

@@natrixxvision6997 will do thanks!

[@JHPRS]

I have owned this amp for a few years now. In that time I have bought and sold a number of tube amps, some of them were pretty nice too. This amp will always stay though, because of many things. I also have 2 of the Quilter footswitches, which I link together, so that I can make use of all 6 footswitchable features. :)

[@badbrad]

Sounds like a great setup!

[@fendafred]

I have a few tube and tranny amps at home but I mostly play gigs with a simple pedalboard plugged into whatever rental or house amp they have (Fender twins most of the time). I have been tempted to give a try with a Fender Tone Master (I dig the look of their super reverb…) but a Quilter combo sounds like a good amp for my needs. I will check if I can source those amps in Europe.

[@badbrad]

I'm not sure how easy they are to get overseas. I've played through my share of rental amps, sometimes great, sometimes not so much. Twins can be tough to dial in at a comfortable volume.

[@fendafred]

@@badbrad I’ve just found that Thomann was selling that brand. I wished I could have found one to try out locally. Your amp has two channels but they’re not switchable are they?

[@badbrad]

they are switchable and I think Quilter sells a foot switch. @@fendafred

[@michaelcrabtree7193]

Having gone through literally dozens of vintage, modern, clone etc tube amps, I recently picked up a vintage Rickenbacker TR-25 when my main tube amp was in for a repair. The little Rick amp has seriously blown me away with it's tone and ability to take pedals. It is now my main gigging amp. It weighs less than a Deluxe Reverb too which is a bonus! Im not missing tube amps at all. There are of course lots of newer solid state options out there these days. The Quilter Mach 3 looks awesome.

[@badbrad]

Very cool!

[@kylebenjamin8772]

I used to lug fender combo amps downtown, and it would just kill me to listen to the reverb tank and tubes rattling as I pushed it down the broadway sidewalk. I decided to switch to a Boss Katana 50, and it was an excellent alternative. I A/B it next to my 65 reverb, and it was damn close at a small fraction of the price and 30 lbs less to carry. Always plenty loud, and the piece of mind of not worrying about an expensive piece of gear walking off at the gig.

[@badbrad]

I wonder if people still use those downtown?

[@kylebenjamin8772]

I’m guessing they are still popular because a lot of people want to be seen playing that type of brand for image and mystique. Once you do it long enough, you quit caring about shit like that and tend to want something convenient that gets the job done.

[@dallasreese8416]

my old guitar player used to play a Suhr guitar--thru a bad cat amp---those things are sweet. Your tone here is mega butter.

[@badbrad]

Thanks so much!

[@robpapp2145]

I tour a fair bit these days and use Quilter Mach 2 which I have 2 that I leave in storage in 2 states and in btw I use a Quilter sub…love them for their reliability plus they sound good …

[@badbrad]

very cool

[@kerrybarnes7289]

In the studio I go through 1272 Neve and dial up a great sound on Kidney Pod, I get amazing sounds on that combo.

[@badbrad]

Very cool

[@angusorvid8840]

I've gone through many amps since I started playing in the mid 80s. I experienced the best and worst things about owning a tube amp. I had a Marshall that ate tubes like potato chips, and incredible sounding plexi, but it was just terribly inefficient by design. I stopped playing it and got a Boogie combo which I played for almost a decade, changing the tubes only twice. It was SO much more efficient, well built, and well-designed than the Marshall. But the tone left me a bit cold. An amp like Boogie's current Lonestar or Philmore are more up my alley. One solid state I really loved in my hard rock/metal days when I was playing the Sunset Strip was my Randall RG75. This is the same kind of amp George Lynch used to record Tooth and Nail and, on that tour, despite having a wall of Randall 100 stack cardboard cutouts. Behind the stage he was running an RG75 tilted back on a chair. You never needed stacks to play arenas anyway. It's a myth. Look at what Mike Campbell did with combos for decades playing some of the biggest venues around with The Heartbreakers and Fleetwood. I love quilter amps and I'm definitely considering getting one. I think modelers are very cool, but I'd rather play a good analogue solid state and the quilter is as warm as any good tube amp and versatile. Speakers, cabs and transformers are a HUGE part of an amp's tone, and Frank Marino, who has used solid state amps since the 70s, often mentions this. A good, big heavy transformer is going to give you a big, full sound.

[@badbrad]

wow very cool....we are both veterans of the Sunset Strip! There are lots of ways to get a good tone that's for sure. We've both been playing a long time and have been through more amps than most. The Quilter is a great option if you still want to have some air pushed behind you. I'm working on another video on the Quilter that goes more in depth with the different types of amp sounds it has.

[@Scott__C]

@@badbrad I'd love to see an in depth run down of the Quilter.

[@hillaryedwards1246]

I scaled back from tube heads and went with Bluguitar Amp1. All analog nano tube 4 channel. Made by Thomas Blug. Sounds great!

[@badbrad]

Very nice!👍🏻

[@markjohnson6485]

Liked the video really liked the amp too I like that it takes pedals well . Light wait is good as I am 63 years old I bet that amp would sound great with my PRS with the 58/15 LT pickups I live in Bristol Va/Tn not too far from Nashville

[@badbrad]

It absolutely would.

[@TheFlat6]

Fultone, OCD Rock Man, they gotta start making them again. I recently bought the Crazy Horse Pedal from Durham. Very disappointed, and it cost me 400 cdn dollars to get it up here from Austin TX. I have a Peavey Delta Blues 210, and an old Peavey Reknown, and Fender FM 212, so all low budget stuff. I'm thinking the Peavey Solid State. The Tonemaster at what 25 lbs, that's huge for our older days..

[@badbrad]

Fulltone is now being built again.....

[@TheFlat6]

@badbrad yes, I've heard this..thanx..

[@garyletsch1070]

Great demo, Brad (sorry, a month late). I just started looking into available choices for a new solid-state amp, and just discovered that Quilter amps aren’t the typical digital modeling offering that other companies make. I want an analog amp, and I think these meet my requirements. I’ve been using a Yamaha G50-112 II for 40-years, so it probably is due for recapping, but it’s been reliable. My first amp was a Peavey Classic 212, which blew a fuse when a 6L6 shorted, only 2 or 3 years old. This was on one of my very early times out for a jam session, which made me have a bitter opinion on relying on tube gear for playing out. The Yamaha has been good, but it’s a little heavy and I want to start using two amps again for stereo. I like how the Quilter amps respond similarly to a tube amp, in a light weight package. Do the DI Signal outputs have speaker cabinet filtered characteristics? I guess I’ll have to find a local retailer to see which voicing suits me. I’m looking for a clean pedalboard platform to drive just on the edge of compression on peaks.

[@badbrad]

I think the quilter would def get it done for you. I don’t know all the tech specs or the science behind it. The d.i. Out does have some kind of speaker emulation with it as it sounds real good when fed back through a monitor: thanks for chiming in and good luck on the hunt.

[@cubistone]

Most of the amps in the ss fender dynatouch series are worthy contenders for live amps. My amp tech recommended the Stage 100 non dsp in particular and i took his suggestion and ran with it. It taught me how to dial in a ss amp and sit in the mix. Downside is it weighs the same as the fabled Mark series.

[@badbrad]

Have not tried them...interesting...

[@cubistone]

Probably not the rig for players of your caliber. More appropriate for gutter gigs where gear would be stolen from sidewalk load out within seconds.

[@badbrad]

@@cubistone I like budget gear as well...tone is in the hands..

[@cubistone]

@@badbrad ain't that the truth and you're proof of it. But imagine showing up for gigs with First Act rigs.

[@badbrad]

@@cubistone it would be a challenge...

[@liontone]

Definitely a good tool for the toolbox. Recently moved to Dream 65 for gigs where onstage amps were impractical, and it worked great. Paid for itself on the first couple gigs….

[@badbrad]

Yeah I bet that works great!

[@216trixie]

I gig regularly. Been playing tube amps for decades. Just recently put a Quilter power block on my pedal board and now it is my own version of a Kemper No more big amps. I bring a 1x12 cabinet so I can monitor my sound and then I use their IRs out to the PA and it's amazing.

[@badbrad]

It’s great that you found a system that works!

[@ScottArmstrong-b7j]

2 Fender Pro Reverbs Early Silverfaces, one as a backup, since 57 year old stuff breaks. Little lighter than a Twin, sounds great. Sweet spot for old Fenders.

[@badbrad]

I like the vibroluxe reverb

[@timjacobi5672]

My rig for the last 10 years has consisted of a quilter 101 head into a 4x12 Marshall cabinet. It is rock solid, great tone, tough, roadworthy and it just works.

[@badbrad]

Man I bet that sounds great!

[@finishin.my.coffee8780]

I like the UK version of these amps.

[@badbrad]

You're talking about the Cub series...the UK model. Those are cool!

[@sharkair2839]

the guitar player sunday night used that amp, they had to play super quiet. it sounded fabulous even at a really low volume.

[@badbrad]

That's great to hear - it's definitely a cool amp!

[@62StratFender]

Hey Bad Brad you sound great on that Suhr. What are the specs on that guitar? It sounds great with that amp.

[@badbrad]

eddiesguitars.com/product/electric/electric-guitar-categories/solid-body-electric-guitars/suhr-limited-edition-classic-s-metallic-copper-firemist-metallic-13136/

[@62StratFender]

@@badbradThank you so much brother. Keep on rockin’ it!

[@badbrad]

@@62StratFender Will do bro!

[@stichriddle1535]

I have a boss nextone by Roland 50 Dependable brand Simple knob controls Good tone Ability to turn down wattage Onboard reverb and natural overdrive

[@badbrad]

I bet it sounds killer.

[@timolsen8252]

I use the Revv D-20 lunchbox tube amp with built in Speaker sim. Very light, into a 1x12 cab. It’s killer.

[@badbrad]

Now that’s something I would Love to check out….

[@timolsen8252]

@@badbrad I saw Dann Huff had one so I contacted Revv and they gave me the artist price. I have Kingsley preamps that I plug into the efx return and it’s an instant boutique rig. I easily carry my whole rig in one pass to any gig.

[@badbrad]

@@timolsen8252 That sounds great!

[@GuitarStarAcademy]

As a steel/guitar player, this particular quilter is money. The two totally separate channels makes my life so much easier and the quilter amps have been heavy hitters in the steel world for decades

[@badbrad]

It really is. Perfect for steel. I still miss the old Peavey solid state amps tho.

[@wonkastudio-johnny]

some sweet licks my friend !!

[@badbrad]

Thank you!

[@DanielSavage-c6k]

i had a power cube thing tiny loud amp i hated it to the pawn shop it went peavy valve king excelent with pedals

[@drloqutis2492]

More sound examples of this setup please, medium and high gain

[@badbrad]

check out my other video for more in-depth tone demos of this set up.... kzbin.info/www/bejne/j4q7oWydfNCjosU

[@MarkFromHawaii]

I still have a lot of love for my tube amps: Marshall 1987X, Boogie TC50, Fuchs ODS. But they’re just not practical anymore. I use a Boss GX100 with a Headrush FRFR and my back thanks me.

[@badbrad]

That5's what it comes down to. No need to get hurt playing a gig.

[@JOAQUINARMIJO]

I throw the Mic No Mo by freidman amps on all my amps and get a nice xlr direct sound.

[@badbrad]

I need to try that.

[@christopherhunt3961]

I used tube amps for years, but these modeling amps sound amazing.

[@badbrad]

Lots of solid options out there for sure.

[@yaniv-nos-tubes]

hi, i'm a tube guru that works on live gigs .first of all guitar players wouldn't change a thing if things were good but backline amps suck so they went to modellers that simply disappear through the mix just when you need them in the solo parts. the inherent digital compression paired with lack of presence (no speaker )creates a great sound only for the band and the sound guy. the guitar player feels nothing and the crowd is listening to a computer. my solution is upgraded backline amps in big/open venues or the friedman ir x.

[@badbrad]

I hear ya. I traveled on the road with a Huge Rack filled with 3 tube heads. It was Finicky and when it worked sounded glorious. I've also done a ton of fly dates and sometimes the backline amps were ok and sometimes not. The amp demo'd in this video is a Solid State amp. It's lightweight and perfect for us older dudes who got to be careful lugging around heavy equipment. I too had issues with using a modeler live and this for me worked as a solution. Thanks for chiming in and thanks for watching.

[@Instramark]

That has been my exact experience with modelers and rack stuff. Gets lost in the mix. Maybe ok for trio with less to compete with. Worth a try though to have a tube and a non tube solution. I wonder how many out there know the Quilter/QSC history. I replaced all my crown PA amps with QSC and ran them strangled buck naked for a decade with not one issue.

[@MickeyMousehouse]

When you order Pete thorn from wish

[@badbrad]

lol no Temu!

[@WowIndescribable]

Love the Aviators!

[@badbrad]

Yes indeed!

[@chriswallace9387]

Love Quilter amps. Been playing them for years.

[@badbrad]

Right on!

[@rebeccaabraham8652]

Wanted a tube amp - for playing blues and jazz - and ended up with an Orange Crush 20RT; plenty of poke for where I play - and it sounds great. Added a Tank-G recently - and it just works. The KISS principle is alive and well and still applies to guitar rigs - and I'd rather play music than prat around playing with too many options!

[@badbrad]

I hear you loud and clear.

[@HowyDo-s3s]

I guess there are different reasons for tube or transistor, weight for one thing, I use mostly digital amps, they work for me and sound just as good as tube amps but I do use modeling. On another note your stories on music and guitar playing are cool. Where I live music is no big scene but there are a few really good guitar players, one I jammed with I played Bass he played guitar, he use to play in nashville for many famous musicians including Elvis Presley I won't mention his name but he came back home because of traveling and family issues but he said he made good money while on the road.

[@badbrad]

Thanks for sharing. I’m a huge Elvis fan….is it James Burton?

[@mbuby7]

Tubes are unbeatable but I don’t use it live anymore, too heavy and loud. Now I’m using the Headrush with my own monitor. If I have gig on the city(nyc) is a pain in the a$$ to find parking, I take the train and bring my little pedalbard with tonex one and pray for a good soundtech😂

[@badbrad]

Soundcheck is key!

[@johnnyringo8174]

I use a typical pedalboard (volume, wah, ODs, mod effects, etc) into a Synergy preamp into an Eventide H9 and stereo out of it into a solid state Line 6 stereo head into 2 Marshall cabs. No worries about tube amps failing and dead quiet. Never goin' back.

[@badbrad]

Very cool! Lots of different options out there. Sounds like you found one you like!

[@samizdat113]

I use models, plugins, solid state and tube amps and I enjoy them all. The difference to me between digital and tube is like going to the beach vs going to the beach and taking a swim. But with digital you get to go to a crap load of beaches very fast and relatively inexpensively.

[@badbrad]

That's an excellent analogy. Cheers!

[@Tonetwisters]

These transistor amps are sounding better all the time. And what a back saver!

[@badbrad]

Yes indeed!

[@lynoj777]

Great ending message… liked and subscribed 👍

[@badbrad]

Thank you! I appreciate it.

[@lynoj777]

You’re very much welcome 👍

[@Swanlord05]

I hated taking my tube amps and hearing them rattle on the way too the Gigg....i take a marshall mode 4 ......digital amp

[@badbrad]

nice!

[@scottbecker3485]

Interesting! Great to hear real talk by a real (and highly accomplished) player instead of hype or tribalistic belief systems. 😅 Wondering whether the Fender Tone Master Pro - perhaps with an FR 10 or 12 - might also do what you need to do.

[@badbrad]

Well said! I have not tried the Fender Tone master. Would love to:

[@fumanpoo4725]

I had a Carvin in the 80sbthat sounded awesome, but the tubes died regularly.

[@badbrad]

Oh man

[@stevebrunner755]

Brad love the Suhr

[@badbrad]

It rocks! Thank you

[@crazywisdom2]

IF your house was on fire, and you could only grab one guitar ; which one would it be. Vid Please. Thank you.

[@badbrad]

I would try and grab a bunch and probably get caught in the blaze...

[@michaelmoore7975]

You wouldn't mind telling me where that ditch might be, would you?

[@badbrad]

Lol

[@scotpetri7630]

Tasty phrases Brad. Just vibey af

[@badbrad]

Thank you!

[@trep53]

I’m kind of glad the solid state amps are available in such a wide variety. I’ve lost interest in tube amps long time ago actually about the time massive solid state PA systems came out. Made huge tube amps unnecessary or irrelevant. So get a good solid state amp before the prices go up and sell your vintage tube amp before their prices fall. I saw Tommy Emanuel recently and he only had a tiny preamp feeding the PA.

[@badbrad]

You just might be on to something!

[@sammyrothrock6981]

Quilter make great amps! 👍

[@badbrad]

Yes they do!

[@RulgertGhostalker]

i don't like modelers. but i have to be honest with myself, if i can't even afford to change a set of vacuum tubes on a reasonably regular basis, then i certainly can't afford a tube amp. i can't afford a quilter either.. so i am pretty happy with my Tech 21 Mop Top Liverpool, because most affordable solid-state amps don't have the kind of circuitry that Quilters do.

[@badbrad]

I hear ya! It’s all about what’s the best solution for you! Tech 21 makes great stuff!

[@beauno83]

The price of tubes is what is steering me away from tube amps. Way over priced since the scamdemic. Been looking at that UAD lion and solid state amps in general. I'm wanting a super small 7 pedal board setup that is robust. I can see that Lion in there.

[@badbrad]

I hear ya bro!

[@davidellefson4556]

Roland jc with mxr fullbore metal boom 💥

[@badbrad]

👍🏻

[@RnRanimal]

fizz fan

[@badbrad]

Thanks for watching!

[@Spritsailor]

I'm going to have to check with my bass players union to see if you're allowed to play bass. 😆

[@badbrad]

LOL

[@musiccreation1198]

Tone Block 202 + modeler is stellar

[@badbrad]

I will have to try that.

[@musiccreation1198]

​@@badbrad From what I can tell, the TB202, Freyette, or a Seymour Duncan PowerStage helps a LOT, in terms of getting some "amp feel" from a modeler.

[@badbrad]

For live playing no doubt!@@musiccreation1198

[@JackNiles]

Yea Quilter sounds good

[@badbrad]

Yea it does!

[@tjnugent62]

I have several amps. A Tone Master Deluxe is the only digital amp. I have 5 tube amps from a 412 Marshall 15 Watt amp as well a super modded Fender Excelsior, which sounds great now, a Suhr Hombre, which is a dead ringer for a 61 Brown Panel Deluxe. A Fender Vibro Champ Reverb, and a Fender Princeton with a Webber 10" Ceramic magnet speaker. I love that amp. Bottom line, too many. lol. I have had Marshalls die on me at gigs. Several times. Not so much with Fender or Vox.

[@badbrad]

Funny you should say that. I’ve had two Marshall’s die on me on gigs, A DSL combo and a silver jubilee combo. Love the way Marshall’s sound but not good luck with their newer products. Thanks for tuning in and great to hear about your amps! I do love tube amps.

[@tjnugent62]

I had a early Plexi die on a gig. I beat the hell out of that amp. The other two were DSL40 Combo and the replacement died quickly as well. I gave up on depending on a Marshall, but after that experience, it is front and center in my mind when I am on my way to a gig. @@badbrad

[@badbrad]

I hear ya there. Yeah I had a Mesa give me problems too. You don't forget when the gear lets you down that's for sure!@@tjnugent62

[@NoCoverCharge]

You will have to pry my Marshall from my dying hands … just so no to ir crap!

[@badbrad]

I hear ya brother.

[@shredding51]

If Pete Thorn and Dave Friedman had a kid 😂. Sorry bro, sounds good!

[@badbrad]

I like both those guys!

[@brandnewyou5254]

Too bad you didn't run people around in circles and just gave them the facts hell you made a pretty decent interesting video and I think you could have kept people enthralled with all kinds of little things

[@badbrad]

Beating around the bush has never been my strong suit.

[@guitardude1981]

Ernie ball music man luke 3 into a line 6 helix for me.

[@badbrad]

Sweet!

[@officialWWM]

Dude, is that your real hair? 😂

[@badbrad]

You’re a little slow, yeah it’s my real hair and you’re a troll.

[@officialWWM]

@@badbrad it’s a genuine question. I think it’s time you left that style back in the 80s 😂

[@badbrad]

Bro this is nothing like My 80’s hair. You’re still kinda slow.

[@officialWWM]

@@badbrad you sound kinda triggered. There’s nothing worse than an aging rocker that won’t grow old disgracefully like the rest of us 😂

[@badbrad]

Bro It’s like the lamest troll comment that I get on this channel, who cares what anyone’s scalp looks like it’s about music and the message .

[@squirelova1815]

If I forget to take my Probiotics...I too "...Sound like Ass all night."

[@badbrad]

Lmao the “brown” sound

[@rosewoodsteel6656]

I'll stick with my 1960's blackface Fenders, thank you

[@badbrad]

I can’t say I blame you. Cheers!

[@jamesday5636]

Harp players: Its tubes are nothing, analog sounds like shit.

[@badbrad]

I would agree absolutely there....that's part of the sound...low wattage tube amp cranked.

[@truescotsman4103]

I prefer a small tube combo. If you're going to carry an amp might as well be tube otherwise just switch to a modeler.

[@badbrad]

I hear ya! I still got my tube amps and when I need em I bring ‘em out.

[@truescotsman4103]

@@badbrad why would you choose a solid state amp over a tube amp if they both are basically the same size and the same amount of trouble to move around? Serious question I'm just wondering. I use a modeler for the studio but if I'm live I really need to have that transient attack that tube amps offer. I've been known to bring two half stacks to shows but a lot of times I'll settle for a 112 combo. Depends on the venue depends on what I'm allowed to bring depends on how I'm feeling that day. If I can bring two half stacks I'll do it. If I have to bring a modeler I'll do that. For me it's all about whatever works best for the situation.

[@badbrad]

I agree with you. I use what's best for the situation and sometimes the Tube amp is the obvious choice. I do prefer it. But I'm 57 years old and making load in and out easy is important. The quilter weighs much less than my tube amps and there have been times where I've tweaked my back just pulling the tube amp out of the trunk. Another situation...let's say there is no ramp into the venue and the stage is up a flight of stairs....at that point I'm glad my amp is light. The majority of the stuff I'm doing live these days is clean tone to edge of breakup all night. So those tones are easily covered with the Quilter. Again it's one of my options but for what I'm doing it works great. @@truescotsman4103

[@truescotsman4103]

@@badbrad I'm 59. I have a dolly. I'll pay someone.

[@alchemysticgoldmind4164]

Sans amps

[@badbrad]

They were one of the firsts….

[@LaverneCornett]

Loop

[@badbrad]

Goop

[@Yury5576]

Are you sure? You seem to be looking for public approval on a controvercial topic. I tried a Quilter, also a bunchh sims. Still have a Tonex, but tried all the big ones. Put them next to an amp and I immediately go back to amps. Not just tube ones, some SS. But thats me. Your needs may vary and if a sim is what you prefer - good for you. But you seem to be justifying your decision. Or fishing for likes?

[@badbrad]

I’m not using a sim I’m using an amp…I hear what you’re saying and am absolutely fishing for likes that’s what KZbin is all about! Thanks for chiming in! I appreciate you!

[@Flaseflag911insidejob]

F... D class amps.. try getting them fixed if something goes wrong.

[@badbrad]

I hear what your saying…

[@badbrad]

I hear ya but most of the tube amps built nowadays aren't that easy to fix either and a lot of em aren't built to last.

[@Flaseflag911insidejob]

@@badbrad With all due respect that's Bull. Tube amp design is tube amp design , stuff may be on a board rather than hand wired and there can be issues with heat if tubes are mounted on the board.. but I have yet to know of any tube amp that can not be repaired or modified. I have had a D class amp at a highly reputable repair shop[ for well over 9 months, and after all the effort they made to fix it they say its impossible to reset the setting in order that it will not overheat and break again. Often a whole main board has to be replaced and that's, if you can get one.They simply are not at all easy to repair. Many repair shops will not even touch D class amps.

[@badbrad]

I hear ya. Some tube amps are easier to repair than others and some designs are better than others, have you seen the new Gibson Flacon amps? Good chance the whole circuit board gets toasted on those. I would imagine the Blackstar St. James tube amps might be a tough repair...I've heard techs complain about Mesa and Blackstar as far as being difficult to repair. @@Flaseflag911insidejob

[@Flaseflag911insidejob]

@@badbrad Difficult to repair is not the same as can not repair. I currently have a . I think it was around £500? D class bass amp that is toast . I am also looking at another D class amp/combo for sale that was originally £350 for under £30 or best offer needing repair and no one wants it.