why tube amp players go digital

[@BillDutton]

I enjoy the digital stuff but I've recently gone back to playing my tube amps. Just bought a new '62 Fender Deluxe clone and a Tone King Ironman II Mini attenuator / loadbox. I'm back to loving the tone and feel of playing my tube amps (Fender Princeton & Dr Z Maz 18 Jr and the new Deluxe). Now I can choose a genuine tube amp & IR or go fully digital. What a wealth of great options we have! Thanks Mike for another great video.

[@AdamMiller-m2h]

Bro, I get pumped every time I see a new post from you

[@Guitarjosii]

I've always been a dedicated tube amp player, but the UAFX pedals are the first and so far only modeling amps that have made me turn to digital alternatives more and more often. At least the Lion and the Dream have really convinced me. They make sense for larger stages in particular. At small club gigs, you're often dependent on the noise from the stage, or the first rows of people in the audience just hear the drums. An FRFR doesn't really help here, which is why I send the signal from the UAFX pedals through a power amplifier with the Cabsim deactivated in order to operate a regular guitar cabinet. However, tube power amps give much better results here than solid state. So I might as well take a “real” tube amp with me to the gig. But I really enjoy the Lion68 and Dream65 for home recording. With the same IR on the DI signal, the Lion sounds almost identical to my SV20 plexi via a loadbox. I even made a comparison video and you can hear almost no difference.

[@dmock66]

That S2 Custom 24-08 is STUNNING!

[@hunterofthemystic]

I know that when its in a mix, only a hardcore audiophile will be able to tell the difference. If the pedal gets 90% there then it is gold

[@jonahcaulton8208]

show up to a place without a pa then you'll see why people actually use real amps

[@LodvarDude]

The "hardcore audiophiles" wont be able to tell a difference either.

[@arnolddealiii4259]

I have been a guitar player for 26 years. I used to always go for the big amp. 40 watts in my mind was optimum for playing out. In the last 2-5 years it came obvious to me a few observation. 1) sound guy always makes me turn down. 2). I’m 43 now and I don’t want to lug amps around that also weigh 43 pounds! 3) my best paying gigs are super small places where I have no room for an amp. That made me realize it’s time to go direct. I took a baby step and got a Boss Katana MKII 100. Loved it, I could go direct or use the speaker. But it doesn’t fit on the stage in one of the places we go. So I’m sporting a ToneX one now. Haven’t used it live but it’s my way forward. I’ve used processors at church before so I am no novice to silent stage. But for me I think my amp days are over. I’ve been really happy with the tonex and a few pedals. Loading up for practice is supper easy. I even have a battery pedal power supply so I don’t even need a power outlet!

[@renderorange]

100%. I’ve been getting some really nice sounds from digital pedals lately. The best part, IMO, is I can switch out the amp pedal at the end of my chain, change up my settings, and can get a completely different sound altogether. Follow up with a Harley Benton power pedal into a cab and I’m loud.

[@maxganschinietz5098]

My heart, my soul and my physical me were melting We fr need a compilation of you just playing presets, amps, guitars, pedals you like

[@darthresch952]

This was really educational. I love these videos! Thank you!

[@areallyboredguy5825]

8:20 Helix, HX stomp, you have your models and you have a ton of mics with literally thousands of positions regarding on x and z axis.

[@M4rV89]

Very cool video as usual. You’re one of the most interesting KZbinr in the game right now! Can I ask you something? Can you show us the signal chain you usually use with digital amplifiers? I'm only asking because I think the hardest part of playing with digital systems is having a proper listening experience that gives you that feeling of the “amp in the room”, if you know what I mean.

[@ShreddingFinn]

This is the one UA pedal I want

[@billcoonley319]

It all comes back to using whatever works for you. There were some great tones coming from that Lion Box.

[@EpicAstro22]

4:35 Speaking of Amp pedals, The Edge from U2 uses them to recreate a VOX AC30 or Fender Amp at the Sphere in Vegas recently, believe it or not (instead of having a bunch of physical amps underneath the stage)! How far we have come!

[@julienfournier7289]

If I recall well, Mike mentioned it in his video about the UA Ruby.

[@EpicAstro22]

@@julienfournier7289 Gotcha! I'm new to his channel. Actually started watching that vid now, and I just heard him talk about it. lol

[@willjam3068]

Joe Walsh had his pedalboard flying overhead up on the big display during the Eagles’ Sphere shows, he was using Woodrow Dream Ruby Lion and what looked like a prototype Enigmatic all on his board 😅

[@hamburger-n5p]

Psh, you’re not a Marshall. Would the real Marshall please stand up?

[@willlowmusic]

and what are those lovely lovely lamps in the background?

[@medved3027]

FWIW, I owned AxeFX since it first came out, but I could never dial it in to my liking. I think the effects in it are great, and the amp sims are great too, but the whole cab story gives people far too much rope, so to speak. And that rope got even more abundant with Dyna-Cab, it's now even harder to "find" truly great tone. That is not a problem UA gear suffers from. I got the tone I wanted from UA OX the first day I owned it. From there I just captured a profile into my Neural DSP Cortex and called it a day - with minimal tweaks that tone was dead on. I rarely turn on my tube amps now, mostly just to capture another profile for some song. I do still own them, though. I got most of them fairly cheap off Craigslist, and they cover a ton of ground.

[@James-eg3nf]

There’s a place for both, and it depends on the venue. Some places are very strict and want no amps at all (everyone has to be on in-ears), others are more laid back and allow real amps on stage. I much prefer having the venue mic my small tube amp, but I’m also ok with digital solutions. Also it’s quite liberating being able to just throw my Line6 Pod Express into my gig bag instead of entire amp/effects rig, and it makes no difference to the audience.

[@FrederickCouch]

I live in an 1100 sqft townhome. Pretty much software, Tonex, and Positive grid are my go-tos. I bought a spark cab, but its just too loud for where I live. So I mostly use a Spark40 or my laptop. Xtone Pro all the way! You should do a video on the Xtone Pro with something like Bias or Amplitube. Its a really cool piece of kit. Thanks for your videos, you have really helped in a lot of gear decisions for me.

[@eduardoaugusto1549]

definetly get going on the prs story! great video!

[@hawkcrossfamily]

I have Marshall DSL1 and origin 20 heads. I attenuate them, otherwise, way too loud. I wish I could crank, but no. They sound great, even attenuated. If I want to record, I have two options: TwoNotes Opus (can run my amps through directly and utilize IR to the attenuator or it has built in amps sims/cabs) or The UA Lion. So they are useful but probably not as ideal of studio recording a cranked, miked Marshall, but that’s not always feasible. Some of these digital amps are impressive. I like the UA because you really just focused on a single amp and I can run my pedals in front. Not too many options to get lost in to get a good sound. I am thinking about their dumble one next…

[@PrimitiveNoiseVideos]

I have a Friedman IR-X pedal, and the analog tubes in it really make the sound and feel more believable to me when compared to all-digital pedals. However, I just picked up a Nano Cortex, and I think I may have finally found an all-digital winner.

[@Hentarded]

I own the Lion, and I bought it to get a cranked marshall without shattering my eardrums. It's probably the best sounding marshall pedal on the market, but noticeably lacks the features of it's competitors (Strymon and Boss). Lack of Headphone out for example is bizarre. The Bluetooth, whilst not a deal-breaker, is cumbersome and they had the option to connect to PC app via USB-C (like for the firmware updates). Again, sounds amazing, but understand the criticisms. It's perfect for me, bedroom playing, but beyond that maybe it does have limitations.

[@DobDog151]

Gotta get ‘em all! I have 2 UA pedals and they’re great. Also just bought my first tube Marshall. It’s great too. Get what works and what you like.

[@rev.leonidasw.smiley6300]

Tube amps can produce full wave tones. I love my Blues Jr.

[@pietropastori2004]

I have a dream 65. Best thing I’ve ever bought

[@alchemysticgoldmind4164]

LES PAUL..for the Marshall 😓

[@SirAntBo]

🫣Man

[@ianngalbraith]

Hey Mike, have you tried the Simplifier from DSM Humboldt? I got rid of my fractal and went back to a tube amp/pedalboard but picked up the Simplifier MK2 for headphone practice at night. All analog save for the digital plate reverb. Gives an option for vox/fender/marshall flavor in pre/power amp as well as cab/speaker. Pretty great piece of engineering. Tones but more importantly the feel is great. And takes pedals real well. E curious if you have or would try.

[@GGprods-o2x]

Lmfao, you been popping up with all the stuff I been getting. The pacifica pro, and now the uafx pedals. I just got the anti, enegmatic, and knuckles. Love using them for so many things not just guitar.

[@jbrogan]

Really good video. You make these things very interesting!

[@Brianbo4]

Love my Vox ac 15 for home playing and can get it pretty nice sounding at low volumes as a pedal platform. That being said, I typically run the Ruby at home with in ears / headphones or monitor speakers now that I have a 4 month old. Amp always feels sweeter but can’t really tell the difference on recordings. Life is way easier with the Ruby as well

[@Thorgnor]

When I was recording, I didn't have the budget or the freedom of volume for a JCM800 and a pair of 1965 cabs all mic'ed up and ready to go. A good amp modeler with cab options is an excellent option. It boils down to what YOU the guitarist wants or needs. No one can decide for you.

[@OmarBhoo]

Im all digital and solid state man. I started playing in the 90's so my first amp was a Line 6 Spider 2. I actually cannot gel with tubes now.

[@MorfMusic]

Average listener in both a live and headphone situation won't tell the difference If an amp sim pedal / gear piece can get to like, 75% of an amp, but weigh literally 40lbs less, any working musician should be attracted to the idea

[@joeshoe6184]

The "average listener" argument has always been strange to me. Like the average listener might not be able to tell if you're playing or singing out of key. Does that mean being in key doesn't matter? Ultimately, there's only one person who's opinion I care about when it comes to my tone, and that's me. Definitely not some random "average listener". I do agree about the wieght/convenience factor tho.

[@orsmagyari245]

I've experimented with some combos/amps, I've settled for an Orange Crush 20. It sounded crappy, but after I changed the 8 inch speaker to a 10 inch 50W Celestion VT Junior, I'm keeping this one.

[@bobboitt3126]

I use a Spark 40 at home ( a small apt) I love my Princeton Reverb Tube amp for any gig where I can turn up the volume. Years ago I had a Marshall half stack A group of us used to play at a friends farm 😂 The volume was glorious

[@shanewalton8888]

Love the BassBreaker

[@julirichmond3]

Those pedals into the front of the first channel on the Fender Super Champ X2 with a speaker swap. Enjoy I have a Hughes and Kettner Tube Factor (green channel pedal going into a Boss Fender Basman pedal before the Super Champ. Delicious

[@dennyblackstar5022]

Babe, wake up. A new Mike Cole video dropped 🫳

[@Michel-r6m]

Digital nowadays can offer a great alternative to an amp. The TCE Combo Deluxe '65 is on my radar 😅

[@truthfactreality6814]

I urge you to try the Friedman irx ird and irj preamp pedals. They kick digital butt. They feel is incredible.

[@deanbartone8187]

Hey Mike, these pedals have a place like you said it all depends on the player. I am not opposed to them. I don’t use them, but I’m definitely open minded but thank you for the video.

[@michaeldschutte]

I sold my amps and pedals after I got a Quad Cortex. If you take the time to learn how to use it you can get great tones. Hence so many touring artists going with modellers and capture units nowadays.

[@AlexTapisevic]

You can perfectly made a video tittled Why digital amp players go tube...

[@geraldjenkins7719]

How about doing a segment on what amps and affects The Edge from U2 uses???

[@joshuapadla]

NAM has been a godsend for me that's broke as heck.

[@phunkyjunkee]

Tonex One -> wet effects -> Boss IR2 (with York irs) 👌

[@DahonDroca]

I went digital but im back to tubes

[@Jm03116]

We want to know about the PRS story!

[@LeschekOfLechia]

Answering the thumbnail question - no, they don’t

[@montyellingsworth4982]

In a Church situation I almost always play with my board direct in so any digital modeler would be great in that spot. If go down to the Jam there are 2 decent tube amps there and I prefer them over any Helix or ANY Modeler. With the soon release of ToneX Cab... I am considering selling my Dr.Z and getting a tone x and mostly going digital except maybe... I'm like 99% sure it would work but I might want to try one in person of that becomes possible. I love the idea of the UA Pedals but many reviews talk about a buzz and with each pedal being at least over $300 I cant get em all.

[@simonfreer9076]

My ruby cost me the same price as my last ac30 spa day…….which was only about 14 months from its last spa day…….which was only 16 months prior……….. My ac 30 cost less than its services, Ruby was a no brainer with the increased price of tubes.

[@jimonaldo3108]

I just got the VST versions of 3 of the UA amp recreations and they sound amazing, and you can get them $99 bucks where as each pedal is gonna be like several hundred dollars each so I would be interested if you need a good amp sound in a VST form (which i've had trouble finding for cheap)

[@bobbyarthur-yf3yf]

Ya I have dream and Ruby but still bought all 3 plug ins on sale 83 bucks .. picking up the enigmatic today as just arrived from my order … and I’m a die hard tube guy … but these have arrived and I didn’t think the day would come … still love my ox as well .. curious to try some of the origin options as well

[@ray_maestro_]

I'm looking into getting the Dream 65. I'd like to see how the dream 65 takes pedals. like a tumnus.

[@geoffspakes]

I have a TC Electronics Combo Deluxe 65 and love it. So simple, does what it needs to do and takes pedals wonderfully.

[@tigertuft]

takes pedals fine, like an amp. I've used lots through mine and never had a problem.

[@pdellarocca2735]

I run a JRockett Archer (also a Klon based pedal) into a Dream 65 and it sounds and feels great

[@ray_maestro_]

@@geoffspakes awesome. Right now I have a boss katana and I want the clean channel do be a greater model of a deluxe reverb. And I want to use a clon pedal at high gain to add crunch when I want that sound. I have a protein for my blues/rock ish gain.

[@ray_maestro_]

@@tigertuft great. I love the crunch of a clon style pedal when the gain is up high. Because sometime I want the roar and scream but not necessarily a super hard rock sound. Just a healthy crunch that F’n rocks. I seen “That Pedal Show” and they showed a Tumnus and archer into a deluxe reverb and I love how they got that higher gain sound out of a clean amp. It was beautiful 😂

[@mani3641]

we want a radiohead equipment review video

[@jimmcdougall9973]

Yes, I have been down that road, and been burnt. It would have been great to hear this pedal, based on a classic amp, with a classic guitar (Strat or LP). The PRS just sounds wrong imho.

[@AlecHolman]

You should really try the Joyo American Amp Sim. Its 40 bucks and I honestly think it sounds awesome!!! Compare it to the UA Dream? I would really love to see that video

[@benallmark9671]

Great cheap pedal !

[@benallmark9671]

@ great point.

[@krisrhebergen]

Digital pedals don’t bother me but I’ve been getting rid of my digital amps. Only one left is my line 6 75 watt but it was my first amp so I wouldn’t mind keeping it haha

[@Metro_Gnome]

Tube amps are cheaper and better especially when you factor in how cheap a jhs black box is

[@Êrnië_Båll100]

It's not either-or. If you keep on playing guitar long enough, you will surely go through all different flavors of technology.. analog and digital amps, modellers, captures, software, pedals etc. And its all good. (but expensive).

[@zacharyanderson276]

UA pedals are awesome. I want them!

[@GuyNarnarian]

The Lion rules

[@alraymond1618]

I have tried many of these pedals with the (naive) hope of simply using it as a pedal on my board and going direct to amp. It never works out well that way. I've returned or sold every one.

[@michaeldschutte]

It's supposed to go direct to mixer, not to an amp

[@alraymond1618]

@@michaeldschutte I know...but it is still disappointing that I cannot use it direct to amp.. ;-(

[@PowerLiesToParalyze]

Absolutely great video!

[@Tonetwisters]

My sons gave me a Spark 2 for BD# 77. COOL little piece. I will use it for quiet headphone playing and to learn stuff. But trust me ... Digital gizmos will NEVER replace my TWO BF Super Reverbs; My BF Showman; my BF Bandmaster. My brownface Bandmaster. My silverface Twin Reverb; My silverface Deluxe Reverb. OR, my 1996 Blues Deluxe. You young guys are gettin' scammed by some kiddygardners who are destroying Fender.

[@NewHopeAudio]

Nice home alone reference lol. I don’t think anyone’s getting scammed- I think for the applications like in this video, they’re perfectly suitable for most people.

[@DannyBrooks1]

I’ll never go digital!

[@ColonelRPG]

I own a DSL40CR and I get perfectly good tones to play on my room that shares a wall of the neighbor's room. A Master Volume does wonders.

[@annabelleattwood]

Cool

[@hansvandenhurk7497]

Most go back again to analogue…

[@Ckopp123]

3 minutes ago is crazy work

[@DavidMadeira29]

That's why going live nowadays ain't really easier, unless you'd be cheating the fixed playlist on a muted midi guitar and I don't like that. Namastè.

[@wadedavis4437]

You don't see the pros going digital. They still have their rigs in place and as big as ever. It's the soy boys who can't lift a amp that are all out digital and they are being talked into it by marketing. Also be original. Then you will never have to sound like everybody and have everybody's rig. Just be you.