high power tube amps vs ss

Yes, I'm aware of that. Hence my reference to a mono amp, specifically one intended for music playback. I was responding to his prior comparison. I'm thinking not a lot of effort is put into ss guitar amp design.

While many guitarist swear by tubes there is a sizable group of solid state amplifiers. The Roland Jazz Chorus is a widely used solid state amp. The Line 6 DSP based amps also have a following. The blues giant Albert King used a solid state Acoutic brand amp with his Flying V guitar. Additionally, most bass guitar amps are solid state.

Guitar amps can have one or two channels. Typically the channels are not used together for stereo, but as two mono channels, one "clean" and the other "dirty". In live performances some guitarist use multiple amps in conjunction with stereo effects processors to achieve a stereo guitar sound. There are a very limited number amps that do this within a single chassis, the before mentioned Roland being one and I believe Gallien & Krueger made a few models.

I agree that music production is different in concept than music reproduction, but at one time Allan Holdsworth used VTL Tiny Triode for amplification. I'm actually a little surprised that tube high end manufacturers haven't branched out into instrument amp production in large numbers.

Wow,, what great responses!!! Sorry I haven’t gotten back to this thread sooner but was gone for a couple of days.

The speakers I use now are Dynaudio T2.5, they are rated at 6 ohms, but I don't know the sensitivity, probably less than 90db. I am looking at Tyler MM5 speakers at this time. Ty has a new version of the MM5 coming out but I don't know it's sensitivity either. The AR9's are down at my shop and I use a PA amp for those. I had been an AR fan from the early 70's.

High efficiency speakers would make life a lot easier, but I thought those type of speakers sounded shrill and thin. It may be because I have only heard them with ss amps. Over the last couple of years I’ve attended some of the audio shows and have listened to high efficiency speakers that sounded great. Most if not all powered by tube amps.

If I go with the MM5 that will have a lot to do with what I end up with for amps. What some of you have said about the advantages of smaller power tube amps compared to higher power tube amps makes sense to me. The cost of tubes, the heat generated and the time it takes to warm up are all things I need to consider, but I do love the sound of some tube amp systems I’ve heard.

If this was an easy decision I would not have ask for all your wise and esteemed opinions.

Onhwy61,
I did have a SS guitar once for a few months A GK 250ML. The cabinet was metal and built like a tank!! Very interesting little amp. It screamed!
Csontos,
And yes, this GK amp was stereo, 50 watts,
I believe.
I am unaware of any other stereo guitar amps, but I would not doubt that others do exist.

Okay, let me try this again. I was referring to a home stereo ss amp, preferably a mono one. I tried a Denon with my guitar years ago. It sounded pretty good.