Reproduction of acoustic instruments with tube amp


I'm a "SS guy" looking to get a tube amp to play with. My biggest complaint with the tube amps that I have heard is that acoustic instruments don't sound real to me. Is this a common perception or have I just not heard a good tube amp? What design and/or type of output tubes should I look for if I want good reproduction of acoustic instruments? Any links to some docs on this topic would be appreciated as well. My budget is under $2k, speakers are 4ohm, 87dB but I don't need a lot of power (apartment). Thanks.
dburdick

Showing 1 response by onhwy61

It's always been my understanding that an amplifier is supposed to reproduce its input signal regardless of whether it was originally an acoustic instrument or not. Acoustic instruments are not inherently more complex than their electronic counterparts. A Les Paul thru an original Mesa Boogie should sound different than a Telecaster thru a Vox AC30. Electric pianos do not sound like real acoustic pianos, but a good amplifier (tube or solid state) should be able to reproduce the sonic differences between a Wurlitzer and a Fender Rhodes.

Dburdick, in direct response to your question, give the Mesa Baron a try. It's within your budget (used), produces relatively large amounts of power and gives the user the ability to tailor the sound. Best of luck.