WT?

[WGTP]

I know this has come up before, but we constantly badmouth SS amps, but 99% of our distortion circuits that we use to fix the SS problem are SS.   

[Peter Snowberg]

Isn't it funny?!? 

[Doug_H]

I've got a 50W yamaha ss 1x12 combo I bought in 1982. It was probably 10yrs since I tried the distortion channel on it but a few months ago I tried it out again and was pleasantly surprised. After all these years fooling with pedals and tube amps, that "ss" distortion sound was not bad- not bad at all.  It doesn't have the gain & response of some of the pedals and amps we build, but the tone is actually pretty good. I finally found a way to set up the para EQ I really like. I give it a narrow kick at 100hz and it gives that little open-back a nice "4x12-like" resonance.

Doug

[aron]

My Pignose Crossmix 150R was one of the best distortion amps I used. I did have to use the Purple Peaker with it, but man it was great. I still want to build a pedal version of it.

[ildar]

It occurs to me the whole ss vs. tube debate suffers from the same disease as some of the "best od pedal" debates. Simply a matter of taste. Tube amps sound different than ss-better or worse is in the ear of the beholder.
I've had a few great ss amps-my 1st "real" amp back in 1982, which was a Peavey Special, and in 1988 a Carvin SX100 1-12" combo that was tits. A few years ago I owned a Peavey XXL head that I really miss, damn you ebay. A few cool hybrid amps, too.
Only a closed-minded type would think ss automatically means crap.

[burnt fingers]

This debate will go on forever.  I am a tube guy.  When I want the sound I want, it means tubes.  That being said, I also have a Line6 SpiderII which I have used at gigs and it's pretty good.  I'v also used my Boss OD through a clean fender and it's really good.  I think there is room enough on the plate for all of it.  I have moments where nothing but my blackface bandmaster pushed to the limit will do.  For the metal, nothing beats the Mesa MKIV.  And there are sometimes where I am totally into the Blues model on the Spider.  It's like eating out.  You've got a favorite restaraunt, but you eat and enjoy your meal and many restaraunts.

Scott