What's the worst tube amp you've ever heard?

[Chuck H]

I replied to your Q on the thread you referenced. But I'd like to say that it's probably not helping anyone when you re-animate a thread that's over a year old without making a contribution to the subject matter. But instead redirect viewers to your new thread. Maybe we can let this enormous tome of a thread rest in peace.

[soundguruman]

I thought, just to be fair, that it might be fun to have a list of the worst tube amps, especially since the general concensus is that they are great.

Nothing beats the Dulcine whine of the Roland Jazz Chorus, or the Sunn Beta Lead. They both sound like a jet plane with Asthma. When you said "worst," if you are talking least reliable, it's Crate.

[soundguruman]

Hey Bob,

What's not to like about Messy Boogers - they're only overpriced, cheaply made, a serviceman's nightmare and built by a guy who claims to have invented - and tried to patent - everything including the weak nuclear force! But please notice the "most" that I placed before referring to them. After all, there is the one that you have and perhaps another one or two out there <grin>.

Rob

That amp wins "most arrogant" before it wins "most overcrowded circuit board." And then the nomination for "most likely to arch and burn fiberglass award" goes to Mr. Smith.
Thomas Edison falsely claimed to have invented the light bulb too, I see the similarities...

[soundguruman]

Hey Bob,

What's not to like about Messy Boogers - they're only overpriced, cheaply made, a serviceman's nightmare and built by a guy who claims to have invented - and tried to patent - everything including the weak nuclear force! But please notice the "most" that I placed before referring to them. After all, there is the one that you have and perhaps another one or two out there <grin>.

Rob

This amp wins "most arrogant" award,
I nominate this amp for "most overcrowded circuit board"
I also nominate Mr. Smith for: "most likely to arch and burn fiberglass."
Thomas Edison falsely claimed to have invented the lightbulb too. I see similarities...

[J M Fahey]

Typical of Mr Soundguruman:
in a thread asking about TUBE amps he mentions Roland Jazz Chorus, Sunn Beta Leads and Crates, ALL of them SOLID STATE.

I guess the copious New Year´s Eve libations (in plain English: overtoasting) are taking their toll.

Oh well, worst headache there is.

Strong coffe and a few aspirin sometimes help (if you can keep them inside, that is)

Have a Happy 2012 Mr Guru!, we are all here waiting for your pearls of wisdom.

Yup, 2012 .... please check it.

Yes, I´m sure.

Oh ! ... you are SURE I´m wrong?

Ok, ok, fine with me.

[soundguruman]

worst tube amp?
is that an oxymoron?
When you said worst, I could only think of solid state (sorry).

[Chuck H]

Nothing beats the Dulcine whine of the Roland Jazz Chorus, or the Sunn Beta Lead. They both sound like a jet plane with Asthma. When you said "worst," if you are talking least reliable, it's Crate.

Yeah. Those are pretty awful tube amps. Might be the lack of tubes that's the cause.

[Chuck H]

worst tube amp?
is that an oxymoron?
When you said worst, I could only think of solid state (sorry).

There's another thread about the "best solid state amp". Look it up for an insightful read. But it's another enormous thing like this one. Still... IMHO the best solid state amps DO sound better than the worst tube amps. Transistor or tube, they're all just unsuspecting amplifiers subject to poor design. In at least this regard they're equal.

[JoeM]

Since when is a Roland Jazz chorus amp a bad sounding tube amp? It's a CLEAN sounding SS amp. I've heard Pat Martino sound pretty good through one.

[Noiseyb1rd]

I haven't many amp before. But I can a sure you an amp that doesn't suck! ROL-75B from Rollins Guitar.

I shall never depart..
I shall never depart

lol. Got it on EBay btw

[59bassman]

I picked up Teisco Checkmate for $5 at a yard sale a long time ago.
What a nauseating little thing! Probably could have done SOMEthing with it, but didn't even want to try.
Brad1

Was your Teisco a Tube or SS??

I purchased my Audition amp (Teisco) in Woolworths store in UK for £30 in 1973. Was listed as 15W amp, but this is most likely 15 'music watts'. This pic in links is as it is today and all works perfectly except the pilot bulb has blown! Damn and it is just out of warranty too!

The original Speaker was a 12" Mitsubishi unit that also featured in some Guyatones and on close inspection of some pics, seems shares same componentry so I wonder if Teisco also made Guyatones too? The Silver Face Reverb Jazz (GA1100) model was as good as the Fender Twin it copied - sound and aesthetics.

MyAudition amp is a bit rubbish sounding by today's standards. Is solid state with germanium transistors. One weirdness is that if you turn the volume down to 'just audible' you get a great germanium-driven fuzz/OD! Original era Germanium fuzz units are much sought after and cost $$££! BUT its Reverb and Tremolo are superb as are the aesthetics which loosely follow Fender Blackface Bassman piggy back units. I use its ply cab with either a Celestion V30 or Eminence Cannabis Rex now for use with my Cornford or other Fender and Pignose quality valve amps...!

When I was 16 my mates would crash round and 2 guitars and a Bass would all plug into each of the 3 inputs and thrash...

Suffice to say, that although I seem to revere it, it is the worst amp I have owned by comparison, but not so bad that during its nearly 40 years with me I thought about dumping it!



Teisco info here:

Teisco Twanger's Paradise - home of vintage Teisco guitars

[59bassman]

I picked up Teisco Checkmate for $5 at a yard sale a long time ago.
What a nauseating little thing! Probably could have done SOMEthing with it, but didn't even want to try
Brad1

- Was your Teisco Checkmate a Tube or SS model??

I purchased my Audition (Otherwise a Teisco - Chekcmate 21 is closest US model) solid state amp new in 1973 from Woolworth store in UK for £30. Was listed as 15W amp, but this is most likely 15 'music watts'. This pic is as it is today and all works perfectly except the pilot bulb has blown! Damn and it is just out of warranty too! The original Speaker was a 12" Mitsubishi unit that also featured in some Guyatones and on close inspection of some pics, seems shares same componentry so I wonder if Teisco also made Guyatones too? The Guyatone 'Reverb Jazz' (GA-1100) model is a direct copy of a Silver Face Fender Twin Reverb and it matches it for both sound and aesthetic... Check Youtube...

My Audition amp is a bit rubbish sounding by today's standards. Is solid state with germanium transistors. One weirdness is that if you turn the volume down to 'just audible' you get a great germanium-driven fuzz/OD! Original era Germanium fuzz units are much sought after and cost $$££! BUT - The onboard Reverb and Tremolo circuits are superb though as are the aesthetics which loosely follow Fender Blackface Bassman piggy back units. I use its ply cab with either a Celestion V30 or Eminence Cannabis Rex now daily for use with my Cornford or other Fender and Pignose quality valve amps as an external 1x12 as the cab has loads of resonance...!

When I was 16, my mates would crash round and 2 guitars and a Bass would all plug into each of the 3 inputs and thrash... Needless to say that although it seems I am revering it, it has to be the worst amp I have owned by definition - NOT so bad though, that during nearly 40 years of ownership I ever considered dumping it! The thought of it! Scandalous! Is a piece of 'Gear' history!



More Teisco info here:
Teisco Twanger's Paradise - home of vintage Teisco guitars

[Amp Kat]

I had this Marshall MOSFET 100 watt head one time that was probably the noisiest worst tone amp you could ever hear. I eventually got rid of somehow that I don't even remember how but that thing was gawd awful..

Stunned at all the SVT nominee's as of all the amps in the world there are probably more #1 gold records produced with the SVT than any other amp in the world.

[teemuk]

How did this turn into a Worst Transistor Amp -thread?

[J M Fahey]

Fully agree and add: doubt that many (if any at all) #1 gold records were recorded with SVT (except, maybe, a live album); an SVT is a Recording Engineer's nightmare.
*Most* popular, by a looooong way, is some "Fliptop" Ampeg B15 variation; within these the 30W far more popular than the 60W one, for obvious reasons.
They can easily be driven to the edge of crunch, providing natural compression , punch and growl.
Try that with an 8x10" 300W monster.
Even musicians who use SVT live, turn to the B15 in studio.
One favorite trick is to put the speaker in a room corner, pointing to the wall, and a microphone in the small enclosed triangular space.
Sound is bone crushing, yet does not get into every other mic in the studio.