Why do tube amps cost so much?

[ibanezman]

Why?  Now, im 17, so im not old enough to remember radios with tubes in them, but i do know that tubes are old, OLD technology, way outdated.  In this day in age, microchips/computers etc is whats used in most components.  Yeah, yeah ive played through a tube amp at the music store(a fender hot rod) and i know that tube amps produce the best guitar sound.  But tubes are OLD TECHNOLOGY, they shouldnt cost more than my car(well, i dont have a car yet, but have seen a 1976 chevy caprice for 600 bucks....)  Now, if they can make a 'smart' modern computery amp for 260 bucks(behringer gmx 212, which i wont get), why cant they make an outdated tube amp for.....yall get my point.......Oh, an ibelive ive found my first performance amp...at the local pawn shop i saw this Peavey stereo chorus amp(i think made in the 1980s) with 2 12 inch scorpion speakers for 250 bucks!!! of course, all i need is the cash....

[kadman92]

Tube amps are the BEST amps you can buy.  Granted it is old technology by today's standard when looking at most electronic equipment.  It is the tube amp that is by far the best component for sound amplification.  don't believe me? go listen to a REAL B3 organ and original Lesley and then go listen to a B3000 and lesley combo made to replace the B3 but uses solid state transistors rather than tubes.

[JayP5150]

Buy used.  When I was 18, I bought my 5150 head for $500, barely used.  Spent about $80 or $90 on all new Sovteks--BAM, incredible amp.  Will never sell it.

Granted, I already had a 4x12 sittin' at home, so I didn't have to buy a cab, but still, I got that amp for half price.

Look around on e-bay, or your local pawn shops.

Good luck.

PS--a tube will alway stomp a hole in a computer with a speaker (as in the modeling junk that's being thrown at us today--no offense to the users of these, it's just my opinion).

[Gibby]

Since we are on the subject, on my fender 212 amp, it has an opening for power in (not the power to turn it on).  What is that used for?  can I hook a preamp or another amp on top of it?

[ibanezman]

Tube amps are the BEST amps you can buy.  Granted it is old technology by today's standard when looking at most electronic equipment.  It is the tube amp that is by far the best component for sound amplification.  don't believe me? go listen to a REAL B3 organ and original Lesley and then go listen to a B3000 and lesley combo made to replace the B3 but uses solid state transistors rather than tubes.

Yeah, i know-ive played through tube amps at the music store....im not downing tube amps(i would get one if i could) im just asking why the price is up.....i repeat, i am not downing the sound of tube amps(I LOVE TUBES!!! ) just wanna know WHY they COST SO MUCH..........

[bjlane]

Yeah, i know-ive played through tube amps at the music store....im not downing tube amps(i would get one if i could) im just asking why the price is up.....i repeat, i am not downing the sound of tube amps(I LOVE TUBES!!! ) just wanna know WHY they COST SO MUCH..........

They are price'y because they simply sound so good.

[kadman92]

I would say this is one reason... They do not MASS produce vacuum tubes like they did back in the day.  Solid state components are mass produced and constantly trying to make them smaller and cheaper.

So the shear low volume of vacuum tubes would increase the cost, I would imagine it would cost more in labor as well to make them.  Considering how gready we americans can be...LOL

[gtrdave]

Since we are on the subject, on my fender 212 amp, it has an opening for power in (not the power to turn it on).  What is that used for?  can I hook a preamp or another amp on top of it?

It could mean that it's an input to the power amp but you'd need to check with Fender or someone who's real familiar with that amp before plugging anything in...just to be sure. 

[gtrdave]

Also, tube amps cost more because the components to build them cost more, period.

Solid state silicon micorchips and their related circuits are generally low-power, low-heat, and fairly cheap as the same parts could be used in other modern electronic equipment.
In comparison, tube amp parts are larger, higher power, higher heat, and not real common in much anything else these days except the random boutique hi-fi sound systems.

But with stuff being made in China now you can get an all tube amp for less than $100 (Epiphone Valve Jr.)...or you could spend $2600 on a Bad Cat made in America.
The difference, imho, is huge but still, it's just to point out that tube amps are not as expensive as they used to be and some are much less than others.

Even though I use a modeling amp at church, the amp I reach for when I do studio work is either of my tube amps.
They just sound "better".

[Razzman]

.......Oh, an ibelive ive found my first performance amp...at the local pawn shop i saw this Peavey stereo chorus amp(i think made in the 1980s) with 2 12 inch scorpion speakers for 250 bucks!!! of course, all i need is the cash....

If your tight on cash you should check out the "Orange" Crush 30R. This thing is a solidstate amp but ooooze's tube sound. Its 30watts with a 10'' speaker for 199.00 shipped from humbuckermusic.com. I purchased it for a practice amp to rest my tube amps but the classic brittish crunch that comes out is awsome so I mic it and it sounds BIG just keep the  mids flat. It really cranks out some volume so you may not need to mic. depending on you church size. The clean is not as sparkley as my fenders but it is as good as mesa or marshall or vox clean. It also has spring reverb for a plus, very surfy.  This amp is being rated in the 9's at harmony central. Another  amp thats making a big splash is the 5watt Epiphone valve junior HEAD. not the combo. for $99.99 shipped from musiciansfriend. youll have to pickup a extetion cabnet though, but I hear it has plenty of loud clean head room half way up then starts to get dirty from there. an overdrive pedal will make it sing. Tubes are 1 el84 and 1 ax12. It will push a 1x8 to a 4x12. cabinet!!. I just ordered this head myself. heres a link to look at it.... http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Epiphone-Valve-Junior-Tube-Amplifier-Head?sku=482069    The orange can be seen here.....http://www.humbuckermusic.com/orange.html
For anyone these are some very nice low dollar amps that sound great. Also the Orange crush 35b is nice  for any bass players here. I bought this for my son so he doesnt have to lug his ampeg around allthe time , it also has a lineout for dierct to P.A. or recording.

[ibanezman]

So thats why.....they are not mass produced, also we americans are greedy .....it makes sense now ..thanx a whole bunch....oh, about the epi valve head,  i know all about it, actually i know pretty much about every amp(i window shop at musicians friend alot)  of course i like to try it before i buy it so.....the peavey stereo chorus sounded real clean...not to mention LOUD....oh well whatever amps for me god'll let me know.........

[Razzman]

god'll let me know.........

   

god'll !!........ never heard Him put that way in a sentence 

[B3Wannabe]

LOL


Tubes accept more power variance than solid-state amps. You can blow a solid-state amp a lot easier than a tube amp. I read an article about the difference a while ago. You might want to Google it.