I think my point is being missed, I said I dont think the amp market sucks. I didn't say the market wasn't being affected and actually I said it's changing which I like.ghettosynth wrote:Yes, but, you can only sell those for so much to the masses, so that's going to affect the "market."Hink wrote: 1,2 and 5 watt tube amps are getting more popular than 50 or 100 watt stacks and I think that is awesome, I hope that trend continues.
It's more than need though, it's become uncool to own a giant guitar amp, and, it's very much like the synth market, kids don't care as much about digital vs pure analog. That kind of imagery is just not as prevalent in popular culture.
Hell, even I don't care. I have a 57 Magnatone that I rebuilt, it's cool as hell, and an early 70s champ that needs some work that I can't be bothered to do. Even though they're both little tube amps, I prefer my little fender mustang amp that my neighbor pulled out of the trash and gave to me. It's a lot more flexible and it's close enough to just jam with. I can assure you that if I played out again, I would use a lightweight solid state amp.
God there was a time when you couldn't pay me to play through a solid state amp, but these days the differences just aren't as big as they used to be.
I'm guilty of it too to one extent or another but I think a lot people like modeling amps because of presets, especially the younger crowd. Nothing wrong with that but I think there are more and more people who prefer to just turn one knob to a preset, click on a preset or download their favorite artists' tone. So that changes the market a lot and maybe for an older git like me may bring cheaper prices on used amps.
I still myself would go with tube amps if I were to play out, last winter I put forth a very minimal effort looking for people to jam with here and that possibility still exists. I think live I would go with the same thing I record with. I would likely still use my iso cab and if I needed stage volume other than through monitors I would just use my 1x12 either with a power amp or just from another speaker out with one of my attenuators.
Thanx to my studio being just off my living room I have a cool set up now where I can run my DAW signal through digital coax to my stereo in the living room and another signal to my power amp to drive two stage monitors in the living room (I have a speaker select switch to choose the stage monitors or studio monitors). I still get my effects after the amp which I like and I get a great sound in the living room where I have more space and can put more distance between my guitar and my amps (away from those tube amp transformers) not to mention now that I own a house I can get the perfect volume to be right on the edge of feedback. It's nice to have feedback in my tool chest again and having the extra space is great.
I think the guitar and amp market has been getting more and more ridiculous over the decades, it would be nice to buy more stuff made in my country (U.S. obviously) without having to pay two to three times more (maybe even more than that) just because it was made here. So said changes in the market could benefit, I truly dont care if Gibson, Fender, Marshall or whatever big brand name is not making big profits. So I dont think this is a bad thing for me, others might have a different take but for me I see it as a ray of sunshine in a way
