Tube Amp Vs Valvestate

How does a tube amp and a Marshall Valvestate amp about the same cost compare?

Tube amps are like motorcycles. If you go slow in a high gear the bike will run and sound like crap and then stall. However when you get going and hit that powerband,........ look out!

Tube amps need to be cranked to sound their best. I run at 40 watts and have my pre at 3 and my power at 9.5. CRUNCH!

Any tube amp large or small will smoke a Valvestate.
For the price of a decent Valvestate you can get a
Fender Blues Junior 15w, Laney LC30II, Laney LC15R .....etc. Plug ANY one of these in next to the Valvestate and compare tone. Just don't buy a tube amp with more power than you really need, else it will never stretch its legs.

I am no expert, but my 50w tube amp is in a similar situation. I never get the power amp over 2/10. I also notice no sustain on single notes, plenty on chords.
This is solved by a boost/distortion/compressor pedal. I have no idea about harmonics.

cHRIS

How many tube amps have you owned, and what has been your experience with tube changes?

It all depends on what you mean by a "regular basis." Most guys will get YEARS out of any decent preamp tube. Mullards can go well beyond ten years of regular use. "Abused" EL84 based amps may need a power tube change every year or perhaps sooner (if you play maximum volume several hours daily and use cheap tubes), but some power tubes like GE 6550A can also go many years before requiring a change. I had one of the original GE's in my 2204 JMP until earlier this year. That's over 20 years of use. Granted, I rarely played it at full power, as it was insanely loud, but "tube maintenance woes" are often greatly over exaggerated. In any case, any inconvenience is well worth the pay out in tone.

mmmmm....... depends on your budget. If you are not going past
2 or 3 on your preamp, then it sounds like you have enough gain at lower volumes. You could experiement with different tubes....

I have more than enough gain with the boogie no matter what the setting, but was wondering if I was missing something like harmonics or sustain by not pushing the tubes.

That's what I have with my Boogie Mark IV. I barely go past
2 or 3 on the preamps and master. I've thought about a hot plate but I am not sure if I want to be changing tubes every year.

Is it worth it?

I posted the Blues Junior info in your other post.

I also have a Marshall Valvestate VS 30 R I got for my son, and there is no comparison to tube sound. It is light as hell and I use to haul it for small practice gigs until I got the Blues Junior, which is pretty light, especially compared to my Boogie.

I only took the Marshall because hauling the 80 pound Boogie was a bitch, but I always hated the sound. It does clean better than distortion, in my opinion, but neither compare to my tube amps.

They don't.

That's like saying how does Cheese Whiz and real cheddar cheese compare?

There is no comparison. You need to play them for yourself. Try a JMP 2204 Master Volume or an early JCM 800
2204 and all questions will be answered.