Jerred...Jerred Dunkerson, now a VP at Jolida. He was helpful in a few conversations about my amp...nice guy. |
I use a new model Jolida 502p with factory upgrades that is one of the biggest "bangs for the buck" in tubedom, at about half the cost of any comparable high quality power amp. The XLR balanced inputs were important to me also as I have a balanced preamp, and simply like XLRs. The amp has bias adjustment pots on the top of the amp so they're accessable and really easy to use (LED indicators that work very accurately) although you only need to check them every few months at most. The output is selectable at 4 or 8 ohms and this thing has plenty of power at 60 to 85 glorious tube watts per side and I can run KT120s no problemo. It sounds beautiful and effortless, with a modern full range tube sound. |
I think if you can get enough sound from a power amp with 4 output tubes, you've made yourself a somewhat less heat producing choice, and buying tubes is cheaper...I've had my eye on those Cary 120S amps but hesitate to buy one when I think about the 8 power tubes to roll. |
Are SS amps more reliable? Over decades I've had many tube guitar amps with almost zero failures during rough service, and plenty of SS hifi, PA, bass, and even SS guitar amps that have had serious issues, so I doubt SS amps are actually "more" reliable. I can wait the 30 seconds it takes for tubes to warm up, and unless you have high output mono amps or something with a lot of tubes, it's a few hundred bucks every few years in mandatory tube cost with a lot of great, relatively inexpensive new tubes out there with no actual reason to buy pricey NOS tubes unless you feel like it. Plenty of tube options might be better than ever as far as cost and sound are concerned. My tube amp hastle: turn amp on, enjoy it, turn amp off. |
Also, tubes will survive the electromagnetic pulse of a nuclear air burst...isn't that comforting? |
You mean a Jolida 502p I assume, and if you get one make sure to get the FACTORY upgrade done, as it's not expensive and makes you a better person, and more like Jason Statham who bought a Jolida from Jared, who told me Jason was a nice guy. |
It's critical that I approve af everything that goes on, as otherwise a critical mistake could be made. Also, I hear something about the lack of "speed, dynamics, bass control, punch" with tube amps from time to time and I simply don't get it. Unless playing something at really high levels or having a mismatch someplace I think modern tube amps have plenty of everything SS amps have...in fact a good test of tube "snappiness" is any tube guitar amp compared to any SS guitar amp...great tube guitar amps always feel more "touch sensitive" meaning "insto blasto immediato", which is from the Old Roman term for "better guitar amp." Remember, tubes and transistors are doing the same damn thing in circuits, and a properly set up tube rig will kinda kick butt, so to speak. |
Analogy police alert! No, guitar amps are NOT different, except they're generally mono (Swart does make a stereo one, and there may be others) and there are WAY more of them, and if I think the comparison/analogy makes sense it's simply because it does. 2nd or 3rd order harmonics, Class A or A/B...tube or SS rectifyer...hand wired or not, tube rolling maniacs...same damn thing really, with some practical differences of course...you can't find many hifi amps with spring reverb or cowboy tolex, so there's that. Mesa Boogie made that insane Baron amp and people liked it...who knew? |
Note: I did get those Mullard CV4024s to replace the EC 12AT7s. The 1000p shound give you years of finger burning tube rolling and tons of delightful tube glow. |
I use and have used over many years a lot of tube guitar amps and various hybrid or all SS amps, and the tone when ovedriven isn't necessarily the way to see what's what with a particular amp. I find any amp will develop a greasy overdrive when pushed, and often it's helped along with a (usually SS) distortion gizmo which further complicates the issue. I met Jimi Hendrix and watched him play a couple of times from about 9 feet away, and noticed that he often played using a clean tone at reasonable levels but, of course, using two (or 3) piles of high powered tube amps with 16 speakers in 4 cabinets made it possible to get his guitar to feed back at will. He cranked it also at times (with an early SS fuzz box), but those brilliant "comping chord" fill things were clean (but loud enough!). I judge any amp by its ability to put out a nice, powerful, and interesting clean punch...and add in the the grease fest from there onward. Low preamp settings with unristricted (not held back by master volume level) output power tubes (or transistors) will demonstrate the tonal characteristics and "feel" (instantaneous response) of an amp, and an experienced guitar player can easily "feel the differences between tube and SS in a New York minute. This translates easily to home gear, and I see the differences in the tonal response of tube or SS hifi amps as fitting exactly with what I've learned from my seemingly endless guitar and hifi amp fiddling. It's like comparing apples to other apples. |
Ebuzz...remember, you can get 2 Jolida JD502Ps and run them in mono at around 120 watts per side. You can start with one and add another one when your tax refund comes in...nothing like 2 power amps with 16 tubes to heat up the room and confound your friends. I was gonna do this but my single 502 gets enough music into the place by its little self. Also, Rick at Audioforce sold me my amp (official Jolida dealer, and the best deal I found at the time), and the upgrade was done by Jolida MD before shipping, which was also a very good deal. |
The ARC amp seems like a really sweet deal and I bet the thing sounds great. That particular model amp is way cool. Resale value has merit, and I think well maintained used gear is always the way to go if it's discounted enough, as that amp seems to be. As a surfer I always think it's a good thing to "get tubed." |
Don't leave any amp on if you're not using it (except maybe when you leave the room for under four minutes), especially a tube amp that wastes considerable juice when idle...break it in by listening to it or you won't have any idea that it broke in. |
Score one for Jolida...now if they would update their website from 2010... |
I have Vibrapods (or their equivalent) under everything...under my main speakers, amp, DAC, me, etc. You can find relatively inexpensive sorbothane stick-on feet if you look around. The ones under my Jolida are some heavier duty sorbothane things that pre-date pods but are substantial enough for the weight and don't squash out so much. Enjoy your tubes...I've said before, tubes and tube owners are more fun. |
Something about tubes...the even order harmonics, something. When I talked to Jolida Jerred in MD about the 502 prior to ordering one, he pointed out that the newer version with mods was a more "modern" sound inspire by home theater (!). Huh? In any case, I have mine hooked up to a REL sub that takes care of the lower bass so well that all is cohesive...Jolidas still seem like an serious bargain. |
Nostubeman has 5 tube amps in his listening room and consequently doesn't own a sweater. I too have noticed the palpable image created by my rig of musicians "in the room," which I often prefer to having real musicians in my room as they tend to drink all my booze. |
I stuck some substantial sorbothane feet I've had for years under the amp as it's about 50 lbs...and Vibrapods under the preamp and CD player. I also have little stick-on sorbothane feet under my DAC and phono preamp, and even under my Squeezebox Touch...if nothing else they keep things put as they're sticky little bastards. It makes sense to place the "pods" touching the bottom plate and NOT the feet as that can allow them to absorb or dampen more of the pesky, unwanted vibes. |
