Vox AV30?

But what would they sound like with some poultry plectrum'ing?

chicken pickin'

Can't trust videos.

I'll say this - I wouldn't touch that hype with a 10 foot pole. They claim it's a "tube amp" with ONE 12AX7 in the preamp. That ain't no tube amp - at best it's a hybrid. Probably running in "starved plate" mode. They state that it's a modeling amp. That FOR SURE ain't no tube amp, it's primarily digital. Hybrid two ways.

I would avoid. If you want a tube amp, buy a tube amp. If you want a digital modeler, well, there are a lot of options, most probably better. I'd look at plugins if "modeling" is what you want.

No. I don't believe sales weasel hype, especially when it doesn't make sense. Give me a schematic to read, I'll believe that.

From the Vox website:

OK, maybe 2 preamp tubes. No power tubes.  A 12AX7 does not put out 30 watts. They claim that the "power section" is "tube equipped" - That's hogwash. Sales-speak to fool the kiddies. A 12AX7 is not a power tube and if one were to configure a power amp around one you'd be lucky to get half a watt, if that.

Given that a solid state power amp has no use for a tube phase inverter circuit, the only reason I can see for putting a 12AX7 in the power section would be to provide "toob tone" - which is will not and cannot properly do, as the sound of a tube power section relies on a lot more than sticking a preamp tube in line with the circuit. For one thing it requires an output transformer, which is at least half the sound of a tube power amp. This makes me more convinced that the "tube circuitry" uses starved plate design. Which saves them the cost of a power transformer capable of providing the approximately 250- 300 volts that a 12AX7 needs to work properly.

If the FX section is digital there is not "no digital modeling".

As far as "analog modeling" is concerned, you can't "model" an amp with at least 3 or 4 preamp tubes, a phase inverter, and two or four power tubes with one 12AX7 (or even two.) There have been real "analog modeling" amps made - they're a lot more complicated, a lot more expensive, and have a lot more tubes. What they're probably doing is just switching different value resistors into the cathode and plate circuits to alter the gain structure a bit. Not real modeling.

Without a schematic I can't tell exactly what they're doing, but the whole thing rings false.

Without seeing a full schematic I would not touch this with a 10 foot pole.

You can't get something for nothing.

For only a little more money (if that) I'd go for Vox's little 4 watt all tube amp or spend a bit more for an AC15, which is probably as loud as the 30 watt SS amp anyway.

One last thing to think about - how can an amp with a rated output of "30 watts" have a power consumption of only 27? Given that no electronic circuit is 100% efficient, how could this amp even have a power output of even 25 watts? Maybe a class D amp could (technically) come fairly close, but Class D amps don't have toobs in them.

Too many things don't add up, too much BS.

You might want to read my final edit of that post. Or not.

If you're just going to reamp it and want silent recording, why not save some money and just use a DI?

I changed/elaborated on a couple things, and noted discrepancies in their published "specs", such as the fact that the claimed power rating is greater than the maximum power consumption. Just stuff that doesn't add up. When they make errors that are THAT easily caught why should I believe anything they say?

I'd think that the 4 watt all tube amp (AC4TV) would be a better investment for your purpose. Same money. Not silent though, but it does have power selection down to 1/4 watt..

Perhaps the most important point in the thread.  And best question!

I don't know how this compares to the Suhr Reactive load, but it does have an impedance switch vs. having to buy multiples. And it's reactive load vs. resistive load. That way, you can use any amp to get the tone you want.

www.tedweber.com/minimass

NOt an amplifier, but the Hermida Audio Zen Drive 2, with the 12AX7 definitely provides dumble-like tube overdrive. It is just like the best gravy on the best biscuits EVER.

The Zen Drive is a mosfet, The Zen Drive 2 uses a 12ax7
I have been blessed to both have tried several OSs and spoken to Howard/Alexander at length before he completely disappeared. { winetree probably knows where he is, since he was last seen in his area. )

AND... if it's good enough for Robin Ford, well who am I to argue? Man has tone for days

I get what you're saying and I don't necessarily disagree. But I'll reiterate that "pristine" tone was never a focus of mine in this particular context. Best case scenario would always involve great tube amps being tracked live along with everything else at one time. But sometimes the reality is that the situation calls for a need to to be able track amps silently. It is what it is....

Once that situation is entered, everything is a compromise to one degree or another. At that point, it simply becomes about what compromises you are willing to live with.

So.....

I can either purchase an amp like the AV30, which may not tickle your notion of tube purity, but, for the sake of tracking, could get the job done, or buy a reactive load box. Either is a compromise on tone. Pick your poison...

CONSARN IT, SIRI!! Again???