What Is a Valve Amp?

A valve amp is a guitar amplifier that utilizes vacuum tubes to drive the amplifier. Valve amplifiers are often the amplifier of choice for guitar players in virtually every genre of music.

History

Valves first came about in the early twentieth century and were used for a variety of applications before being used in guitar amplifiers. In their earliest stages, valves, or vacuum tubes, were used for early telephone technology, and were also used in World War II to power what were known at the time as "super computers." It wasn't until rock n' roll began its assent that valves began to play an important part in music.

Distinction

The term "valve amp" is commonly used in Great Britain, whereas their United States counterparts are referred to as "tube amps." This can often cause confusion among budding guitar players, as the terms are interchangeable.

Sound

Valve amps differ from solid state amps in that they are powered by vacuum tubes, or valves, not solid-state electronics. This tube-driven sound is often regarded as giving the guitar more clarity and warmth in its overall tone.

Pros

Valve amps are powerful. Even a small valve amplifier can be sufficient for playing a small venue. Valve amps are also known for picking up subtle nuances of the guitar, giving the player a more complex sound.

Considerations

Valve amps have limited effects built in to the amp itself. A valve amp will generally have volume, treble, mid, bass and reverb settings, while solid state amplifiers can have dozens of effects. In addition, valve amps can be quite loud, which can make "quiet" practice difficult.