Tube, Solid State, or Software? - Amp Blind Test Challenge!!

Can you hear the difference between a tube amp, solid-state amp, and amp modeling software? Take the challenge and find out!
If you enjoyed this video, be sure to like and subscribe :)

DARRELL'S GUITARS & GEAR LIST!

MY AMPS:

T-SHIRTS:

TAB STORE:
Songs, Lesson Worksheets, and Guitar Techniques!

Amps used in this video:

Tube - Mesa Boogie Blue Angel
Solid state - Fender Deluxe 90 (Thanks Brandon!)
Software - S-Gear 2

Songs:

Yesterdays - Switchfoot
Try - John Mayer
Tornado of Souls - Megadeth

[KilloughAndSons]

That was crazy. I've heard about the difference between these three, but this is the first time I've actually HEARD the difference. For all 3 tests I picked the tube as my favorite, the solid state as my second, and the modelling one I didn't like. What really amazed me was that I picked that same order for all 3 tests without knowing which was which. The blind test was really, really helpful. Thanks for doing this!

[Zalcens]

I chose the tube in the first 2 tests, solid state in the last one.

[buzzcrushtrendkill]

I ended up liking the solid state all the way through. Wow, that surprises me.

[adammartin]

Surprisingly loved the solid state amp

[HerrTimsn]

Neck Pickup Clean
Amp 1: 1:13
Amp 2: 1:29
Amp 3: 1:43
Results: 2:01

Overdrive
Amp 1: 2:10
Amp 2: 2:26
Amp 3: 2:39
Results: 2:54

Distortion
Amp 1: 3:03
Amp 2: 3:16
Amp 3: 3:29
Results: 3:44

Above the times for quick navigation. Maybe you could put them in as annotations in the video?

Very nice video! More videos should be done this way.

[BJMifsud]

I actually loved the clean tone of the solid state amp, and the software one was good too but IMO as the distortion went up the tube started to stand out more and more

[colroulette]

Tube -Tube - Solid state that was my vote. Thanks for the video !

[Jlymansackhead]

Having played all three for many years, it was easy for me to pick out the richness of the tube amp each time. Harder to tell between the other two, because depending on which platform, equipment, or solid state amp, they can all be so different anyway. I would only use tube for performing and recording myself, but I like my small, solid state amp for convenience around the house when just jamming a bit.

[stevejee]

Three different sound colors, all usable. No better or worse. It's like green, blue or red.

[akidcalledoutlaw]

Just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your videos. They’ve been very educating and very insightful. They’ve helped me make decisions that I’m completely content with because I knew all the factors, risks, pros cons etc etc. keep up the great work!

[Prreinke]

interesting demo. I preferred tube every time (and correctly ID'd it), followed by solid state, with software a distant third. Software sounded compressed and flat to me. But that's just my opinion based on playing

[marioagostini]

Without knowing which modeling amp you picked up I must say the software one was the worst in every situation. My personal choice would be: solid state for clean and light crunch and tube for distortion.
Curious to see if such a good solid state clean could take a good distortion stomp box achieving good distortion too.

[toasted_heretic]

I was shocked to find I went for the solid state every time. Which amp was it?

[FosterTheBullet]

I could tell which one was tube in all 3 test. It was always 2 crap sounding tones and one that was nice and I just listened on my phone speaker! I’ve never owned a tube amp, but now I’m gonna have to invest in a good one

[johnhmaloney]

For the first two tests, tube and solid state sounded far better to me, though which of the two sounded better was different each time. For the third test, the solid state sounded best, but the tube sounded worst. For some reason, it just sounded like the sound was coming from a tiny, overloaded speaker Although, the software didn't sound much better.

[aerosmithfanatik]

I think the Tube amp sounded best on the clean and overdrive, and the solid state amp was the best one for the heavy distortion.

[DaveKaplowitz]

The tube amp sounded so much better to me on all three tracks. So much warmer and fuller. There was no comparison to my ears. Great video confirmed what I already knew - I love my Marshall!

[brittanyambrose]

I couldn't really tell the difference between software and solid state in the first two. They both sounded similar, but still reasonably good. Tubes sounded more warm and "full", but it didn't do very well when distorted.

[Monacomaverick]

The tube amp and software sounded surprisingly similar. The solid state amp was identifiable due to it's much flatter sound.

[simplygregify]

I'm actually suprised, but I picked the solid state for better punch & times overall. I would of naturally thought the tube would win, but I listened to this using Monster headphones & the solid state was the clear winner for me.