Solid State Amps Suck

In this week's episode, Nick and I play some of the suckiest gear ever invented. I'm referring, of course, to solid state amps. You're probably thinking, "Josh, these amps are made by some of the greatest gear companies ever: Electro-Harmonix, DOD and Marshall. They can't be that bad." Yes, they can.

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Check out more from Templo Devices:

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:25 Solid State Amps Suck
1:15 Vox Pathfinder 15R
2:38 "Lonely Hearts Yacht Club"
4:10 Mike Matthews Freedom Amp
5:47 "Big Apple Brawl"
6:57 DOD Grunge Reverb
8:39 "Ice Giant's Revenge"
9:44 Marshall Lead 12 Micro Stack
10:18 "Stack of Cash"
11:47 Templo Nomad
12:45 "Atlantis B&B"
14:50 Quilter Steelaire
15:36 "Submarine Detective"
16:53 Johnson Millennium 250
18:20 "New Country Buffet"
20:15 Josh Makes a Mistake
21:36 Roland Jazz Chorus-120
22:40 "Coral Reef Dreams"
23:41 Stay Away From Solid State
24:24 Record Time
26:26 Thanks For Watching!

Gear In This Episode:
Vox Pathfinder 15R
Gibson Les Paul Gold Top
Mike Matthews Freedom Amplifier
DOD Grunge Reverb
Marshall Lead 12 Micro Stack
Templo Nomad 50-WATT Battery Amp
Ibanez SS20 Session Man II
Quilter Steelaire
Johnson Millennium 250
Roland Jazz Chorus-120
Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble
Boss CE-2 Chorus
Line 6 Spider

Record Time:
The Cure - Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me

Josh’s record player is by U-Turn Audio:

Marshall Lead 12 Micro Stack "Stack of Cash" Jam

The jams from this episode are on BandLab! Head over to the link below to jam with us, download the stems, and create your own samples from our sounds... or all of those things.

#jhs #thejhsshow #solidstateamp

[Levisrad]

It's important we keep saying these amps suck so we can keep the prices low!

[dougnulton]

My favorite is when tube amp players complain about the sound of solid state amp distortion, and then subsequently use a solid state distortion pedal as their main source of distortion.

[Soldano]

I used to go to this guitar repair store. The guy had a vintage vox on display.
He made people play trough the vox and they all agreed it sounded absolutely fantastic.
Well, in reality, the vox was dead. it was actually an Ibanez solid state amp with the vox as a cab.
Everyone fell for it.

[pentastarr]

Josh sporting the legendary Hanson/Nirvana t-shirt is a sign that this show will be full of sarcasm and comedy. I salute you sir.
Way to be😎

[rob.carrillo]

"the gold paint sounds the best" is probably the most guitar player thing I've ever heard

[dogslobbergardens]

I once had another guitarist actually get pissed off at me for lying when he complimented me on my dirty, dirty tone and I told him it was a solid state amp. He was so convinced it HAD to be tubes that he went behind the amp poking around looking for the glass thingamabobs. Then he was even MORE pissed off.
Funny shit.

[billherbert]

Because tube is so fun. Replacing tubes, carrying all that weight, being extra careful transporting them. Oh, and playing super loud all the time because you think your neighbours and family should enjoy your playing too. There is nothing worse than getting decent tone at low volumes on a Tuesday night and having zero complaints.

[matthewcreelman]

Roland JC120 is a Solid state amplifier. Classic sound. Engineers can simulate tube sound in electronic design.

[Jhst]

I completely agree: ANYTHING solid state sucks. I even recently upgraded to tube wifi, so actually I haven't been able to watch more than the first 3s of this video... But man, it just looks and SOUNDS so much more 3-dimensional! When the video finishes downloading in a few months, I'll be back to give my full comments.

[maxolydian]

The fact JHS has an entire staff dedicated to making informative and yet comedically niche videos for guitar players is just really nice
Most people wouldnt pick up on 75% of the jokes

[mattbertrand]

As guitarists, most of us arent encouraged to find OUR sound but to sound like everyone else and that means buying expensive tube amps and expensive guitars. How many sounds have become iconic by folks using discarded and overlooked gear?? The sound is in your head and hands.

[onesource]

I know this is an older post, but since I just acquired a Roland JC-40 to replace a JC-55 that I wish I hadn't sold, I found this timely and validating to watch. Love Josh's dry take on solid state, LMAO. I'm binging on JHS 's various topics du jour. Josh is always entertaining.

[jasoncarrasco]

This episode needs a sequel because there's more solid state amps that I need to be warned against.

[SuperJ]

The other thing about solid state is they don't weigh enough, so you don't get the exercise trying to move them around.
And of course with solid state you don't have to keep buying and changing and balancing tubes and warming it up and all that, so you get bored just switching it on and playing it.
Finally, they are too quiet, so you don't get the permanent ear damage all true guitarists are proud of - they're truly rubbish!

[guitarsimon]

Josh’s master-plan: Drive up the prices of every other brand so JHS becomes the most affordable and therefore biggest selling brand. It’s a long game but a good game, like Final Fantasy 7 or Shenmue 2.

[anthonywilkins]

Josh you are so funny and a very good talker at explaining things. I've learned so much from this channel its unreal. Thank you a lot for helping me understand these pedals and what I need.

[BipityBopity]

Gear snobs are annoying. I’m just glad that there is someone out there that knows what they are actually taking about that is as sarcastic as Josh. 🙏🏽 ❤️

[ephraimgalacan]

I've been using a solid state amp for so many years, that explains why I never had a girlfriend because my tone sucks!! my gosh!! thank you josh for enlightening me. I'll never lay my hands on solid state amps ever again!

[bennycole]

Pedal fans are a funny breed. We LOVE transistors, just not when they’re IN the amp. 🙄

[josephbest]

I had a Johnson Millennium stereo 250 half stack. My parents bought it for me for my high school graduation gift. I loved that amp and used it from 1999 all the way until November 8th 2018 when we lost our home in the “Camp Fire” in Paradise CA.
Wish I still had that bad boy! It was a great and very versatile amp. You can get some surprisingly nice tones out of it.
Oh well, maybe I can replace it one day.
Great video as usual 😊