Been doing some reading online and came across this site http://www.amptone.com. In particular there is a page discussing preamp distortion vs. power amp distortion here http://www.amptone.com/g098.htm that I found pretty interesting. Basically it says that tube preamp distortion is the buzzy, non-expressive type, and tube power amp distortion is more of the musical, dynamic type. He also basically says that there is very little if any audible difference between tube and ss preamps. I know the jerry guys like to roll with tube preamps and SS power amps. Just curious if others find the info about pre vs. power amps on this site to be true, and if so, what then are the advantages of using tube pre and ss power?
In my experience, the tightest and most expressive my amp sounds is to get it as loud (pushing the power amp tubes) as I can without pushing the preamp very hard, if at all. I also helped a guitarist I play with (who is a great player but has no idea how to harness his gear effectively lol) to sound a thousand times better on his marshall amp by messing with his settings to get him more in the range of power instead of pre amp distortion.
In my experience, the tightest and most expressive my amp sounds is to get it as loud (pushing the power amp tubes) as I can without pushing the preamp very hard, if at all. I also helped a guitarist I play with (who is a great player but has no idea how to harness his gear effectively lol) to sound a thousand times better on his marshall amp by messing with his settings to get him more in the range of power instead of pre amp distortion.