Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: Class A vs. AB?

  1. September 24th, 2010, 03:41 PM #1
    Radioboy950's Avatar
    Radioboy950
    Radioboy950 is offline Regular Fretter
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Detroit, MI USA
    Posts
    617
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default Class A vs. AB?

    Without getting too technical...
    Are there any noticable sonic differences between "Class A" and "AB" ?
    Is there a general preference for one or the other?
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  2. September 24th, 2010, 09:20 PM #2
    Tig's Avatar
    Tig***
    Tig is offline Valar Morghulis
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Clear Lake, Texas
    Posts
    5,413
    Post Thanks / Like
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    I can point you to an article that generally sums up the differences...
    http://www.sweetwater.com/expert-center/techtips/d--01/12/2005

    And a brief yet to the point description from Soldano...
    http://www.soldano.com/Soldano_Guita...Class%20AB.htm
    Guitar: Gibson SG Standard Natural Burst, Squier CV 50's Tele, Hell Guitars No. 2, Squier CV 50's Strat, Reverend Club King 290, Taylor 522e 12-Fret mahogany,
    Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar Bass Short Scale
    Amp: Fender Super Champ X2 Head, Egnater Tweaker 15, Fender Mustang I, Acoustic B20 1x12 bass amp
    Pedal: Budda Budwah wah, Wampler Ego Compressor, Electro-Harmonix Soul Food, Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive, Wampler Velvet Fuzz, Seven Sisters Eve Tremolo, TC Electronics Gravy Tri Chorus & Vibrato, Catalinbread Echorec, TC Electronic Alter Ego 2 Delay, Hardwire Supernatural Ambient Verb, MXR Carbon Copy, Catalinbread RAH, Big Muff Pi with Tone Wicker, BYOC Mouse 2.0 Distortion, BYOC Boost/OD-2
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  3. September 25th, 2010, 10:19 PM #3
    deeaa's Avatar
    deeaa*
    deeaa is offline Bronze Supporter
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Finland
    Posts
    3,424
    Post Thanks / Like
    Blog Entries
    23

    Default

    Great links Tig...especially the Soldano summary is exceptionally understandable.
    Dee

    "When life's a biatch, be a horny dog"

    Amps: Marshall JVM 410H w/ Plexi Cap mod, Choke Mod & Negative Feedback Removal mod, 4x12", Behringer GMX110, Amplitube 3/StealthPedal

    Half a dozen custom built/bastardized guitars all with EMG's, mostly 85's, Ibanez Artwood acoustic & Yamaha SGR bass, Epiphone Prophecy SG, Vox Wah, Pitchblack tuner plus assorted pedals, rack gear etc. for home studio use.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  4. September 26th, 2010, 07:00 PM #4
    MAXIFUNK's Avatar
    MAXIFUNK
    MAXIFUNK is offline Regular Fretter
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Posts
    1,170
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    NOW I know why FENDER amps are so LOUD!!!
    Maxi...................

    Bootsy Collins:
    I pledge allegiance to the funk, the whole funk, and nothing but the funk, so help me James, Sly and George, Amen!!

    Guitars: 2010 American Special HSS Strat, 2010 CIC Squire CV ThinLine Tele, & 2006 MIM FSR Strat.

    Basses: 1979 Peavey T-40, 2007 Ibanez SR 500, 2013 Ibanez SR375F, 2013 CIJ Fender Geddy Lee Jazz Bass, 2014 Sadowsky Will Lee VI, & 2014 Sadowsky Will Lee Metro V

    Amps: Mesa Boogie BASS STRATEGY:Eight:88, Aguliar DB 4X12, Augilar DB 751, Genz Benz CTR500-210T/Focus 1X15 CAB, Fender Hot Rod Deville 410, VHT Deliverance 60/VHT 2X12 fat Bottom Cab, & VOX DA20

    Effects: Boss ME-25, MXR Custom Baddass 78, MXR Custom Baddass modified O.D., Vox Joe Satriani Satchurator, MXR Phase 90, MXR Bass Chorus Deluxe/Octave Deluxe/Bass Compressor/Envelope Filter/, Way Huge Pork Loin
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  5. September 29th, 2010, 06:48 AM #5
    gregsguitars's Avatar
    gregsguitars
    gregsguitars is offline Regular Fretter
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Atlanta,Ga.
    Posts
    75
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Class "A" is a fast " amp, very responsive and breaks up as well as gets dirtier faster, Think Marshall or Vox. Class A-B is typical Fender think clean and lots of headroom.
    May all your days be memorable, all your friends stay true and all your riffs be killer....
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  6. September 29th, 2010, 04:49 PM #6
    kiteman's Avatar
    kiteman
    kiteman is offline Regular Fretter
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Posts
    1,515
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Do I see a conflict between the two links?

    One says class A is louder than AB and the other says the class AB is louder than A.
    _____

    GUITARS - Carvin DC127M - Carvin Bolt kit
    AMPS - Bogner Alchemist 112 - Blackheart Handsome Devil half stack
    FXs - Roger Linn Adrenalinn III - Boss GT-10
    _____
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  7. September 29th, 2010, 05:57 PM #7
    Tig's Avatar
    Tig***
    Tig is offline Valar Morghulis
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Clear Lake, Texas
    Posts
    5,413
    Post Thanks / Like
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by kiteman
    Do I see a conflict between the two links?

    One says class A is louder than AB and the other says the class AB is louder than A.
    To me at least, my 5 watt class A EVJ is louder than the 15 watt AB's I've owned or played.
    Guitar: Gibson SG Standard Natural Burst, Squier CV 50's Tele, Hell Guitars No. 2, Squier CV 50's Strat, Reverend Club King 290, Taylor 522e 12-Fret mahogany,
    Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar Bass Short Scale
    Amp: Fender Super Champ X2 Head, Egnater Tweaker 15, Fender Mustang I, Acoustic B20 1x12 bass amp
    Pedal: Budda Budwah wah, Wampler Ego Compressor, Electro-Harmonix Soul Food, Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive, Wampler Velvet Fuzz, Seven Sisters Eve Tremolo, TC Electronics Gravy Tri Chorus & Vibrato, Catalinbread Echorec, TC Electronic Alter Ego 2 Delay, Hardwire Supernatural Ambient Verb, MXR Carbon Copy, Catalinbread RAH, Big Muff Pi with Tone Wicker, BYOC Mouse 2.0 Distortion, BYOC Boost/OD-2
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  8. September 29th, 2010, 06:35 PM #8
    Eric's Avatar
    Eric***
    Eric is offline Master Fretter
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    MSP
    Posts
    3,913
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Yeah, from what I've read the consensus generally seems to be that class A will be much louder than a comparable class AB. However, if you're planning on building a louder amp with more tubes, there's a good chance it will be class AB. I think.

    Maybe I'm confusing single-ended and push-pull...
    Quote Originally Posted by Spudman
    Does anyone read the original post?
    Guitars: Gibson LP Studio, MIA Fender Precision, Carvin C350
    Amps: Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 + Avatar B212 / Genzler 12-3, Acoustic B20
    Pedals: Pod HD500X, Diamond Compressor, Tech 21 VT Bass, Sonic Research Turbo Tuner
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  9. September 29th, 2010, 07:59 PM #9
    kiteman's Avatar
    kiteman
    kiteman is offline Regular Fretter
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Posts
    1,515
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Tig
    To me at least, my 5 watt class A EVJ is louder than the 15 watt AB's I've owned or played.
    I can agree to that. My Kustom Defender 5H head is class A and that's one loud sucker.
    _____

    GUITARS - Carvin DC127M - Carvin Bolt kit
    AMPS - Bogner Alchemist 112 - Blackheart Handsome Devil half stack
    FXs - Roger Linn Adrenalinn III - Boss GT-10
    _____
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Forum Rules