Whats a tube amp? And why is it better than a regular one?!
Question: I don't know much about engineering but I do have experience using Guitar/Bass amps, I honestly can't give you a technical explanation as to why Tube amps are better, but they definately more responsive and have a smoother, warmer sound compared to solid-state amps.
Also as the guy before me said the same board that will control effects on a solid-state amp will also control amplification will means that once you turn an effect on it will sound 'fake' or flat, this as happened to me 3 different solid-state amps... More expensive solid-state amps aren't so bad because they have software in them that make them sound like tube amps, but once you play guitar for a while and hear different amps you'll definately notice the difference..
for now I recommend getting a 200-300 dollar solid state amp and upgrading later on :) if you buy a cheap solid-state amp you'll notice at higher volumes it's going to have a cheap, flat, almost bassless digital sound to it, the first year I played guitar it was with a sh!tty 50 dollar solid state amp I got from a discount rack and guitar center, I HATED it
Answers: I don't know much about engineering but I do have experience using Guitar/Bass amps, I honestly can't give you a technical explanation as to why Tube amps are better, but they definately more responsive and have a smoother, warmer sound compared to solid-state amps.
Also as the guy before me said the same board that will control effects on a solid-state amp will also control amplification will means that once you turn an effect on it will sound 'fake' or flat, this as happened to me 3 different solid-state amps... More expensive solid-state amps aren't so bad because they have software in them that make them sound like tube amps, but once you play guitar for a while and hear different amps you'll definately notice the difference..
for now I recommend getting a 200-300 dollar solid state amp and upgrading later on :) if you buy a cheap solid-state amp you'll notice at higher volumes it's going to have a cheap, flat, almost bassless digital sound to it, the first year I played guitar it was with a sh!tty 50 dollar solid state amp I got from a discount rack and guitar center, I HATED it
A tube amp had old-fashioned vacuum tubes in them instead of transistors, solid state, computer chips, or other modern circuitry.
It is not "better" per se, but some (myself included) think it is a warmer sound that has a nice fuzz when overdriven.
It runs on vacuum tubes which have to be replaced periodically. They can be quite expensive. Also, depending on how many tubes the guitar amp has will greatly effect the power of the amp or in other words...MUCH LOUDER!!! Tube amps are awesome and worth every penny in my book if you buy the right one for your style of music. I wouldn't spend less than $500 on a "good" tube amp. Go with Marshall, Mesa Boogie, Hughes and Kettner for great Hard Rock or Metal sound. Fender makes the best tube amps for Blues and Country in my opinion.
A "regular one" as you call it is called a solid state amp. They are usually much lighter in weight than a tube amp. The problem with them can be in the electronics board that powers the amp and controls the effects built in (reverb, delay..etc) Solid State amps are ok...but in my opinion they don't quite have the same distortion tone or definitely not the same volume a tube amp has.