Tonal Distinctions: The Tubes/Transistor Divide

Description

One could well divide the entire history of amplification technologies along the lines of “tube” (or valve) and “transistor.” Starting in the first decades of the twentieth century, vacuum tubes provided the necessary boost to the electrical signal that made the modern phenomenon of sound amplification possible. Transistors emerged mid-century as a smaller, more efficient, and more resilient device to fulfil many of the same basic functions as were performed by tubes. While this chronology might suggest a clear line of progression from tube to transistor, this history has been far from linear. Especially in the sphere of electric instrument amplification, tubes were not strictly replaced by transistors. Rather the divide between tube and solid state amps has remained fundamental and an ongoing point of distinction and discrimination, with the sound of tube amps often cast as most desirable in its perceived “warmth” and “fullness” relative to its solid state counterpart. Drawing upon patent documents, print and visual representations of amplifier technology, and original interviews with amp technicians and musicians – including Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine – this presentation aims to historicize the tube/solid state divide. I will first explore the different material dimensions of these two core amplifying materials, and second, will examine how the distinction between tube and solid state technologies can shed light on broader processes of defining musical value through what Fink, Latour and Wallmark have called “the relentless pursuit of tone.”

Period	12 Mar 2026
Event title	Department of Music Research Seminar
Event type	Seminar
Location	Bristol, United KingdomShow on map
Degree of Recognition	National