Growing up in the late 70’s and early 80’s put me right in the middle of the pre and post digital age in my formative years.  As a young guitar player I quickly learned that the old tube technology in guitar amplifiers would give me a much better tone than the solid state technology.  The generation just before me did not have to even make a choice, there just was one option.

Fast forward to today.  The transistor and digital technology have progressed to a point where a $200 device can come pretty close to emulating every boutique and classic amp that you have ever hear of… let alone could afford.

The shift that we are going to see in the next generation should be nothing short of amazing.  Each new breakthrough leads to exponential growth.  I would imagine that in less than a decade even the most discerning guitar amp aficionados will no longer be able to identify the difference between a classic amp side by side against an emulated amp from an affordable device.

Where will that then take us?  Will future guitarists be unphased by seeing a Marshall Plexi in the pawn show window?  Will that bring down prices for us then “old timers”?

I see things already starting to change in recent years.  I have met many new players that have not ever used amps.  Just last week a friend came from out of town and I set him up with a Fender American Strat through a Fender Deluxe Reverb.  The look on his face was like a kid in a candy store (if you can find a candy store any where).

I believe that there is nothing like the viseral experience of a great amp cranked up with the tubes blazing and the speaker working harder than it should.  I guess you would not miss it if you never knew it in the first place.

I know that I will continue to use my amps as well as emulation to get the tones that I need for any given project.  It will be interesting to watch to see how thing progress.  We have already started to see the Line 6 amps out there that are bridging the gap between the two worlds.  Whatever the outcome, it should be an interesting ride.