Is it still a wise investment to purchase a tube amp if you're just gonna run it clean and use a bunch of OD / Distortion pedals to achieve your dirty tone?
I was thinking about this when I was about to purchase a new amp for home/bedroom/small jams. I was pretty much decide on getting a Vox Pathfinder (great SS amp btw), but a friend told me to try out the new Laney Cub10 first.
It didn't make sense to me either.. what's the use of a tube amp if I'm gonna use pedals for my dirty tones?
The moment I plugged in, I instantly felt the difference. Of course, I heard the difference too.. but then again my old amp was cr*p. It just felt easier for me to coax good tones.. and my dirt pedals felt/reacted/sounded better to match. With those conditions, tube was the way to go for me.
I set my tube amp to a clean setting, but it'll overdrive a bit if I hit the strings harder. I think it's that kind of amp setting that helps make dirt pedals sound better.