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Valves remain in widespread use in guitar and high-end audio amplifiers due to the sound quality they produce, which is subjectively preferred by some users. They are largely obsolete for most other applications, mainly due to the cost effectiveness advantages of the transistor, and due to the lower weight and heat production of transistor amps.

In the closing years of the valve era, valves were even used to make operational amplifiers – the building blocks of much modern linear electronics. An op-amp typically has a differential input stage and a totem pole output, the circuit usually having a minimum of five active devices. A number of packages were produced that integrated such circuits (typically using two or more glass envelopes) into a single module that could be plugged into a larger circuit (such as an analog computer). Such valve op-amps were very far from ideal and quickly became obsolete, being replaced with solid-state types.

This tutorial features two of Line 6's new generation of modeling guitar amps. The lastest in solid-state modeling and effects amps, Line 6 Spider III instantly delivers hundreds of killer preset sounds used by some of the world's most legendary guitarists. The Spider Valve™ is a collaboration between Line 6 and Reinhold Bogner, who is considered one of the best amp technician/designers in the world. Spider Valve™ delivers the best of both worlds by combining the versatility of a modeling amp with the performance and tonal feel of a world-class tube amplifier. Join Bobby Hartry, producer, guitarist and effects pedal wizard, as he demonstrates each amp and how to utilize the various presets and variety of tone-shaping effects to create the sound of your favorite guitarist/song or a new totally insane sound uniquely yours. So plug-in and crank it up!!

Nevertheless, valve designs produce predominantly low order harmonic overdrive (which is musically related), while solid state designs generally produce a full range of harmonic distortion, including the objectionable high order harmonics. This is due to a number of factors, including the transformer output of valve designs, and the large amounts of negative (electronic) feedback required in solid state designs. Valve designs need very little negative feedback, and some good sounding amps don't use any at all!