[throwaway1004]

>This has been debated to death on guitar forums, but some would argue that digital is now undistinguishable from the tubes.

I find that it's impossible for the average listener to identify the difference in recorded music, especially if there's a lot of distortion in play, but I can entertain the idea that it's a detectable difference.

As someone who moved from solid-state and digital amps to tube amps I find there to be a huge difference in terms of dynamics and response, which massively influences the way I and others play. I can't imagine Jeff Beck or Gary Moore getting the same results with non-tube amps, since their playing relies so much on dynamics and physically feeling and moving air in the room.

edit: for live touring, though, it's so much more efficient to use digital or solid-state options for size, weight and reliability, if it doesn't directly impact the artist's ability to perform

[jimnotgym]

I have never used a top line modelling amp, like kemper or whatever...but I immediately play better through my tube amps than lower end digitals (Katana or whatever). It is dynamics as you say. Anyone would prefer to hear me play (as if) through a valve amp (vacuum tubes are called valves in Britain). Valve amps are still the default option for higher end enthusiast amps, although modeling is taking over with pros for convenience