Not trying to diss SS, especially on this forum! It's just a different kind of noise on this (my first attempt at repairing SS). Plenty of noise on most of my glass bottle amps too, but it seems a little less high-frequency. I am dissing this amp though -- it does seem like it was built with frugality in mind! FYI I'm a bass player, and most of my favorite amps have been solid state.