Okay, Help Me Out With Amps. |
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Aug 17 2007, 04:35 AM
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QUOTE (MickeM @ Aug 16 2007, 11:16 PM)  JVM, if you need a solo boost just use an EQ or an Overdrive. That is exactly what I do. I use a Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive with the Rick Franklin Pro Mod. I can basically switch the Op-Amp chip in the pedal for a smooth TS808 sound or leave Rick's double chip in for a screaming overdrive. Either way, his mod takes all of the coloring out of the pedal (that's a good thing to me) and leaves the overdrive fairly transparent. A GREAT option for single channel amps that need 2 gain switching on the fly. Hardtail -------------------- Beginner's Amp & Guitar Gear Guide My Keeley Blues Driver BD-2 Review My Line6 Flextone II Review Guitars: Martin D-16RGT with B-Band UST & '99 Fender "Big Apple" Hardtail HH Strat Amps: Fender Blues Junior Special Edition & Fender Studio 85 (Simultaneous... yummy) |
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Aug 17 2007, 04:51 AM
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My buddy has a hot rod deluxe. Great Fender clean sound. We couldn't get it loud enough to hear its true tube heartbeat at his house but overall a very good amp with good reviews.
I've become a bit of a Fender fan lately so I'll definitely give those a vote  Hardtail -------------------- Beginner's Amp & Guitar Gear Guide My Keeley Blues Driver BD-2 Review My Line6 Flextone II Review Guitars: Martin D-16RGT with B-Band UST & '99 Fender "Big Apple" Hardtail HH Strat Amps: Fender Blues Junior Special Edition & Fender Studio 85 (Simultaneous... yummy) |
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Aug 17 2007, 04:57 AM
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QUOTE (MickeM @ Aug 16 2007, 11:35 PM)  "Story of my life, from POD guy to tube amp builder in one month"Well, remember I'm only doing this to prove you wrong about tube amps I'm kidding, I really hope to find the tone I am looking for this way. QUOTE (MickeM @ Aug 16 2007, 11:35 PM) I look forward to your (and mine) amp project. One day I want to build my own 18W Marshall (or a 100W Superlead) I ruled that option out this time and decided on a beginners kit instead of aiming too high and fail miserably. I count on learninf plenty from your project  Very sensible - starting simple is a definate good idea, which is why I chose as I did. Very interested to hear how yours turns out - 0.5W is probably about ideal for recording if you get the right tone - I thnk mine will be a little on the loud side, but we'll see. I am already eyeing this up for my next build - a very versatile looking amp. Will be a lot harder as I'll have to do all they layout myself, but by then I'll have some experience. There are some other possibilities as well over at AX84 - they are working on a whole series of mix and match preamps and power amps. Might be possible to build a head with say 2W power for practice and recording, then swithch in 50W for gigging. I'm also looking at various power soak options as well - this is a lot fo fun! Great thing about tube amps is that even complex ones are pretty simple inside (in build terms at least) compared to the average SS amp and all that entails. QUOTE (MickeM @ Aug 16 2007, 11:35 PM) For me up till now it's been all about tone, now I find it thrilling to find out what's inside an amp. Yeah, I am learning a lot. I just took delivery of a book called "Tube Guitar Amplifier Essentials" by Gerald Weber - I'll let you know if it is any good. QUOTE (Hardtail @ Aug 16 2007, 11:35 PM) That is exactly what I do. I use a Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive with the Rick Franklin Pro Mod. I can basically switch the Op-Amp chip in the pedal for a smooth TS808 sound or leave Rick's double chip in for a screaming overdrive. Either way, his mod takes all of the coloring out of the pedal (that's a good thing to me) and leaves the overdrive fairly transparent. A GREAT option for single channel amps that need 2 gain switching on the fly. Hardtail Good tip, thanks hardtail, you obviously know your stuff pretty well  Of course, I'll probably build my own OD pedal (I have a book on the way for that as well) - I guess I am going overboard here, but I am excited about reviving my old hobby of electronics and adding it to my passion for music - a match made in heaven! -------------------- Check out my Instructor profile
Live long and prosper ... My Stuff: Electric Guitars : Ibanez Jem7v, Line6 Variax 700, Fender Plus Strat with 57/62 Pickups, Line6 Variax 705 Bass Acoustic Guitars : Taylor 816ce, Martin D-15, Line6 Variax Acoustic 300 Nylon Effects : Line6 Helix, Keeley Modded Boss DS1, Keeley Modded Boss BD2, Keeley 4 knob compressor, Keeley OxBlood Amps : Epiphone Valve Jnr & Head, Cockburn A.C.1, Cockburn A.C.2, Blackstar Club 50 Head & 4x12 Cab |
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Aug 17 2007, 05:13 AM
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QUOTE (JVM @ Aug 17 2007, 05:45 AM) I'm also watching some fenders - blues junior, hot rod deluxe at the moment, on ebay. I'm not too familiar with Fender amp but looked up the Hot Rod Deluxe and it has three channes. If you're unsure exactly what you're looking for in a tube amp the Hot Rod Deluxe has an advantage as I see it, it has three channels you could experiment with to relly find the sound you're looking for. -------------------- My bands homepage
All time favourites: B. Streisand - Woman in Love, M. Hopkin - Those were the days, L. Richie - Hello |
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Aug 17 2007, 05:39 AM
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QUOTE (Andrew Cockburn @ Aug 17 2007, 05:57 AM) I am already eyeing this up for my next build Oh boy, great sounding, but if you find the skills to manage it it seems like a great project. QUOTE (Andrew Cockburn @ Aug 17 2007, 05:57 AM) I just took delivery of a book called "Tube Guitar Amplifier Essentials" by Gerald Weber - I'll let you know if it is any good. Please do! My skills in electronics died after 1989 after I finished the course in the university. I could probably freshen them up again, and learning for building guitar stuff is a lot more fun than to learn for a test Is that the same Weber that makes speakers and amps in the US? Or maybe just a freak name-coincidence :-) QUOTE (Andrew Cockburn @ Aug 17 2007, 05:57 AM) Of course, I'll probably build my own OD pedal (I have a book on the way for that as well) Keep us updated on that book aswell, building pedals seem fun too. There have been a few seminars here with the music community that have rehearsal rooms for rent but I never attended... so far. -------------------- My bands homepage
All time favourites: B. Streisand - Woman in Love, M. Hopkin - Those were the days, L. Richie - Hello |
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Aug 17 2007, 05:52 AM
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QUOTE (MickeM @ Aug 17 2007, 12:39 AM) Keep us updated on that book aswell, building pedals seem fun too. Its this one - I'll let you know what its like DOn;t think it has any actual designs in it but should have some good info. I may need to get something else for actual designs as well, although like tube amps there are some designs on the net as well
This post has been edited by Andrew Cockburn: Aug 17 2007, 05:57 AM -------------------- Check out my Instructor profile
Live long and prosper ... My Stuff: Electric Guitars : Ibanez Jem7v, Line6 Variax 700, Fender Plus Strat with 57/62 Pickups, Line6 Variax 705 Bass Acoustic Guitars : Taylor 816ce, Martin D-15, Line6 Variax Acoustic 300 Nylon Effects : Line6 Helix, Keeley Modded Boss DS1, Keeley Modded Boss BD2, Keeley 4 knob compressor, Keeley OxBlood Amps : Epiphone Valve Jnr & Head, Cockburn A.C.1, Cockburn A.C.2, Blackstar Club 50 Head & 4x12 Cab |
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Aug 17 2007, 06:00 AM
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I used to occasionally gig with my Lightening 15 (and of course do the rehearsals). Volume generally was not a problem, on a quick a/b test the lightening could match a 50watt Marshall combo and wasn't far off a Roland JC 120. I only once had problems being heard with a single drummer who was way over the top - but the other guitar player (who btw had a Marshall stack) also had the same problem with the drummer. Bigger venues we PA'd it.
From experience doing PA sound too many guitar players get confused by the idea that they need a guitar amp that does high watts output just because PAs tend to relative to the room size. To many think PA=X watts therefore guitar amp must have to be at least 1/4 of that. People forget that the PA doesn't aim at saturation but clean, transparent, accurate transmission at highish spl. Cheers, Tony -------------------- Get your music professionally mastered by anl AES registered Mastering Engineer. Contact me for Audio Mastering Services and Advice and visit our website www.miromastering.com
Be friends on facebook with us here. We use professional, mastering grade hardware in our mastering studo. Our hardware includes: Cranesong Avocet II Monitor Controller, Dangerous Music Liasion Insert Hardware Router, ATC SCM Pro Monitors, Lavry Black DA11, Prism Orpheus ADC/DAC, Gyratec Gyraf XIV Parallel Passive Mastering EQ, Great River MAQ 2NV Mastering EQ, Kush Clariphonic Parallel EQ Shelf, Maselec MLA-2 Mastering Compressor, API 2500 Mastering Compressor, Eventide Eclipse Reverb/Echo. |
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Aug 17 2007, 11:40 AM
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I play at a local church as the regular rhythm guitarist and I have seen TONS of lead guitarists come across our stage. These guys are all semi-pro or retired pro and not one of them has ever brought more power than a Hot Rod Deluxe. I've seen lots of little Traynor's, Carvins, Fenders, Mesa Boogies, etc from these guys and they are all little combo's pushing no more than 40ish watts. Why? cuz we always mic em up and run them through the PA.
What I find really funny is the manufacturers of these amps refer to them usually as "practice amps" yet I'd argue they see more live play time from everyday playing musicians than any half or full stack. Don't get me wrong massive 100 watt all tube rigs are great (I used to own one) but I refuse to lug around that kind of weight anymore. I LOVE my little 31 pound Junior. Hardtail -------------------- Beginner's Amp & Guitar Gear Guide My Keeley Blues Driver BD-2 Review My Line6 Flextone II Review Guitars: Martin D-16RGT with B-Band UST & '99 Fender "Big Apple" Hardtail HH Strat Amps: Fender Blues Junior Special Edition & Fender Studio 85 (Simultaneous... yummy) |
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Aug 17 2007, 12:27 PM
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QUOTE (JVM @ Aug 17 2007, 07:23 AM) Right now I just watched a mint vintage 16 go for 311 on ebay, with 16 bids. I think I'm going to end up getting either a blues junior or a hot rod deluxe by the looks of things. My buddy brought over his Fender Hot Rod Deluxe and I used my Blues junior and we jammed out tonight. TONS of fun. The amps have there own unique flavors but MAN do they both sound sweet. He nails the John Mayor Trio sound almost perfectly and all he used before the amp was a Keeley Blues Driver. I know you'll be happy if you get one of those. Good luck! Hardtail -------------------- Beginner's Amp & Guitar Gear Guide My Keeley Blues Driver BD-2 Review My Line6 Flextone II Review Guitars: Martin D-16RGT with B-Band UST & '99 Fender "Big Apple" Hardtail HH Strat Amps: Fender Blues Junior Special Edition & Fender Studio 85 (Simultaneous... yummy) |
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Aug 18 2007, 04:16 AM
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QUOTE (JVM @ Aug 18 2007, 04:52 AM) I'm glad you say so I just got a pretty much new deluxe for 375, so now just to wait for it to arrive Congratulations, that must be a good buy I'm sure! -------------------- My bands homepage
All time favourites: B. Streisand - Woman in Love, M. Hopkin - Those were the days, L. Richie - Hello |
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Aug 18 2007, 05:20 AM
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QUOTE (JVM @ Aug 18 2007, 12:07 AM) The only problem I've heard of is that apparently fender likes to do something with their master volume controls that makes things increase logarithmically rather than linearly, so that "10" only sounds twice as loud as "1", when it should sound 10 times as loud. As a result, and probably a reason that impresses a lot of store players, setting it on 1 is about equivalent to the setting on 5 on most amps, so it is either really loud or not loud enough. Not that I doubt you, but thats pretty much how all amps work - human hearing is logarithmic, so multiplying the power by 10 makes it sound twice as loud - for this reason all volume pots are logarithmic to sompensate for this. Perhaps it is the other way around - it has a linear pot instead of a log one? That would probably do as you describe, making it sound like the first few stops make a huge difference, then the rest does virtually nothing. This post has been edited by Andrew Cockburn: Aug 18 2007, 05:20 AM -------------------- Check out my Instructor profile
Live long and prosper ... My Stuff: Electric Guitars : Ibanez Jem7v, Line6 Variax 700, Fender Plus Strat with 57/62 Pickups, Line6 Variax 705 Bass Acoustic Guitars : Taylor 816ce, Martin D-15, Line6 Variax Acoustic 300 Nylon Effects : Line6 Helix, Keeley Modded Boss DS1, Keeley Modded Boss BD2, Keeley 4 knob compressor, Keeley OxBlood Amps : Epiphone Valve Jnr & Head, Cockburn A.C.1, Cockburn A.C.2, Blackstar Club 50 Head & 4x12 Cab |
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Aug 18 2007, 11:33 AM
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QUOTE (Andrew Cockburn @ Aug 18 2007, 12:20 AM) Not that I doubt you, but thats pretty much how all amps work - human hearing is logarithmic, so multiplying the power by 10 makes it sound twice as loud - for this reason all volume pots are logarithmic to sompensate for this. Perhaps it is the other way around - it has a linear pot instead of a log one? That would probably do as you describe, making it sound like the first few stops make a huge difference, then the rest does virtually nothing. Actually, Andrew he is right. There is a special exception to the Hot Rod Deluxe that some complain about it either being too quiet or too loud. The volume knob apparently ramps up the volume too fast between 0 and 1. However! only a sissy would need it any quieter than 1 We ran it at around 3 and it sounded fine... gain knobs hovered around middle.Some interesting tidbits about volume. Your Gain or "Channel" Volume will drive the preamp which will also affect overall volume. Your volume knob will eventually have a point of zero return if your running your gain anywhere around the middle or higher. Example: My Junior with gain set to middle has same volume from 7 or 8 to 12 (yes fenders go to 12). Reason being is because at Mid-Gain and volume 7ish I am maxing out my total volume. Anything more and the amp just won't push any harder anyway. So all that said... CONGRATULATIONS! You're gonna love it, I'm sure! Hardtail -------------------- Beginner's Amp & Guitar Gear Guide My Keeley Blues Driver BD-2 Review My Line6 Flextone II Review Guitars: Martin D-16RGT with B-Band UST & '99 Fender "Big Apple" Hardtail HH Strat Amps: Fender Blues Junior Special Edition & Fender Studio 85 (Simultaneous... yummy) |
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Aug 18 2007, 11:35 AM
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Awesome, I'm sure I will. Thanks hardtail
--------------------  Gear: Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster, Gibson '67 RI Flying V, Mesa Boogie F-30 112 combo, crazy pedals. |
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