Gear
Sorry, it has been a bit since I posted anything, but I hope you all have found your guitars, and have been practicing, and learning to generate cool sounds with just the guitar. Amp time.
OK, second most important piece of gear next to your guitar is the amp… This completes the circuit. There are a ton of options out there. Practice amps, modeling amps, tube amps, solid-state amps, hybrid amps, sans amps, etc… The options these days are mind-blowing, and really cool at the same time…
The time has come to choose young Padawan….
What sounds do you like?? lo-fi?, hi-fi?, modern heavy metal? Blues? Rock? indie trash-pop?
Different amps have different purposes… Personally, I prefer the sound of Tube Amps. I do own a modeling device that I use for recording, but for live use and the majority of studio work, Tube Amps are it…
A few differences:
By the way, there are folks out there WAY more knowledgeable than me but I do my best…
Fender style amps: Think Fender Deluxe reverb, Super Reverbs, Fender Twins, just about anything with 6L6 or 6V6 power tubes, I think you could put KT88 and KT66’s in this category too, but I don’t know much about them. These amps are your classic “clean” sound. Great bottom end, nice highs, and a slightly scooped middle. Super Popular for blues, and a great all around amp. An “American” sound. Available from 6watts up to 150watts. Pair well with Strat and Tele type guitars.
Vox style amps: EL84 based amps (usually Class A). Typical wattage is around 30watts. “British” voiced. A bit brighter with more mids. Think “The Edge”. Great for pretty much everything, can be really clean, but are generally more aggressive. Someone could probably describe this way better than me… but… anyways…
Marshall style amps: EL34 based amps. The big brother power tube to the EL84. Think Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, etc.
Boogie style amps: Cascaded gain stages, think modern rock sounds. Channel switching, etc.
Generalizations aside, get the best amp you can get. Tube amps can be had for cheap these days.
A couple other random thoughts on amps:
1. Tube watts are louder than solid state.
2. Think of your audience and where you do most of your playing. That will hopefully guide you in your selection. For Example: If you play in small churches, or in coffeehouses and small clubs, A 100watt Half-stack may not be the best choice.
3. Tube amps do sound better when turned up to their sweet spot. This is different for each amp, but if you run a lower wattage amp, with a good speaker, then you can get the dials up in the sweet zone without making the singer’s ears bleed. (unless that is your goal)
Here is what I am using:
Oldfield Marquis 36: An EL84 amp that I just recently acquired. I have always been prone to this type of amp and this one is perfect. I run this with a 4×12 bottom cab for the cover gig (we are loud) and I can cut the power to 18watts and play it at Church or in a small club and still get AMAZING tone. Mine is a 1×12 combo. Super versatile.
Oldfield Honky Tonk D’luxe: 6V6 amp, loosely based on a Tweed Deluxe. Very cool amp, sounds great in stereo with the M36. Sadly, doesn’t see much use these days, except in the studio.
1967 Guild Thunder 1: Weird 2×10 combo. Only 12 watts. Great clean sound.
196? Silvertone 10xl: this is a single ended amp (1 power tube) around 10watts. This is the practice amp.
OK, I may have left a few things out, but those are some initial thoughts…