Tube amps
- Thread starter hannaugh
- Start date
jackthehack
Epic Member
- Messages
- 5,630
Well, I'll let the LA based cats give you some tips, but you should be able to find any amp in the world in driving distance; just avoid GC, which is where I'm going guess where you went?
Yep. GC is the closest place to my house. I wasn't really expecting to get much help there, but I know they have some amps and they're 5 mins away.
I've yet to get over to my favorite place in Brea yet. They don't have a huge selection, but at least they know what they're talking about. I'm going to hit up Sunset Blvd soon, there are a ton of music stores there. Vintage Gear is my favorite shop up there.
I've yet to get over to my favorite place in Brea yet. They don't have a huge selection, but at least they know what they're talking about. I'm going to hit up Sunset Blvd soon, there are a ton of music stores there. Vintage Gear is my favorite shop up there.
Death by Uberschall
Master Member
- Messages
- 4,162
hannaugh said:
Here's a hint:
What piece of music do you know of that has the sound you're looking for? There are enough people here "in the know" who can tell you what type of amp/circuit would be good for that sound.
Okay well in that case what would you recommend for someone who really likes the solo from Pink Floyd's "Time"? That is in my opinion one of the most beautiful sounds ever.
My favorite distortion type tone is probably AC/DC, but I don't mind using some pedals to get there. My first priority is to get something that does gorgeous cleans and nice bluesy jazzy type stuff, second is distortion.
My favorite distortion type tone is probably AC/DC, but I don't mind using some pedals to get there. My first priority is to get something that does gorgeous cleans and nice bluesy jazzy type stuff, second is distortion.
Death by Uberschall
Master Member
- Messages
- 4,162
hannaugh said:
That's easy. You're looking for super clean tones ala Hiwatt. David Gilmours amp of choice for his entire career. Look for the DR504 kits, 50 watts and simple circuits.
jackthehack
Epic Member
- Messages
- 5,630
I've never seen anything really definitive, like Gilmour personally saying "I used X, X and X, (whatever) recording Dark Side of the Moon"...
While we does use HiWatts when on stage a lot of his recordings have been made using vintage Blackface Fenders, but that tone has more to do with using a bright clean tube amp with effects chain, rather than being truly dependant on X brand of amp, and fingers/technique play heavily into it as well...
You have a Strat? That would make getting that tone easier, although I've seen him get almost the same exact tone playing a '56 LP with P-90s through a Fender Super or Twin Reverb (if you're a fan go directly to the DVD store and get a copy of Remember the Night).
As your pre-requisite of something you can easily slub around would preclude a HiWatt stack with at least 1 4x12; the Deluxe Reverb repeatedly suggested in this thread would work fine; you need a tube amp set to just underneath the "crunch" threshold, some sustain, but no distortion from the amp. You can approximate with single effects or a multi-effects unit, but you need "clean" distortion, a bit of chorus, compression and a little echo to get that tone...
While we does use HiWatts when on stage a lot of his recordings have been made using vintage Blackface Fenders, but that tone has more to do with using a bright clean tube amp with effects chain, rather than being truly dependant on X brand of amp, and fingers/technique play heavily into it as well...
You have a Strat? That would make getting that tone easier, although I've seen him get almost the same exact tone playing a '56 LP with P-90s through a Fender Super or Twin Reverb (if you're a fan go directly to the DVD store and get a copy of Remember the Night).
As your pre-requisite of something you can easily slub around would preclude a HiWatt stack with at least 1 4x12; the Deluxe Reverb repeatedly suggested in this thread would work fine; you need a tube amp set to just underneath the "crunch" threshold, some sustain, but no distortion from the amp. You can approximate with single effects or a multi-effects unit, but you need "clean" distortion, a bit of chorus, compression and a little echo to get that tone...
Having coached, realistically, about 15 folks over the net, while they built up their FIRST amplifier, let me state once again - go simple. Use it as a learning tool. It will sound GREAT, maybe not the exact flavor you want, but great none the less. THEN you can decide, ok is this for me (to build a classic amp of greater complexity). Outlay is not much for a smaller, simple amp. And they're loud enough for practice with a drummer, but not for gigging (unless mic'd). Having said that - the last show I saw (last weekend) had some guys outside at the biker party playing through 30w amps, with mics for the amps, and vocals into a small mixer - the amps got a little "help" from the PA, but not much. BIG wattage is not always needed.
My advice again - use the KISS method first time 'round.
My advice again - use the KISS method first time 'round.
Okay I went to the guitar shop area of the Sunset Strip today. I played a bunch of Fenders including a bunch of vintage stuff, and a few Marshalls. I like the 60s Deluxe, and I liked the Blues Deluxe, and of course I still like the Deville. I played some Champs and they're just not what I need at the moment. I would love to build an amp, and that is definitely something I'll look into in the near future, but I think that unless I'm going to end up with something like the Deluxe, it's not really worth it right now. So either I buy a Deluxe now and build a Champ later, or I build a Deluxe and possibly mess it up?
Patrick from Davis
Hero Member
- Messages
- 2,197
hannaugh said:
Close! Build whatever, have a couple of "Learning Experiences" along the way, and have a new member of the family. You pretty much know what clean tone you are going for, a 60's era Fender. If that is the bulk of your playing, then you build an amp to satisfy that. Just prioritize and build it. You will make mistakes, everyone does, but they are fixable. You learn more about an amp. After you make the first one, save up and make the champ later if you like the process. Just like the guitar building is addictive, well, I suppose we all know the rest.
Patrick
Death by Uberschall
Master Member
- Messages
- 4,162
hannaugh said:
Don't buy anything thing yet, I may have a lead on something nice and in your price range. Stay tuned. :icon_thumright:
Volitions Advocate
Hero Member
- Messages
- 1,239
I'm planning on selling my amps and buying 2 bose L1's and micing 2 very small amps instead. I hope to make my amps custom builds as well. so keep me in the loop.
Death by Uberschall
Master Member
- Messages
- 4,162
dmraco said:
It's ok, I think you can get better sounds out a POD XTLive or X3.
The line6 heads with the Bogner tube power section aren't too bad.
Try the Alchemist series.
But nothing beats a real Bogner head, period. So start saving your spare change. :icon_jokercolor:
My birthday is coming up in a few weeks, and I will probably get some decent amp-buying cash from my family, so I thought I'd ressurrect my old thread. I want to learn as much as I can about tube amps so I can make a good decision before my birthday rolls around. So do any of you guys know of a good amp forum I could check out? Preferably one that is fairly technical, like our little forum here, but focusing on building amps.
Death by Uberschall
Master Member
- Messages
- 4,162
http://www.rig-talk.com/forum/index.php
One of the best, very friendly site (just stay out of the Off Topic section, get's really political at times, LOL).
They have a manufacturer's forum and you can usually talk to people inside of the amp companies. Loads of people who build and design amps there.
I'm a member, come on over.
One of the best, very friendly site (just stay out of the Off Topic section, get's really political at times, LOL).
They have a manufacturer's forum and you can usually talk to people inside of the amp companies. Loads of people who build and design amps there.
I'm a member, come on over.
Superlizard
Hero Member
- Messages
- 2,514
hannaugh said:
Time more than likely used an Echoplex, so you'll want some sort of analog delay. Amp-wise, any vintage circuit with a boost in front should do the trick.
AC/DC = Marshall JTM45 (Angus). The JTM45 is a legend and one of the all-time greatest tones.
