Recent content by Gold star

Is the Vox 'top boost' which first appeared on the AC models in the 60s, just Vox speak for gain or overdrive? overdrive with more emphasis on the treble. I notice some of their recent hand wired models inc. things like the AC4 , also claim to incorporate Top Boost in the circuit. Whether it's...

This is something that I see people stating fairly regularly. " A digital amp like the Tonemaster or any modelling amp is NOT solid state " but an analogue transistor amp IS solid state" (?). Not sure where that idea comes from. Any amp where the circuit , pre & power stage is composed of...

If a tube amp's output has an impedance of 16 ohm and its coupled to a pair of 16 ohm speakers wired in series, that would give 32 ohm. I would think that would be OK ? . If the amp is a little loud that arrangement should tame the volume- Some have suggested though that this could damage the...

Fender have released a Tonemaster edit of the '59 Bassman with 4 x 10" Jensens. The first TM with FX loop. Anyone heard these ??

In the attachments You can see two ECC83's one has shorter plates and is more built up ( in this case a JJ ECC83S) , the other has longer plates and more space in between. (it's Chelmer but similar to EH)How does that affect gain, background hum etc ?

Has anyone magnetised or re magnetised bar magnets ? Is it possible to change the polarity of a magnet by doing this. does magnet type come into play as well when it comes to magnet strength?

I have a Fender Texas special tele bridge p/up with raised G & D pole -the D pole raised even further than the G the rest are normal . What was the idea behind that , a more mid range sound perhaps, and can the raised poles be filed down? I'm thinking it would de magnetise them ..

Where is the proof , or maybe it's just psychological, , that amp speakers with Alnico magnets give a warmer sound,& produce chime in some amps, and Ceramic ones are harsher and brittle? I would think the real difference is in the design of the speaker; the depth, shape of the cone, the coil...

A number of tube guitar amps have a MOSFET in the pre amp. The main reason for this is to create gain without the need for an extra tube = or tubes. However, if you input an overdrive pedal or one that colours the basic voicing (amp in a box) will they work as well with the signal being fed into...

Someone must know this. I have a Fender made in Mexico wide-range p/up in my Tele. This has a bar magnet instead of pole magnets. Has anyone tried or even thought of, adjusting the threaded steel poles underneath? You cant see them but there are six and these are the passive ones. I'm sure they...

Much has been written about the Fender Tonemaster series. Many have become converts ,ditching their tube amps along the way. They cant hear the difference. Should we now expect a TM AC30 &15 ? or TM '59 Marshall Plexi , JCM 800 ? or Mesa Rectifier? It comes back again to the tube v SS debate. It...

Does anyone have experience of the G&L Z coil pick ups ? they've been around since the 80s and are basically hum cancelling S/Cs but the treble poles are offset to towards the bridge, bit like the wide range p/up idea . Looked interesting, and you can buy them as separate units, but don't seem...

I have a single channel valve combo and at times it can be difficult to get the right tone or sound with the amp EQ which is gain ,master volume, bass & treble. I have thought of an EQ pedal unit. Has anyone tried these extensively?

I noticed recently Vox have brought out a new version of the AC30. It was showcased a while back but first I've seen of it. Single channel, single speaker, single input, overdrive ,digital Reverb -but no tremolo. It is in fact a scaled up version of the AC10, which I own, except this has an...

perhaps someone has a view...on two statements i've seen A tube amp should always be plugged into a guitar when warming up (seems unlikely) ...and if you put a tube amp in storage..not use it for weeks or months, something will 'pop' when you come to switch on again...any truth in that ?