Q&A with Peter Stroud with Dan Boul - 12/7/10

[Peter Stroud]

I hear ya...

Speaking of your "own gigs"...any chance of a Peter Stroud solo album anytime???

Not quite a solo gig.. but I've started a smokin band with my pals Audley Freed and Keith Gattis. We're writing and recording now with hopes to have something out by 1st qtr in the new year. It is rippin to say the least ad we;re thrilled with the songs so far. Great band overall.

[BloodRose]

Welcome Gents! Thank you for taking time to spend with us! I am at work, so my input to this conversation will be minimal.. And I cant follow along, so I apologize if my questions are repeats.

Peter, tho I tend to listen to heavier stuff, Im a fan of your work with several of the artists you've played with. when/What can we expect from your upcoming solo project? Any interesting road stories?

Dan,
Ive heard the 65 Amps pack some serious tone, but havnt had the priveledge of playing one. What promted you to build your own amps, how long did it take you to develop the sound you were shooting for? And do you offer or will you offer a "lunchbox" size head with a master volume?

Thank you

[DanBoul]

Not much to ask, just wanted to say I've been using the Lil Elvis head/cab as my primary amp for the last year. Thanks for putting out such great amps!!!!

Cheers man!! We're honored!!

[Peter Stroud]

Peter: Please describe your favorite Telecaster.

I have many... but the one I still think about is a late '50s Esquire I had during high school years that I've regretted parting with ever since. It had the "thing" with a smaller V-neck. still miss that one.

Otherwise I've really enjoyed my 76 Tele Custom over the years. Love the original front humbucker and it has had SD's in the rear position for the past 15 years...first with a Tele Classic 55 (?), later and still an Antiquity Broadcaster

[DanBoul]

Welcome Gents! Thank you for taking time to spend with us!
Dan,
Ive heard the 65 Amps pack some serious tone, but havnt had the priveledge of playing one. What promted you to build your own amps, how long did it take you to develop the sound you were shooting for? And do you offer or will you offer a "lunchbox" size head with a master volume?

Thank you

Happy to be here! Thanks for YOUR time!

The impetus was Peter needing to get good tone at lower stage volumes with Ms. Crow. Peter and I were geeking out on the old Ball Amp at the time and out of frustration we decided to make one ourselves . . .but with our usual neurotic attention to detail and we both have wierd bent for doing endless research. Peter was in LA a lot so we had time to flesh it out.

We honestly didn't intend to go into biz like this, it sort of asked us to do it. The response to the first amp we made for Peter's gig started a chain reaction that lead us here. Also, being in LA, we're surrounded by many experienced and highly talented people and we have no ego about getting smart guys to help us!

[Peter Stroud]

Not much to ask, just wanted to say I've been using the Lil Elvis head/cab as my primary amp for the last year. Thanks for putting out such great amps!!!!

Thanks lpmarshall!!

[ErikH]

Hi Dan and Peter and welcome to the SDUGF.

I have a Marshall JCM 900 MkIII head (2100 model) and it has 2 master volumes which are footswitchable. One for rhythm, one for lead. It's a no frills single channel amp otherwise that I just love.

My question: Is this something that you have thought of incorporating in to your amps? I think it is a great feature and am quite surprised that it's not seen more often.

[Gearjoneser]

Oh yeah, one more before the time is up.

Can you talk about your new Pro Series, and how you were able to bring these to market at a lower price? Basically, what would the differences be, and can you really hear the differences?

[Peter Stroud]

Welcome Gents! Thank you for taking time to spend with us! I am at work, so my input to this conversation will be minimal.. And I cant follow along, so I apologize if my questions are repeats.

Peter, tho I tend to listen to heavier stuff, Im a fan of your work with several of the artists you've played with. when/What can we expect from your upcoming solo project? Any interesting road stories?

Dan,
Ive heard the 65 Amps pack some serious tone, but havnt had the priveledge of playing one. What promted you to build your own amps, how long did it take you to develop the sound you were shooting for? And do you offer or will you offer a "lunchbox" size head with a master volume?

Thank you

HI Bloodrose,
The new band definitely has a southern flare to it that came a bit by default. Mainly we want to put out owr own music and playing that we feel represents us honestly. IT'll have a lot of guitar interaction btn Audley Keith and I of course. Keith is an amazing B-bender player and a singer songwriter in his own right. We have Robert Kearns on bass (played with Audley in Cry Of Love and now with Lynyrd Skynyrd) and Fred Eltringham on drums. Also Ike Stubblefield on B-3, so the mix of styles is very wide. It'll be a lot of fun and has been exciting for all of us.

[Peter Stroud]

Welcome Gents! Thank you for taking time to spend with us! I am at work, so my input to this conversation will be minimal.. And I cant follow along, so I apologize if my questions are repeats.

Peter, tho I tend to listen to heavier stuff, Im a fan of your work with several of the artists you've played with. when/What can we expect from your upcoming solo project? Any interesting road stories?

Dan,
Ive heard the 65 Amps pack some serious tone, but havnt had the priveledge of playing one. What promted you to build your own amps, how long did it take you to develop the sound you were shooting for? And do you offer or will you offer a "lunchbox" size head with a master volume?

Thank you

Road stories...so many the brain gets clogged. Hung out with Kid Rock and band at the hotel bar a couple of years back during Obama's Inauguration. multiple Jack shots later, Kid has his back up singers leading a gospel sing long with everyone remaining in the bar at about 2am. Probably one of the more tamer moments on Kid Rock's list of bar experiences, but none the less was quite memorable.

[Evan Skopp]

Last questions?

[DanBoul]

Oh yeah, one more before the time is up.

Can you talk about your new Pro Series, and how you were able to bring these to market at a lower price? Basically, what would the differences be, and can you really hear the differences?

Sure Mr. Jones or is Sir. Gear? ;-)

The Pro is made exactly like our Blue line stuff but with simpler cabinets, ceramic speakers (the alnicos are super expensive), simpler circuits but still very robust and midly different trannies. They sound fantastic and intended more for a guy who wants 1 amp for gig with a few voices. A grab and go mentality.

Without the expensive vents and speakers, that cuts the build cost dramatically. As mentioned above in this thread, it's very costly to put the aestheic pieces on the amp and some people are opting to save the money or the just don't care about the "dressing".

I hope that answers your question?

Cheers!

[the guy who invented fire]

Not quite a solo gig.. but I've started a smokin band with my pals Audley Freed and Keith Gattis. We're writing and recording now with hopes to have something out by 1st qtr in the new year. It is rippin to say the least ad we're thrilled with the songs so far. Great band overall.

HELL YEAH!!!

You and Audley Freed...amazing!

Any chance of an album in the future???

[Evan Skopp]

Dan? Peter? Would you like to leave us with a final word?

[Peter Stroud]

Hi Dan and Peter and welcome to the SDUGF.

I have a Marshall JCM 900 MkIII head (2100 model) and it has 2 master volumes which are footswitchable. One for rhythm, one for lead. It's a no frills single channel amp otherwise that I just love.

My question: Is this something that you have thought of incorporating in to your amps? I think it is a great feature and am quite surprised that it's not seen more often.

Hi Erik
Our new Empire will incorporate multiple gain levels with ability to dial a quite aggressive sound. But all sharing same tone stack which is our preference. Less circuitry means more of true tone of what you're putting thru it.

[DanBoul]

HELL YEAH!!!

You and Audley Freed...amazing!

Any chance of an album in the future???

I've heard the demo tracks . . . they're fantastic . . . I'm envious! :-)

[Peter Stroud]

HELL YEAH!!!

You and Audley Freed...amazing!

Any chance of an album in the future???

ooh yeah. CAn't wait. Hopefully early next year.

[the guy who invented fire]

ONE MORE!!!

Peter, as a Duncan Artist....fave Duncan pickups for Strat, Tele, buckers???

[newking70]

what's next for you guys on the amp horizon?

[Peter Stroud]

Cheers guys!! Thank you for joining us! And thank you Evan and all at Seymour Duncan! I've been a fan since Seymour first came out on the market with his pickups and these guys have supported me since day one. We've all become close friends and still use their products to date.
Cheers yall. Be well