A Rig that works for you?

[mantrasky]

I'm like most where I started with a modest amp in my early days then to Stacks & Racks, tons of stuff (hundreds of amps & guitars) now for convenience this rig works for me. I've always been a big fan of Marshall amps, had many modified by great tech's: Arrendondo, Cameron, Jackson plus all the boutique names: Bogner Ecstasy 100b, 101b, Classic & Shiva (modified High-Gain EL34 / PCB Rev:03) / Soldano SLO (3), HR100xl, Astroverb (2) / VHT Pittbull Classic, CAA PT100,
Mesa/Boogie MKIV (2), S.O.B., MKII-C and many Fenders, Twins, Deluxe etc. To my most current Rig, where years of experience and styles have led me to this.

Just wondered what others have found in their years "That works for you?" You evolve over the years, for me classical jazz rock, progressive fusion pop (also blues & hard rock).

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: A Rig that works for you?

Similar story here, except my path brought me to lower and lower wattage amps played full-out. I went from a rack with an ENGL preamp and Marshall 100/100 into a full stack to a 2W Jeff Bober amp and lots of pedals. When gigging I will supplement the 2W amp with a second amp at the same volume to fill in the corners and play wet/dry.

Main amp: EAST Studio 2
Secondary amps: Bumbox Cielo, Lil Dawg Champster
Tertiary amps: Laney Pro-Tube 30, MESA Trem-o-verb

Pedals: too many to list

 

[mantrasky]

Re: A Rig that works for you?

Hi Twilight, I know what you mean! I went from a lot to carry (friends or transport co./time on the road would move) to Fractal AxEfx II, Fryette Power station and a 1x12 cab. I was never satisfied with Modelers/simulators processors, there great in the studio or for the Effects with tone shaping, but Never sound and felt like a Real Tube Amp! Players like Vai, Petrucci & Lifeson never relied on Simulators, they still used "Tube Amps" to get their tone and the processor for effects. This setup for me is "Ideal" Very Versatile not the lightest to carry, but it's worth it!

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: A Rig that works for you?

How do you like the Power Station?
I heard it's brilliant.

 

[mantrasky]

Re: A Rig that works for you?

How do you like the Power Station?
I heard it's brilliant.

It is "Very Nice" if you need an Attenuator/50w Poweramp/Effects Loop built into one device, then it could be great! The only thing to remember:
1. Power Cord
2. 6L6(2) 12AX7(1) tubes that will need changing from time to time.
3. Fan, not loud but in the middle of the night, you can hear it.
***Great Fryette Products***

I prefer because I only needed a Attenuator:
Rivera Rock Crusher, the benefits:
1. No Power Cord
2. No Tubes to replace
3. No Fan, absolutely silent

In the end "ALL Attenuators Degrade Tone" I sold both Rivera & Fryette because my amps (Friedman & Soldano) have Incredible Master-Volumes! I was trying to get this "Power Tube" tone but there other factors like room, Speakers being pushed etc. They are really built for Non-Master-Volume amps! or amplifiers that "Jump" volume from 1 to OMG loud??? They will get you close though. "Which One sounded better?" that's hard to say?? either one you can EQ the difference to sound great. The Fryette is nice if you have a lower volume amp and wanted to boost it for "Live Performances", the EFX-Loop is great for non-Efx-Loop amps like older Marshall's.

I will say the Friedman BE100 sounds more "Live Performance" at lower volume!!! The SLO sounds Incredible for Live Playing. I love the BE because of the EL34's and is incredible for live playing but the SLO is an Legendary amp, and the "SLO" in the photo is "My Son's" Amp.

One of my son's guitars that he uses through the SLO, the cab has Celestion G12K-100 speakers, it sounds incredible with his Seven-String by TK Instruments (All built by hand, No CNC)

 

[Artie]

Re: A Rig that works for you?

That is one sweet setup!



What mic is that, and what mic-pre do you like/use?

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: A Rig that works for you?

sE X1/SM57 combo?

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: A Rig that works for you?

Rocktron Voodu Valve

Liked it so much I bought a Chameleon(cheap) as a back-up...

Lotsa stuff on the blink lately,tho,just using a Marshall & some pedals at this point.

 

[Artie]

Re: A Rig that works for you?

Lotsa stuff on the blink lately . . .

You might know someone who can fix that s**t. Maybe.

 

[mantrasky]

Re: A Rig that works for you?

That is one sweet setup!

View attachment 71840

What mic is that, and what mic-pre do you like/use?

Hello, Twilight was "right" it is a sE X1R (Ribbon) and the studio standard Shure SM57 (I've used the 57 for 30yrs) I like using the SM57 for rock music and the Ribbon for clean stuff, but I have a dozen different type (AKG, Sennheiser etc.) condensers, ribbon, dynamic, I also use different combinations, as I'm introducing more instruments. Mic Pre's I use "Summit Audio 2BA-221" I also use RME Audio Interface that has killer pre's. I really like to get the best tones with microphones, and sparingly use EQing.

Thank You ArtieToo, its a nice rig that has been working for me in a number of situations. I have a few things here and there

 

[Aceman]

Re: A Rig that works for you?

There is no one thing that works for me.

That said - I do love my Marshall VS100. Three channels, great sound, rugged, light and easy to maintain!

 

[ant_riv]

Re: A Rig that works for you?

My journey is probably similar.

High school: Half-stack. Started with a Peavey head & cabinet, then a Marshall head w/Peavey cab, then all Marshall Half-stack
'Gigging Musician' years: two full Marshall stacks
Have Kids years: whatever was easiest to move. GK-250ML, Music Man 110RD50, Marshall Lead12 combo, Ampeg G-10,
Now: Marshall 4001 (Studio 15)

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: A Rig that works for you?

That is an awesome setup!

I'm still evolving... But so is my target tone.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: A Rig that works for you?

I used to be a total metalhead, so i always approached everything as "What sounds better for metal." Now I'm approaching everything from the standpoint of "What is a more versatile setup?" because I play a bit of everything. I went from being a 4x12 half stack only guy with pedals to loving smaller amps and pedals to being a full on modeling junkie. When I start recording school in the fall I'm gonna get a Line 6 Helix unit and a Mission Engineering 2x12 cab with a built in power amp and I'm going to sell my current Line 6 Pod HD500 and small Vox amp to a friend of mine who's already called dibs on it.

 

[mantrasky]

Re: A Rig that works for you?

My journey is probably similar.

High school: Half-stack. Started with a Peavey head & cabinet, then a Marshall head w/Peavey cab, then all Marshall Half-stack
'Gigging Musician' years: two full Marshall stacks
Have Kids years: whatever was easiest to move. GK-250ML, Music Man 110RD50, Marshall Lead12 combo, Ampeg G-10,
Now: Marshall 4001 (Studio 15)

Yes, what you say is true ant_riv, the family is the most important and those days with the gear is an awesome memories, keep any and all of your songs so your kids can enjoy them!

 

[leevc5]

Re: A Rig that works for you?

Marshall ATV50, old Fender Champ 1 6L6...
Work in progress: building 5F1 1 6V6... plus 40 Watt solid state, plan to put them in one cabinet with a Celestion Vintage 12. Getting old wanna have one relatively light amp I can grab and be ready for most any of the venues I usually find myself in.

 

[mantrasky]

Re: A Rig that works for you?

That is an awesome setup!

I'm still evolving... But so is my target tone.

PFDarkside, I have had such a love for tube amps that I'm always looking for something cool. "Thank You" regarding my gear! I'm not much of a gear collector (way to much to mention) I use them as tools but this setup really covers a lot of territory, I'm kind of "Old-School" about amps, it's funny my son has heard me play SLO's for over a decade and when he was thinking of awesome amps, that was what he wanted (continuing the tradition) so I had to get that for him.

 

[mantrasky]

Re: A Rig that works for you?

Marshall ATV50, old Fender Champ 1 6L6...
Work in progress: building 5F1 1 6V6... plus 40 Watt solid state, plan to put them in one cabinet with a Celestion Vintage 12. Getting old wanna have one relatively light amp I can grab and be ready for most any of the venues I usually find myself in.

Leevc5, "I've been searching" a lot of years for equipment, but from your list you can cover a lot!!! I'm currently working on a new CD project so I'm looking for more gear, mostly studio stuff. The different bands I jam with do recordings & play out "Show Case".

 

[mantrasky]

Re: A Rig that works for you?

I used to be a total metalhead, so i always approached everything as "What sounds better for metal." Now I'm approaching everything from the standpoint of "What is a more versatile setup?" because I play a bit of everything. I went from being a 4x12 half stack only guy with pedals to loving smaller amps and pedals to being a full on modeling junkie. When I start recording school in the fall I'm gonna get a Line 6 Helix unit and a Mission Engineering 2x12 cab with a built in power amp and I'm going to sell my current Line 6 Pod HD500 and small Vox amp to a friend of mine who's already called dibs on it.

Johnny, at one time when I was on the road I had as many as five full stacks of Marshall's, all modified and sounded killer! but I also love Classical, Jazz, Fusion, Pop (I really love hard rock), I've had my AxEfx II for a couple of years, its a good device but "Tube Amps" just do it for me. The Modelers sound great and very convenient. I also have a Line6 HD Desktop it's very cool, not in the same class as the AxEfx but it's also easy to deal with, I can carry that into a club, plug it through the "House System" sounds awesome!

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: A Rig that works for you?

Johnny, at one time when I was on the road I had as many as five full stacks of Marshall's, all modified and sounded killer! but I also love Classical, Jazz, Fusion, Pop (I really love hard rock), I've had my AxEfx II for a couple of years, its a good device but "Tube Amps" just do it for me. The Modelers sound great and very convenient. I also have a Line6 HD Desktop it's very cool, not in the same class as the AxEfx but it's also easy to deal with, I can carry that into a club, plug it through the "House System" sounds awesome!

And I'm glad that they work for you. Tube amps should definitely be used if they're what inspire you to play. For me, I look at a high quality modeler as a better investment because it allows me be play a more versatile setup without having a different amp for every style of music that I play. But I'm glad that you've found the rig that works for you man. That Bogner and Friedman combo looks sexy.