am I crazy???

skyydogg01

skyydogg01

Active member
I'm actually thinking about getting rid of my Blues Junior for a Crate solid state. Am I crazy? I actually found the tone I'm looking for on my old crate halfstack (GFX1200H/GX412 Slant). I can't find any distortion pedal that will give me a tone that I like. I've tried the boss DS-1 and metal zone and I'm seeing the same thing with both.
 
Re: am I crazy???

If you like the tone, then that's all that matters IMO. It might sound crazy to some people, going from tube to SS, but it happens.
 
Re: am I crazy???

Nope. Not crazy. If it has the tone you want then go for it. You might do a bit more searching if you feel you must, but I wouldn't be too worried.

Tube, SS, or Digital... the important thing is you have the tone you want, and that it is good tone. I gigged for a few years on a Marshall Valvestate and got plenty of compliments on my tone. If you're playing live the only people who will care what your amp is are the other guitarists in the house.
 
Re: am I crazy???

I used to have a Crate 65 watt combo that had a great distortion crunch that I haven't been able to find in any pedal. I've come close but nothing quite as good. Sadly the amp died and I had to replace it. But I didn't want another disposable amp.

If you can get the sound you want from a Crate - go for it!
 
Re: am I crazy???

thanks guys.

I actually had people tell me I had "unbelievable" tone. my rig at the time was:
1. ) the aformentioned half stack
2. ) Ibanez GRX40 with a JB in the bridge
3. ) danelectro Tuna melt tremolo
4. ) Ibanez CF7 chorus/flanger
5. ) Ibanez LF7 LoFi

effects were in the loop
 
Re: am I crazy???

It's a journey we all need to go through.

I had a Champ 12 for years. From when I got it until I sold it I hated that amp. I got it for under $40 in the 80's and sold it for $150 around 2000 or so. In between I think I spent $100 getting the caps done on it and a jack repaired. I hated that amp. I played it forever because it was a bargain and it had tubes in it; how wrong could I go? I hated that amp every time I plugged into it.

Every so often I wonder about them and I always seem to run across them in random guitar shops. I always make the effort to plug in and take them for a spin. Sure enough, I still hate them. Maybe that will change someday, but it's nice to know I have the option to confirm my opinion on them when I get curious.

I would suggest finding one in a shop locally and playing it for awhile and see what you think.

...not a Champ 12....I would recommend anyone for that amp.
 
Re: am I crazy???

the question becomes, do I replace what I had (the halfstack) or just get a combo. you only need one speaker to play out anyway, right?
 
Re: am I crazy???

The answer to the first question is, "Yes."

Now, as to whether you should get another amp, that's a matter of taste.
 
Re: am I crazy???

Have you tried a Big muff or a metal muff for the distortion you seek? I really enjoy my metal muff into my blues jr.

Rock On ~ Kac
 
Re: am I crazy???

Kac, I may try that, but I don't know any shops around here that have EH products. and It'll be at least 2 weeks before I can get to one.
 
Re: am I crazy???

Well, I use solid state and it works...but be sure you try MANY pedals before you decide!

Do you have some music store around you that would let you bring your amp in (or have one in stock) so you could just check out all the pedals on it???


I think solid state amps are more useful than they usually get credit for but you will want to be darn sure the amp you have now wont work before you do anything you'll regret later.
 
Re: am I crazy???

the problem is:

the clean is spectacular - no matter what I have it set to it sounds great.

when I put some distortion on it, I get the same tonality no matter what pedal/amp settings I use. there is a certain frequency spike that isn't jiving with me. I will try cranking it up this weekend and see if I like it better at higher volumes. I may even stop by my favorite store (C&M Music, Houma, La) and check out some pedals. I've been discouraged to this point and I think I just need to move on.
 
Re: am I crazy???

well, I went to C&M in houma and talked to my old buddy Armond (been knowing him since like 2nd grade). I told him what i had and what I was looking for and guess what he slaps on the counter ... a Metal Muff (the big one with top boost). I asked him about the smaller versions and he said that that store only carries the big one but he had a Little Big Muff. I said "let me try them both." He hooked it up to a blues deluxe and I grabbed a PRS SE Singlecut and went to town. Man that Metal Muff sounded exactly what I was looking for. the Little Big Muff was just that, a big pile of muff. Anyway, I ended up buying the Metal Muff and will be trying it out with my rig tonight. I'm sure this is what I've been looking for.

thanks to everyone for their help and advice.
 
Re: am I crazy???

Well if the Metal Muff doesn't work out with the Blues Junior, I'd say get rid of what doesn't work and get what does.
 
Re: am I crazy???

Albert King used a Acoustasonic solid state amp with a flying V and he had the most amazing blues tone.
So who cares?!
As long has your happy with it doesn't matter what gear you use!
 
Re: am I crazy???

skyydogg01 said:
well, I went to C&M in houma and talked to my old buddy Armond (been knowing him since like 2nd grade). I told him what i had and what I was looking for and guess what he slaps on the counter ... a Metal Muff (the big one with top boost). I asked him about the smaller versions and he said that that store only carries the big one but he had a Little Big Muff. I said "let me try them both." He hooked it up to a blues deluxe and I grabbed a PRS SE Singlecut and went to town. Man that Metal Muff sounded exactly what I was looking for. the Little Big Muff was just that, a big pile of muff. Anyway, I ended up buying the Metal Muff and will be trying it out with my rig tonight. I'm sure this is what I've been looking for.

thanks to everyone for their help and advice.
Click to expand...

Glad it worked out for you, G.

Uh, are you aware that C&M has a store in Laffy? Jus' wonderin'....
 
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