amp and/or cab recommendations...

[norumba]

im playing a rather specific instrument and set up, and really havent found an amp to match....hope i can seek some opinions.

im currently playing fretless electric guitar in an extended tuning , low to hi:- c, g, c, g, c, f - so its a half step higher on the top end, but a major 3rd lower on the 6th string. Im playing a Vigier fretless with dimarzios and a Rick Canton custom fretless with seymour duncan p -rails wired up to get everything

i'm playing a lot of east Indian-based rock tinged free-jazz improv -- think if Bill Frisell and Ornette Coleman guested with the White Stripes in Calcutta you'd have an idea of where we're going -- and the nice thing about the Canton fretless, is it really doesnt sound exactly like a guitar, it has its own, organic character.

problem with most amps i've tried is that they all sound too "guitary". Egnater Rebel didnt cut it, neither did the Blackhearts, but i may revisit that. i have a Peavey Delta Blues with the 15" speaker which comes close in terms of fills in that low C, but its still to guitary an overall tone, and too big ( i want to run the rig in stereo).
another close approximation is using the Roland Ac-90 with a Seymour Duncan Twin Tube Classic as the first effect in the chain to warm up the sound and drive all the other pedals (those are in a state of flux right now, but will include an octave generator, wah, another overdrive/or distortion, possibly a phaser, then the chous/delay/verb thang). I may use a compressor at the very front of this, as it may help with some sustain issues inherent with fretless instruments.

what i like about using the AC 90 is the even, full range of the speaker coverage - adjusted right, it can be pretty neutral and transparent. but i miss the tube response and warmth, regained somewhat with sd ttc.

am thinking of trying two blackheart 5w heads but with a good , neutral, transparent speaker cab -- i'd be open to cab recommendations, amp recommendations, any impressions.

many thanks!

 

[WhoFan]

Re: amp and/or cab recommendations...

i'd try a pedal steel amp...

 

[norumba]

Re: amp and/or cab recommendations...

saw your response at work -- pedal steel amps --- hadnt thought of that. interesting idea!

been web surfing on that since i got home, and there's some interesting possibilities, but the intriguing ones -- Webb (if/when they launch) will likely be pricey, and the Evans are as well, especially considering i want to run in stereo, therefore doubling the outlay.

the more affordable production models -- fender steel king or the peaveys -- put me at a lot of horse power, even for solid state, and im not sure what im gaining over the two AC-90 rig -- id have to try one out to really experience the difference.

now perhaps the cabinets are worth considering... wonder how a blackheart or other low watt tube map would drive, say , an evans 15" speaker cab...

 

[J Moose]

Re: amp and/or cab recommendations...

My first thought, seeing that you like a "full range" sound... would be to check out some bass amps and maybe some keyboard amps... and totally forego ANYTHING guitar related unless it was a dual amp rig.

Though, its hard to say. It sounds like have a good idea of what you want to hear and experience, and experimentation is key to uncovering that...whatever it may be!

Might try putting the TT Classic last in the pedal chain too... I have a Mayhem and its more of a "preamp" and likes being the last box in line.

 

[norumba]

Re: amp and/or cab recommendations...

hi,
thanks for your thoughts, i might look at those too... i ve even wondered, getting distracted on ebay, if an old stereo hifi tube amp ( fisher, bogen) could be adapted

i;ve thought about moving the tt classic down the chain, as it does seem to have very much a preamp vibe, but it would have to be before the chorus/delay/verb unit which ill do in stereo then into a looper -- unless i got two and did a lot of tap dancing, lol... wish they made a true stereo version of it...