Amp control placement question.

[Artie]

There must be a hundred amps, like my H & K, and the Peavey Classic series, etc., that have the controls lined up on the top-rear edge. I don't recall ever seeing anyone stand behind their amp when they play.

I find the layout annoying, but was wondering if I'm just missing something. Does anyone know the design idea behind this? Just seems odd to me.

 

[flank]

Re: Amp control placement question.

just a complete guess, but perhaps its so the guitar tech could switch settings per the guitarist request during song, and remain behind the amp and relatively unnoticed? of course, once a song is over, the guitarist could just go back and adjust settings at that point, but during a song, it'd be much easier for someone to come up behind an amp and switch the settings.

the other thing could just be chassis design, some guys may have thought it easier to design a chassis with controls in that area.

 

[Fresh_Start]

Re: Amp control placement question.

The location of the controls is easy - you've got a combo amp where you can pop off the back panel and get straight into the insides of the amp. Also, I think it's the most space-efficient design for combos in terms of keeping tubes & transformers out of the way of the biggest speaker possible for a given box. Controls on the front are nicer for the guitarist, but you've got to pull the chassis out of the cab to work on it for Blackface Fenders, etc.

I think Flank's got a point about the "upside down" lettering. Might also be a "set and forget" mentality from the 50's. How much are you going to fiddle with the controls if all you've got is Volume and Tone?

Pure conjecture...

Chip

 

[Artie]

Re: Amp control placement question.

The location of the controls is easy - you've got a combo amp where you can pop off the back panel and get straight into the insides of the amp. Also, I think it's the most space-efficient design for combos in terms of keeping tubes & transformers out of the way of the biggest speaker possible for a given box. Controls on the front are nicer for the guitarist, but you've got to pull the chassis out of the cab to work on it for Blackface Fenders, etc.

That makes sense. Thats probably it. Thanks.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Amp control placement question.

I'm not sure how that design came about, but I have seen pictures of many of the popular guitarists of the 1940s and 1950s standing BEHIND their amps.

I believe that Fender should have had a patent, or at least a trademark, on the BF/SF style of amps. This was a radical design layout for the early 1960s, and I don't think anything much better has come along since.

It's these little things that you see in the design of the amps and the guitars--Leo Fender was part genius, and a terrific engineer.

Bill

 

[LJ King]

Re: Amp control placement question.

I'm not sure how that design came about, but I have seen pictures of many of the popular guitarists of the 1940s and 1950s standing BEHIND their amps.

I believe that Fender should have had a patent, or at least a trademark, on the BF/SF style of amps. This was a radical design layout for the early 1960s, and I don't think anything much better has come along since.

It's these little things that you see in the design of the amps and the guitars--Leo Fender was part genius, and a terrific engineer.

Bill

+1.

Yes, the original proper way to use an amp in the early days was to have it in front of you. Especially for those guitarists that played in the "big bands" orchestras.

Leo noticed the change, as more guitarists started putting their amps behind them, probably as a result of groups and bandstands getting smaller - the upcoming country and rock-n-roll groups were smaller in terms of band members. The front layout simply became more practical.

 

[Fresh_Start]

Re: Amp control placement question.

It's these little things that you see in the design of the amps and the guitars--Leo Fender was part genius, and a terrific engineer.

Bill

You left out "all brilliant businessman"

BTW that's a compliment, not an insult, in my book!

Didn't know about guitarists standing behind their amps originally. I wonder how much that has to do with all amps being open-backed combos originally?

Chip

 

[greco]

Re: Amp control placement question.

Not only are the rear mounted controls somewhat frustrating, but white lettering on a chrome faceplate just adds to that. My tweed Blues Deluxe had that.

Interesting thread.

Thanks Artie

Dave

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Amp control placement question.

Not only are the rear mounted controls somewhat frustrating, but white lettering on a chrome faceplate just adds to that. My tweed Blues Deluxe had that.

Interesting thread.

Thanks Artie

Dave

ya my C30 combo with the white writing on it is dam hard to see... took me a while to remember what knob is for what.. and i have an Amp stand i like to use that tilts the combo back like a monitor and sometimes turning a knob for adjustment is a real pain....

 

[Artie]

Re: Amp control placement question.

Its funny . . . its the opposite reason that it annoys me on my H&K, which has this cool blue glow around the controls . . . which you can't see very well because its on the back of the amp.