Back from the Dallas Guitar Show...and some observations about tone:

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Back from the Dallas Guitar Show...and some observations about tone:

I Knew I Should Have Gone!!!

 

[JacksonMIA]

Re: Back from the Dallas Guitar Show...and some observations about tone:

I Knew I Should Have Gone!!!

+1. Stupid work!



Sounds like you had a good time. Those are some serious names to throw around for praising those amps. If those guys like it, it MUST be good. I hope your brother gets some business out of it!

 

[75lespaul]

Re: Back from the Dallas Guitar Show...and some observations about tone:

Who did the mod on Erik's SD-1? What does it sound like, just wondering.

 

[coachc55]

Re: Back from the Dallas Guitar Show...and some observations about tone:

It's pretty interesting that Lew would mention the"individuality" of the strat players with less output amps. I remember Jeff Beck saying, to paraphrase, that the strat gave him more individuality in his playing.


Sincerely,
CoachC

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Back from the Dallas Guitar Show...and some observations about tone:

Who did the mod on Erik's SD-1? What does it sound like, just wondering.

Erik did it himself I believe. His set "normally" sounds like mine when I turn everything up all the way! :laugh2:

I don't use a DS-1 like most guys do...I use it more as a tone conditioner that lets me turn up my guitar for an overdriven sound and down for a clean sound.

Eric's is more like a dedicated overdrive pedal that you'd stomp on or off.

On the rare ocassions when I use mine, I leave it on all the time (like Satriani and Vai do) and set it so I can turn the volume on my guitar down to 5 or so and get a very clean sound and then turn the volume up and get a heavier sound.

I doubt Eric's will do that...maybe it will, but I doubt it.

Sounds great though!

Lew

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Back from the Dallas Guitar Show...and some observations about tone:

It's pretty interesting that Lew would mention the"individuality" of the strat players with less output amps. I remember Jeff Beck saying, to paraphrase, that the strat gave him more individuality in his playing.


Sincerely,
CoachC

You really have to work harder with a Strat or Tele to shape the tone with your hands or else you'll get a thin ice picky tone. Humbuckers and higher output pickups do a lot of the work of getting a rich fat tone for you.

So if you have to shape the tone with your hands to get a nice tone, naturally your own personality is going to come through alot more...you're putting alot more of yourself into it and you're playing alot more mindfully.

But once you can shape the tone with your hands and picking, you can then play a more powerful sounding guitar like a Les Paul and make it sound more like a Tele or Strat...because you've matured as a player and have learned more about shaping your tone with your actual touch and phrasing.

That's my take on it anyway.

That's also why super high gain amps and alot of distortion and overdrive rob you of your personality...it's like the amp is doing so much of the work for you that you can just noodle and still sound "good"...but you'll also tend to sound like evryone else. IMO.

That said, I do like to wail through a high gain amp sometimes just for the fun of it.

Lew

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Back from the Dallas Guitar Show...and some observations about tone:

I like gain too, but there's no bumblebee tone coming out of my rig. I like LP's and McCartys for some things, but I'm almost always playing strats. I recently set up my 3 strats with 3 different sounding sets...Chubtone 63's, 69's, and a Surfer Custom/2 Surfer set. The tele has Chubtone III/V, which is better than I thought it'd be. I've always been more of a strat guy, and lately I'm really thinking of staying that way.

I totally would have gone to that if it were in LA. As a matter of fact, the LA Amp Show is coming up soon, so I'm all over that! Also, the Vacuum Tube Valley Expo.

You've mentioned Buddy Whittington before, and I've been meaning to try and hear some of his stuff. I always love seeing a huge array of great players, since it's very telling about the nuances of tone, and what gear they use to get their tones.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Back from the Dallas Guitar Show...and some observations about tone:

I like gain too, but there's no bumblebee tone coming out of my rig. I like LP's and McCartys for some things, but I'm almost always playing strats. I recently set up my 3 strats with 3 different sounding sets...Chubtone 63's, 69's, and a Surfer Custom/2 Surfer set. The tele has Chubtone III/V, which is better than I thought it'd be. I've always been more of a strat guy, and lately I'm really thinking of staying that way.

I totally would have gone to that if it were in LA. As a matter of fact, the LA Amp Show is coming up soon, so I'm all over that! Also, the Vacuum Tube Valley Expo.

You've mentioned Buddy Whittington before, and I've been meaning to try and hear some of his stuff. I always love seeing a huge array of great players, since it's very telling about the nuances of tone, and what gear they use to get their tones.

One thing I've noticed about the hot Texas players who play blues is that they also can play the daylights out of country and they can do alot of that chicken pickin' stuff! The really good guys, like Buddy, seem to know a jillion really cool country licks...pedal steel wannabe stuff. I can do a little of that, but growing up in Detroit, we didn't get exposed to much country music...not as much as you would growing up in Texas, that's for sure! Buddy plays great on the DVD of John Mayall's birthday jam. Plays along side Clapton on that DVD. It's worth having. He's really fast too! But he's tasty... Lew

 

[jdm61]

Re: Back from the Dallas Guitar Show...and some observations about tone:

AHHHHH............you guys SUCK!!!!!:chairfall I was supposed to be in Dallas visiting the kids during the show and i was going to bring my oldest son by, but i had to reschedule the trip:yell:

 

[ErikH]

Re: Back from the Dallas Guitar Show...and some observations about tone:

Who did the mod on Erik's SD-1? What does it sound like, just wondering.

I modded it myself. It's a DS-1 by the way, not the SD-1. Although I also have a SD-1 that I modded too. The mods I did to my DS-1 are partially from Keeley and partially from a member of the DIY forum I frequent. I then made a change to the clipping diodes.

The dual red LED's in place of the stock clipping diodes make a huge difference. it takes the buzz away and makes it crunch more. They actually light up while playing.

Lew, it'll clean up really nice. Roll back the guitar volume with the distortion set a about 9 o'clock and it's sweet. Better with singles though. Humbuckers still make those LED's light up a little. But yeah, it can be used as standalone distortion with the Dist level up. That was a cool A/B test. I'm glad you did that.

 

[LesStrat]

Re: Back from the Dallas Guitar Show...and some observations about tone:

Sounds like a good time.

AND, you got to hear Keaggy. Schweeetttt!!!!!!

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Back from the Dallas Guitar Show...and some observations about tone:

Sounds like a good time.

AND, you got to hear Keaggy. Schweeetttt!!!!!!

He was very good! And like I said: Refreshing after all the macho screaming guitar stuff I'd been hearing from so many (though not all!) of the players...talented though they might be. Lew

 

[ErikH]

Re: Back from the Dallas Guitar Show...and some observations about tone:

I wish we could've stayed for some of the jams but I had band practice right after leaving. Oh well. We made our own noise. Junior Brown was playing a set when we got there so we at least heard him on our way in. You're right Lew, he does sound like Mr. Ed when he sings. :laugh2:

Amy is very glad that everything worked out and you guys got the exposure you wanted. She was feeling kinda bad about the whole shutdown thing but the news of getting lots of attention afterwards really made her feel good about it all.

Do you know when the 18 watt with reverb will be available? I see on the Mission Amps site that it mentions other models coming soon.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Back from the Dallas Guitar Show...and some observations about tone:

I wish we could've stayed for some of the jams but I had band practice right after leaving. Oh well. We made our own noise. Junior Brown was playing a set when we got there so we at least heard him on our way in. You're right Lew, he does sound like Mr. Ed when he sings. :laugh2:

Amy is very glad that everything worked out and you guys got the exposure you wanted. She was feeling kinda bad about the whole shutdown thing but the news of getting lots of attention afterwards really made her feel good about it all.

Do you know when the 18 watt with reverb will be available? I see on the Mission Amps site that it mentions other models coming soon.

I designed a whole line up of amps for Bruce on the ride to the airport on Monday. :laugh2: I doubt he'll do the 18 watt with reverb (to much $$$) but I did suggest a 50 watt and 100 watt version with reverb and a 30 watt, 50 watt and 100 watt head...with and without reverb. Bruce thinks reverb compromises the tone of that particular design but I loved the 30 watt with reverb. I'd like to hear it without to hear for myself. It's not blackface Fender reverb...that's impossible to do in a Vox/Marshall/tweed Bassman type circuit and although Bruce's amp doesn't sound like any of those, the circuit is similar. I do love spring reverb though and that's why I asked him to put spring reverb in the 30 watt Aurora that we brought to the show. I leave it barely on, but if it's there I use it. Lew

 

[ErikH]

Re: Back from the Dallas Guitar Show...and some observations about tone:

I designed a whole line up of amps for Bruce on the ride to the airport on Monday. :laugh2: I doubt he'll do the 18 watt with reverb (to much $$$) but I did suggest a 50 watt and 100 watt version with reverb and a 30 watt, 50 watt and 100 watt head...with and without reverb. Bruce thinks reverb compromises the tone of that particular design but I loved the 30 watt with reverb. I'd like to hear it without to hear for myself. It's not blackface Fender reverb...that's impossible to do in a Vox/Marshall/tweed Bassman type circuit and although Bruce's amp doesn't sound like any of those, the circuit is similar. I do love spring reverb though and that's why I asked him to put spring reverb in the 30 watt Aurora that we brought to the show. I leave it barely on, but if it's there I use it. Lew

Oh no...LOL. I can just seem him rolling his eyes over all that. :laugh2: :laugh2: Head versions would be cool, with that same retro look. Definitely stick with the KISS theory like the Aurora has. That simplicity is wonderful.

No problem if the 18 doesn't get reverb. I can deal with that. I never did look at the back of the thing so I need to ask, does it have an effects loop? My initial guess is it doesn't. He did tell me it has an external speaker out which is cool.

That 30 watter with the reverb you and he brought sounds killer. I can see that one being a seller.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Back from the Dallas Guitar Show...and some observations about tone:

Oh no...LOL. I can just seem him rolling his eyes over all that. :laugh2: :laugh2: Head versions would be cool, with that same retro look. Definitely stick with the KISS theory like the Aurora has. That simplicity is wonderful.

No problem if the 18 doesn't get reverb. I can deal with that. I never did look at the back of the thing so I need to ask, does it have an effects loop? My initial guess is it doesn't. He did tell me it has an external speaker out which is cool.

That 30 watter with the reverb you and he brought sounds killer. I can see that one being a seller.

No effects loop. No channel switching. No bells and whistles. Just great tone! :laugh2: KISS is right as far as my tastes go, and Bruce does kind of design his amps around what he knows I like. And I like a great guitar, a great low capacitence cable, and a great amp and speaker....that's it. :laugh2: No effects except spring reverb if the amp has it. Lew

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Back from the Dallas Guitar Show...and some observations about tone:

I forgot to mention the Peter Green Les Paul! It was on display at the show. Looked like the original...I think it was on loan or something. There were a few late 50's Bursts for sale at the show too...all over 100K! Lew

 

[ErikH]

Re: Back from the Dallas Guitar Show...and some observations about tone:

No effects loop. No channel switching. No bells and whistles. Just great tone! :laugh2: KISS is right as far as my tastes go, and Bruce does kind of design his amps around what he knows I like. And I like a great guitar, a great low capacitence cable, and a great amp and speaker....that's it. :laugh2: No effects except spring reverb if the amp has it. Lew

Hmmm, when the time comes I may have to see about getting one with reverb or a loop if he can do it. I gotta have some saturation there with what we do, be it delay in a loop or built in spring reverb.

Now, the footswitch...you said it kicks in the amp's own distortion per say, but what exactly is it doing? Switching the second half of the preamp tube in and out of the circuit? I was so amazed and sucked in by the great tone that I forgot to look at the other stuff. :laugh2:

Didn't see the Peter Green LP, but we did see some killer paint jobs on some Jackson at the front of the isle you were one. There were some nice Historics there too. Every Goldtop I walked by Amy said, "Let's go, quit drooling." :laugh2: She knows I have a weakness for Goldtops. Heck, I almost built a Goldtop Tele.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Back from the Dallas Guitar Show...and some observations about tone:

Hmmm, when the time comes I may have to see about getting one with reverb or a loop if he can do it. I gotta have some saturation there with what we do, be it delay in a loop or built in spring reverb.

Now, the footswitch...you said it kicks in the amp's own distortion per say, but what exactly is it doing? Switching the second half of the preamp tube in and out of the circuit? I was so amazed and sucked in by the great tone that I forgot to look at the other stuff. :laugh2:

It's kind of a secret what the footswitch does and Bruce is going to file for a patent on it. No kidding! No one else has done it...it's a whole new thing. Basically, it reduces the gain when the pedal is "off"...but there's more to it than that. Lew

 

[ErikH]

Re: Back from the Dallas Guitar Show...and some observations about tone:

It's kind of a secret what the footswitch does and Bruce is going to file for a patent on it. No kidding! No one else has done it...it's a whole new thing. Basically, it reduces the gain when the pedal is "off"...but there's more to it than that. Lew

Gotcha. It sounds good to my ears whatever it does. Damn the wife-inflicted-gear-restriction. :laugh2: :laugh2: I'll just have to be patient and wait until the end of the year.