Best Overdrive Device: tube amp or stomp box?

[IM4Tone]

Re: Best Overdrive Device: tube amp or stomp box?

If you can’t rely on a master-volume tube amp that was designed to get its distortion from preamp gain, then you probably can’t rely on a solid-state or modeling amp that does the same thing.

I thought this thread was about tube amp natural distortion vs using effects with that amp, not solid state, nor modeling amps...plus as I said 'some', all tube amps do not have master volumes.

 

[allbutromeo]

Re: Best Overdrive Device: tube amp or stomp box?

If you can’t rely on a master-volume tube amp that was designed to get its distortion from preamp gain, then you probably can’t rely on a solid-state or modeling amp that does the same thing.

I guess anyone who's ever put a TS, Ds1, or Rat in front of a JCM800 sucked

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Best Overdrive Device: tube amp or stomp box?

I thought this thread was about tube amp natural distortion vs using effects with that amp, not solid state, nor modeling amps...plus as I said 'some', all tube amps do not have master volumes.

Sorry. Knee-jerk reaction whenever I think someone is bashing tubes. My doctor has prescribed a Snickers.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Best Overdrive Device: tube amp or stomp box?

I guess anyone who's ever put a TS, Ds1, or Rat in front of a JCM800 sucked

That’s not what I was saying at all.

 

[LLL]

Re: Best Overdrive Device: tube amp or stomp box?

:dunno: Eh? Huh?

Caveat: This goes for amps that have built-in clipping/distortion, not amps that are designed to be clean or clean-ish.

Four things I put in front of my amp:

1) preamp (Badgerplex Trilogy, Badgerplex 1011)
2) buffer/clean boost (CAE Boost / Line Driver)
3) EQ (MXR 6 or 10 Band)
4) comp (Wampler EGO Compressor)

No OD or Dist in front at all... (I would, however give a pass to an old MXR Distortion+, but that relies on a cranked amp for best results too)

Why? Because it ****s the tone up. The amp should be doing most, if not all of the "heavy lifting".

I understand why people do it - they can't crank their amps cuz it's too loud.

But you severely emasculate your amp by not cranking it... then you rely on stompboxes to fill in the blanks (balls).

 

[IM4Tone]

Re: Best Overdrive Device: tube amp or stomp box?

Sorry. Knee-jerk reaction whenever I think someone is bashing tubes. My doctor has prescribed a Snickers.

I don't think I've ever bashed tube amps in general (although there are some whose tone or drive I don't care for...a taste thing), and I don't care much for modelers. I'm OK with good sounding analog ss amps, being of the mindset that "if it sounds and feels good, it is good".

Have a snickers for me too.

 

[Jacew]

Re: Best Overdrive Device: tube amp or stomp box?

:dunno: Eh? Huh?

Caveat: This goes for amps that have built-in clipping/distortion, not amps that are designed to be clean or clean-ish.

Four things I put in front of my amp:

1) preamp (Badgerplex Trilogy, Badgerplex 1011)
2) buffer/clean boost (CAE Boost / Line Driver)
3) EQ (MXR 6 or 10 Band)
4) comp (Wampler EGO Compressor)

No OD or Dist in front at all... (I would, however give a pass to an old MXR Distortion+, but that relies on a cranked amp for best results too)

Why? Because it ****s the tone up. The amp should be doing most, if not all of the "heavy lifting".

I understand why people do it - they can't crank their amps cuz it's too loud.

But you severely emasculate your amp by not cranking it... then you rely on stompboxes to fill in the blanks (balls).

For me, it's just Foot volume for control + (treble)booster to get the best out of the amp.

 

[some_dude]

Re: Best Overdrive Device: tube amp or stomp box?

Pedals are those little boxes guitarists use to make their Marshalls sound bad.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Best Overdrive Device: tube amp or stomp box?

Pedals are those little boxes guitarists use to make their Marshalls sound bad.

Jimi disagrees.

 

[Jacew]

Re: Best Overdrive Device: tube amp or stomp box?

Jimi disagrees.

To be honest, while Jimi certainly is one of the greatest guitarists all time, I'm never liked that much of his tone. Clean stuff, like Little Wing sounds amazing, but otherwise it's quite mushy and woolly.

 

[dr0]

Re: Best Overdrive Device: tube amp or stomp box?

Some of the best music ever was composed on an 8bit Nintendo.

I feel an expanded sig quote coming on ...

 

[LLL]

Re: Best Overdrive Device: tube amp or stomp box?

Betcher arse Jimi cranked his Marshalls.

 

[some_dude]

Re: Best Overdrive Device: tube amp or stomp box?

Jimi's dead.

 

[LLL]

Re: Best Overdrive Device: tube amp or stomp box?

All of those who have tube amp volume issues and/or have tried attenuators with "meh" results need to think outside the box and outside the typical bourgeoise (french for conventional; everyday) guitar forum group-think and check out viable alternatives such as slaving or dummy load line out solutions.

So, like playing live for example - with a dummy load, iso line out box (or combo) and an EHX .44 Magnum pedal-sized amp, you can crank your amp, adjust the volume to a comfortable level, run any FX after the amp, and it'll sound great. Cranked amp tone at any volume; no attenuator mush. Problem solved.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Best Overdrive Device: tube amp or stomp box?

Jimi's dead.

And he doesn’t let that stop him, does he?

 

[SweetClyde99]

Re: Best Overdrive Device: tube amp or stomp box?

Some of the best music ever was composed on an 8bit Nintendo.

That’s why the NESkimos are way more famous than the Beatles.

 

[Wattage]

Re: Best Overdrive Device: tube amp or stomp box?

I usually get everything from my amp. I use a boost pedal but rarely do I use an overdrive, a fuzz is more likely

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Best Overdrive Device: tube amp or stomp box?

One thing about amps...there are a lot of different ways to get it done.

If I were playing a different style of music, or shall I say a more homogenous style, then a different amp might be a better choice for me. A guy playing jazz with a big archtop in small clubs might choose a Princeton, Deluxe or Twin Reverb; or something like a Polytone or Henrickson and never want for something else. The dedicated metal guy may only need a Marshall, Splawn, Friedman, etc. for bliss. Or some guys will have many amps, or a modeler.

For me, the Mesa amps work well for the variety of tones available in the genres I play. I had vintage BF Fenders and Marshalls, even ran two amp A/B rigs. After I found the Mesa, I sold off those amps...I had all the tones I was looking for without going to solid state or modelling.

But this is what works...FOR ME. Every player has to find their own way.

Bill